"I don't know," replied Mr. Barclay. "We'll probably ascertain something about them later."
"Do you expect to corral the rest of them to-night?" Harry broke in.
"It's possible," said Mr. Barclay with a trace of dryness. "The first thing, however, is to beach this vessel, and then you and Jake must get off in the sloop. There's a good deal to be done, and I want to run the steamer back out of sight up the inlet as soon as it can be managed."
He called some of his companions on board, and when Frank and Harry sat down to an excellent meal in the steamer's cabin they heard the men heaving the schooner's anchor.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE RAID
Daylight was breaking when the boys ran into the cove near the ranch after a quick passage and saw Mr. Oliver standing on the beach.
"I've been looking out for you rather anxiously," he said when he had shaken hands with them. "Has Barclay been successful?"
"No," said Harry, "not altogether. Some of the dope men got away at the first place where they landed."
Mr. Oliver looked rather grave at this. "How many of them escaped?"