“Well, when you see one, you duck into that cabin,” Mike ordered, “and do it mighty quick. No Federal officer would believe your word against ours, so you wouldn’t gain anything by making a fool of yourself.”
The Hawk did seem to be acting strangely. It was now deep twilight and yet she could be seen lying over near the Indiana shore, her great bulk dim against the gathering darkness. Not a light was to be seen on board. Not a sound was to be heard.
“I reckon there is a police boat coming,” Gid said, after a short pause, “but if we lie right still and don’t show any lights, she’ll pass on the other side. Anyway, she can’t help seeing the Hawk, and she’ll go there first.”
Half an hour passed and it grew dark on the river. Clouds were driving over the valley, and it was likely to be a rainy night. A wind came up the river as the darkness increased, and the moaning of the trees and the rush of the waters made conversation quite difficult, even when the parties stood close together, as the three did on the deck of the Rambler.
Jule stepped back to the cabin entrance and stood close to the electric switch which controlled the strong searchlight on the prow. Mike and Gid stood leaning over the gunwale, their eyes fixed intently on the bulk of the Hawk, now almost lost in the darkness. A faint light, something like that of a candle or a small kerosene lamp, now showed on the freight deck of the river pirate.
“There’s a Government boat coming up the river, and that’s no dream!” Gid cried.
“There’s no other way to account for the mighty strange actions of the captain of the Hawk,” Mike responded.
“Perhaps if we keep all lights out and lie perfectly still, the police boat won’t see us!” the other suggested.
The two men stood long at the gunwale, watching the pirate boat as long as the falling night permitted. Jule, too, remained on deck, standing by the switch which controlled the searchlight.
Once or twice, when the sound of a steam exhaust came from below, he put his hand to the switch, but always drew it away again when no lights showed over the dark river. He was waiting until the right moment.