“Much the fastest, sir,” said that officer.
“And the Collector’s boats are about of one speed, I suppose.”
“Just about. We can run together very nicely, sir.”
The Special Agent turned to Willie. “Tell those sub chasers to make all speed possible,” he said, “surround the rum fleet, and try to cut off any small boats they can. Tell them they can go the limit if it is necessary. Be sure they have rifles and ammunition.”
Willie entered the little cabin and sat down at the wireless instrument. He strapped on his headpiece, threw over his switch, and sent the fleet call flashing abroad. But before he followed with a single order, he called out to Mr. King:
“What about the cipher? I don’t know it, though I know you use one.”
“Never mind the cipher. Go on and give the orders in English. And make it plain that we have guns aboard and will use them if it is necessary. If these rum runners want to listen in, we’ll give them something worth listening to.”
Willie swung back to his instrument. He had had an instant response from each unit of the fleet. “All sub chasers,” he flashed out, “put to sea at top speed. Surround the rum fleet. Try to intercept any power boats still taking cargo or not yet within reach of shore. Use whatever force is necessary. Load your rifles and use them if need be. Take every possible chance to capture the runners.”
From the sub chasers came flashing acknowledgments of the order, while instantly a mighty roar of powerful motors went up and the sub chasers shot forward through the dark waters of the harbor like the long, lean, nautical greyhounds they were.
“Call the Collector’s boats,” said Mr. King, “and tell them to stay together. The sub chasers will scare all the rum runners away from the rum fleet, long before we could get near. Most of these fellows will make for the Jersey shore. We haven’t the remotest chance of intercepting them. Even the sub chasers couldn’t catch many of them. But some of them will try to make a get-away by heading directly for the harbor here. They’ll wait until the sub chasers are through the Narrows and then make a dash from beyond the three-mile limit. Our part of the job will be to intercept them. We’ll go through the Narrows and cruise back and forth across the harbor entrance. It will be a mighty clever boatman that can get by us unseen.”