At once there was great excitement on board the "Nancy." Sol Burton had not stopped to finish his threatening talk with our hero, but all was bustle and excitement and work.
The boats were prepared for launching, and the ship's course was changed, and our hero knew that the, long-expected smuggler had arrived.
Soon the two vessels approached each other; additional signals were exchanged, and the real purpose of the voyage was unfolded.
The smuggler kept upon her course, under close reefed sails, but her crew was busy casting certain curious looking packages into the sea.
The boats from the "Nancy" were launched and manned, and were pulled away toward floating objects that had been cast upon the water.
Our hero was in one of the boats, and soon his crew came upon one of the floating objects and it was hauled into the boat.
One of the methods and mysteries was explained; the floating objects were large rubber and guttapercha bags, water-tight and unsinkable, and in these waterproof sacks was packed the contraband merchandise.
Four boats were at work, and within a couple of hours no less than thirty-three of these sacks were put on board the "Nancy," containing thousands and thousands of dollars worth of goods that were never intended to pay duty to good old Uncle Sam.
All the bags were put on board, and the "Nancy" was ready to run into the bay and land her contraband cargo.
The detective expected she would run back on the course over which she had come out, but such was not the fact; on the contrary she lay to until all the goods were stowed below.