“Tell him to head straight across for the island,” he said.
Turning out the light in the chamber, and lighting a lantern for use on the shore, the boys went out, closing the door. With Hoki and Bert guarding the smuggler, Chot went back to where he had left Fleet’s canoe, entered it, and paddled around to the other side of the island, just as he heard Pod calling out to know where to land.
Chot gave him directions to head for the light, and a few minutes later the smuggler, bound hand and foot, was bundled into Pod’s canoe, and the little fellow was paddling back toward the lodge, while Bert, Chot and Hoki followed in Fleet’s larger craft.
There was a scene of rejoicing at the lodge that night. The prisoners were all securely bound, and the boys took turns in guarding them through the night.
Bert told his story before the boys retired. He had been aroused from his sleep in the hammock by strange noises in the lodge, and had cried out almost before he realized it. Then, believing that some of the mysteries that had puzzled them were about to be solved, he had run inside, motioning Chot and Tom to follow. The smugglers had evidently thought the boys all out of the lodge, for Bert surprised them, as well as himself, by dashing in among them. Then he had been taken captive and carried out through the tunnel, the trap-door dosed behind leaving no trace.
“Had you fellows looked out of the rear window you could have seen them carrying me across to the north island in their boats,” said Bert.
“We were too busy speculating as to what had become of you,” smiled Chot “I’m glad we have you safely back.”
As Hoki was getting breakfast the following morning, the boys were startled to hear several blasts from a boat’s siren, and looking out from the verandah of the lodge they saw a motor-boat about two-thirds of a mile distant, and headed straight for the island.
“It’s Mr. Lawrence!” cried Chot. “Act as if nothing has happened, fellows, and we’ll nab him, too!”