“And now,” said Stanwood Gray, as he noticed the surprised looks on the faces of the Comrades and their chums, “a few words of explanation from me will not come amiss.”
“You will pardon me a moment, I know, Mr. Gray,” said the lieutenant, “but are you aware that the smugglers have been captured?”
“No; I was not aware of it. When did it occur?”
“Within the last two days, and it was encompassed by your guests, the boys, without further aid.”
“Then if I have surprised you by revealing my true identity, you have, in turn, surprised me by this piece of good news. Boys, I congratulate you, and I trust that you are not still wishing that I were a smuggler.”
“No; it was one of the biggest disappointments we had ever known when suspicion was connected with you,” said Chot.
“Well, perhaps you’d better let me tell my story.”
They eagerly agreed, and he told how he had taken the lodge some two years before with the intention of breaking up a notorious band of smugglers. There had been at least a dozen in the band at that time, making their rendezvous on the north island.
Stanwood Gray had won their confidence and good will after much effort, by constructing the secret passage and explaining to them the advantages of getting goods across the line by such a method. He was finally looked upon as their leader. Gradually, then, the band had dwindled, as he had captured the smugglers one by one when away on his mysterious trips, carrying to the remainder of the band various stories concerning the death or disappearance of their comrades.
“You will wonder, no doubt, why I have allowed the band to remain in existence so long. It is because there are a number of prominent men behind the smuggling on whom I have never succeeded in collecting evidence. I am happy to say, however that now my proofs have about been completed, and within the next two weeks I expect to make some accusations that will cause a sensation in the newspapers.”