The sloop drew nearer, and the thin line of smoke rose blacker a dozen miles astern. Then there seemed to be signs of life aboard. Two men sprang up and began to drop large kegs overboard, making a great splashing. They kept this up for some minutes, and the keepers went inside the light for the telescope.
Astern of the sloop they made out small, black objects, which floated at intervals upon the swell, and were just discernible through the powerful glass.
For half an hour the men aboard the wrecking-vessel worked heaving cargo overboard, and, as they went along, the long line of tiny specks marked their wake.
"Corks," said Flanagan; "I thought so."
"They better hurry up," said the preacher; "the cutter's rising fast." As he spoke, he looked toward the steamer, which was now coming along in plain view, her hull rising slowly above the horizon, and her funnel pouring out a black cloud, which hung over the sea.
"They'll get caught fair enough. Half an hour, an' the officers'll be aboard."
"Well, they won't find anything. They'll never see them corks—she's already heading out to get them clear of the wake. When they catch her, she'll be an innocent sponger—an' we'll——"
They looked at each other and smiled.
An hour later the Sea-Horse and revenue-cutter were upon the northern horizon heading into Biscayne, and the keepers were lowering their boats.
It is an unwritten law of the reef that a man may steal as much as he can from the United States, but he must not touch property belonging to an individual. A smuggler is not by any means a common thief.