Part 33 (1/2)

”He will probably enter by means of the secret pa.s.sage,” said Tom. ”That is the way he left, I am sure.”

”In other words,” said the lieutenant, ”believing that you know nothing of the underground exit, he will probably seek to enter his room in the night and appear before you at the breakfast table as a complete surprise.”

”That's the way he likes to do things, I should say, from what little opportunity I have had for observation,” Tom replied.

”Does anyone know what Mr. Lawrence does in Boston?” asked Pod.

”I understand he is a diamond merchant,” said Lieutenant Winters, ”and that is one reason why we have been so anxious to catch him. The duty on precious stones is something enormous, and the government stands to lose considerable as long as such clever smugglers remain at liberty.”

Chot took occasion to explain the a.s.sistance the j.a.p had rendered them, telling the officer how the Oriental had feared Mr. Lawrence, who had kept him at all times in a state of subjection and humility.

”I am sure the little j.a.p never did a wrong thing in his life,” said Chot-”in fact, we found that he knew absolutely nothing about the smuggling, except that something mysterious was going on in the lodge. I doubt if he even understood what the word, 'smuggling' meant.”

”Very likely you are right,” replied the lieutenant, ”and I a.s.sure you that I have no desire to place him in custody. I should like to have him where I can reach him, however, in case I need his testimony at the trial of the smugglers.”

Hoki was delighted when informed that the officers had no designs on his peace and happiness. He declared his life-long devotion to the boys, and expressed an ardent desire to learn some American trade or business where he could always be near them. He had saved over a thousand dollars in his two years' service with Mr. Lawrence, he told them, the smuggler chief having been generous in his reward for Hoki's faithful work.

”Mr. Lawrence can't be all bad,” said Fleet, ”when he treats Hoki so well.”

”At any rate,” said Chot, ”this has given me an idea regarding Hoki.”

After a moment's pause in which he was apparently thinking deeply, he said: ”Hoki, how would you like to go to an American school?”

”It would give me greatest of pleasure, sirs, if my money is sufficiently large enough to accomplish such desires as you mention,”

replied Hoki.

”I believe a few years at Winton would make a good American out of you.

You already read English do you not?”

”Yes; I read quite well, thank you, sirs.”

”Then I believe we can induce Commandant Cullum to take you in.”

”It will give me much joy, believe me, sirs,” said the little j.a.p.

The prospect of being near the Comrades and their chums appealed to him more than anything else.

The boys resolved to take the j.a.p to Mortonville as their guest at the end of the canoe trip, from which place negotiations could be carried on with the commandant at Winton, looking to Hoki's entry into the school.

He would be unable to pa.s.s a rigid examination, they knew, but in the case of foreigners exceptions had often been made in other schools, and they felt sure that Commandant Cullum would make it possible for the j.a.p to attend his inst.i.tution.

A plan of action was agreed upon before any of the inmates of Winnsocket Lodge retired that night. If Mr. Lawrence cared to return to the lodge, he was to be allowed to enter and go secretly to his room. A man would then be stationed outside his door, and another in the yard outside, to guard against any tricks, and in the morning the leader would be informed of the capture of his band.

As the chief would probably enter the lodge through the bas.e.m.e.nt, the smugglers were removed to one of the upper rooms of the lodge, that they might have no opportunity for disclosing their capture prematurely. Two men still remained on guard over them.

It was a.s.sumed that Mr. Lawrence would return in a motor-boat, as he had left, and Lieutenant Winters arranged that at a signal from him-a light placed in an upstairs window on the side where the government boat was moored-the ”Lucia,” as the government boat was named, was to go in pursuit of the boat which landed Mr. Lawrence, overhaul and capture her, returning thence to the island to take the prisoners to the New York sh.o.r.e.

Nothing occurred the first night, but shortly after midnight on the second the sound of a motor-boat was wafted over the water to Lieutenant Winters and Tom, who were doing guard duty. Every light had been extinguished, and from the rear window they waited for some sign that the smuggler chief was returning.