Part 18 (1/2)
”He's not here,” said Jack, ”but I aer ashore Moreover, he wanted me to call for you, and if you are offshore near Starfish Cove--that's a little bay far down the south shore of Long Island--and if it's your shi+p that is playing a searchlight on the beach, then it's a miracle, sir I'll try to explain”
Briefly as possible, then, Jack detailed the necessary facts for putting Lieutenant Summers in touch with the situation
”Good,” said Lieutenant Suood, indeed We have received a tip liquor was to be landed so when you saw our light It's a piece of luck, as you say Do you think our searchlight has been seen by these rascals?”
”Probably,” said Jack, ”although I don't know Captain Folsoed, they had no time to keep a lookout at sea”
”Well, I'll throw off the searchlight at once, anyhow We want no advertising I'll couide us?”
”I'll be there,” replied Jack
”Very well We're about a mile offshore We should land in fifteen minutes Good-bye”
Jack took off the headpiece, threw the rheostat back to zero, and looked about him, as if dazed
He could hardly believe his luck
CHAPTER XVI
BOB REDEEMS HIMSELF
After Jack's departure the group which he left at the tunnel exit worked busilywhat preparations were possible to receive their pursuers Big Bob, who had ju out bricks at a furious rate, and Frank joined hiht of his ht, which here in the woods, however, was not direct enough to be of any great help, Toround about the hole
”As soon as the boys get out o' there,” he reported to Captain Folsoh dirt to block up the tunnel pretty well The earth is loose around here Thatup some o' these bushes I already loosened the soil soood,” said Captain Folsoh the tunnel ”They're getting too close for co this must have been a recent cave-in I believe it is unsuspected by the ene plenty of noise, as if they expected to have a considerable distance to go and fancied us pretty far ahead”
”We'll give 'e The watchthe situation
”Come out now, Temple And you, Merrick,” said Captain Folsoer would be only to expose yourselves needlessly You have thrown out a lot of ammunition, as it is
Besides,” he added, as he and Tom helped the others climb to the surface, ”ant to kick down this dirt to block the tunnel”
The others followed To the tunnel, and, exercising care to avoid tu down sufficient earth to
Little more than a foot of open space remained, after uprooted bushes had been thron on top of the earth
Working feverishly and in a silence broken only by the dull sounds of the falling dirt, they had completed their task when the nearer approach of voices and of stu footfalls within the tunnel warned the, Captain Folsom and Toround The bricks had been divided into two piles, one by the side of each pair
They were none too soon Barely had they taken their positions when the first ainst the dirt they had kicked down, and fell forward into the tangle of uprooted bushes He let out a wild yell: