Joe, perhaps, felt more elated than did Blake, though the latter was glad that his theory in regard to the direction taken by the men had proved correct.
But Joe felt that now he had a better chance to prove his father innocent of the charge made against him—that he was involved with the wreckers.
“We’ve got ’em!” he whispered.
“Yes—we’ve got ’em—to get!” agreed Blake. “No slip-up this time.”
In whispers they consulted, and decided1 to creep forward a short distance to make sure of their first surmise2 that the men, whose voices they heard, were really the wreckers.
165“We want to be certain about it,” warned Blake, in a cautious whisper.
“That’s right,” agreed his chum. “Go ahead, and I’ll come after you.”
Cautiously they advanced until they were in a position to look forward and make out a number of men working on a sort of mound3 of rock that rose from the surface of the cliff.
“This is a better place, from their standpoint, than the other,” whispered Blake. “A light can be seen farther.”
“Yes, and they’re putting up the same lantern on a rock pile,” remarked Joe. Both lads recognized the apparatus4 they had seen before. The men were busily engaged in setting it in place, evidently working fast to make up for lost time.
“It’s the same gang,” observed Blake; “and they must know of some vessel5 that is to pass here soon, or they wouldn’t be in such a hurry. Probably they count on the steersman mistaking this light for the one at Rockypoint, and standing6 in close here. Up at Rockypoint there is deep water close in shore, but it shoals very fast both ways, up or down the beach. So if a vessel saw a false light, and stood close in to get her bearings, she’d be on the rocks in no time.”
“That’s right,” agreed Joe. “She’d be wrecked7 and these fellows would get what they could out 166of her, caring nothing for the lives lost. Blake, we’ve got to stop ’em!”
“We sure have.”
“Not only to clear my father, but to save others,” went on Joe. “What’s best to be done?”
“Well, we can’t capture ’em by ourselves; that’s sure,” went on Blake, each lad speaking in a cautious whisper. “The best thing for us to do is to go back, I think, and tell Tom Cardiff. He’ll know what to do.”
“Maybe one of us had better stay here to keep watch. They may skip out.”
“No danger. They don’t know that we have followed ’em, or that we are here.”
“Then we’ll go back together.”
“Sure, and give the alarm. Then to make the capture, if we can.”
For a few minutes longer the eager boys looked on, unseen by the men whom they had trailed. The wreckers were busy putting up their lantern, and were making as much noise, talking and hammering on the apparatus, as though they were far removed from possible discovery.
“Well, we’d better be going,” suggested Blake, after a bit; and they made their departure without causing any suspicious sounds, so that the wreckers had no idea, as far as our heroes could ascertain8, that they were being spied upon.
In order to save time, as soon as they got to the nearest small settlement, Joe and Blake hired a carriage, and drove to the lighthouse. As may well be imagined their report caused considerable excitement.
“We’ll get right after ’em!” cried Tom Cardiff. “I just got a telephone message from the secret service men that they are on their way here. They’ll arrive in about an hour. We were counting on getting on the trail ourselves to-day, but you boys got ahead of us. So in about an hour we’ll start. I guess they’ll be there then; won’t they, lads.”
“I should judge so,” was Blake’s answer. “They’ve got quite a good deal yet to do to get that fake lantern in shape, and they don’t seem suspicious.”
“We can’t have our life saving friend with us now,” went on the assistant keeper, “as he is on duty, but I guess the five of us will be enough.”
“Say!” cried Blake, with sudden thought, “if it’s going to be an hour before we start we’ve got time to get our automatic moving picture camera, Joe.”
“What for?”
“To get some views of this capture. It ought to make a dandy film, and we can set the machine 168in place, start the motor and then you and I can jump in and help catch these wreckers!”
“The very thing!” cried his chum. “I wonder I didn’t think of it myself. Come on!”
“Don’t be late!” advised Tom Cardiff, as they ran toward the ancient carriage they had hired. “We don’t want any slip-up this time. I’m glad we’re going to try for the capture by daylight, though, instead of darkness; it gives us a better chance.”
Mr. Ringold and Mr. Hadley were surprised and delighted at the news the boys brought, but they voted against the automatic camera.
“This is a rare chance to get a film,” said Mr. Hadley, “and we don’t want to miss it. I’ll go along with you, taking a regular moving picture camera, and while you capture the wreckers I’ll make a film of it.”
This suited the boys as well, and a little later, with the chief photographer, they started back for the lighthouse. They found the secret service men and Tom Cardiff waiting for them, and, well armed, in addition to the clubs they carried, and with ropes to bind9 the wreckers, they started off.
“We’re almost there now,” said Blake, in a whisper, when they neared the second hiding place of the desperate men. “Go easy, now.”
“Let me get a chance to go ahead and place 169the camera,” suggested Mr. Hadley, who had the apparatus fully10 adjusted.
“That’s a great idea,” declared one of the government men. “Taking their photographs in moving pictures! There’ll be no chance for them to deny they were present when they were captured,” and he chuckled11 grimly.
Mr. Hadley was given an opportunity to move forward alone. He found an advantageous12 spot and almost at once beckoned13 to the others to hasten.
“They’re getting ready to leave!” he whispered, as they reached his side.
“Come on, then!” cried Tom Cardiff. “Jump in on ’em, boys. Lively now!”
“Surrender! We’ve got you surrounded!” yelled the assistant keeper. “It’s all over but the shouting!” and as he made a grab for one of the men the moving picture machine began clicking.
“Hands up!” ordered Mr. Wilton.
“At ’em, boys!” called the other government man, as he and Blake and Joe leaped to the attack together.
For a moment the wreckers stood as if paralyzed about the stone pedestal on which the false lantern was being built. Then, with one accord, the desperate men made a dash for the bush.
“Stop ’em!” cried Tom Cardiff. “Don’t let ’em get away!”
And as they dashed after the wreckers the moving picture camera in the hands of Mr. Hadley recorded view after view of the exciting scene.
该作者的其它作品
《Tom Swift and the Electronic Hydrolung》
《Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel》
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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5
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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fracas
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| n.打架；吵闹 | |
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