The others were quick to follow his example.
They stood in the bow of the boat, which long since had rounded West Point and was proceeding very slowly along the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island. An hour and a half had elapsed since Inspector Burton and his party had been set ashore. They were standing close in. And now again the mountains, which around the western extremity of the island had retreated inland, had drawn close to the shore. The mouth of the creek had not yet been sighted by any of those straining their eyes to gaze shoreward.
Ensign Warwick joined the boys, snapping shut the lid of his watch.
"Time's almost up," he said. "Half an hour yet. Surely, we cannot have passed the creek. Inspector Burton said his information was that it broadened out sufficiently to admit several schooners."
"I've watched every inch of the shore," Jack said. "And I haven't seen it yet. But, look. There." He pointed ahead.
A break appeared in the surf tossing against the foot of the steep cliffs that came down sheer to the shore.
Ensign Warwick stared keenly, then nodded with satisfaction.
"That's the creek, undoubtedly," he said. "Too bad we have to operate without moonlight."
He stepped to the side of the man at the wheel and whispered a low-voiced direction. Then he signaled the engine room. As a result, the pilot swung the wheel over, and the Sub Chaser responded by heading for shore. At the same time, the slow beat of the engines was still further reduced, and the craft proceeded under its headway aided by the drift of the incoming tide.
The farther point of land at the mouth of the creek was low, but a huge rock towered like a guarding tower on the hither side. Atop of it grew several twisted, stunted oak trees. These could plainly be distinguished as the boat slowly drew closer in.
"Deep water, apparently right to the foot of the rock," said the leadsman in the bow, drawing in the wet string with its knob of lead on the end, and reading the record.
"We'll lay here under shelter of the rock until we hear Inspector Burton's signal," Ensign Warwick told the boys. "On this still night, with no other sounds about, the sound of his shots will carry plainly to our ears."
He was about to give orders to drop the grapnel, when Jack laid a hand on his arm:
"Listen."
The sound of three shots fired in rapid succession came faintly to their ears. It was followed by distant shouts, and then several more shots at ragged intervals, then silence.
"The signal."
"Yes," said Ensign Warwick, springing into instant activity, "and our men are meeting with resistance. We'll have to go in at once."
He turned away to issue the necessary order. In a trice, the rakish craft quivered with the sudden picking-up of the engines, the screw began to revolve with increased violence, her head was put out to sea and she started to run away from shore.
"I suppose we'll go out to where we can get a better view into the creek, and then speed in," said Frank.
The surmise was correct. The boat swung about in a circle, her nose pointed straight for the entrance to the creek eventually, and then they began speeding shoreward again.
A powerful beam of light suddenly shot over their heads, and the boys turned with a gasp. It came from the searchlight mounted on the bridge behind them. They gazed ahead, and saw the light illumine the entrance to the creek. Then something appeared in the rays which caused them to shout simultaneously:
"The trawler."
There it was, the boat on which they had been carried captive from San Francisco, riding at anchor in the cove.
Ensign Warwick approached.
"I decided not to take a chance on running into any craft inside without warning," he said. "That's why I turned on the searchlight. I cannot see a soul aboard the trawler. Can you?"
"Not I," answered Bob.
"Nor I."
"Nor I."
"Well, I'm going to board her. We'll soon find out how matters stand."
The Sub Chaser's speed slackened at a signal once more, and she slipped alongside the trawler. A rope ladder dangled down the side.
"Fend off, you men, and hold your position," said the young naval officer resolutely. "I'm going aboard. Do six of you follow me."
Seizing the ladder, he clambered up swiftly, revolver in hand, peered over the edge, then swung over the rail and dropped to the trawler's deck.
"All right," he called down. "Not a soul in sight."
Eager to be at his heels, the three chums held back until the six sailors commanded to follow had complied. Then they, too, gained the deck of the trawler. Hurried search revealed the craft was deserted. Not even a watchman had been left aboard. The doors to the cabins they had occupied were locked. The boys burst the locks.
With delighted cries they greeted sight of their grips. Quick rummaging disclosed the ring-radio with its appurtenances, which Frank had used to such good effect to discover the proximity of the Sub Chaser when they were captives aboard the trawler. Nothing had been taken away.
"Locked the doors to keep our stuff from the crew," decided Jack.
On deck, carrying their recovered possessions, they found Ensign Warwick preparing to depart.
"Signs in forecastle and engine room," he said, "that the crew left in a hurry, and only recently, too. Evidently, they were aboard and were called ashore for some reason. What did you find in the cabin?"
"To tell the truth," admitted Bob, "we didn't look around much. Found our things still aboard, and that occupied our attention. But we can go back and look?"
"No, no. That would be a waste of time. I'm afraid the presence of the land party was discovered, and the crew here went ashore to oppose our men. We'll have to make a landing and go to their aid. Listen."
Again down the wind, and this time only very faintly came the sounds of distant firing. Apparently, the fight was drawing away from them.
Down the ladder to the deck of the Sub Chaser they scrambled. Then, with searchlight playing along the shore, the craft moved slowly up the estuary. Presently, a landing appeared in the rays of the light, jutting out into the stream, a huge shed or barracks at its end ashore. The boat was turned toward it, and slid alongside. Sailors with ropes leaped to the planks of the landing and made fast.
"The place seems deserted," said Ensign Warwick. "Not a sound. But you never can tell. We'll have to take precautions. Wouldn't do to go tearing off this pier, and run smack-dab into a trap."
He turned to the group behind him. Every man aboard the Sub Chaser with the exception of Doctor Marley had followed. The worried face of the fat little physician watched them from the deck.
"Here, you men," he said authoritatively. "Six of you will have to stay aboard the boat. Robbins, Dewart, Murphy, Thompson, Berger and Strunk, you stay behind. Robbins is in charge. Keep the searchlight playing on the shore. Train a rapid firer on the landward end of this pier. Doctor Marley," he called up to the physician, "I presume you will prefer to remain aboard. You boys"-turning to the three chums-"can follow me. You have those revolvers I served out to you?"
They nodded.
"Good. Now, Robbins," he continued, turning to the leader of the party to be left on the boat, "we will make our way up the pier. If we are surprised, we will drop to the ground. Do you at once open with the rapid-firer, shooting high. That ought to be sufficient to rout anybody opposing us. Then leave two men aboard to keep guard against surprise and look after the searchlight, and with your other men charge up the pier. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. If we find nobody about, we shall follow upstream to attempt to join the other party. In that case, I shall fire three shots as a signal of our intentions. Do you keep the searchlight in play along the pier, with stabs into the sky at five minute intervals as a guide when we return. We may be led far inland. The smugglers may flee to some fastness in the mountains. But do you stay by the ship under any conditions until we return.
"Morgan," he added, turning to one of the men in his party, "here are my keys. You will find a box of flashlights with extra batteries in my cabin. Do you and Doniphan go and get a flashlight for each of us with a set of spare batteries. Let's see. That will be nine."