“A SUBMARINE! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?”
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TheRover boys and their chums were so astonished at the discovery they had made that for a moment they could do little else than stare at the strange object resting in the water ahead of them.
“Get out of sight, every one of you!” whispered Jack, who was the first to recover his self-possession. “Don’t let those men see you!”
All backed away as silently as possible until they were once more in the shelter of the rocks of the bend around which they had come.
“Say, do you think those fellows are Germans?” whispered Randy excitedly.
“I certainly do, Randy,” answered the young captain.
“Of course they are Germans!” put in Gif. “If they were Americans why would they be concealing themselves in such an out-of-the-way place as this?”
“It’s a German submarine, as sure as you’realive!” remarked Spouter. “Fellows, we have made a wonderful discovery!”
“And this accounts for all the strange noises we heard, and the fellows we saw going through the woods with bundles on their backs,” added Randy.
“Yes, and I guess it straightens out that story Jed Kessler told about the two Germans in the wagon with stuff that rattled like hardware,” said Jack.
“It’s as plain as day,” cried Fred. “Those two fellows must be connected with this gang here who are working on the submarine. And more than likely they were the same two Jed Kessler saw hanging around the ammunition plant just before the explosion.”
“If that’s a German submarine, it must have come from the other side of the Atlantic!” exclaimed Andy in a low, excited voice. And then he added, his eyes snapping: “What do you suppose happened to it? Do you think she ran afoul of some of our big warships or our submarine chasers?”
“Either that, or in cruising up and down the coast here she may have run afoul of some of the rocks and maybe knocked a hole in her bottom or side,” answered Jack. “And I guess it’s true that all the pounding and strange noises we haveheard came either from this underground place or from some overhead spot close by.”
“What gets me is—how did that submarine get into this underground place?” questioned Gif.
“There must be a much larger outlet than the one by which we entered,” answered Jack. “More than likely those fellows don’t know anything about the way by which we got in. They must have a large entrance by way of the water from the bay, and they must also have an entrance from the forest—that place where the man disappeared.”
“I guess you’re right,” said Fred. “Gee, this certainly is an important discovery! I guess the best thing we can do is to hurry back to camp as fast as possible and notify Captain Dale. He will probably want to let the Secret Service men and the authorities at Rackville know at once, so they can round up these fellows before they have a chance to get away.”
“I’d like to stay here awhile and watch these chaps,” said Randy. “Maybe we may learn something more that is worth while.”
The matter was talked over by the cadets for fully ten minutes. At the place to which they had withdrawn they could talk freely, because the noises near the submarine continued, so therewas little danger of their being overheard. While they talked they peeped out from time to time at the workmen, and saw that they were laboring over several sheets of steel and odd pieces of machinery, using a forge, a lathe, and a small drop hammer for that purpose. They had a gangplank leading over the waterway to the upper portion of the submarine, and from an open hatchway of the U-boat ran a number of coils of insulated wire, evidently carrying power to the electric lights and also to the machinery.
“They must be getting all their power from the engines of the submarine,” said Jack. “They’ve certainly got themselves pretty well fixed down here.”
“But how in the world did they manage to find this place?” questioned Spouter.
“That remains to be found out, Spouter. Probably the German authorities had some spies around here who found the place for them, or otherwise they paid some of the natives for the information.”
“You know my dad spoke about German U-boat bases along our coast, and also bases for secret wireless telegraphy plants,” put in Fred. “There is no telling what those rascals are up to.”
It was decided that Andy and Randy, accompanied by Spouter, should make their way back to the opening by which they had gained entrance to the underground waterway, and then return to Camp Barlight as quickly as possible and acquaint Captain Dale with what had been discovered. In the meanwhile, Jack, Fred, and Gif would remain behind on guard in case the Germans should attempt to make a sudden move.
“We don’t know how far along they are with their repairs,” declared the young captain. “It would be just our luck to have them sail away right under our noses.”
“Oh, Jack! couldn’t you stop them in some way from doing that?” questioned Andy quickly.
“I should hope so, Andy. That is, if they really did try to get away. Of course, they may not be anywhere near ready to leave—although they have been here for some time according to the noises we have heard. I’d like to find out something about the other end of the passageway.”
“Maybe you can find out by going out with us and around to the other end of the bay,” suggested Spouter.
“I was thinking of that. But for the present I would rather stay right here and watch these fellows.”
It was not long after this when the twins andSpouter departed, stating that they would report to Captain Dale as speedily as possible. Then Jack and his cousin and Gif settled down to watch the Germans.
For Germans they were, beyond a doubt. They were all heavy-set, burly fellows, and once or twice when the machinery was stopped the cadets heard one man, who was evidently in charge, give a number of commands in the German tongue.
For nearly an hour longer the pounding and clanking continued. Most of the work was done on the rocky shore of the waterway, but some took place inside the submarine and also on the forward deck of the craft. The submersible was of good size, being over two hundred feet in length.
“I’d like to get a whack at that U-boat,” declared Gif. “I bet I’d make it so she wouldn’t do any more cruising in a hurry.”
“Exactly what I was thinking, Gif,” said Jack. “If we could only injure the propellers, or something like that, there wouldn’t be any danger of their sailing away. You see, they may have it all fixed to leave at a minute’s notice in case of an alarm.”
“If they did that they’d have to leave some of their machinery behind,” put in Fred. “But Isuppose they’d be willing to do even that rather than risk capture.”
When the cadets thought that their ears could no longer bear the awful noise to which they had been subjected, the sounds of the machinery suddenly ceased. They heard a strange humming from the interior of the submarine, but even this presently came to an end, and then there was a silence within the cavern which was absolutely oppressive.
“I guess some kind of a move is at hand,” whispered Jack. “Let’s lay low and see what they do next.”
Several men, including two who were evidently officers and in charge of the work, came out of the submarine. The workmen were now washing up at the underground waterway, and presently all cast aside their working clothes and donned ordinary street garments.
“Looks as if they were going to leave,” whispered Fred excitedly. “Maybe they are going out into the open for some fresh air. I can’t blame them for that,” he added, for throughout the cavern there was a strong smell of used gasoline.
Five minutes passed, and then one by one the Germans walked away from the submarine. They did not come in the direction of the cadets, butpassed around another bend of the rocks, and so out of sight.
“That must be the way used by that fellow we saw in the forest,” declared Jack.
All but three of the electric lights had been put out, so that the interior of the cavern was now quite gloomy. The only sound that broke the stillness was the soft lap, lap of some distant waves, evidently where they broke on the shore of the bay close to the larger entrance of the cavern.
“I’d like to bet that the entrance is under water,” said Fred. “If it was at the surface some one would have discovered this place a long time ago.” And in this surmise the youngest Rover was correct. The passageway, which was amply large, was over ten feet below the surface of the bay even at low tide.
“Do you suppose they’ve all left the submarine?” whispered Gif presently. With the intense silence prevailing, they felt that they must be very cautious in making any noise.
“That’s hard to say,” answered Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders.
“It looks so to me,” put in Fred. “I don’t believe any of those fellows would care to stay down here unless it was necessary. They have stopped all the engines and things like that. Iguess those electric lights are burning simply from a storage battery.”
The three cadets waited for another ten minutes, and then, as no one appeared, and as the submarine seemed to be deserted, they stole forward cautiously, all anxious to get a closer look at the U-boat.
“If we could only throw a chain around the propellers, or something like that, maybe it would keep them from getting away if they tried to run for it,” said the young captain.
“We’ll look around and see what we can do, anyway,” answered his cousin.
“There are plenty of chains around,” put in Gif. “Those are what made the awful clanking sounds we heard.”
Step by step the three cadets came up until they were at the spot where the Germans had set up their repair plant. Some of the things they had been working upon were still lying about, but other parts had been taken aboard the submarine.
“I guess they have all gone,” said Jack, after a look around. “I’m going aboard that craft and take a peep at her.”
The others were also anxious to do this, and all three were soon across the gangplank which led to the open hatch of the U-boat. They gazeddown this hatch with some awe, and discovered that several electric lights had been left turned on below. A steel ladder ran down into the interior of the submersible.
“What do you say—shall we go below?” questioned Jack.
“I’m willing if you are,” answered his cousin.
“And so am I,” added Gif. “I don’t believe there is any one around.”
“Well, we’ll take a chance,” answered the young captain. “If there is any alarm, we’ll have to run for it.”
“Yes, and we may have to fight for it,” added Fred.
Jack went down the ladder quickly, followed by the others. They now found themselves in what might be termed the main room of the submarine. Beyond were several other compartments, including one where was located much of the machinery which ran the undersea boat.
“It’s a good deal like being downstairs on a small warship,” declared Fred. “See, there are staterooms and messrooms and everything else!”
“Well, I suppose they have to give the crew some comforts, they take such long, disagreeable trips,” remarked Jack.
The three cadets wandered around in the interior of the submarine for over a quarter of anhour. They saw where a number of repairs were being made to the side of the U-boat and also to some of the machinery, and they also saw where some stores had been taken on board, boxes and barrels of various kinds.
“I guess they are stocking up for another cruise,” remarked Gif.
“It must be quite a job to get all that stuff to this out-of-the-way place,” said Jack.
“Yes, and to do it so secretly, too,” added Fred.
“I think I see a way of making this boat stay here for a while, at least,” remarked Jack. “It will be an easy matter to put some of that delicate machinery forward out of commission.”
“Come on and do it!” cried his cousin quickly.
The three cadets were inspecting the machinery and wondering how they could damage it effectively with the least possible trouble, when there came a sudden interruption.
“What are you doing here?” came in a guttural German voice. “Hands up, or I will shoot you!” And, turning quickly, the three cadets found themselves confronted by a burly German, holding in each hand a pistol.
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Itwas a comparatively easy matter for the twins and Spouter to get out of the cavern by the way they had entered. It was, however, not so easy for them to climb up the face of the cliff fronting that portion of Barlight Bay.
“Some climb, believe me!” panted Spouter, when they had reached a spot where going was easier.
“I came pretty near slipping and breaking my neck at one point,” said Randy. “I don’t believe those Germans ever use that entrance, do you?”
“Not very often,” answered his twin.
The three cadets had reached the woods at a point which was new to them, being almost a mile from the other cliff, where they had had the outing with the girls. Between the two points there was a split in the land, and here the waters from the bay dashed in over a long series of jagged rocks.
“We can’t cross there,” remarked Randy, whenthey had reached the brink of this split. “We’ll have to go back into the woods and go around.”
It was now about five o’clock in the afternoon, and the tramping and climbing had tired all of the boys, yet they set off as rapidly as possible, feeling that it would be best to make a report to Captain Dale as soon as possible.
“I wish we had some trail to go by,” remarked Randy, after they had been walking for at least half an hour. “I begin to think we are not moving in the right direction.”
“I’ve been trying to guide myself by the sun,” answered Spouter. “Just the same, I don’t believe we are headed exactly for the camp.”
“I’ve got to go a bit slower,” sighed Andy, who for once was by no means light-hearted. “Both of my feet are beginning to hurt from all that climbing over the rocks. I came pretty close to twisting my ankle this afternoon, and it has been paining ever since.”
Another half hour went by, and then, as the declining sun began to cast long shadows through the trees of the forest, the cadets looked at each other in alarm. The same thought had come into the minds of each of them.
“It looks as if we were lost,” said Randy laconically. “How about it?”
“Oh, as the Indian said, we’re not lost,” responded Andy, with a faint smile. “It’s only the camp that has gone astray.”
“This is no time for joking,” said Spouter coldly. “We’ve got to get back to camp, and do it just as fast as we can!”
“All right then, Spouter, show us the way,” answered Andy readily.
“That’s something I’m not so sure of,” was the slow reply. “Which direction do you think it is in?”
The matter was talked over for several minutes, and finally the cadets moved off once more, this time at an acute angle to the direction they had before pursued. They went forward for perhaps a quarter of a mile, and then, much to their surprise, suddenly came out upon a well-defined wagon road.
“Well, what do you know about this!” cried Randy in astonishment.
“Where do you suppose this road leads to?” questioned his brother.
At this Randy shook his head, and Spouter did likewise. They could see the tracks of a horse and wagon in the road, and also the marks of automobile tires.
“It must be quite a road if it is used by automobiles,” was Spouter’s comment. “Now the question is—which way shall we go in order toget to our camp?” All had noticed that the road ran in something of a semicircle.
While the cadets were deliberating, they made another discovery. Smoke was coming up from among some of the trees near by, and, walking in that direction, they made out a fair-sized cabin, nestling deep between some trees and brushwood.
“Maybe we can get some assistance at that place,” remarked Andy.
“I don’t believe it!” returned his brother quickly. “It’s more than likely the people who live there are in league with those Germans. They must have heard those noises the same as we did, and probably know all about how they are being made.”
“That’s it!” warned Spouter. “If I were you, I’d go slow in showing myself to anybody who may be at that cabin.”
The boys approached with caution, keeping their eyes wide open, and presently discovered a touring car standing among the trees to one side of the cabin.
“I don’t believe that car belongs here,” said Randy. “I don’t see anything in the way of a garage. And that looks like a nice city car.”
Keeping in the shelter of some of the trees and brushwood, the cadets came still closer, and then made another discovery, which was to the effectthat two young men were seated in the tonneau of the car. Each was smoking a cigarette, and they were conversing in low tones.
“I tell you I’m going to hit my dad for a hundred dollars on the strength of this,” they heard one of the occupants of the car remark. “And I bet I get it, too.”
“Well, if you get a hundred, Nappy, I’m going to hit for a hundred myself,” was the reply of the other occupant. “I guess my father can afford to give me that amount just as well as your father can afford it.”
“Oh, well, Slugger, you must remember that my dad has quite a bunch of money.”
“Huh! I don’t think he’s any better fixed than mine. Here, pass over another cigarette. Don’t forget I paid for the last ones we bought.”
“Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell!” whispered Randy excitedly. “Would you believe it?”
“What can those fellows be doing away out here in the woods?” questioned Spouter.
“I’ll bet I know what they are here for!” cried Andy, in a low voice. “They brought their fathers out here in that touring car.”
“What would they be doing that for?”
“Don’t you remember, Spouter, our telling you about how we saw Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell down in Wall Street, New York, talking to thosefellows who looked like Germans, and how they mentioned supplies, and canned goods, and machinery, and night work, and a whole lot of things like that?”
“Sure I do! And you think——”
“I’ll bet Andy has it right!” interrupted Randy. “Brown and Martell must be in league with those Germans, and the goods and machinery and other things they spoke about must be connected with this affair of the disabled submarine! They wanted extra pieces of machinery most likely, and they also wanted extra supplies, having probably used those that they had brought along from Germany.”
“You’re making a pretty long guess, it seems to me,” answered Spouter. “Just the same, you may be right.”
Not to be seen by Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell, the three cadets had withdrawn to a safe distance. Now, however, all were anxious to ascertain who might be in the cabin, and so by crouching low and hiding behind one tree and another and then some rocks and low bushes, they at last came up close to the opposite side of the shelter in the forest.
“Now don’t show yourselves if you can help it,” said Randy in a whisper. “And if any one is discovered, leg it for all you are worth, andkeep your faces turned away so that they can’t see who you are.”
With this understanding, the three cadets surveyed the situation critically. The cabin consisted of three rooms, each boasting of a window on either side. As it was warm, all the windows and doors were wide open to admit the fresh air.
“And that is what I mean when I say I want to settle this matter,” they heard, in the voice of Slogwell Brown.
“I think it’s a shame that the thing has hung fire so long,” said another person in the cabin, and now the three cadets recognized the voice of Nelson Martell. “I would never have gone into it if I had known there would be so much delay. We took a big risk in getting the supplies for you.”
“But, gentlemen, we are not keeping you waiting any longer than is necessary,” answered a voice with a strong German accent. “We have had a delay in receiving our own remittance. Even now it is not yet arrived.”
“Do you mean to say you haven’t got the money yet?” demanded Mr. Brown. His tone of voice showed that he felt ugly.
“It was promised to-night sure,” was the answer. “Captain Fuerhman was to obtain themoney at the Haven Point bank this afternoon.”
“Was he to come here with it?”
“Yes.”
“Then he ought to be here by now,” grumbled Nelson Martell, consulting his watch.
“He had to see about a small piece of machinery that was to be cast for us,” resumed the man who spoke with a German accent. “I, however, expect him here by eight o’clock this evening at the latest.”
“Well, in that case there isn’t anything left for us to do but to wait,” said Slogwell Brown, surlily.
“You may do that, or you may come back at that time,” said the German. “I am very sorry to keep you waiting, but as I said before, gentlemen, it cannot be helped.”
“I don’t believe the two boys will want to wait outside for two hours,” said Mr. Martell to Mr. Brown. “Suppose we ride into town and get a bite to eat, and then come back here?”
“That will suit me, Martell. Anything to kill off the time,” answered Slogwell Brown. He turned to the German. “We’ll be back here by eight o’clock. And remember! that money has got to be paid to-night.”
“You shall have every dollar that is coming to you, gentlemen,” answered the German, who, asit afterwards proved, was the commander of the disabled submarine.
A few more words passed, and then Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell came out of the cabin to where they had left Slugger and Nappy in the touring car. They entered the machine, which was immediately backed to the forest road, and then the whole party set off, Slugger driving the car.
“Say, listen!” cried Spouter excitedly. “I believe that German is here all alone! What do you say if we make him a prisoner?”
“No, no, don’t do that!” answered Randy quickly. “We want to bag the whole bunch. Let us get to camp just as soon as we can and notify Captain Dale. Then he can organize a crowd and come back here and give Brown and Martell and the Germans the surprise of their lives.”
“But how are we going to find our camp?” questioned Spouter.
“Dead easy. If that is the road to Haven Point, it must pass through Rackville, and if it does that, it must come pretty close to our camp. Come on!”
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Itmust be admitted that Jack, Fred, and Gif were much startled when they suddenly found themselves confronted by an armed German who looked as if he meant what he said when he commanded them to throw up their hands.
On first going aboard the submarine the three cadets had been very cautious, but as they had wandered around without seeing any one aboard the craft, they had come to the conclusion that it was deserted, and consequently they had become less careful both in their actions and their conversation.
Of course their hands went into the air. The German had two pistols, and he looked as if he would be willing to use the weapons upon the slightest provocation. He was a burly, red-faced man, and only about half dressed. Evidently he had been sleeping soundly when they had come aboard.
“You back up there into a corner,” growledthe German. He spoke English quite well, although his accent was Teutonic.
The young cadets did not know what else to do, and so obeyed the command. As they were in uniform, the German took them to be American soldiers, and this disturbed him greatly.
“Are there any more in your party or are you alone?” he demanded.
This question gave Jack a sudden idea.
“Alone?” he cried. “Not much! There are over a hundred of us,” he answered, referring, of course, to the number of cadets at Colby Hall.
“Are you telling the truth?” growled the German, and his voice betrayed his nervousness.
“He sure is telling the truth! Look behind you and see,” said Fred, and began to laugh in a suggestive way.
This laugh took the German off his guard, and he turned swiftly to see who might be behind him. It was the opportunity that the young captain and the young lieutenant had hoped would come, and, taking a perilous chance, they threw themselves on the back of the German, each at the same time catching hold of a hand that held a pistol. Then Gif rushed in; and between them the cadets succeeded in hurling the fellow, muscular though he was, to the floor.
“Give up!” cried Jack suddenly, and, bringingout his flashlight, he placed the cold glass of the end against the German’s neck.
“Kamerad! Kamerad!” yelled the fellow promptly, thinking that it was a pistol which was pressing upon him, and on the instant he released his hold on the two pistols while he stretched out flat on his chest on the floor of the submarine.
Jack lost no time in picking up one of the pistols, while Fred picked up the other. The flashlight was turned over to Gif, who, meanwhile, had armed himself with a steel bar.
“Now the question is—what are we going to do with this fellow?” remarked Jack, after the short encounter had come to an end. It must be confessed that he and the others were much worked up over the situation, for they had not dreamed of coming in such personal contact with one of the enemy.
“We’ve got to get out of here, and do it quick,” returned Gif. “Those other Germans may come back at any minute.”
“Yes, but we’ll have to take this fellow along,” said Fred. “No use of leaving him here to give an alarm.”
“We’ll gag him!” declared the young captain. And without loss of time the three cadets fixed up a gag such as they sometimes used when they were initiating a new member of one of the secret societies of the military academy. Then the German’s hands were bound tightly behind him, and he was ordered to get up and march.
“Wait a minute,” said Fred. “We’ll have to fix things here so it won’t look suspicious. We’ll make it look as if this chap had just stepped out for some fresh air.”
This was done, and a few minutes later the whole party left the submarine, Gif going ahead and the Rovers following the prisoner, each with a pistol ready for use. In this fashion they passed over the gangplank, and then made their way alongside of the underground pond until they came to the spot where the cadets had first discovered the Germans.
“I don’t believe we ought to leave him here,” declared Jack. “That gag might slip and he might have a chance to make considerable noise, and if he did that the others might take the alarm and sail away before we could get help.”
“We made a mistake!” cried Gif. “I thought we were going to injure some of the machinery, so that they couldn’t use the U-boat.”
“You’re right, Gif! I got so excited I forgot all about that,” declared Jack.
“You can run back now and do it if you want to,” said Fred. “I’ll watch the prisoner.”
The young captain and Gif did as had been suggested. On the submarine they looked over the intricate machinery with care, and presently found some things which they could disarrange and which would probably not be noticed immediately. They went to work with vigor, and came away again in less than ten minutes.
“I guess she’s fixed now,” declared Jack to his cousin, when they had rejoined Fred and the prisoner. “If they start up those engines, that submarine will perform stunts they never dreamed of.”
With the flashlight shining ahead and at times on the prisoner, the Rovers and Gif compelled the German to move along the passageway until they gained the opening near the gully.
“Look out there, will you?” cried Gif suddenly, pointing between the bushes to the bay. “There is a big motor boat cruising up and down! Maybe they can give us aid.”
“It looks to me like a revenue boat,” declared Jack, after a hurried inspection. “Say, maybe they are patrolling the bay!”
“That’s right!”
“I am going to signal to them and find out!” exclaimed Fred; and without waiting for the others to reply, the young lieutenant dashed over the rocks and through the brushwood in the direction of the bay shore. As he did this he took out hishandkerchief and waved it wildly, at the same time calling at the top of his lungs.
The motor boat, a long, rakish-looking craft, was cruising quite close to the shore, and presently some of those on board noticed Fred’s call for aid. The motor of the craft was shut off, and the boat drifted up to the shore.
“What do you want?” demanded one of the men on board, sharply.
“We want help, and we want it right away!” declared Fred. And then he added as he got a better view of those aboard the boat: “Are you United States officers?”
“What do you want to know that for?” was the counter question.
“Well, if you are, we want your help, and want it right away.”
“Why? Have you discovered anything unusual?” demanded one of the officers on the boat, and his manner showed his intense interest.
“We certainly have! And more than that, we have made a prisoner—a German.”
“You don’t mean it!” said one of the other men aboard the motor boat, and then looked more sharply at Fred than ever. “We’ll have to investigate this,” he added to his companions.
There were three officers and a crew of eight aboard the boat, which was quickly brought long-side the rock on which Fred was standing. As the officers leaped ashore, the young lieutenant saluted and was saluted in return. Then Fred told who he was and again asked the men if they were United States officers.
“If you’ve got a German prisoner, and you know he is really a German sympathizer, you had better take us to him at once,” said one of the men, and, turning back his coat, he exhibited his badge.
Feeling that the craft was one really belonging to our government and that the officers were Secret Service men, Fred told his story, at the same time leading the way to where he had left Jack, Gif, and the prisoner.
“Bailey was right, after all,” said one of the Secret Service men to his fellow officers. “He always declared that that wrecked submarine was in hiding somewhere around these waters.”
“Then you know about the submarine?” queried Fred quickly.
“If it’s the craft we think it is,” was the reply. “That U-boat had an encounter with one of our submarine destroyers, and in trying to escape we think she hit some of the rocks on the reef beyond here. Some of the naval people were of the opinion that she had gone down, but others thought she had escaped to some base, which, of course, was unknown to our authorities. We have always had a suspicion that there was some sort of a base around here. We were cruising to-day trying to locate it.”
It was decided that the Secret Service men should take charge of matters, and that they would sail to the nearest town on the bay so that they might obtain additional help with which to round up all the Germans and those in league with them.
“This will prove a very important capture,” said Mr. Blarcomb, who was the head officer of the crowd. “And you, young men, can rest assured that you will get full credit for what you have done.”
“If you don’t mind, I wish you would drop us off at our camp,” said Jack. “It will save us a whole lot of tramping.”
“We’ll do that willingly.”
It did not take the motor boat long to cover the distance to the front of the camp where the cadets were in the habit of bathing. A few were now in the water, and they looked in wonder at the sudden appearance of the Rovers and Gif.
“There is Captain Dale now!” cried Jack, when they had landed and the motor boat had gone on its way. “My! won’t he be surprised at the story we have to tell?”
“Maybe he has already heard it, from Andy and Randy and Spouter,” suggested Gif.
But the old West Pointer had heard nothing, for the others had not yet come in from the forest. He listened in amazement to the story the boys had to tell.
“I would like to be at that round-up myself,” he declared. “I trust that they capture every one of the rascals.” And then he added with a smile: “This is certainly a feather in your caps, lads.”
It was only a little later when the twins and Spouter came in. They, of course, were also excited.
“Got one of the Germans and got the Secret Service men on the trail!” declared Fred proudly.
“Good enough!” cried Andy. “But say! we have got our little story to tell, too;” and then he and the others related what had been discovered at the cabin in the woods.
“This certainly is important,” declared Captain Dale. “Who would ever suppose that Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell were in league with these Germans! They certainly ought to be captured.”
“And I’d like to be there when they are caught,” declared Randy.
“Well, perhaps you will be,” answered Captain Dale significantly.
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Eventhough somewhat old and likewise rheumatic, Captain Dale was still a man of action, and less than half an hour later he had perfected an arrangement with the Secret Service authorities both at Rackville and at Camp Huxwell. Three automobiles were requisitioned and a detail of sixteen men, accompanied by several Secret Service authorities soon left Camp Huxwell, stopping on the way at the edge of Camp Barlight. They took on board the Rovers and their chums, and likewise Captain Dale, all of whom were anxious to see the wind-up of this remarkable happening.
While still some distance from the cabin, the automobiles were brought to a standstill, and the officers and soldiers, as well as the cadets and Captain Dale, alighted, and all took to the shelter of the brushwood.
A wait of nearly half an hour ensued, and during that time the three automobiles were run deep into the woods, where they would not be noticedby any passersby. Then Randy, who had been sent down the road, came back on the run.
“An auto is coming!” he announced.
He was right, and a minute later, the machine, driven by Slugger Brown, came into sight and ran up to the side of the cabin. Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell alighted, leaving Slugger and Nappy in the car as before.
“Don’t let ’em keep you here all night, Dad!” cried Nappy.
“Make ’em come to terms quick,” said Slugger. “They have no right to hold back on you.”
“You leave this business to us—we know what we are doing,” answered Mr. Brown.
Of course, those who had come to the place from the two camps had not shown themselves. All were secreted behind the trees and bushes on the opposite side of the cabin. Now they watched intently while Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell entered the cabin, and as they did this they noted a steadyput-puton the forest road, and soon a motorcycle came into sight, ridden by a middle-aged man carrying a satchel over his shoulder.
“That must be the fellow who went to the bank to get the money,” whispered Andy.
The Secret Service men had arranged their plans with care. At a given signal four of the soldiers from Camp Huxwell surrounded theautomobile occupied by Slugger and Nappy, who as before were making themselves comfortable in the tonneau and smoking cigarettes. To say that those two unworthies were surprised, would be putting it mildly. Slugger leaped to his feet in amazement, while Nappy set up a howl of terror, begging the soldiers not to shoot them.
“We haven’t done anything wrong!” howled Nappy. “Please don’t point that gun at me!”
“I don’t understand this,” said Slugger nervously. “There must be some mistake.”
“The only mistake is the one you made, young man,” declared one of the soldiers briefly.
In the meantime there was an interesting scene going on in the main room of the cabin. The German in charge of the place and the fellow who had come in on the motorcycle were talking earnestly to Slogwell Brown and Nelson Martell. The men from New York had a number of documents on a table, and were trying to prove that the Germans owed them over eleven thousand dollars, while the Germans were equally emphatic in declaring that the amount due was less than ten thousand dollars.
“You’ve got to pay the full amount,” growled Mr. Brown. “I won’t take off a cent!”
“That’s the talk!” broke in Mr. Martell. “And you ought not to kick, either. We have takenterrible chances in having these things supplied to you.”
“Yes, and don’t forget that you would never have had this secret base on Barlight Bay if it hadn’t been for me,” put in Slogwell Brown.
“We’re not forgetting anything,” said one of the Germans. “And if you insist upon it that we owe you that amount, we will pay it.”
The man who had come in on the motorcycle had opened his valise, and now he took out several packages of banknotes. Evidently Brown and Martell were to be paid in cash. Probably they had refused to accept anything in the way of a check.
The money had just been paid over and some receipts given when the leader of the Secret Service men gave the order, and the cabin was immediately surrounded.
“Hands up in there, everybody!” was the stern command.
If Slugger and Nappy had been surprised, their fathers were even more so, while the two Germans were taken completely off their guard. Each of the latter was armed, but one look at the United States officers with their pistols and the soldiers with their rifles was too much for them, and with grunts of disgust they threw their hands into the air.
“Who—what—I—er—I don’t understand this,” stammered Slogwell Brown, turning pale.
“There—there—must be—er—some mistake,” faltered Nelson Martell, and then with shaking knees he sank slowly back on a bench.
A brief war of words followed, Brown and Martell doing everything they could think of to explain the situation so that they might not be placed under arrest. But their guilt was so bare-faced that the government officers would hardly listen to them. Both they and the Germans were searched and all their weapons were taken from them. Then the prisoners were handcuffed together, and the officers made a thorough search of the cabin, picking up everything it contained of value. One took charge of the documents found and also the money which had been passed over to Mr. Brown.
“A fine piece of business for a so-called American to be in!” said the head Secret Service man to Brown and Martell sternly. “I wouldn’t be in your shoes for a billion dollars.”
“It’s—it’s—all a mistake. I’ll—er—explain everything later,” said Slogwell Brown weakly.
As for Nelson Martell, he was on the verge of a collapse, and had to be supported when all left the cabin.
In the meanwhile other interesting happeningswere taking place in the vicinity of the wrecked submarine. There a number of Secret Service men and other officers of the law under the leadership of Mr. Blarcomb, did what they could to round up all those connected with the U-boat. There was something of a running fight, and quite a few shots were exchanged. In this fight two of the Germans were seriously wounded, and one of the Secret Service men got a bullet through his shoulder. But in the end all of the enemy were captured, and then the authorities took charge of the disabled submarine, and also the underground workshop, where the Germans had been laboring so hard to get their undersea boat once more into shape to sail.
It was after midnight before all these happenings came to an end and the evildoers had either been placed in jail or under a strong military guard. The capture, of course, was kept as secret as possible by the government officials.
“And to think that the fathers of Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown are guilty!” cried Ruth Stevenson, when Jack met her later on and told her some of the particulars. “Isn’t it dreadful? What will they do with them?”
“Most likely they will be interned for the period of the war, and maybe they will get regular jail sentences,” answered the young captain.
“And what will they do with Nappy and Slugger?”
“Oh, they will probably be interned also.”
After the men at the cabin in the forest and the Germans from the wrecked submarine had been rounded up, Jed Kessler was called in, and without hesitation he recognized two of the men he had seen at the ammunition plant just before the explosion occurred. One fellow was a clean-shaven man, but it was proved that he was in the habit of wearing a heavy wig and a heavy false beard.
“That fellow is one of the two we saw in New York talking to Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell!” cried Randy. And he was right, as it afterwards proved.
For catching these two men who, it was later proved, had caused the wreckage at the ammunition plant, the reward offered was divided equally between Jed Kessler, the four Rovers and Gif and Spouter, much to their satisfaction.
“This gives each of us a very neat bank account,” declared Spouter. “I’m going to save most of it, but some of it I’ll spend this summer on my vacation.”
“Maybe we’ll all do that,” put in Andy.
From the authorities it was learned that Slogwell Brown had owned a large portion of theshore front lying between Camp Huxwell and Camp Barlight. He had sold all his holdings to the government, but this had not prevented the unscrupulous man from making a deal with some German agents for the use of the cave under the cliff by our country’s enemies.
“He was a rascal both ways,” declared Captain Dale, in talking the matter over with the Rovers. “He took the government’s money at one end and the Germans’ money at the other. It is right that he goes to jail.”
And to jail Slogwell Brown went, accompanied by Nelson Martell, each to serve a number of years at hard labor. Slugger and Nappy were sent to a detention camp in the South; and that for the time being was the last the Rovers heard of them.
Although there was considerable excitement around the encampment caused by the discovery of the German submarine base, the cadets were not allowed to forego their drilling and their army maneuvers. Nor did they give up the athletic contests they had promised themselves. There were swimming races and boat races, and likewise several baseball matches, and also contests in running, high and broad jumping, and in a tug-of-war.
“I’ll tell you one thing—this encampment is onelong to be remembered,” remarked Jack, when the outing had almost come to an end.
The next day came a message from Camp Huxwell. The fathers of the Rovers, as well as many of their friends, were to depart immediately for Hoboken, there to take one of the big transports for France. Of course, the boys, as well as their sisters and their mothers, went to see Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover off.
“The best of luck to you, Dad!” cried Jack, when the time came for parting. “I hope you make a good record for yourselves.”
“You can rest assured, Son, we will do our best,” answered Dick Rover.
Then there were numerous handshakes, the waving of handkerchiefs, and while the girls and the women were trying hard to smile and to keep back the tears, the soldiers departed on the train.
“Gee, I wish I was going along!” sighed Fred. But this, of course, could not be, for all the boys were much too young to join the army.
By leaving Camp Barlight that day the Rovers had missed one of the important baseball games, but for this they did not care. They tried to join in the festivities that evening, but it was a failure. Their thoughts were with their fathers. Would they come back from the war in safety?
“All we can do is to hope for the best,”remarked Randy; and there the matter was allowed to rest.
Of course, the boys were eager for news concerning the Browns and the Martells, and also the Germans who had been captured, and they eagerly devoured every shred of information that came their way.
“Well, one thing is certain—we are well rid of Slugger and Nappy and their fathers,” remarked Jack.
“Yes, and I guess we are rid of Gabe Werner, too,” returned Fred. “He seems to have dropped out entirely.”
But in his remark concerning Werner the young lieutenant was mistaken. Gabe Werner turned up in their path most unexpectedly, and how will be related in the next volume in this series, to be entitled “The Rover Boys on a Hunt; or, The Mysterious House in the Woods.”
In that volume we shall learn what the Rover boys did on a most important outing, and also learn something of what happened to their fathers while fighting on the great battlefields of France.
“Well, boys, I’ve got pretty good news to-day,” remarked Randy, rushing into the camp one afternoon and holding up a letter. “Mr. Powell has invited all of us to spend ten days or two weeks at his camp on Lake George this summer. May is going to have all the girls there, including Mary and Martha and Ruth, and Mr. Powell wants every one of us to come up and take part in the good times.”
“Gee, that suits me right to the top of the flagstaff!” burst out his twin brother. And then, in high spirits, Andy turned several flipflaps, and ended by beginning a wrestling match with Fred.
“Well, we’ll be there, all right enough!” cried Jack.
“Will we?” came from Fred. “Just wait and see!”
Then the drums rattled, and the young captain and the young lieutenant, followed by the others, rushed off to get ready for the evening roll call and parade. And here, for the time being, we will leave the Rover boys and say good-bye.