CHAPTER XXI.

A BIG SURPRISE.

“What dock are you going to make for?” asked Harry, as they drew nearer and nearer to the American side of the river.

“I guess the Piquetville Yacht Club’s dock will be just about right,” was Ralph’s rejoinder. “There’s deep water off there, you know, and we can anchor and go ashore,—that is, you fellows can go ashore.”

“Aren’t you going?” demanded Harry in surprise.

“No. It is necessary for me to remain on board the _River Swallow_ and see that the rascals don’t attempt any monkey tricks while you are gone.”

“But it may be dangerous,” protested Harry.

“Pshaw! There’s not much danger to fear from a rat like Malvin.”

“But Hawke?”

“Depend upon it, he has good reasons for not wanting to be seen. I don’t apprehend any trouble with him. Now go below and tell Percy what we’ve decided on.”

Harry would have liked to add more protests about leaving their young leader alone on the _River Swallow_ with the men, who, as they all knew, had deep cause to hate the railroad man’s son. But there was no choice in the matter for him, for, as they all knew, when Ralph’s mind was made up to anything, he could not be swerved from his determination.

In due time the _River Swallow_ lay to off the lights of the Piquetville Yacht Club. The place was brightly illuminated and so was the town that lay behind it. Piquetville was a bustling, busy place. It maintained plenty of business and was very up-to-date in every way.

Down rattled the anchor.

“I wonder what Malvin thinks is in the wind,” said Harry, as he slipped into a shore-going coat and Percy appeared on deck by his side all ready to board the tender as soon as it should be lowered.

“You can depend upon it that he is sharp enough to know that something is up, but you can also bet that he will be too sharp to show it,” was Ralph’s rejoinder.

“Lower away the tender!” he hailed as Malvin reported the anchor down.

“Aye, aye, sir,” came in cheerful, willing tones.

If they had not known Malvin to be such a rascal, they would have found it hard to believe that the owner of such a cheerful voice could be the schemer they knew him to be, and the criminal that they suspected more than strongly he was.

“Good-bye.”

“Take care of yourself.”

These were the leave takings between the boys accompanied by a warm pressure of hands that meant more than words. A few moments later the tender was chugging off ashore and Ralph was left alone on board the _River Swallow_. He would have given a good deal to know what Malvin thought of the night’s proceedings. He knew the fellow was far too shrewd not to guess that something was about due to break. But if Malvin really had such ideas, he kept them to himself with admirable coolness.

After the tender had departed, he came aft to where Ralph was sitting in a deck chair and inquired if there was anything more to be done.

“No; if all is snug, you may take a nap, Malvin, or amuse yourself as you see fit.”

“Thank you, sir. I reckon I’ll turn in and get forty winks, sir,” rejoined Malvin.

He touched his cap and hurried off forward.

“Now who would suspect that that man is the central figure in a big smuggling scheme of some sort?” thought Ralph as the man departed. “He is certainly an admirable actor.”

Ralph leaned back in his chair and watched the twinkling lights ashore. It was a beautiful night, calm, peaceful and starlit. The water shimmered like a sheet of silver. Hardly a ripple disturbed the mirror-like surface of the St. Lawrence, which, at this point, was fully two and a half miles wide, a mighty lake of swift flowing water.

It was delightful to be seated there in the _River Swallow’s_ comfortable cockpit. But somehow Ralph did not think much of the scene about him. His mind was busy with the dilemma of which his father’s despatch had informed him.

What an odd turn of fate it seemed, that, while he and his chums were on the trail of a gang of miscreants who had been using Dexter Island as a rendezvous, his father should be arrested in Montreal for the very crime which they were trying to lay at the door of Malvin and Co.!

“I wonder how long this sort of thing has been going on,” mused Ralph; “probably for some time, perhaps ever since Malvin, two years ago, entered my father’s service. I remember Dad congratulated himself on obtaining a man of such education and refinement to handle the _River Swallow_. He was rather astonished, too, that a fellow who was so intelligent and apparently well educated should be willing to take such a post. It’s all clear enough now.

“The job Dad gave him afforded Malvin just the opportunity he wanted to carry on his smuggling schemes without being suspected of a connection with any such dealings. No wonder he had it in for us when we came and deposed him from his position of boss of the _River Swallow_! It meant that he could no longer have things all his own way. That henceforth he would be liable to be watched, and that the visits of the _Artful Dodger_ to Dexter Island would be likely to be observed and suspicion aroused.”

He had been watching the lights of the tender as the speedy little craft sped toward the shore. Now he saw them pause alongside the yacht club dock and come to a standstill.

“The boys have got ashore,” he thought, “in a few minutes they will be in consultation with the customs authorities. Then we shall see what the next step in this little drama is going to be. I rather think that, by this time to-morrow, Messrs. Malvin and Co. will have seen a great light.”

In the meantime, Harry Ware and Percy Simmons had made their boat fast and clambered up on the dock.

A man in a uniform that they recognized as that of a U. S. Customs Inspector stepped up to them the instant they set foot on shore.

“Off the _River Swallow_?” he asked.

“Yes,” rejoined Percy, “we——”

“That is all, be good enough to come with me.”

“Why—what——” began the boys, but the official sternly cut them off.

“No questions now, the chief inspector wants to see you at once. I guess, too, I’ll be sending somebody out to watch the _River Swallow_.”

“What have we done? What’s the matter?” demanded Harry.

“Never mind. You’ll know soon enough,” was the brusque reply, as the official bade them come with him and “make no trouble.”