"He is probably the most efficient man now in the service of the United States government," returned Lieutenant Winters.
"H"m, yes-I see. You will pardon me for seeming inquisitive, and particularly when you have come to question me, rather than allow me to question you, but are you not comparatively new to the service on the St. Lawrence?"
"Yes, sir; I have been here only a few months," replied the lieutenant.
"H"m, yes; transferred from the gulf service, I believe?"
"Why, yes, but I was not aware that such knowledge was in your possession."
"I know a great many things, Lieutenant Winters, that I am not credited with knowing. I know, for instance, that when you were transferred to this part of the country, you were given a letter to be delivered in person to Stanwood Gray, if you chanced to meet him."
"I-I-why, I beg your pardon, sir, but-"
The lieutenant paused in confusion.
What manner of man was this smuggler chief, who knew so many of the government secrets? No wonder he had been able to so long elude the officials.
Mr. Lawrence suddenly arose. The lieutenant got up just as quickly, and his hand flew instinctively to his belt, where it reposed lightly on the handle of his revolver.
Mr. Lawrence laughed.
"You will have no need for your weapon, lieutenant," he said, smiling.
"I am not at all the dangerous man I may seem to you; and it may surprise you to learn that Lawrence is not my real name."
"That does not surprise me in the least, sir-in fact, I had already set it down as an alias."
"But what if I were to tell you that I am Stanwood Gray?"
"I would say to you, "Prove it"."
"That, perhaps, can be done easier than you imagine. You were given a secret code by which you might determine at any time the true ident.i.ty of any man you suspected of being the secret service man. You might with profit, try that code on me."
The lieutenant seemed dazed. Could it be possible that Lawrence, the smuggler, was indeed none other than the famous Stanwood Gray? He would try the code and see.
Drawing himself erect, the lieutenant saluted three times in rapid succession. In response Mr. Lawrence saluted twice.
"Can you direct me to the gate?" inquired the lieutenant.
"The gate is four leagues from the south buoy," returned Mr. Lawrence, in language which, to the astonished boys, was unintelligible, but the meaning of which Lieutenant Winters seemed to fully appreciate.
"When was the wreck?" he asked.
"On May the 10th."
"Will you show me the buoy?"
"I will."
Without further ceremony Mr. Lawrence unb.u.t.toned his vest, and took from an inside pocket what appeared to be a small vial. In this vial was a piece of paper, several inches in extent, but which had been rolled tightly to allow its pa.s.sage through the neck of the little gla.s.s tube.
This paper Mr. Lawrence handed to Lieutenant Winters, who seized it and eagerly scanned its contents. It proved to be a certificate of identification, carried by secret service men, and shown only upon the most imperative occasions. The certificate was made out in the name of Mr. Stanwood Gray!
"I believe you now, Mr. Gray, but I wish to say that I have never been more completely surprised in my life," said Lieutenant Winters.
"Then you will readily appreciate the fact that I have to be in a position at all times to become a surprise, both to my friends and to those who are not my friends."
"I do appreciate that."
"And now," said Stanwood Gray, as he noticed the surprised looks on the faces of the Comrades and their chums, "a few words of explanation from me will not come amiss."
"You will pardon me a moment, I know, Mr. Gray," said the lieutenant, "but are you aware that the smugglers have been captured?"
"No; I was not aware of it. When did it occur?"
"Within the last two days, and it was encompa.s.sed by your guests, the boys, without further aid."
"Then if I have surprised you by revealing my true ident.i.ty, you have, in turn, surprised me by this piece of good news. Boys, I congratulate you, and I trust that you are not still wishing that I were a smuggler."
"No; it was one of the biggest disappointments we had ever known when suspicion was connected with you," said Chot.
"Well, perhaps you"d better let me tell my story."
They eagerly agreed, and he told how he had taken the lodge some two years before with the intention of breaking up a notorious band of smugglers. There had been at least a dozen in the band at that time, making their rendezvous on the north island.
Stanwood Gray had won their confidence and good will after much effort, by constructing the secret pa.s.sage and explaining to them the advantages of getting goods across the line by such a method. He was finally looked upon as their leader. Gradually, then, the band had dwindled, as he had captured the smugglers one by one when away on his mysterious trips, carrying to the remainder of the band various stories concerning the death or disappearance of their comrades.
"You will wonder, no doubt, why I have allowed the band to remain in existence so long. It is because there are a number of prominent men behind the smuggling on whom I have never succeeded in collecting evidence. I am happy to say, however that now my proofs have about been completed, and within the next two weeks I expect to make some accusations that will cause a sensation in the newspapers."
The boys were allowed to question Mr. Gray at will. Hoki, they learned had never suspected his true ident.i.ty. When told that they were arranging to send the j.a.p to Winton, Mr. Gray expressed his pleasure and said that he would have been forced soon to dispense with his services.
"What I fail to understand, Mr. Gray," said Lieutenant Winters, "is how you managed to get away with the spoils and return the smugglers enough money to keep them satisfied."
"Money to satisfy the smugglers was often taken from a reserve fund which is kept for such purposes, while the smuggled goods were delivered to parties in the states, minus the duty. In order that this arrangement should not become known to the smugglers, I was forced each time to dispose of the goods to different parties."
"And the motor-boat which you are using-that is in your private service, I suppose?"
"Yes. And that reminds me that I should send for the boat, as I shall be forced to leave the island at once."
"I will save you the trouble of sending for it," said Lieutenant Winters, with a smile. "When you landed I flashed a signal to the captain of the "Lucia" and he overhauled your craft. She is now lying alongside the government launch in the cove on the east end of the island."
"Your plan was very well carried out, and does you great credit. The proper authorities shall know of your good service," said Stanwood Gray.
"Thank you, sir," responded the lieutenant, greatly pleased.
"And as for the boys who have been my guests," said Mr. Gray, "they, also, shall be remembered in a very substantial manner."
"We have often wondered why you ever took us in at all," said Chot.
"Because affairs were approaching a crisis in my case against the smugglers, and I felt that upon my return from this trip I might need your service-and then, as I explained before, I am very fond of boys."