Then at last they came out upon the topmost mountain ridge and as the heavy mist, which Rawlins told them was a cloud, drifted away, they looked upon a vast sea of forest-covered mountains with a glimmering little lake nestled among the verdure in a bowl-like crater at their feet. Here, above the clouds, they ate their lunch and, heedless of the drenching rain, returned down the mountains late in the afternoon. As they came out upon the waterfront, they saw smoke pouring from the funnels of the destroyer.
"Holy mackerel!" exclaimed Rawlins. "They must have heard something. They've got steam up."
Scarcely had the three scrambled into the waiting cutter, when the little craft was speeding towards the destroyer and to Rawlins' questions the petty officer in command replied that the Commander was only awaiting their arrival before sailing.
No sooner had the cutter left the dock than the roar of the winch engines and the incoming cable told of the anchor coming in, and scarcely were the diver and the two boys over the little ship's side and the cutter hooked to the davit falls before the destroyer was forging ahead and making for the open sea.
"What's up?" cried Rawlins as he gained the deck. "Get a message?"
"Yes, an hour ago," replied Mr. Pauling. "Here it is."
The diver and the two boys glanced eagerly over the slip, and read: "_Devonshire_ and crew held according to request. May, Inspector Police. Port of Spain."
"Hurrah!" cried the boys in unison. "They're caught!"
"I'll say they are!" exclaimed Rawlins. "Walked right into our trap!"
Of course, every one was highly elated at the successful outcome of the ruse which Rawlins had suggested and all felt that at last the long chase was over, that the leaders of the gang of "reds" were prisoners under lock and key at Trinidad, and that soon the destroyer would be homeward bound with her mission successfully accomplished. And no one was more pleased at the outcome than Robinson, the chief officer of the _Devonshire_. At the suggestion of the officials in Dominica, it had been decided to keep him and his men on the destroyer until definite news was received of his ship's whereabouts when, as he had pointed out to Mr. Pauling and Commander Disbrow, he and his men could be put aboard the _Devonshire_ and could again assume the duties which had been so tragically interrupted by the rascals from the submarine. Moreover, as the Administrator of Dominica had reminded Mr. Pauling, the presence of Robinson and his men would be needed at whatever port the _Devonshire_ was held, in order to identify the pirates and to testify to the facts.