This they had inspected. Finding it untenanted, they had proceeded on down the canyon. When still some distance from the landing, they had encountered “Black George” and his men in superior numbers, and had fallen back in the stockade.
“That was when we first heard your shots. Then they grew more distant as you retreated,” said Bob.
Ensign Warwick and his party, he continued, had been ambushed as they pushed up the canyon, but had cut their way through and taken refuge in the stockade.
“Knowing the Sub Chaser was guarded and would wait for us, we determined to wait for daylight before attacking the smugglers,” continued Inspector Burton. “We were at a disadvantage through unfamiliarity with our surroundings. Fortunate for all concerned, you boys were on the job. Otherwise we in the stockade would not have known that the major portion of the attacking party had gone to the landing, and it might have gone hard with Robbins and his handful of sailors.”
“I suppose, Inspector, that the breaking up of this gang of coolie smugglers is a matter of some importance,” suggested Mr. Temple.
“Some importance, indeed,” Inspector Burton said.
He was silent a little while, gazing out of the window at the palm trees on the lawn and the bright sunshine flooding all.
“A great feather in my cap, and sure to bring me advancement,” he said, smiling. “The credit really belongs to you, boys, but matters of that sort are not recognized in official circles. I, as the man on the ground, will be the one rewarded.”
“And quite rightly, too,” said Mr. Temple, warmly. The genial Secret Service man had commended himself by his actions. “I am sure,” he added, “that these boys feel anything they were able to do was owing to the accidents of fortune.”
“We were in great luck, sir, to be permitted to have a hand in the ending of the adventure.”
“Very good of you, boys, to take it like that,” approved Inspector Burton. “But, remember, I have no illusions about the matter. I know of what help you have been.
“At any rate,” he continued, “the capture of this gang is of the greatest importance. Smuggling of Chinese coolies into the country has been growing alarmingly. Who would have thought the smugglers would be so bold as to operate a distributing point on Santa Cruz Island? Yet, after all, what better place could they have found? Isolated, practically uninhabited, it was admirably suited to their purpose.