“Why, didn’t Inspector Burton, when we saw him last in San Francisco, say one of the government radio stations which he planned to utilize in employing the sound detector was in the mountains behind Santa Barbara?”
“I don’t remember that,” said Bob, and Jack also shook his head.
“Well, that’s what he said,” declared Frank. “I’m certain of it.”
“In that case,” said Jack, “perhaps through the use of sound detectors at San Francisco and in this mountain station, they were able to locate the smugglers’ radio earlier than had been expected.”
“Or, at any rate, they have obtained some clue which induced Inspector Burton to put back to Santa Barbara,” said Frank. “You see, he said he had boarded the Bear for a port farther up the coast, not San Francisco but some small place near here at which the steamer touches, because he figured he could get there more quickly than by auto—which would be the only other way, as it is not on the railroad. Then he got a code message by radio, calling him back, and he radioed this Sub Chaser to pick him up.”
The boys had been so interested in their discussions they had not noticed a dark bulk looming across the waters in the thinning fog. Now the Sub Chaser slowed to a complete stop and lay, rocking gently in a mild swell, while a small boat put off from it for the Bear.
Presently, the boat returned and Inspector Burton stepped aboard. The big steamer and the little Sub Chaser saluted each other with toots, and parted company. Soon the Bear disappeared.
After greeting Ensign Warwick and his unexpected guests, Inspector Burton asked that they head for Santa Barbara with all speed. Then he turned to the boys.
“Your inventor friend’s device,” said he, “has done wonders. And with what you have told me about your adventures in these very waters, I’ve been able to put two and two together, and to arrive at the conclusion that we are closing in on the smugglers’ mysterious cove.”
During the three-hour run east-southeast to Santa Barbara, which the Sub Chaser reached between two and three o’clock that afternoon, the fog lifted and the sun shone again, not only on the surrounding scene but on the spirits of the three chums as well.
For one thing, Mr. Temple was persuaded not to hurry their departure by train for San Francisco that night but to lay over in Santa Barbara a day. For another, the boys received from Inspector Burton’s confidences the impression that in the next twenty-four hours developments of moment would occur in the situation into which they had been drawn. And, being on the ground, they believed they would be witnesses to such developments at least, if not active participants.