  “How we got ourselves hooked with a guy like Captain Carter I’ll never know,” Jack commented in disgust. “But if he figures we’re going to back out on the expedition, or let him take over, he can guess again.” “I wonder when he’ll get our gear ashore?” Ken speculated. “Probably when he’s good and ready to ask clearance from the port inspectors. He won’t hurry. You can be sure of that.” The Scouts turned once more toward the sea. Before they had walked far, they spied Warwick and Willie and hailed them. “Hi!” War greeted the pair. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you two. Hap sent a message.” “Where is he?” Jack asked quickly. “Still with those government men?” Willie nodded. “He figures on being tied up half the day. Our little party may stall right here at Cuertos.” “How come?” “Well, the authorities aren’t keen on having us start for the high sierras. Captain Carter’s name seems to be poison here. We’re under a cloud because of our association with him.” “He’s here, by the way,” Ken informed the pair. “As unco-operative as ever, too.” “When did the boat get in?” Willie demanded eagerly. “Only a few minutes ago,” Ken answered. “Captain Carter’s visiting his ‘friends’ around town. After he’s talked out, maybe he’ll get around to moving our stuff ashore.” The sun by this time was high overhead. Bored by inactivity, the Scouts returned to their hotel for lunch. Throughout the afternoon, they waited for Mr. Livingston. Twice he sent word that he had been delayed longer than expected. “The expedition’s run into a snag,” Willie remarked in discouragement. “We may never get out of this hole!” By dinner time, the Explorers were thoroughly disturbed by Mr. Livingston’s long absence. A note assured them that he would be at the hotel without fail by nine o’clock. “I’ve run into unexpected difficulties,” he wrote. “Hope to have everything ironed out so we can leave Cuertos within forty-eight hours.” After eating, the Scouts strolled to the market, and then to the water front. In the fast gathering shadows, they could dimly make out the Shark riding at anchor. “Let’s go aboard,” Willie suddenly proposed. “How’ll we get there?” Ken asked. “Swim? No, thanks! I’m not offering myself as shark bait.” Willie, however, had sighted a fisherman whose motorboat was tied up nearby. “Let’s make a deal with him to take us out there,” he suggested. “Captain Carter may not like it,” Jack reminded him. “He wouldn’t let us go aboard once before.” “We can try,” Willie insisted. “Come on! Anything’s better than just standing around.” The others followed willingly enough. By means of Jack’s Spanish and a dollar from Ken, they were able to persuade the fisherman to take them out to the Shark. As the craft came alongside, Jack loudly hailed the vessel. At first there was no answer. Finally, a lone sailor thrust his head over the railing to peer suspiciously down at the visitors. In Spanish he demanded to know what they wanted. Jack asked for Captain Carter, only to be told that he was not aboard. “I can’t make out all he’s saying,” the Scout crew leader reported to his chums. “I gather though, that he’s alone. The others must have been given shore leave.” “Let’s go aboard,” War urged. Before the others could deter him, he seized a rope, and went up hand over hand. Oblivious to a torrent of Spanish which poured from the lips of the Shark’s watch, he then lowered a ladder for his friends. Ken and Willie quickly climbed aboard. Jack hesitated. Before reluctantly following, he instructed the boatman to wait. “I feel like a pirate coming here while Captain Carter is gone,” he admitted, leaping lightly down on the gently rolling deck. “He has it in for us now. If he finds us here, he’ll have just cause for complaint.” “We have a right to find out about our cargo,” Willie insisted. “Haven’t we waited all day? I need some of my stuff.” “We can’t take anything,” Jack pointed out. “Every box will have to pass customs.” “Inspection doesn’t amount to much in this port,” Willie scoffed. “Let’s see if we can locate our boxes.” “Even if we do, we’re not taking any of them from the Shark,” Jack said firmly. “Okay,” Willie agreed. “It won’t do any harm to look around though.” Descending to the hole, the Scouts quickly found a compartment where a pile of boxes had been stored. All were marked in the name of the Scout organization. “Say, this one is water-stained,” War observed, pointing to a box on the top of the stack. “It’s the one that went overboard when Captain Carter loaded for the trip.” “Hope nothing was ruined,” War said anxiously. “Let’s have a look.” “Better not,” Ken advised. “It’s our stuff, isn’t it?” War demanded, taking out his Scout knife. He began to pry off the top boards. Finally, one came loose. Willie focused the beam of his flashlight on the opening. “Say! What’s this?” he exclaimed. “We must have broken into the wrong box.” “This isn’t our stuff,” War confirmed. “But the box is marked with our name! How do you figure it?” His curiosity piqued, the boy went to work energetically prying loose another board. As he ripped it loose, the others obtained their first clear view of what was inside the box. In amazement and silence, they beheld the contents. Then War burst out indignantly: “Well, I’m a jumping horn toad! That two-timing, double-crossing Captain Carter!” The box contained several sawed off shot guns and ammunition. “This can’t be our equipment!” Jack declared. “How’d it get into boxes marked in the Scout name?” “We didn’t bring in a single weapon,” Ken said soberly. “I know, because I helped Hap check every box.” “This looks bad—mighty bad,” Jack murmured. “No wonder Captain Carter wouldn’t let me help pull this box out of the water,” Willie asserted. “He was afraid we’d find out what it held.” “Maybe these other boxes don’t contain what they’re supposed to, either!” War said suspiciously. “I’ll bet Captain Carter has been using us to promote some scheme of his own!” “This may explain those unsavory rumors that have been floating around Cuertos,” Jack added thoughtfully. “Captain Carter must be mixed up in some dirty business, just as Father Francisco hinted.” “And we’re tied up with him,” Ken declared. “No wonder Hap is having such a tough time getting clearance for our expedition. If the authorities find this ammunition in Scout boxes, we’ll be finished here!” Quickly, he pulled another box out where it could be opened. With War’s help, he pried the top boards wide enough apart so he could run a hand inside. “More guns,” he announced grimly. A third and a fourth box likewise were inspected. One contained ammunition and the other, hand grenades. No longer could the Scouts have the slightest doubt. Unquestionably, under cover of the Scout name, Captain Carter was bringing illegal cargo into the country! The discovery of guns and ammunition in the Shark’s hold, thoroughly alarmed the Explorers. “No wonder we’re in bad here!” Willie burst forth. “It’s because of our hook-up with the captain! I’ll bet he’s smuggling this stuff in to help Revolutionists!” “If officials find these boxes with the Scout name on ’em, we’ll be pulled into this ugly business too!” added War. “Another thing,” contributed Ken grimly. “Once Captain Carter discovers we’ve opened this ammunition, he may not let us have our stuff. He’ll be nasty.” “I sure wish Hap were here,” Jack said uneasily. “I wish—” He stiffened. A small boat had grated against the Shark’s hull. “Must be our boatman,” War muttered. “We told him to stay.” The Scouts waited rather tensely, listening. A moment later they heard heavy steps on the deck above them. Motioning for the others to remain where they were, Jack moved noiselessly to the companionway. Cautiously, he peered out on deck. His worst fears were confirmed. It was not their boatman who had come aboard, but Captain Carter! |
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