CHAPTER XIX
THE SOUND DETECTOR DETECTS
During the three-hour run east-southeast to Santa Barbara, which the SubChaser reached between two and three o'clock that afternoon, the foglifted and the sun shone again, not only on the surrounding scene but onthe spirits of the three chums as well.
For one thing, Mr. Temple was persuaded not to hurry their departure bytrain for San Francisco that night but to lay over in Santa Barbara aday. For another, the boys received from Inspector Burton's confidencesthe impression that in the next twenty-four hours developments of momentwould occur in the situation into which they had been drawn. And, beingon the ground, they believed they would be witnesses to suchdevelopments at least, if not active participants.
For the Secret Service man confided that Inventor Bender's sounddetector had succeeded beyond his expectations and, incidentally, hadentirely upset his previous calculations by what it revealed. He hadbelieved, as earlier in San Francisco he had told them, that thesmugglers' cove was somewhere near San Diego in all probability. But thesound detector very definitely had located it as in the group of wildislands off Santa Barbara.
"Those are the islands," he said, pointing to three mountainousformations rising from the sea to starboard. "Wild, craggy, isolated andlarge; sparsely inhabited, and not on any steamer track; not a town noreven a hamlet on any of them.
"They lie along this coast in a chain stretching seventy miles. Thereare three large ones, San Miguel, the most northern, Santa Rosa andSanta Cruz--the latter the largest and wildest. Then beyond Santa Cruz onthe south lies the mysterious vanishing island, Anacapa. At high tide itis a group of little islands, almost submerged. At low tide, sandpitsconnecting the low hummocks are revealed. This gives it the name of'Vanishing Island.'"
"And is it on 'Vanishing Island' you believe the smugglers are located?"asked Frank.
Inspector Burton shook his head.
"No, that island is practically uninhabitable, and, besides, would betoo open to observation. It is on one of the other three, although whichhas yet to be determined. Good as is Inventor Bender's sound detector,he said he was unable to locate the smugglers' secret radio station moreaccurately than to say it was somewhere in that group. He gave me hisreasons, but I know so little about radio that I could not follow himwell."
"I know a bit about the subject of sound detectors," said Jack."Although it was not generally known, radio compasses were employed byour forces and by the Allies, too, during the closing years of the warto locate sounds. However, such compasses were not very accurate, andfrom Inventor Bender's description of his own improved device I receivedthe impression that he had made a great advance.
"Probably," he continued, "Inventor Bender could obtain almost the exactlocation of the smugglers' radio if he were able to surround thesuspected area with sound detectors. The detectors, then, would hunt outthe exact hub where the secret radio was in operation. But, if he hasbrought only one or two detectors into play----"
"Three," interrupted Inspector Burton, who had followed Jack'sexplanation with keen interest. "They are at San Francisco, at Ventura,down the coast, and in the Santa Ynez mountains behind Santa Barbara."
"Then," said Jack, "the probability is that, while able to state thesecret radio is somewhere in those islands, he cannot say definitelywhich one. Which one do you consider the most likely?" he queried,turning to Inspector Burton.
"I have not formed an opinion," he said. "All three are admirablyadapted for the purposes of this Chinese-smuggling outfit. They arethirty to fifty miles from shore, unvisited as I said. I believe thereis a launch takes occasional sightseers to Santa Cruz, the nearest, fromSanta Barbara. But they cannot stray far from the landing place and theisland, which is some twenty-seven miles long and five to fifteen mileswide, with a range of mountains all along its length, can keep itssecrets without fear of discovery by tourists."
"Isn't it strange we have not caught sight of the trawler, if it washeading for a refuge in those islands?" asked Bob.
Ensign Warwick answered.
"No, the obvious thing for it to do would be to take an opposite coursein the fog, stand out to sea, and run in under cover of darknesstonight."
"Moreover," added Inspector Burton, "the smugglers' cove probably is onthe seaward side, while we are running down the channel."
"Yes," interrupted Mr. Temple, who had been leaning over the port rail,watching the shore, and conversing with Doctor Marley whom he found asurprisingly good companion when drawn out, "and we'll soon be in. Boys,go forward and watch the shore and town. I'm delighted now that you havean opportunity to see Santa Barbara, especially from this viewpoint. Itis one of the most beautiful cities in the world."
The Sub Chaser had rounded a point of land, and the curving beach ofSanta Barbara now came into view. Nearest them was a two-story structureof light-colored stone which Inspector Burton pointed out as theNatatorium.
A little park surrounded the structure and south of it, along thewaterfront, extended a boulevard flanked by palm trees of nobleproportions. Farther down the boulevard, amid a variety of tropicalfoliage, rose a splendid hotel of huge proportions.
Back from the beach, rising steadily but gently toward the hills in therear, lay the town, embowered in trees. The foothills were crowned withgreat houses that, in many cases, amounted to palaces. Behind all laythe mountains of the Santa Ynez range, seeming almost to encircle thetown. Everywhere was a profusion of color, red-tiled roofs of housesbuilt in mission style vying with the flame of poinsettias. And over allwas a drowsy, somnolent warmth of sunshine under which the town seemedto be taking a siesta.
Only a few bathers were in sight on the sands before the Natatorium, andInspector Burton explained that Santa Barbara was a winter resort,rather than a summer one. It was July. Until September, he said, thetown would drowse under the summer sun with little activity apparent.Then the wealthy Americans from all parts of the country who maintainedhomes at Santa Barbara, and at nearby Montecito, would begin to arrive,and the town would resume its winter gaiety.
The boat swung in to a long pier. The beat of the gasoline engines wasstilled. The speed slackened until presently the rakish craft came torest by the side of a floating platform, from which a flight of stairsled to the high pier above. Ropes were thrown which several workmen onthe pier seized, and the boat was made fast. Then a little ladder waslowered to the float, and Inspector Burton and Jack made their wayashore. Jack had been commissioned to buy lightweight summer clothes,shirts and shoes and hats for Mr. Temple and his two chums. He promisedto return as quickly as possible and, waving a hand in farewell, set offalong the pier with the Secret Service man.
He was not long in executing his commissions and returned in a taxicabwhich rattled out to the pier and was kept waiting while Mr. Temple andthe other boys donned the clothing Jack had purchased. All praised hisselections. Then the taxi carried them back uptown to the VictoriaHotel, some distance up State Street, the wide main thoroughfare. EnsignWarwick accompanied them.
There, by pre-arrangement, they were met by Inspector Burton. Afterlunching, the entire group retired to the sitting-room of Mr. Temple'ssuite to await the arrival of Inventor Bender, who had been summoned bytelephone.
"You boys have been of such tremendous assistance so far," saidInspector Burton, "that the least I can do in return is to let you knowwhat the inventor has discovered. He ought to be here shortly."
Presently from their windows overlooking the park-like grounds of thehotel, they saw a huge, dust-covered automobile roll up to the _portecochere_, and recognized Inventor Bender beside the chauffeur.
"He made good time down from the mountains," said Inspector Burton,glancing at his watch.
A few moments later the inventor was shown to the sitting room, andentered with an air of triumph and suppressed excitement.
"Well," he cried, without even waiting to exchange greetings, "we havegot them."
The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty Page 19