see that the tide is setting this
way, that there is no eddy, but the regular flow of the tide?"

"By gravy! yes, I do," exclaimed the captain hoarsely. "Keep on, my boy,
and I believe you'll find the place."

Jack watched the water, steered in closer, and suddenly, in rounding a
blunt point, saw the entrance to the cove before him, and noticed that the
tide was running steadily out of it toward the sea.

"Here we are, sir," he said to the captain, and at once the other boat was
signaled, and came up in a few moments.

Both proceeded up the creek side by side, and at length Jack saw the rock
whence he had watched the men in the boat, and pointed it out to Percival,
together with the one like a steeple, which had first called his attention
to the place.

There was room for the two boats abreast, the passage being wide enough
for a good-sized vessel to pass, and they kept on side by side, past the
bend in the inlet, and then on and around another, suddenly coming in
sight of a vessel at anchor.

"That's the _Circe_, the steamer that was taken by the smugglers," said
the captain. "I know her well, though I never sailed in her. They've
painted out her name, but that's her, I'll take my oath."

At a signal from the captain the two boats dashed forward, and were
alongside the steamer before any one on board knew of their approach.

The captain and mate, followed by four men from each boat, scrambled up
the side like monkeys, and made a dash for the cabin as a man came out and
demanded gruffly:

"Hello! who are you, and what do you want?"

"That's Davis," said Jack. "I know his voice. We have made no mistake."

"Of course not," said Percival "Do you see that fender hanging over the
side? These fellows have forgotten it. There is your name _Circe_, as
plain as you please."

"Yes, I see it."

"There are lively times up there, Jack," Dick continued. "I'd like to join
in it."

"Let the men go instead," laughed Jack. "We can look after the boats."

"All right. Up with you, men!" and the invitation was accepted in a
moment.

CHAPTER XIX

THE WAY OUT FOUND

The men scrambled out of the boats and on deck as soon as they had the
boys' permission, and for a minute or two there was the liveliest sort of
fracas on the deck and in the cabin of the _Circe_, but this shortly
ceased, and the mate coming to the side leaned over and said:

"We've got 'em! They put up a fight, but everything is dead against them.