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 raided the house and got the rest of the smugglers. We thought these fellows had made a getaway."

"No chance. Although it was mighty close. They pretty nearly slipped out of the cove right under our noses."

The boat came to a stop beside the natural wharf of rock. One or two of the officers, revolvers in hand, clambered out. Three of the smugglers had been captured while trying to escape from the cove in the rowboat.

"If they'd got out we would never have caught them," said Joe. "They were heading out toward a ship."

"A ship!" exclaimed one of the officers, a burly man in plain clothes. He stepped forward. "Did they say anything about a ship?"

"A man named Li Chang has a ship lying in wait outside the bay," said Joe. "I heard them talking about it."

"Good!" exclaimed the burly man. "Now we'll capture the whole outfit." He turned to Tony. "I suppose your boat is good for another little run."

"I'll say it is, sir!"

"I want as many officers as we can spare," said the burly man. "We'll go out and find that ship. Li Chang, did you say?" he added, turning to Joe.