Then he stood back and took a long look at them, a twinkle in his eye at the mounting color and embarrassed manner of the trio.
“I’d hate to meet any one of you in a rough-and-tumble fight,” he said. “No wonder you made things fly on the Pacific.”
All sat down then and a general conversation about the break-up of the smugglers’ ring followed. The boys learned that “Black George” and Wong Ho were in jail, awaiting trial, that three boats employed in the smuggling traffic had been captured, that Mexico had been asked and had agreed to prosecute the conspirators operating at Ensenada, that three employees of the government were under arrest for conspiracy in the smuggling operations, and that Matt Murphy was free on parole and the case against him would not be pushed.
Finally, Inspector Burton arose and the boys took that as a signal it was time to depart, and also got to their feet.
“I know of no way to reward you except to give you the thanks of the Service,” said the Chief at parting. “But that is yours. Good-by.”
“Wow,” said Frank, when they were alone at their hotel once more, “I feel as if I owned the world.”
“The common herd had better not talk to me for a while,” declared Bob, grinning. “I wouldn’t be able to notice anybody less than a general.”
“Same here,” said Jack. “Well, now, fellows, what are we going to do? Now that we’re on the ground with a fine chance to see the sights, we certainly aren’t going to go right home, are we?”
“I move we stay until we take in everything,” said Frank.
“Second the motion,” said Bob. “But I tell you, going around in this heat is going to cost me some weight.”
“Oh, it’ll just get you in condition for football,” said Jack. “You’re getting too fat, anyhow.”
That precipitated a general discussion of the forthcoming return to Harrington Hall Military Academy, the football prospects, the effect which recital of their thrilling summer would have on schoolmates, and other matters of similar ilk. It would be Jack’s last year, while Frank and Bob, a class behind him, would have two years more before entering college. All three planned to enter Yale, of which both Mr. Hampton and Mr. Temple were graduates.
Three days they spent in sightseeing, paying visits to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s old home; the national cemetery at Arlington, quaint Annapolis, where the Naval College is located, and inspecting the capital and all the great public buildings.