Having had this experience he was familiar with the code, and at once began to read the message sent by those outside, whoever they might be.

“That cannot be the steamer Mr. Smith has sent,” he mused.  “No, of course not.  ‘Where are you?  Am dodging government vessel.’  Why, that must be one of the smugglers that the captain told us about.  But where is the man he is signaling?  I wish I could tell that.”

The signals ceased, but presently the lights flashed again, and Jack read the message: 

“Why don’t you answer?  Am waiting.”

“My word!  I believe the fellow takes our lights for the smuggler’s, and thinks that he is in here.  It would be just the place for him.  By Jove!  I have a mind to answer him myself, and get him in here.  Then we could get out.  Even if a smuggler takes us out that is better than waiting.”

His pocket flash was in a convenient place, and he quickly got it out and flashed out through the port: 

“In the bay.  Come inside.”

After sending this message he waited a few minutes, and then saw the reply being flashed to him: 

“Cannot.  Don’t know the passage.  Come out”

“H’m! that’s too bad,” muttered Jack.  “I was in hope I could get him in here.  I’d like to know—­I guess I’d better see the captain.”

Partly dressing himself he hurried on deck, and looked for the light, but could see nothing.

An anchor watch was kept, or supposed to be at least, but Jack saw the man on deck fast asleep on a bench against the house on deck instead of keeping a lookout as he was supposed to do.

He could not see any vessel’s light out at sea, and saw no more flashes, although he looked for them for several minutes.

“Well, I can’t go to waking the captain in the middle of the night,” he said, “and it is likely this fellow has gone.  It is simply another disappointment.  I think I’ll go to bed.”

CHAPTER XIV

THE MAN WITH THE WHITE MUSTACHE

In the morning Jack told the captain, Dr. Wise, and a few of his most intimate friends among the boys under the promise of keeping it quiet, the strange event of the previous night, asking the doctor if he had done right in not calling the captain.

“If you had aroused me I would probably have been mad,” chuckled the captain, “and could not have done anything anyhow.  It is clear that there is a way in here, although we don’t know it, and that this fellow you saw signaling mistook our lights for those of one of his evil associates.  I’d like to watch him, but there is no use in crying over spilled milk, and you did all right in not calling me.”

“It is all very singular,” said the doctor, knitting his brows.  “Of course we would like to get out of here, but as to seeking the assistance of a smuggler——­”

“I’d as soon go out under his escort as that of any one else,” laughed Storms, “although we might get in trouble afterward if a government vessel happened to see us in company with smugglers.  Well, I guess it won’t be long now before the relief steamer comes, but——­”