"'Good heavens!' cried Captain Stanley. 'Dare, my boy! Are you hurt?'" (See page 160.)

Contraband

A Tale of Modern Smugglers

By

E. R. Spencer

Author of "A Young Sea Rover," etc.

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD
London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney

First published 1926

Printed in Great Britain

TO
SPENCER LAKE
AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
OF
FORTUNE, NEWFOUNDLAND

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

1. On Board the "Glenbow"

2. First Blood to the Smugglers

3. Ben has a Brain-Wave

4. At St. Pierre

5. On the Trail

6. Dare's Story

7. In the Night

8. The Secret Harbour

9. Checkmate!

10. The Escape

11. Captain Stanley Acts

12. The Closing of the "Oven"

CONTRABAND

A TALE OF MODERN SMUGGLERS

CHAPTER I

ON BOARD THE "GLENBOW"

The mail packet S.S. Glenbow, ploughingher way up the south-west coastof Newfoundland in a beam sea and half agale of wind, rolled rail in rail out as sheneared St. Lawrence.

Dare Stanley, who had been lying down inhis berth, felt the necessity of fresh air, andslipping on an oilskin coat he made his wayon deck. The air was fresh enough there inall conscience! He found all but the bridgedeserted; the heavy sea made a stay on deckundesirable. Yet he did not wish to returnto his cabin, having a desire for company ofsome sort, so, watching his chance, he foughthis way aft to where the smoke-room wassituated.

Short as was the trip, he was drenchedand had the breath half knocked out of himbefore he could gain sanctuary. Once hereached the smoke-room he had to exert allhis strength to open the door, which waspressed to as with a vice by the weight of thewind. He managed to get it open enoughto slip inside, when the door closedprecipitately behind him and knocked himhalf-way across the room.

He was helped to his feet by the chiefengineer, who was seated at a card-tablewith the captain and two passengers. Threeother passengers completed the company.