The Smugglers

Plot
Duck is very puzzled when he sees a boat covered in leaves in a nearby river, close to his branch line. When he tells the other engines that evening, Thomas suggests that the boat belongs to some smugglers (people who secretly bring in trade) and James tells Duck that they must be caught. When Duck meets the smugglers at a station, he takes them to the Big Station - only to discover that the smugglers are, in fact, bird-watchers! The bird-witchers explain that their boat was covered in leaves so that they won't scare the birds away. Duck feels very silly; even more so when the Fat Controller tells James that Duck "caught" the "smugglers".

Featured characters

 * Duck
 * Thomas (speaks, but not seen)
 * James (speaks, but not seen)
 * The Fat Controller

Goofs

 * In the contents page of the magazine (featuring this story), the title of this story reads "Duck and the Smugglers".