“Fire! Fire!” whooped Amos, showing the most intense excitement, for if
there was any chance to add to the confusion of the moment he meant to
do it.
He had but one object in view, which was to so fill the Greek crew with
consternation that they would, to a man, leap overboard, and leave the
apparently doomed vessel to their erstwhile passengers.
The plan began immediately to show signs of bearing fruit. As has been
said before, the crew knew full well what sort of a dangerous cargo
they were carrying. High explosives have a habit of going off when
brought in contact with a tongue of flame. When, therefore, they saw
the black smoke pouring out of the hold their first thought was that,
in a few seconds, there would come a terrific crash, and the powerboat
would be scattered in atoms over the surface of the sea.
Their loud cries of alarm rang out, as the boys had anticipated. One
who by some chance was close to the rail instantly plunged overboard,
vanishing under the water like a stone, and doubtless bent on keeping
there as long as he could hold his breath, meanwhile swimming
desperately away from the still moving craft.
A second and yet a third man saw him go, and evidently thought that the
only way out of the fix, for they started to imitate his example.
Not so the skipper, who was evidently made of different stuff. The boys
in commenting on his determined looks had not guessed far from wrong
when they decided that Captain Zenos was a reckless customer who had
run many a blockade for the sake of gain, just as he was now trying
to get guns and ammunition to the sorely pressed Turks on Gallipoli
Peninsula.
He saw the smoke just as soon as the rest of the crew, but instead of
thinking of his safety, the old sea dog’s first idea was to try and
save the boat and cargo, even at great personal risk.
What he shouted in his lion-like voice the boys did not know, not
being proficient Greek scholars. They could give a pretty good guess,
however, that he was roaring out orders to his men to follow him into
the hold and try to put out the fire that had so mysteriously broken
out when they were off their guard.
He made direct for the open hatch from which that dense smoke oozed.
Three men followed on his heels, being possibly the possessors of the
same reckless nature as himself, or else descendants of those old-time
Spartans who would obey orders from their superiors blindly, no matter
if they had to charge into the very jaws of death.
Jack was observing all this with the most intense interest. He even
noted that the man at the wheel stuck to his duty. From this fact he
supposed the skipper had not forgotten him when roaring out his orders,
and that he had been directed to stay where he was, come what may.
There were three in the water by now, and doubtless all making
desperately for the nearby shore of the island, anxious to put many
fathoms between themselves and the doomed craft before the terrible
explosion came.
Captain Zenos snatched up a bucket that stood near. Leaning over the
rail he flung it downward and once more he drew it up filled to the
brim with salt water.
Each of the three sailors followed his example with exact precision,
like men who knew the value of obedience in an emergency. By this time
the skipper had reached the open hatch. That dense smoke showed no
signs of abating; in fact, if anything, it was oozing forth in greater
volume than ever, thanks to Jack’s clever arrangements below.
[Illustration: That dense smoke showed no signs of abating.--_Page 44_]
One last look the valiant skipper gave around, as if to make sure that
his crew had not entirely deserted him. Then without the slightest
hesitation he plunged into the opening and vanished from view.
Jack and Amos could not repress cries of sincere admiration. If they
had from some instinctive reason disliked the battle-scarred old
veteran of the blockade and gun-running game, they now admired his
great nerve. Evidently, with all his faults, and they were many,
Captain Zenos could never be accused of cowardice.
One, two, three figures took the drop after him, not one of the trio
showing the slightest hesitation. Perhaps these men had long been
associated with the owner of the big powerboat, and imbibed a full
share of his daring.
The tail-end man did take a look around before dropping out of sight,
and Jack imagined he felt he might be saying good-by to the bright
world, for it certainly did seem as though the chances were ten to one
they might never come forth again.
As far as it went this was all very fine. Three were in the water
madly racing for the shore of the island; another trio had accompanied
the leader below; and the last member of the crew stood by the wheel,
though the speed of the boat had been reduced until she was now
beginning to pass but slowly through the twilight sea.
But Jack realized that as soon as those groping through the dense smoke
below found that its source lay in a galvanized bucket, and that the
smudge had apparently been created for some distinct purpose, their
suspicions would be immediately aroused.
Since they would speedily come pouring forth as furious as could be and
turn upon the two boys for an explanation of the trick, it was up to
Jack and Amos to prevent such an unhappy consummation.
“The hatch--we must clap it on, and batten the same down!” cried Jack.
Even as he spoke he was jumping toward the smoke cloud, with Amos close
at his heels. What few words Jack had spoken revealed the plan of
campaign to his comrade, who was only too ready to assist in the deal.
The man at the wheel must have stared hard at seeing the two boys thus
start forward instead of jumping overboard like those others had
done. Perhaps he even gave them credit for the same species of sublime
courage that the skipper possessed. When, presently, he saw what they
were doing, astonishment kept him from trying to interfere until it was
too late to do any good.
Seizing hold of the heavy hatch, the two boys managed to throw it into
place. There was means for securing it so that even if great waves
swept over the low deck of the powerboat they could hardly tear the
hatch loose, and flood the hold.
Thanks to his habit of observation, Jack knew all about this, and also
how the fastenings were applied. Amos, taking his cue from his comrade,
also gave such assistance as lay in his power; and between them they
speedily managed to accomplish their desired end.
Hardly had they succeeded in doing this than there came heavy pounding
on the other side of the hatch. Evidently the skipper had learned how
he had been made the victim of what he would call a “scurvy trick”;
and was fairly wild to force a way out of the hold, so that he could
punish those responsible for it.
Jack had not forgotten the man at the wheel, who had it in his power,
should the inclination come to him, to injure the engine of the boat in
some way, so as to prevent any further progress.
As this would be greatly to the disadvantage of the two comrades, Jack
did not mean to permit the man to have the least chance of carrying out
his intention.
Leaving Amos standing by the battened hatch, pistol in hand, Jack
rushed straight toward the man at the wheel. He covered him with his
weapon, and, under the belief that the fellow knew English, for he had
conversed with several of the crew before then, the boy called out
sternly:
“Stay where you are, and hold the wheel, and no injury will come to
you. There is no fire and we will not be blown up. It was a trick to
get the captain down in the hold. He is our prisoner, and we expect to
run this boat from now on. Do you understand what I am saying?”
The sailor looked a little dazed as though events were happening with
such wonderful rapidity that he could hardly keep track of them. Still
he seemed to be able to understand English, especially when accompanied
by the significant gestures Jack was making with the little automatic
pistol.
He immediately elevated his right hand. That was doubtless intended to
show his willingness to submit to whatever fate the daring captors of
the powerboat felt inclined to impose upon him.
“Start up the engine again and keep it going full speed!” was the first
order the new skipper gave the pilot.
Presently the boat began to pick up, as the propeller churned the
water. It felt good to Amos, standing there and listening to the
terrific pounding on the lower side of the hatch. He took off his hat
and waved it about his head as he gave a loud, boyish hurrah that came
from the depths of his heart.
No doubt that organ was pounding against his ribs with the furious
energy of a trip-hammer; but apparently the danger point had been
safely passed, and they had a free course open before them.
The three men who jumped overboard had meanwhile managed to reach
shallow water. They were standing, up to their waists in the sea, at
what they considered a safe distance from the powerboat, staring at the
now moving craft as though unable to believe their eyes.
The smoke had ceased coming up from the hold as soon as the hatch was
clapped on, and, with the starting of the engine, the boat showed
signs of leaving the unfortunate trio in the lurch--at least they must
have considered themselves in a bad box at the time, though later
developments proved that they were exceedingly fortunate.
Loud rang out their shouts as they made all sorts of wild gestures,
imploring their companions not to desert them. Perhaps the simple
fellows, not aware of the dramatic acts that were taking place aboard
the boat, imagined the skipper meant to discipline them for deserting
when there was need of their services.
Amos waved his hand hilariously toward the three. He was feeling in a
merry mood. The bright scheme which Jack originated had turned out so
successful!
One look gave Jack his course, and he impressed it upon the pilot.
“We want to head straight as an arrow for the Dardanelles,” he said
sternly. “You will be all right as long as you behave, but the first
sign of treachery and it means your end. Our lives are at stake now and
we will shoot you down like a dog if you turn on us. We want to run
across some warship of the Allies, to whom this boat and its cargo can
be surrendered. And if you behave we will guarantee that you are let go
free. Get that?”
The man had listened intently, watching every gesture made by Jack.
At the conclusion of the short harangue he nodded his head and even
allowed a grim smile to flit athwart his dark face. Being a daring chap
himself he could admire an exhibition of American pluck such as the
two boys were displaying. Anyone who managed to get the better of a sly
old sea-dog like Captain Zenos must be pretty wide-awake, according to
his opinion.
“I play you the game straight, I promise you!” he assured Jack, who,
however, did not take his word for it, knowing how treacherous some men
can be when conditions change; and he meant to keep the Greek pilot
under constant surveillance until their plans had been fully carried
out.