ORISSA RETURNS
If ever man was thoroughly perplexed it was Ramon Ganza the outlaw.
He heard his launch proceed for a distance out to sea, then listened
while the engines hesitated and stopped, and saw the boat on which his
liberty might depend whirl slowly around and disappear beneath the
waves. What could it mean? Were his men on board, and had they met with
some astonishing accident, or had they deliberately committed suicide?
The curses died on his lips; the affair was too startling and too
serious for mere raving; he must try to think of a logical solution of
the problem.
The loss of the launch, his last refuge from captivity and
imprisonment, left him caught like a wolf in a trap--in case he failed
to get possession of the yacht. All night long he sat on a rock by
the sea, smoking his black cheroots and thinking--thinking--thinking.
Neither he nor his men knew that Chesty Todd had returned to the
yacht; but if Ramon had known it he would not have attached especial
importance to the fact. It would merely mean one more person to
capture during the assault.
Morning found Ganza still deep in thought. He glanced rather uneasily
at the ocean and at times swept the horizon with his glasses, which
were slung by a strap to his shoulder. His men brought him food and
a cup of hot coffee, but dared not speak to him in his present mood.
They suspected his case was growing desperate, yet they still retained
confidence in their resourceful, clever master, who had never yet
failed to accomplish whatever he undertook.
In this crisis of his career the fugitive, usually irritable and quick
to act, proved his strength of mind by taking time to consider his
position from all points and to weigh carefully the merits of the
different plans that suggested themselves. He realized that an error at
this time would prove fatal.
The hours wore on until, at about the middle of the afternoon, as Ganza
made one of his periodic inspections of the horizon, his glasses caught
a speck in the sky--a speck that moved and grew larger. At first he
thought it a gull or an eagle; later he changed his mind, for the speck
rapidly increased in size and took form, and the form was that of an
aëroplane.
Those on the yacht saw it now and great was the wonder and excitement
it caused. Here was a messenger from the great world, bringing them
hope of succor or black disappointment. Presently the broad spreading
planes bore down upon the island and circled gracefully over the ship.
"It's Orissa!" they cried in chorus and Chesty Todd added: "She wants
to land on deck. Clear a space--quick!"
They did the best they could. It seemed like a tiny place for that
great sweeping thing to land on and even Sybil exclaimed: "She'll never
make it in the world!" But Orissa, hovering above them in her Aircraft,
observed carefully the conditions below and shutting off her engine
began to volplane.
The huge machine settled quietly down and alighted fairly upon the
deck. One rail caught the lower plane and tipped it, but the girl
leaped lightly from her seat and was caught by Mr. Cumberford, whose
gray eyes sparkled with joy from behind their spectacles.
You may be sure the brave girl received a glad welcome, but as soon
as her safety was assured she was deluged with questions. The ping of
a rifle ball warned them to scuttle below to the cabin, where Orissa
tried to explain.
"Why on earth did you venture to come back?" demanded Madeline. "We had
told ourselves that you, at least, were safe from the dangers that
menace us, and it pleased us to know that. But where is your brother?"
"Did you get to land?" cried half a dozen voices, eagerly. "What did
you do? Tell us!"
Orissa laughed and held up both hands, imploring silence.
"I came to bring you good news," she began. "And now that you are
assured of that, please let me tell the story my own way, or I shall
bungle it."
"Go ahead," they answered and settled themselves to listen.
"We followed the route Captain Krell had mapped out for us," said
Orissa, "and in four hours after leaving here we sighted the Mexican
coast. Fifteen minutes' run to the north brought us to the village
of San Blas, where there is a telegraph office. We landed and had
some difficulty in satisfying the authorities that we were harmless
Americans, but finally they agreed to escort us to the telegraph office
under guard. We wired our story direct to President Madero, putting
it as briefly as possible and asking him for a warship to rescue our
friends and capture Ramon Ganza. There was no answer until evening,
when we received a message from the Secretary of the Navy saying he
had conferred with the President and Secretary of State and would
be glad to accede to our request. In eight or ten days he thought he
could spare a warship to go to the island for Ganza. Unfortunately, the
entire navy was in use at the present time.
"That dashed our hopes, you may be sure, for we feared you couldn't
hold Ganza at bay for so long; so Steve and I determined to fly to
San Diego and secure help there. The Secretary of the Navy had wired
the authorities of San Blas to afford us every consideration and
hospitality, so we filled our tanks with gasoline and slept at a little
inn until daybreak. Then we were off for the north, and in two hours
met the United States torpedo fleet, on its way to Magdalena Bay for
target practice. We made out the flagship and dropped to the water
beside it. Commodore Davis at once laid to and sent a boat to us.
Steve went aboard and explained fully to the commodore our story and
the need for immediate help. As a result the _Mermaid_ was signaled
and its captain presently came aboard and received his orders. He was
to take us directly to this island, drive off Ganza or fight him, as
circumstances might require, and then assist in getting the _Salvador_
afloat again. If he captures Ganza he is to carry him away a prisoner
and turn him and his men over to the Mexican authorities at Magdalena.
"Captain Swanson undertook the adventure gladly and is now on his way
here with the _Mermaid_, with Steve to guide him. My brother and I
thought it best for me to come on ahead and tell you the good news, for
we have worried about you and knew that with rescue at hand you would
have courage to hold out, no matter how desperate your condition. So
here I am, and the _Mermaid_ will arrive either to-night or early in
the morning."
They were indeed delighted with this assurance and it put new heart
into the most timorous of those aboard.
"However," said Chesty Todd, "we seem to be in no danger, just now, and
since our clever enemy has failed to scare us into surrender he has
remained quiet and behaved himself as well as could be expected."
They told Orissa all that had transpired in her absence and the
conversation continued all during the dinner--on which the chef
exercised his best talents, in honor of Orissa's return--and even until
bedtime, there was so much to say.
Chesty went on watch at eleven o'clock, and as he leaned silently over
the rail at a point near the bow of the launch he detected a series of
queer sounds coming from below. This part of the yacht was high on the
shelving beach and it was here that they had arranged huge piles of
rock, on either side, to hold the keel level. It sounded to Mr. Todd as
if some one was at work near these rocks, for on account of the swell
of the boat's side it was impossible to see, from the deck, anyone
below, in case he kept close to the keel.
So Chesty crept aft, held a whispered conversation with Captain
Krell, and quickly divested himself of his clothing. At the stern,
which was settled quite close to the surface of the water, the boy
let himself down by means of a rope, descending hand under hand, and
silently dropped into the dark water. Swimming was one of Radley-Todd's
principal accomplishments and he scarcely made a ripple as he crept
alongside the boat until the bow came into full view. The night was
somewhat darker than usual, but the American had sharp eyes and it
did not take him long to discover that the besiegers were employed in
removing the rocks from the right hand side of the keel.
Instantly comprehending their purpose in this, Chesty turned and
quickly regained the stern, climbing to the deck. His report to Captain
Krell seemed so serious, because it meant a desperate attack presently,
that it was promptly decided to arouse the entire party and warn them
that a crisis was at hand.