ORISSA DECIDES
Only by taking the Aircraft entirely apart, decided Steve, might he
hope to remove it to the bay, for it could not be flown from the
hummock where it was wedged between the rocks. But they could not wait
to do that now. The girls were very near one of those feminine crises
so familiar to Mrs. Tupper, and their friends realized the nervous
strain they had endured and made haste to lead them back to the yacht.
The seamen looked after Ramon Ganza, who was so physically exhausted by
his late experience that he made no endeavor to escape.
It was a tedious climb, by no means devoid of danger, but so anxious
were Orissa and Sybil to escape from the dread valley that they
energetically persevered until the last rock hill was passed and they
descended the slope to the inlet.
There lay the _Salvador_; keeled over, indeed, but safe and sound. Just
without the bay floated the _Mermaid_, and one of her boats was run
upon the beach and another clung to the _Salvador's_ side.
A hearty cheer greeted the return of the rescue party when Orissa and
Sybil were observed approaching with them, and Captain Swanson himself
came forward to offer his congratulations.
On their way, Steve had briefly related the events of the night attack
and told how the defenders, fortified within the cabin and below
decks, had been quite safe from Ganza until the arrival of the torpedo
boat relieved the situation. Then the Mexicans fled and made frantic
attempts to escape, hiding themselves in the wilderness of rocks that
littered the island.
When Captain Swanson learned of the capture of Ramon Ganza and the
rescue of the young ladies he decided to attempt no pursuit of the
scattered Mexicans but to apply himself promptly to the task of
floating the yacht, which he succeeded in doing before night. The
_Salvador_ was in no way injured and as soon as she had anchored
outside the bay was again in commission and fully able to care for
herself.
Madeline invited the officers of the _Mermaid_ to dine aboard her
yacht and Monsieur Risette prepared a repast that surprised even his
employer, so elaborate and delicious it proved.
As they conversed together afterward, commenting upon the exciting
experiences of the yacht and her company and the daring flights of the
Kane Hydro-Aircraft, Madeline said to Captain Swanson:
"What shall we do with Ramon Ganza?"
"Where is he, Miss Dentry?"
"Locked up in our cage. But I don't want him aboard. Won't you take him
to Magdalena and turn him over to the Mexican police?"
"I am not sure I have authority to arrest the man," replied the captain
gravely. "I will send a wireless to the fleet to-night and endeavor to
get the admiral and receive his instructions concerning Ganza."
He wrote out a message at once and dispatched it to his ship by one of
his men, that the wireless operator aboard might repeat it a number of
times in the attempt to reach the ship for which it was intended. A
wireless message travels farther by night and is more distinct.
Madeline now urged Captain Swanson to carry Chica and Pietro to
Magdalena, which would enable them to reach their homes quickly and he
agreed to do this. Miss Dentry supplied the two with sufficient money
for their needs and the Red-beard and the child said their good-byes
and were rowed to the _Mermaid_.
The yacht party, now reunited and safe from further molestation,
thoroughly enjoyed the evening and expressed their gratitude again
and again for the prompt assistance rendered them by their fellow
countrymen. Madeline had already written a nice letter to the admiral,
which she entrusted to Captain Swanson.
As Orissa and Sybil, as well as many others of the party, had passed a
trying and sleepless night, the officers thoughtfully retired early,
returning to their quarters on the _Mermaid_.
Breakfast was in progress on the _Salvador_ next morning when a note
was brought from the captain of the torpedo boat.
"I was fortunate in reaching the admiral," it said, "and I beg to
enclose you a copy of the message I have received from him in reply. I
further regret to state that I am ordered to rejoin the fleet without
delay and must therefore bid you all adieu."
The wireless read: "President Madero proclaimed a general amnesty to
Mexican refugees some three months ago. On the list of pardons appears
the name of Ramon Ganza."
Madeline drew a long breath.
"I'm sorry for that," she said. "Ramon Ganza has escaped the penalty
of breaking his country's laws and we are powerless to punish him
ourselves--even though he struck poor Mason with a knife."
"How is Mason getting along?" asked Orissa.
"Very nicely," stated Mr. Cumberford. "It was a deep cut, but reached
no vital organs and the man will soon be as good as new."
"That does not alter the fact that Ganza is a wicked desperado," said
Sybil.
"It's a shame to allow him to escape," exclaimed Mr. Tupper,
indignantly. "Can't we arrest him for disturbing the peace, and trying
to capture our yacht, and attempting to murder one of the crew?"
"No," replied Mr. Cumberford. "This island doesn't belong to the United
States. I believe it is Mexican territory. But if we can prove damages
we might be able to recover from the Mexican government--and then,
again, we might not."
"I'll never put in a claim, for my part," said Madeline, laughing. "But
what are we to do with Ramon Ganza--and those three rascals imprisoned
with him, whom Chesty captured and brought to us?"
"Let Chesty get rid of them; they're his prisoners," suggested Sybil.
"The chief bandit is your own prisoner--and Orissa's," declared Chesty.
"What do you intend to do with him, Miss Cumberford?"
Sybil laughed.
"It's a problem," she confessed. "Can you solve it, Miss Dentry?"
"I fear not," answered Madeline, indeed puzzled. "Our prisoners are
likely to prove white elephants on our hands. To carry them to America
would involve us in endless difficulties, and--I have other plans,
wherein their presence is better dispensed with."
"Then," said Chesty, after due reflection, "let us leave them all
behind us, on the island. Not this island, where they would be
prisoners and perhaps starve, because I have sunk their gasoline launch
and they cannot get away, but on Ramon Ganza's own island. Then the
fellow may decide his future as he deems best and we may wash our hands
of the whole disagreeable affair."
"I hope you won't inform him that he is pardoned," said Mr. Tupper,
earnestly.
"Why not?" asked Madeline. "Let us return good for evil. Perhaps, when
Ramon Ganza is no longer a refugee and can face the world a free man,
he will redeem his past and become honest."
"I doubt it," declared Mr. Cumberford; "but I think you are right to
give him the chance."
It was so decided. There remained on Owl Island but one of Ganza's
rowboats which would be available for use by the men hidden among the
rocks, but at the larger island was a small sailboat in which, during
calm weather, the chief might go for his men and transport them to
their former quarters.
Next morning a party accompanied Steve into the valley once more, where
the Aircraft was taken apart and brought with considerable labor to the
bay, from whence it was conveyed to the yacht and compactly stored away
below decks.
"There's no use putting it together until we get back home," said the
inventor; and his partner, Mr. Cumberford, agreed with him.
This task had consumed the entire day, during which Orissa and Sybil
had kept to their state-rooms, trying to quiet their nerves and get
some much-needed sleep. Madeline, in the meantime, had ordered a store
of provisions placed on the beach for the use of the band of Mexicans
until they were rescued by their leader, as she did not wish them to
suffer for lack of food, however mischievous and lawless they might be.
The following day Captain Krell hoisted anchor and headed for the
larger island, and it was good to all to feel the water slipping along
underneath the _Salvador's_ thin keel again.
Ramon Ganza accepted his liberty with the same stoical indifference
that characterized all his actions. He strutted a bit when Chesty told
him of his pardon, but declared he would continue to inhabit the
island where he was virtually a king.
"With no fear of a prison to haunt me," he said, "I can make the island
a paradise. Many Mexicans will settle there and become my subjects."
"You'll have to cut out the flogging, then," suggested Chesty.
"It will gratify me to do so. Before, I have the obligation to flog the
disobedient ones because I dared not send them away; but now, if they
prove obstinate, I may send them back to Mexico."
He took off his hat with an elaborate bow as the _Salvador's_ boat left
him standing with his three men on the little dock below his residence;
but Francisco and the other two scowled fiercely at Mr. Todd, whom they
reproached for deceiving them about Madero's reward, although they had
elected to remain with their old master rather than be taken to America.
"It's a good thing for civilization that those villains are
sequestrated on a far-away, unknown island," remarked Chesty, when he
had regained the yacht's deck. "I suppose anyone can reform, if he
tries hard, but I'll bet a hat that Francisco and his comrades never
make the attempt."
"We are well rid of them, in any event," asserted Mr. Cumberford.
Orissa and Sybil appeared at dinner, both considerably improved in
spirits after their long rest.
"When do we sail for San Diego?" Sybil asked Madeline.
"Captain Krell is ready. I am waiting for Orissa and you to decide,"
was the reply.
Orissa looked up in surprise.
"What have we to decide?" she inquired.
"Merely which way we shall proceed. My yacht hasn't had a fair trial
yet and I had in mind a trip to Honolulu before we went in chase of
two runaway girls. We still have on board enough coal and supplies for
such a trip and I have resolved to invite you all to make it in my
company--in which case we will head directly for Hawaii from here."
Orissa was thoughtful for a time and looked inquiringly at Steve, who
smiled in return.
"I think such a trip would do us all good," he suggested.
"The Flying Girl has no important engagements, at present," added Mr.
Todd, the press agent.
"If she had, I think she deserves a little recreation after her late
trying experiences," said Mr. Cumberford.
"Why, Orissa, it has all been decided in advance," exclaimed Sybil.
"They're merely asking our consent out of politeness."
Orissa turned to Madeline and pressed her hand gratefully.
"You've really been our guardian angel, Miss Dentry," she said. "We can
never repay your great kindness and generosity, nor properly thank you
for what you have done for us."
"Why should you?" asked Madeline. "Think what a splendid time I've had
during this adventure, all due to the Flying Girl and her chum--and
to a defect in the famous Kane Aircraft. But if you sincerely wish to
please me, come with me on the trip to Honolulu."
"Of course I will," Orissa responded. "I've always longed for an ocean
voyage, and in such company, and on the dear old _Salvador_, the trip
will be delightful."
The others of the Kane-Cumberford party, who were every one eager to
go, rapturously applauded this decision.
THE END.
* * * * *
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[Illustration]
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[Illustration]
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Transcriber's Note:
Italics are indicated by _underscores_.
Bolds are indicated by =equal signs=.
Small capitals have been rendered in full capitals.
A number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Flying Girl and Her Chum, by Edith van Dyne