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[Illustration: FRANK READE WEEKLY MAGAZINE Containing Stories of
Adventures on Land, Sea & in the Air]
_Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Application made for
Second-Class Entry at N. Y. Post-Office._
No. 44. NEW YORK, AUGUST 28, 1903. Price 5 Cents.
[Illustration: Frank Reade, Jr’s SEARCH FOR THE SILVER WHALE¡ or, Under
the Ocean in the Electric “Dolphin.” By “NONAME.”]
Frank and Stanhope were ready to take care of themselves. As the shark
descended upon them both crouched low. The creature’s open jaws were not
four feet from Frank when he buried the pike in the shark’s body.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRANK READE
WEEKLY MAGAZINE.
CONTAINING STORIES OF ADVENTURES ON LAND, SEA AND IN THE AIR.
_Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Application made for
Second Class entry at the New York, N. Y., Post Office Entered,
according to Act of Congress in the year 1903, in the office of the
Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. by Frank Tousey, 24 Union
Square, New York._
=No. 44.= NEW YORK, AUGUST 28, 1903. =Price 5 Cents.=
Frank Reade, Jr.’s Search for the Silver Whale;
OR,
UNDER THE OCEAN IN THE ELECTRIC “DOLPHIN”.
By “NONAME.”
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. THE INVENTOR AND THE EXPLORER.
CHAPTER II. STANHOPE IS SATISFIED.
CHAPTER III. THE VOYAGE BEGUN.
CHAPTER IV. THE SUNKEN WRECK—THE SHARK.
CHAPTER V. BATTLE WITH A WHALE.
CHAPTER VI. THE ENGLISH SHIP.
CHAPTER VII. CHASING THE SILVER WHALE.
CHAPTER VIII. THE CONFESSION FOUND.
CHAPTER IX. THE VALLEY OF PEARLS.
CHAPTER X. THE STORM.
CHAPTER XI. THE ISLAND—ON A REEF.
CHAPTER XII. CASTAWAY—RESCUE.
CHAPTER XIII. THE END.
CHAPTER I.
THE INVENTOR AND THE EXPLORER.
“A submarine boat? Do you really mean it, Frank? I trust you are not
becoming mentally unbalanced with the success of your inventive efforts.
Not content with the Electric Air-ship, you now meditate the
construction of a submarine vessel.”
“That is what I said, friend Stanhope.”
“But, pshaw, man! Do you realize what an impossible feat that is?”
“I realize only that it is quite possible,” replied the young inventor,
imperturbably.
“And you are really in earnest?”
“As much as I ever was in my life.”
George Stanhope, explorer and geologist, and a handsome, well developed
American, of forty years, of varied experiences, sat quite still for a
moment and studied the features of his companion.
This was Frank Reade, Jr., of Readestown, U. S. A., the most famous man
in the inventive line of the present generation.
Despite his youth, he had brought to perfection some of the most
wonderful and gigantic of enterprises.
At the moment the two men were sitting in the smoking room of the
Southern Hotel in New Orleans.
It was while discussing various topics that the subject of the submarine
boat was broached.
At once Stanhope was interested and incredulous.
He listened to Frank’s theories for awhile, then began to express his
incredulity.
And thus we find them arguing the matter at the opening of our story.
“You may be in earnest, Frank,” said the explorer, with a laugh, “but I
think you have tackled a pretty difficult subject. Don’t you agree with
me?”
Frank smiled.
“It is not so difficult to solve submarine navigation as aerial flight,”
he said; “there is enough in Nature to teach us how the problem may be
accomplished.”
“Ah, but it is impossible to always copy Nature.”
“Yet we may draw our plans from her liberal sources.”
“In what way has Nature assisted you in your plan of submarine
navigation?”
“She has given me a model.”
“A model?”
“Yes.”
“How is that?”
“In the salt water there swims a fish called the bream, or sunfish. He
is at once the most buoyant and generally agile of fish. He will furnish
my model.”
“So you propose to model your boat after a fish?”
“Why not? All the necessary points may be obtained from the fish. For
instance, I shall have in my boat a system of air reservoirs akin to the
bladders of the fish, for the purpose of arising or descending, as
necessity may require. Fins shall preserve the equilibrium, and a screw
shall furnish the motive power. What more do I want?”
“How will you live without oxygen?”
“I shall have plenty of oxygen. I have already devised a system of
electric and chemical generators which destroy the poisonous gases as
readily as they create pure air. This will enable a perfect circulation
to be kept up aboard the craft.”
Stanhope drew a deep breath and knocked the ashes from his cigar.
“You are too deep for me, Frank,” he said, sententiously. “To use a slang
phrase—I am not in it. I wish you success in your emulation of Captain
Nemo.”
“It is possible that I may fail,” said the young inventor, consulting
his watch, “but I shall endeavor to win success.”
“I hope you may.”
“I have now to leave to catch my train. I bid you goodbye.”
“Wait!”
Stanhope seized Frank’s hand.
“I want to ask a favor.”
“Well?”
“When you get ready to start your submarine boat will you grant me
permission to accompany you on the trial trip?”
“Have you considered the risk?”
“What?”
“Suppose it sinks and never rises?”
“Pshaw!” exclaimed Stanhope; “do you think I am a soft head? Have I
braved the life of the deadly jungle and the pestilential rivers of
India to stand in fear of death in such a manner? Have I your
permission?”
Frank shook the explorer’s hand.
“Certainly,” he said, warmly. “I shall be very glad of your company. I
am going home now to begin work on my new venture. When it is completed
I will wire you to come.”
“That settles it!” cried Stanhope. “I will live in expectation.”
“It may require many weeks to perfect the boat.”
“All right. I will live in patience.”
Thus the two men parted.
They were kindred spirits though each was cast in a different mold. The
inventor and the explorer; how fitting it was that they should
affiliate.
Stanhope proceeded at once to New York where he was to fulfill a lecture
course on Africa.
Frank Reade, Jr., went straight to Readestown, where he at once closeted
himself, and for several days was hardly seen.
When he emerged at length from his seclusion he had the plans of his new
invention all perfected.
All that was necessary now was to construct the boat.
He a once conferred with his engineers and machinists. The result was
that a large gang of skilled workmen were quickly engaged in the
construction of the Dolphin, which was the name Frank gave the craft.
In some manner news of the projected boat leaked out, and it became
known all over the country that Frank Reade, Jr., was about to present
to the world the greatest triumph of mechanical science ever known.
Of course the whole country was agog with interest.
Frank had scores of letters asking various privileges, all of which of
course he refused.
The weeks passed by and progress on the Dolphin was very rapid.
In Frank’s employ were two peculiar characters. One was a red-headed
Irishman of the Tipperary type named Barney O’Shea. The other was a
comical darky of the old plantation species named Pomp.
Pomp and Barney were Frank Reade, Jr.’s most valued servants.
They had accompanied him on all his travels, shared dangers, hardships
and triumphs with him.
They were deeply devoted to their handsome and accomplished young
master, and clung to him closely.
They were delighted with the prospect of a deep-sea cruise.
“Begorra, I’ll make love to the bootiful mermaids an’ hobnob wid Neptune
himself, bad cess to him!” cried Barney, gleefully. “Shure, it’ll be
foine sport to go a-fishin’ for whales an’ porpuses down there, naygur.”
“Golly!” rejoined Pomp, as he threw a flip-flap, “I don’ fink yo’ want
to fish much fo’ whales, sonny! Dey pull yo’ ober into de watah fo’
suah!”
“How the divil will they do that, yez black ape?” roared Barney. “Don’t
yez see that we’re undher wather anyway?”
“Mebbe dat whale swallow yo’, den.”
“Bejabers, he cudn’t swally me an’ ther boat too, yez ignyramus!”
Pomp scratched his woolly head.
“Wha’ dat yo’ call me, chile?” he asked. “Am I a lily igglylamus? I done
fink dat yo’ call me somefin’ else afo’ I get froo wif yo’. Ki dar!”
And Pomp made a rush for his colleague. They closed in a lively wrestle.
While the warmest of friends, both were addicted to the habit of
practical joking. Each loved to play pranks upon the other.
“Begorra, yez haven’t got the sand to trow me off me feet, naygur!”
roared Barney, as they wrestled. “Whurroo! Over yez go!”
But as Pomp went down he brought Barney also, and thus the unequal
struggle went on.
It was terminated finally by the appearance of Frank Reade, Jr., on the
scene.
Finally the last bolt was driven, the last rivet cut, and the Dolphin
floated in the waters of the big tank, completed.
Then Frank sent a telegram to New York, worded thus:
* * * * *
DEAR STANHOPE,—The Dolphin is finished. If you wish to participate in
the trial trip, report at once. Shall expect you by Thursday sure.
Please reply. Yours ever,
FRANK READE, JR.
* * * * *
Promptly Stanhope appeared in Readestown Thursday of that week. He went
at once to the machine shops.
He found Frank there awaiting him. They shook hands warmly.
“You are on hand promptly,” said Frank, “but I think I can give you a
great surprise.”
“Then the submarine boat is an accomplished fact?”
“Yes.”
“I am curious to see the great wonder.”
“You shall have your wish gratified.”
They left the office and went at once out into the yard.
Frank led the way to the tank, an immense affair with a depth of forty
feet, sufficient to float a war cruiser.
This tank, or artificial pond, was connected with a deep canal by a gate
and locks.
Passing through the canal, the river could be reached in a short while,
and thence a course was open to the sea.
In the tank floated like a cork the beautiful triumph of a mighty
inventive genius, the submarine boat.
It was truly a beautiful specimen of marine architecture, though totally
unlike the general run of sea craft.
There were no sails or visible means of propulsion. No high decks or
bulwarks, but a hull wonderful in its symmetry.
The Dolphin was built much upon the lines of the salt water bream, and
was as buoyant and light as could be desired.
Stanhope stood upon the edge of the tank for some while regarding the
new craft with interest and wonderment.
Then Frank advanced and said briskly:
“Well, George, what do you think of it?”
The explorer was silent a moment; then he said:
“It looks feasible from here.”
Frank laughed heartily.
“You must come aboard,” he said, “and then I think your doubts will
forever be set at rest upon that point. Are you quite ready?”
“Oh, yes,” replied Stanhope.
“Then follow me.”