ASHORE
It was still early morning when the little boat with the six
castaways--Frank, Jack, Captain Glenn, Williams, fourth officer of the
Albatross' and the two sailors, Timothy and Allen--rounded a
projecting point of land and put into a small harbor.
Along the shore were signs of human hands. There was a recently
constructed dock, well hidden under overhanging foliage. It was
perfectly invisible from a distance, being revealed to view only when
the small boat approached within a hundred yards. There was no vessel
in sight.
"Somebody lives around these parts, that's sure," commented Captain
Glenn. "Wonder where we are, anyhow?"
"Thought you said something about South America, Sir," said Frank.
"So I did," replied the erstwhile commander of the Albatross, "but
that's no reason we are. I was just guessing at it, you know."
"Well," said Jack, "we're safe at any rate, and that's something."
"Right you are, Jack," said Frank. "I am sorry the same cannot be said
for all who were with us aboard the Albatross."
For a time the occupants of the boat were silent as they drew closer to
the shore. At last the nose of the little craft plowed into the sand.
Frank leaped lightly ashore and the others followed.
"Drag the boat out of the water, Allen," Frank instructed, and added:
"We don't want it to be carried away by the tide."
The sailor followed instructions and the little boat was soon high and
dry.
"Now what?" asked Jack.
"Well," said Captain Glenn, "I don't know where we are exactly and the
best thing is to find out. I still incline to the belief that we're on
the coast of South America and the more I look around the more certain
I feet about it. It has all the appearance of the tropics."
"We'll have a look, then, sir," said Frank briefly.
"Hold on," called Jack, as Frank moved away. "Don't forget we've
rifles in the boat."
"Guess we won't need them," said Frank. "We're out of the war zone, at
least."
"Don't be so sure, youngster," interposed Williams, himself a man well
over forty. "This war has pretty well dragged every nation beneath the
sun within its maw. You never can tell where you will encounter the
hand of the German Kaiser; and, besides, we'll need something to eat."
"Right, Williams," said Captain Glenn, "and wherever you find the
Kaiser's band there you also will find trouble. The German is no
respecter of neutrality, or anything else, for that matter. We'll take
our rifles and make sure that our revolvers and knives are in working
order."
The six returned to the boat, from which Frank dragged a dozen rifles
and a quantity of superfluous revolvers and sheath knives.
"There's an abundance here," the lad said. "We can carry two revolvers
apiece and a knife. Also we can lug a rifle, but I am opposed to
carrying more than one."
"I'm with you there," said Captain Glenn. "For that reason I shall
detail you, Chadwick, to guard the boat with Timothy and Allen, while
Templeton, Williams and I do a little exploring."
Frank's face fell a trifle, for he was keen to have a hand in the work;
but he was too well trained to protest. So all he said was: "Very
well, sir."
"In the meantime," continued Captain Glenn, "you might drag out all
the ammunition and provisions and make sure that they're dry. It will
be well to provide against eventualities. Should we fail to return by
4 o'clock this afternoon, you will know that something has gone wrong
and you will look to your own safety without thought of help from us."
"Very well, sir," said Frank again.
Captain Glenn now led the way inland, Jack and Williams striding along
on either side of him. Each carried a rifle in addition to a pair of
Colt automatics and a heavy sheath knife stuck in his belt. They felt
perfectly able to cope with any danger that might present itself.
Behind, Frank and the two sailors fell to unloading the boat. It had
been well stocked with provision, water and ammunition. Such a
contingency as shipwreck had been provided for before the Albatross
sailed. Therefore, when time came to desert the ship there had been
nothing to do but lower the boats.
Prank gazed after his friends as they strode rapidly inland. As they
disappeared beyond a distant clump of trees he shrugged.
"Well," he said to the sailors, "they've gone and we're here. I don't
imagine any one will bother us, but we'll be on guard. Timothy, you
keep your weather eye open for possible callers while Allen and I
unload."
The two proceeded untiringly with the work while Timothy scanned the
horizon.
Now, it so happened that the sailor paid no attention to the water
front. After one brief glance, in which he made sure that there was
nothing upon the surface of the water, he confined his attention
inland. Therefore, it is only natural that Frank was taken off his
feet by surprise when, chancing to look up, he beheld in the harbor a
small vessel, to all appearances a submarine, and advancing toward him
a dozen or more men, armed with rifles.
Frank straightened up with a cry. Timothy and Allen sprang to his
side. Each seized a rifle and loosened the revolvers in their belts.
"Timothy," said Frank severely, "I thought I told you to keep your eyes
open."
"I did, sir," replied the sailor, eyeing the approaching men in the
utmost surprise. "I'll take my oath there was no submarine there five
minutes ago."
"But it must have been in sight," said Frank. "It didn't materialize
out of thin air, you know."
"I can't help that," declared Timothy. "It wasn't there, I tell you."
"What's the use of talking like that, man," exclaimed Frank,
exasperated. "I tell you it must have been in sight."
Timothy mumbled something to himself, but made no coherent reply.
"Wonder who they are, sir?" said Allen.
"It's too deep for me," said Frank with a shrug. "However, we'll know
soon enough. Now, you men keep quiet and let me do the talking. We
don't want to have any trouble if we can help it. Chances are they
will prove friendly enough. That vessel in the harbor is probably a
submarine of some South American government. These men approaching are
the officers and crew. We are not at war with any South American
country, so there is no reason why we should anticipate trouble."
The newcomers had now approached within hailing distance. At a command
from the man who appeared to be the leader they halted. Frank saw that
they were all heavily armed. A man stepped forward and shouted:
"Who are you and what do you want here?"
"Castaways!" Frank shouted back. "We're the sole survivors of an
American merchant ship."
This reply seemed to lend courage to the others, who, at a command from
the leader, advanced boldly.
"Throw down your rifles men," said Frank in a low voice, "but keep your
hands on your revolvers. These fellows seem all right, but there is no
need taking unnecessary chances."
They stood quietly as the men approached. As they drew nearer, Frank
made out that they were indeed a motley crew. Spanish faces--or
South American, to be more exact--predominated, but there were a few
who seemed to be English or Americans. Also, there were two plainly of
African descent and three who seemed to be Chinese or Japanese.
Frank whistled softly to himself.
"If I didn't know the days of pirates are over..." he said, and then
shrugged again.
The leader of the party--a young man, he could not have been more
than twenty-four, although he was exceedingly large and powerful
looking--spoke in English. Frank was not wrong when he placed him as
an American, though of German descent.
"What's your name?" he demanded of Frank.
"Chadwick," replied Frank quietly. "Frank Chadwick."
"And you say you are castaways?" said the man. "What was your position
aboard the ship?"
"Second officer," said Frank
"A merchant ship, you say?"
"Yes."
Frank did not deem it necessary to tell the other that he held a
lieutenancy in the British royal navy.
"And you are the sole survivors?" demanded the man.
"So far as I know, yes."
"Good," said the leader of the party. "Then you shall come with us.
It may be that you will have brains, in which event your fortune is
assured. If no, well, it won't be hard to get rid of you. You'll come
with me. Tell your men to follow."
Frank thought quickly. It was plain that he was in danger of some kind
though as yet he was unable to tell just what.
"One minute," he said. The others paused.
"Who are you?" the lad demanded.
The other smiled.
"Why, I'm Captain Jack," he said quietly.
"I see," said Frank. "And your ship--a submarine, I note--a war
vessel, it can be plainly seen. What flag does she fly?"
"The black flag," was the smiling reply; "the jolly Roger."
"As I thought," said Frank. "A pirate!"
His hands dropped to his guns.