KAISERLAND
Frank gazed in unconcealed wonder at this young man who thus openly set
at naught the laws of nations and of civilization; but he was not
greatly surprised at the pirate's announcement that there was a German
submarine base in the Atlantic. This had long been suspected in
Washington and allied countries, but fast cruisers sent to scour the
waters had been unable to find the hiding place.
Captain Jack continued:
"You see, I'm not asking you to join me under false pretenses. I could
tell you I am fighting Germany, attack a German ship and you would
believe me; but that is not the truth. In fact, I hesitate even to
attack this German ship. Should my hiding place be discovered, the
Germans would make short work of me."
"So would American or British warships," said Frank.
"I'm not so sure. If pursued by them I would appeal to the Germans for
aid. They would welcome me as a kindred spirit--they are no better
than pirates, you know."
"Oh, I know it, all right," Frank agreed. "In fact, I have found that
they are not as good as most pirates, though, I am not what you would
call well acquainted with the pirate family. By the way, where are
we?"
Captain Jack considered.
"I guess there is no need for me to remain silent on that point," he
said at last. "There is little likelihood that you will be able to
reveal my hiding place. This island, to give it the name of the
Germans who hold forth here, is Kaiserland. It is out of the regular
channel of navigation from South America and is uncharted. I stumbled
upon it by accident.
"Shipwrecked, as were you, with fifty men from a South American freight
ship, we dragged ourselves ashore here. We discovered the German base
while hunting signs of human habitation. It was then I conceived the
idea of seizing one of the German vessels. My men were with me--it
was a rough lot we carried on that freight ship. I seemed to have more
brains--or you can call it imagination--than the rest, so I became
the leader as a natural result.
"I won't burden you with the details of how we captured the submarine.
The best proof that we succeeded, however, is that you are board it
right now. I had all kinds of men among my followers, even the
wireless operator. He rigged up a wireless station farther inland.
There, I picked up many messages the world would be glad to hear."
"Did you ever stop to think," said Frank, "of what benefit you could be
to the United States and her allies?"
"I have," returned Captain Jack, "but I have concluded that I can be of
more use to myself. So far I have sunk but three vessels and in each
case I have set passengers and crew safely adrift in the regular
channel, where they were sure to be picked up. There will be some
great tales when they reach home. They probably will blame their
misfortune on the Germans.
"But there is nothing I could do for the United States now without
inviting my own destruction. I have gone beyond the pale, and the
punishment for piracy, you know, is death. But come, I am wasting
time. Again I ask will you be my first lieutenant and join me in my
dash after this German raider."
Frank considered deeply for long minutes. At last he said: "I cannot
accept your offer to become a pirate, but I will do this: I will take
part in your attack on the German, for I consider any German engaged in
this war beyond the pale of civilization. If it is necessary to become
a pirate to help win this war, then I will become a pirate, always
remembering myself that I shall break none of the laws of nations and
that I shall take every effort to succor the unfortunate."
"Good!" exclaimed Captain Jack. "Well spoken!"
"But," continued Frank, "I want you to understand that I wish no part
of the prize and that my association with you ends when the German
raider has been disposed of."
"Very good!" declared Captain Jack. "So be it. And your men here, I
take it, are of the same mind?"
"We are, sir," said Timothy and Allen in a single voice.
They seemed to have lost all desire to become pirates in reality.
"You may consider yourselves at liberty, then," said Captain Jack, with
a wave of his hand. "By the way," this to Frank, "do you know anything
of the mechanism of a submarine?"
"A trifle," said Frank quietly. "I neglected to tell you that I hold a
lieutenant's commission in the British navy."
"What!" cried Captain Jack, who could scarcely believe his ears.
"Exactly," said Frank, "and as such I have seen considerable active
service beneath the sea as well as upon its surface."
"So much the better," declared Captain Jack. "You will be all the more
valuable. I need not fear to trust my ship in your hands."
At this moment there came sounds of confusion from above.
"Something wrong," said Captain Jack, and dashed away.
Frank and the two sailors followed more slowly. Captain Jack met them
at the foot of the ladder that led on deck. He was laughing.
"Nothing serious," he said. "Half a dozen of my men encountered three
strangers back on the island and there was a fight. Seems the
strangers had the better of the encounter, killing two of my men and
wounding two more. Through some sort of a truce the strangers agreed
to accompany my men here, although they seem to have had the
advantage."
Captain Jack made as if to mount the ladder. Frank stayed him.
"One minute," he said. "Chances are your captives are friends of mine,
my commander, and the fourth officer of the Albatross. Don't worry,"
as Captain Jack laid a hand to his revolver, "they are with me in
anything I do. But I thought we could have a little fun with them.
Take charge of them like the pirate chief you are and tell them you are
leaving their fate in the hands of your first officer."
"By Jove! Good!" cried Captain Jack, and he climbed on deck.
Frank led the way into what he made out was the pirate chief's cabin
and unceremoniously took possession.
A few moments later several figures descended the ladder and approached
the cabin. Frank caught Jack's voice.
"I was a fool to let these fellows get the upper hand," he said. "We
had the advantage back there in the forest and threw it away. No
telling what they will do with us. Make us walk the plank, maybe."
Frank got to his feet as Jack, Williams and Captain Glenn, closely
followed by Captain Jack, entered the little cabin. Jack espied him on
the instant.
"Hello, Frank," he said, with a rueful smile.
"So they got you, too, eh?"
"No, they didn't get me," replied Frank, "but it seems we have got you,
all right."
"What's that?" demanded Jack, believing he had not heard aright.
"I say," declared Frank, "that we've got you. I'm second in command of
this pirate crew and I don't want you to forget it. You will address
me with civility."
"What's the joke?" asked Jack.
"No joke," returned Frank. "I'm the first officer of this submarine,
and Captain Jack--that's your captor--has left it to me to
pronounce sentence on the men who have killed two of our good pirates
and wounded two others."
"So you've joined the pirates?" said Jack, with a smile. "All right,
we await the sentence. What is it? Walk the plank?"
"No," said Frank, "the sentence is that you become members of our
pirate crew."
"What," said Jack in mock seriousness, and supposing of course that
Frank was joking, "me a pirate? I guess not."
"Either that," said Frank, "or you shall be bound and securely guarded
until we have returned from an imminent cruise."
"Look here, Chadwick," interposed Captain Glenn at this point, "all
this probably is very funny and all that; but tell us the joke so we
can laugh too."
"I'm telling you that it's no joke," replied Frank. "I am asking you
whether, for the moment, you will all become pirates and fare forth
with Captain Jack and myself in search of adventure, riches and
Germans."
"Germans?" said Jack, pricking up his ears.
"Sure, we'll fare forth with almost any one in search of Germans.
Explain, Frank."
"First," said Frank, "I want you to meet Captain Jack, a true pirate.
Captain Jack, my friend and chum, Jack Templeton."
"Seems we've both got a regular name, anyhow, doesn't it," said Jack
Templeton, as he shook hands with Captain Jack.
"It does," returned the latter with a grin.
The two took stock of each other, each realizing in the moment their
hands met that before him stood an antagonist worthy of his steel.
Frank introduced the others. Then he explained the situation.
"Now do you think I have done right to join the expedition?" he asked.
"You have done right, yes," said Jack slowly, weighing each word, "if
you are sure you can trust our Captain Jack, here."
Captain Jack was on his feet with an angry gleam in his eyes, but Jack
did not quail. Before the look in the young Englishman's eye, the
pirate chief stepped back. Then he looked the lad squarely in the face
and extended his hand.
"You've my word that I will play square," he said quietly, and added
half ruefully, "The word of a pirate!"
"I accept it!" said Jack, and grasped the hand.