South of Sulu
The _Swift Arrow_ rounded the western end of Jolo and headed south
toward the Tapul islands. On the south side of the group was the island
of Siasi where Zircon planned to top off the fuel tanks and check in
with the constabulary again.
The four set up watches, two to a watch, four hours at a stretch. They
settled down to a long search. At Siasi they would be at the center of
the Sulu Archipelago, and would leave the Sulu Sea behind and enter the
Celebes Sea. The sun blazed down from nearly overhead at noon until the
caulking in the deck bubbled and the sea seemed to steam. They were less
than six degrees above the Equator now.
Vintas dotted the waters close to the islands, but they were apparently
peaceful Samal fishermen. There was no sign of a pirate fleet.
"I doubt that the pirates will bother us in these waters," Zircon
remarked. "Too close to islands with civilization on them. We can look
for trouble in the more open waters to the south."
"They bothered us close to Zamboanga," Rick pointed out.
"True. However, I suspect it was simply a quick try at getting us before
we were well under way. I'm rather flattered, as a matter of fact. Of
course they know what we're after. It was in the Manila papers. But they
must realize we won't quit until we find Tony and Howard, and they must
be afraid we'll succeed. Otherwise, why attack us?"
Rick saw the sense of Zircon's reasoning. "Then this mysterious island
may not be hard to find, at least for anyone who's really determined."
"That's my guess. Anyway, I think we may be attacked when we
accidentally start toward their base. And it will be an accident, since
we have no clues."
At Siasi the constabulary had no further information of value, except
that the government was showing deep interest and concern about the
pirates. The searchers topped off the fuel and water tanks, and anchored
for the night in the protected harbor. At dawn they hauled anchor and
rounded Siasi.
Zircon laid a course that took them south-south-west toward the
Kinapusan Islands and cautioned all hands to be on the alert. By noon
they had crossed Taapan Passage.
Chahda and Rick were in the galley, cooking hamburgers for lunch. Chahda
was explaining the technique of using the Moro blades.
"Must remember, knife is not just a thing. Is part of your arm. Is
sharp part that just makes arm longer. You no swing knife. You swing
arm, like trying to cut with end of finger. Okay?"
"I get it," Rick agreed. "Don't think of the knife as something
separate. Think of it as part of your own body."
"Yes," Chahda assented. "Next, balancing of knife is important. If is
good, is like part of you. If is bad, can never be part of you. Moro
knives well-balanced. You see..."
Chahda never got a chance to finish.
"All hands on deck! Pirates!" Scotty yelled.
[Illustration: "_All hands on deck! Pirates!_"]
Rick and Chahda piled out of the galley at top speed, Rick grabbing
Shannon's quiver from its hook as he passed. He quickly put the bow
together and strung it, then swung the quiver to his back as he reached
the deck.
Ahead was a line of vintas, already curving in an arc to trap them. Rick
glanced behind and saw that other Moro craft were closing in. They would
be surrounded this time, unless they chose to give up their pretense of
a crippled engine.
"Chahda!" Scotty called. "Take the wheel so I can use my rifle."
The Hindu boy checked to be sure his knives were at hand, then took over
from Scotty, who laid out extra clips and got ready to fire.
Zircon had extra clips for his pistol close at hand. He was watching the
vintas through the long glass.
Rick put on his arm guard and finger protectors. Since the vintas were
still out of bowshot he took a moment to beeswax his string. Then he
took a small broadhead arrow from the quiver, nocked it, and drew a few
times to unlimber his muscles, being careful not to let the string snap
out of his fingers.
"What now?" he asked.
"We'll go straight ahead," Zircon answered. "Chahda, use nearly full
speed on one engine. Have the second engine idling, but don't use it
unless we get into serious trouble. Notice that the vintas ahead of us
are running before the wind? If we can get through the line we'll have
the weather gauge of them. In other words, they'll have to tack with the
wind against them. We'll be able to get free easily on one engine."
Scotty pointed to a gap between a vinta with a solid purple sail and one
with blue-and-white stripes. "There's a hole to go through, Chahda."
Rick saw that the vintas ahead were closing in. The Moro craft would be
two deep by the time the MTB reached them. He loosened his quiver and
made sure the arrows were free. He might have to shoot pretty fast.
His senses were unnaturally alert. The water was bluer than blue and the
small patches of fair-weather clouds seemed brilliantly white. The sails
on the Moro craft were gaudy, their crews properly fierce and
picturesque. He was detached from the reality of the scene, as though
this were some movie he was watching.
Zircon brought him back to reality with a jolt. "Pick off the helmsmen
first!"
Rick could hear yells now, as the Moros saw that the _Swift Arrow_ was
almost within reach. He ran to the foredeck and knelt on one knee, arrow
nocked and ready. Scotty climbed to the top of the pilothouse and lay
prone, rifle thrust out.
The pirate yells were louder now, and some Moros brandished barongs or
krises while others waved rifles. Rick suppressed a shudder. If the
pirates got on board with those knives ...
The pirate fleet opened fire. A slug whined off a ventilator cowl a foot
from Rick's head, but he forced himself to wait. It was still a little
far for bow shooting. It was not too far for Scotty, however. Rick heard
the sharp crack of his pal's rifle, and saw a Moro helmsman slump over
in the nearest vinta. The craft sheered off. Another Moro jumped to take
the helmsman's place and Scotty's second shot splintered the rudder
handle in his hands.
A vinta closed to within twenty yards, an easy bowshot. Rick mentally
timed the rise and fall of the craft on the swell. Then, as it broached
slightly, he had a clear shot at the helmsman. Kneeling, he drew swiftly
and loosed. The shaft caught the Moro in the hollow of the shoulder and
pinned him back against the stern transom.
Rick reached for another arrow in the smooth rhythm Shannon had taught
him, but the rhythm was abruptly shattered by a sudden blast almost in
his ear! He whirled swiftly to meet the new threat, just in time to see
Zircon open the breech of the saluting cannon and extract a smoking
shell.
For an instant Rick wondered if the scientist had taken leave of his
senses. He saw Zircon ram home a blank cartridge and close the breech.
Then, suddenly, the action made sense to Rick. For Zircon upended the
cannon muzzle and poured in a box of tacks!
The scientist depressed the muzzle, sighted calmly, and pulled the
lanyard. A swath of tacks spewed into the bow of the nearest vinta
bringing a chorus of pirate yells. The craft swerved away.
Shouting with delight at the scientist's ingenuity, Rick jumped to
Zircon's side. Working together, they fired box after box of tacks, and
saw the vintas slowly clear the way.
The Moros could face cold steel or hot lead without a qualm, but the
fierce, stinging tacks were too much, and too unexpected. They failed to
press the attack at the crucial moment and the _Swift Arrow_ slipped
through the line.
As Zircon had predicted, one engine gave them enough speed to get clear,
once the Moros had lost the advantage of a favorable wind. Scotty fired
a few more shots at the vintas within range, then dropped to the deck.
The fight was over.
The four gathered in the pilothouse and the three boys stared at Zircon
with mixed admiration and amusement.
"It's nothing," the big physicist said modestly. "You see, in my
lifetime I have been an avid reader. At one time, while at the
university, I read of some round-the-world traveler using tacks in a
signal gun. So I disclaim originality."
"My 'Worrold Alm-in-ack' not saying about this," Chahda said, grinning.
"Is pretty lucky you have good memory for other books, Professor!"
Rick looked back at the vintas, rapidly falling astern. The pirates were
well beyond gunshot now. "Victory at Sea," he proclaimed. "Thanks to the
professor's college education!"