In the morning the voyage was resumed, but they did not hurry, it being
the purpose of Captain Shooks to let the _Dauntless_ have plenty of
time to reach the Pacific and go on. If they should find her hovering
around as though waiting for them, nothing could be more simple with
regard to getting rid of the rival boat than for them to submerge, and
keep moving under the water until night came on.
This time they were meaning to head further south. They had a pretty
accurate account of an old-time buccaneer that had preyed upon the gold
coast with impunity, until finally it ran upon a disguised British
sloop of war, which proceeded to hammer it so well that in the end the
pirate sank. The account also stated, on the authority of competent
witnesses who had left a record behind them before they passed away,
that the notorious commander of the buccaneer had all his wealth on
board at the time, it being his intention to give up the nefarious
business, and settle down under an assumed name in some Continental
country, there to enjoy the ill-gotten fruits of his many sackings of
towns and ships.
Of course, all that amazing treasure went down with the ship, though
some of the crew, it appears, did manage to swim ashore and escape.
Many unsuccessful attempts had been made to find the sunken piratical
vessel, but then none of these were one-half so well fixed for
exploring the bottom of the sea as the one Captain Shooks commanded.
So with ardent hopes they pointed the prow of their odd-looking boat
toward the Peruvian coast, and in due time reached their destination.
It proved to be by long odds the toughest job they had as yet
undertaken, owing to the diverse ocean currents they struck after they
had gone down to investigate.
For days they prowled around that region. When one clue failed the
skipper seemed to have another at hand, upon which he depended to show
them the object of their persistent hunt.
Jack was having the time of his life taking pictures of all the amazing
things they discovered while prosecuting this search. He added several
films to his already wonderful collection, and only feared his supply
would run short before the subjects gave out, and wished he had waited
at Panama for the new lot ordered shipped on from New York.
As time passed, and no reward came to their labors, even the confident
Ballyhoo began to despair of meeting with success.
“I guess the Pacific is our hoodoo, fellows,” he was telling them on
one occasion, as they sat on the edge of the lower bunk, or it might be
a stool, for chairs were at a premium in those close quarters. “After
all we’d better be cutting stick, and going back to the Caribbean Sea,
where we did meet with our usual good luck.”
“Here’s the skipper coming to tell us something,” remarked Jack, “and
from the look on his face I guess it’s good news in the bargain.”
“Three to one he’s decided to clear out of this mess, and get through
the canal again to where we know our ground,” ventured Ballyhoo
confidently.
However, Ballyhoo was wrong for once. Captain Shooks had information of
an altogether different nature to communicate.
“We’ve stopped moving,” he started to say, “and in a cleared spot just
ahead, where our illuminator makes every little object stand out like
daylight, we’ve discovered something that tells us a vessel must have
gone to pieces about here. The fragments look like an old-time anchor,
for one thing, and some other metal parts.”
“Then you think, do you,” asked Oscar, sensing the meaning conveyed
in these words of the skipper, “we’re about on the spot where that
pirate sank; and that she’s been washed around in these currents until
nothing’s left of her hulk?”
“That’s just what I’m afraid of, lad,” admitted the other; “and that
we’ll have come down here on a fool’s errand. However, now that we’re
on the spot we must try as hard as we can to learn the truth.”
Soon they had arisen again to the surface, and placed a buoy to mark
the spot, so they could come again; for just then there was too much
sea running to think of making use of a float.
After waiting there for two days the skipper could not stand any
further delay; so it was arranged that one of the expert divers go
down from the forward deck of the submersible, which, being low down
near the water, might be made to answer the purpose temporarily. If
he struck anything that promised good results they would linger still
longer, waiting for the weather to change.
This plan was put into operation, though with much difficulty, and not
a little added risk. But the diver knew no fear, and was soon down on
the bottom, moving around, and looking for signs to tell the fate of
the once notorious pirate ship.
While this was going on the boys, as well as the captain, remained
there watching the men work the air pump, and wondering what luck would
follow their venture in Western waters.
An hour passed. Then the long anticipated signal came to let them know
the diver wished to be drawn up. One thing they soon learned, which was
that his bag was empty, proving that at least he had not run across any
more ingots such as rewarded their first search under the sea waves.
When his helmet had been removed, and he sucked in more or less of the
fresh sea air, Hicks looked at Captain Shooks and grinned.
“In my hand pouch, sir, you’ll find just one lone gold piece,” he told
the other. “That I found wedged in a crack in what I made out to be
part of a door that was held down in the sand by the anchor. I guess,
sir, that’s all the loot anybody will ever recover from the wreck of
the old pirate ship. There are some queer currents racing about down
there, that must get pretty fierce at times; and by degrees they’ve
just pulled the hulk all to pieces, and scattered everything around for
miles, I take it.”
Captain Shooks knew then that the game was up, so far as any hope of
recovering pirate loot went. That lone gold piece, a Spanish one it
turned out to be, he gave to Oscar, just as a memento of the occasion.
And immediately afterwards orders went out to turn the prow of the
submersible toward the north again.
They meant to abandon the Pacific for the time being. It seemed that
Shooks believed he had enough results already aboard to justify him in
turning back, and once more heading for Baltimore. Then, if all was
well, he could make a start for the far distant Eastern seas, where
many rich cargoes of treasure were known to have been located, but
never recovered.
The three boys had been talking it all over among themselves, and come
to a decision. This was to quit the expedition at Panama, and remain
there for a week or so, until a steamer came along to pass through the
canal bound east, on which they might engage passage.
To tell the honest truth all of them were heartily tired of their
cramped quarters aboard the submarine, not to mention what they had
to endure from bad air whenever the boat was below the surface. The
novelty had long since worn off, and they frankly confessed they knew
when they had had enough.
Besides, Jack wanted to get those precious submarine pictures of his
ashore, and securely on the way home by some better carrier than a boat
that spent most of the time diving under the water, with a consequent
moisture, inside as well as out, that could not be very good for
delicate film material.
They saw nothing more of the _Dauntless_, and hoped that Captain
Badger, despairing of securing any profit from trying to spy upon his
rival, had gone off on a hunt of his own, following some clues he may
have picked up.
Fortune allowed them a chance to make this change of base before two
days had elapsed, and it was not long before a steamer was starting for
New York City, on which they took passage, with all their possessions.
So far as they knew they were returning after having accomplished their
several missions in the most successful manner. This being the case it
can easily be understood that they saw the shore of Panama disappear
below the hazy horizon one morning, and then looked toward the North,
where home and friends would await their coming, with the complete
satisfaction that victory always brings.
THE END
* * * * *
THE BOY VOLUNTEERS SERIES
By KENNETH WARD
_12mo. Cloth. Fully Illustrated 50c per Volume_
THE NEWEST BOYS’ BOOKS ON THE EUROPEAN WAR, RELATING THE ADVENTURES
OF TWO AMERICAN BOYS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN BATTLE AND ON AIR SCOUT
DUTY. ALL PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH AUTHENTIC DRAWINGS.
The Boy Volunteers on the Belgian Front
Describes the adventures of two American boys who were in Europe when
the great war commenced. Their enlistment with Belgian troops and their
remarkable experiences are based upon actual occurrences and the book
is replete with line drawings of fighting machines, air planes and maps
of places where the most important battles took place and of other
matters of interest.
The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen
This book relates the further adventures of the young Americans in
France, where they viewed the fighting from above the firing lines.
From this book the reader gains considerable knowledge of the different
types of air planes and battle planes used by the warring nations, as
all descriptions are illustrated with unusually clear line drawings.
The Boy Volunteers with the British Artillery
How many boys to-day know anything about the great guns now being used
on so many European battle fronts? Our young friends had the rare
opportunity of witnessing, at first hand, a number of these terrific
duels, and the story which is most fascinatingly told is illustrated
with numerous drawings of the British, French and German field pieces.
The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet
Our young heroes little expected to be favored with so rare an
experience as a trip under the sea in one of the great submarines. In
this book the author accurately describes the submarine in action, and
the many interesting features of this remarkable fighting craft are
made clear to the reader by a series of splendid line drawings.
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE HILLTOP BOYS SERIES
By CYRIL BURLEIGH
The Hilltop Boys; A Story of School Life
Jack Sheldon, a clean-minded and popular student in the academy, gains
the enmity of several of the boys, but their efforts to injure him
fail. A mystery, connected with Jack’s earlier life, is used against
him, but he comes off with flying colors.
The Hilltop Boys in Camp; or, The Rebellion at the Academy
A strange situation arises in which an airship figures as the bearer of
an important letter. The head-master acts without investigating all the
facts, but matters are all finally adjusted to the satisfaction of all
concerned.
The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island; or, An Unusual Adventure
The scene now shifts to the West Indies and Jack figures as the hero
of a daring rescue. Their experiences in tropical waters form a most
stirring narrative, and the young reader is assured of a tale of
gripping interest from first to last.
The Hilltop Boys on the River
The Doctor takes a number of the boys on a cruise up the Hudson. An
unlooked for incident finds Jack Sheldon equal to the occasion, and
what at one time promised to be a disastrous trip for all concerned was
turned into a complete victory for our young friends.
_12mo. Cloth 50c per volume_
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS
A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS
By Capt. ALAN DOUGLAS, Scout-master
These stories are from the pen of a writer who not only possesses a
thorough knowledge of his subject but who is gifted with the ability
to describe the various experiences of the Hickory Ridge Scouts so the
young reader may enjoy and be benefitted thereby.
The narratives are normal and healthful in their tone--in other words,
_real_ scout stories which hold the reader’s interest to the last page.
=The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol=
=Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good=
=Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot=
=Fast Nine; or, a Challenge from Fairfield=
=Great Hike; or, The Pride of the Khaki Troop=
=Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day=
=Under Canvas; or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost=
=Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts=
=Afloat; or, Adventures on Watery Trails=
Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy Scout
Series, all Illustrated:
Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--Trees and Wild Flowers of
the United States--Reptiles of the United States--Fishes of the United
States--Insects of the United States and Birds of the United States.
_Cloth Binding. Cover Illustrations in Four Colors 50c per Volume_
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE CAMPFIRE AND TRAIL SERIES
=1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower=
=2. The Rivals of the Trail=
=3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island=
=4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp=
=5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods=
=6. Caught in a Forest Fire=
=7. Chums of the Campfire=
=8. Afloat on the Flood=
=9. The Cruise of the Houseboat=
By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE
A series of wholesome stories for boys told in an interesting way and
appealing to their love of the open.
_Each, 12 mo. Cloth 50c per Volume_
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE MOUNTAIN BOYS SERIES
=1. Phil Bradley’s Mountain Boys=
=2. Phil Bradley at the Wheel=
=3. Phil Bradley’s Shooting Box=
=4. Phil Bradley’s Snow-Shoe Trail=
=5. Phil Bradley’s Winning Way=
By SILAS K. BOONE
These books describe, with interesting detail, the experiences of a
party of boys among the mountain pines.
They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the
elements, what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become
self-reliant and manly.
_12mo. Cloth 50c per Volume, Postpaid_
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE MERRYVALE BOYS
By ALICE HALE BURNETT
Six real stories for small boys, each complete in itself, telling about
the many interesting doings of “Toad” and “Chuck” Brown, and their
friends, “Fat,” “Reddy” and others.
The books are written so the boy may read and understand them and the
action faithfully portrays boy life in a small town.
CIRCUS DAY AT MERRYVALE
“Toad” and “Reddy,” by good fortune, each earn two tickets to the
circus, although they find watering elephants a harder task than it at
first seemed. A jolly party of boys visit the circus.
FATHER BROWN’S INDIAN TALE
Dad’s story is followed by an unexpected visitor who at first startles
then interests all of the little party gathered around the fireside.
THE PICNIC AT MERRYVALE
Did you ever go to a picnic in a large farm wagon, filled with boys and
girls? Then did you catch a fine lot of trout and broil them before a
camp-fire? “Toad” and “Reddy” did these very things and had a day long
to be remembered.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS IN MERRYVALE
Daddy Williams’ Toy Shop is the center of interest to “Toad” and his
friends long before Christmas arrives. They plan a surprise that brings
joy to a poor family. The boys erect snow forts and the two sides have
a battle royal.
MERRYVALE BOYS ON THE FARM
“Toad’s” grandmother invites him and “Reddy” to spend a month in the
country. Their experiences at Sunnyside farm, with its horses, cows,
pigs and chickens, are most entertainingly told, and they have the time
of their lives boating, swimming and fishing in the creek.
HALLOWE’EN AT MERRYVALE
For many days the boys had been looking forward to the party to be held
at Toad Brown’s house, but the evening finally arrived and a number of
new games were played, although a few things happened which were not on
the program.
_Illustrations in Color 12mo. Cloth 40c per Vol., Postpaid_
THE NEW YORK BOOK CO., 201 E. 12th St., New York
* * * * *
THE MERRYVALE GIRLS
By ALICE HALE BURNETT
Six delightful books for the smaller girls, each a complete story in
itself, describing in simple language the interesting experiences of
Beth, Mary and Jerry, three little maids of Merryvale.
Beth’s Garden Party
The three girls take part in a very formal little affair on the lawn of
Beth’s home, and each of the guests receives a present. The drive home
in Beth’s pony cart furnishes a few exciting moments, but Patsy bravely
comes to the rescue.
A Day at the County Fair
The girls are taken to the fair in a motor, but a slight delay occurs
on the way. How they finally arrived at the fair ground and their
amusing experiences are most entertainingly told.
Geraldine’s Birthday Surprise
Geraldine, whom we know better as Jerry, plays hostess to her many
friends, although it must be admitted that her guests knew of the
affair before she did. A jolly evening is spent by the girls which is
shared in by our young Merryvale boy friends.
Mary Entertains the Sewing Club
Mary has the club at her home, and the efforts of the members cause
many outbursts of merriment. The girls hold a “fair of all nations”
for the benefit of the Merryvale Day Nursery, and their plans succeed
beyond their expectations.
Merryvale Girls at the Seaside
The three girls are invited to the light-house where they see many
wonderful things. A luncheon on the shore and days spent in sailing
with the captain make their visit a round of pleasure.
Merryvale Girls in the Country
A real old-fashioned farm affords the girls a most enjoyable time and
every hour is filled with delightful experiences.
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrations in Color. 40c per Volume, Postpaid_
THE NEW YORK BOOK CO., 201 E. 12th St., New York
* * * * *
The Ethel Morton Books
By MABELL S. C. SMITH
This series strikes a new note in the publication of books for girls.
Fascinating descriptions of the travels and amusing experiences of our
young friends are combined with a fund of information relating their
accomplishment of things every girl wishes to know.
In reading the books a girl becomes acquainted with many of the
entertaining features of handcraft, elements of cooking, also of
swimming, boating and similar pastimes. This information is so imparted
as to hold the interest throughout. Many of the subjects treated are
illustrated by halftones and line engravings throughout the text.
LIST OF TITLES
ETHEL MORTON AT CHAUTAUQUA
ETHEL MORTON AND THE CHRISTMAS SHIP
ETHEL MORTON’S HOLIDAYS
ETHEL MORTON AT ROSE HOUSE
ETHEL MORTON’S ENTERPRISE
ETHEL MORTON AT SWEET BRIER LODGE
_Price 50 cents per volume; postpaid_
PUBLISHED BY
The New York Book Company
201 EAST 12TH STREET NEW YORK, N. Y.
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes:
The two footnotes have been moved to the end of their chapter and
relabeled consecutively.
Punctuation has been made consistent.
Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in
the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have
been corrected.