At dawn, while a light fog still overspread the sea, the crash of
distant guns was brought to the ears of the watch on duty. From what
direction the reports came it was impossible for the _Colodia’s_
officers to determine.
It was still too dark for the lookouts to make out anything at a
distance, even had the morning been perfectly clear. But all hands were
aroused, the word running from deck to deck that the destroyer was
within sound of a naval action of some kind.
It was not a signal gun they heard, for several shots were fired
simultaneously. Then there was silence again. The _Colodia_ sped on her
course, the hope being expressed by all that “blind luck,” if nothing
else, might lead her to the scene.
Just before the sun rose above the sea line the lookouts began to shout
their discoveries. Out of the fog, but at a great distance, they saw the
upper spars and canvas of a great sailing ship. The _Colodia’s_
direction was changed to run closer to this vessel.
“It’s a chance we have found her,” murmured Whistler to George Belding.
“She is square rigged, and she is some ship in size, believe me!”
For, moment by moment, the fog was thinning and the outlines of the
spars and sails became clearer. From the deck of the destroyer these
became visible.
The excitement of the Seacove boys and George Belding was quite
overpowering. That their friends aboard the _Redbird_ were in the hands
of mutineers they were assured; and now the guns, which began to speak
again, forewarned of added peril!
As the sun came out they saw that the upper canvas of the ship they had
sighted was being furled. Sail after sail disappeared. It was as though
she was being stripped of her canvas.
“She’s under the guns of that raider, I’ll bet a cent!” declared Al
Torrance. “So she has had to stop her headway. Those guns were for the
purpose of making the ship--whoever she is--lie to.”
“But if it is the _Redbird_, the Germans already have command of her,”
cried Belding.
“We don’t know who she is yet,” said Whistler.
“Oi, oi!” gasped Ikey Rosenmeyer, “I’m so excited yet I can’t keep
still. Isn’t it _great_, Frenchy?”
“Sure, it’s the greatest experience we’ve had,” admitted the Irish lad.
“For we don’t know whether we are approaching friend or foe.”
Nor was the destroyer’s approach visible to those aboard the sailing
ship for some time. Her color and the gray fog that lingered on the
surface of the sea aided in this.
There were no more guns for a time, but it was quite evident that the
sailing vessel had lost much headway. It was then that the lookouts in
the tops of the _Colodia_ first glimpsed the ship that had fired the
guns. She was a steamer coming rapidly up on the course of the sailing
vessel.
Two more guns were fired, but the shells seemed not to have burst near
the victim of the outrage. They were meant merely as a threat. The
sailing craft which was nearer to the destroyer was observed to be
signaling with flags. The signals were in a code that the signalmen of
the _Colodia_ did not know, and they so reported to Commander Lang.
“The Huns aboard the _Redbird_ are signaling to the Huns on the _Sea
Pigeon_,” was the confident declaration of prophetic Al Torrance.
“If it is so, you can just believe that they are telling the raider of
our approach. They must see the _Colodia_ coming now,” Whistler
observed.
Suddenly, with the sun’s round face appearing above the sea line, the
last wisps of fog were whipped away. The tropical heat burned up the
moisture in a flash.
“Boats at the davits of the ship now being manned, sir!” came the hail
from one of the destroyer’s lookouts.
“They are abandoning ship!” was the word passed along the decks.
“If it is the _Redbird_!” murmured Belding to Phil Morgan, “what do you
suppose will happen to my father and mother and the girls?”
Whistler had no answer ready. He kept his lips shut grimly and stared
straight ahead.
The distance of the destroyer from the steamer believed to be the German
raider, was too great as yet for a shot to be tried. They were near
enough to the sailing ship to see two boats launched before it was
considered well to use the guns.
Then the _Colodia_ sent her first shells close to the boats that were
being rowed toward the steam craft.
“There are only men in those lifeboats,” declared Ensign MacMasters, who
had been examining the distant specks through powerful glasses. “It
looks as though the mutineers had abandoned ship and passengers and were
attempting to join their fellow countrymen aboard the _Sea Pigeon_.”
Immediately the commander ordered shells to be dropped between the small
boats and the steamer, and the long distance guns began to crack at the
raider over the heads of the escaping mutineers.
With her smoke trailing behind her and the guns barking in rapid
succession, the _Colodia_ raced toward the scene. She kept well away
from the sailing craft, but she drove on in a way to cut off the two
rowboats from the raider.
That it was the _Sea Pigeon_, nobody aboard the destroyer now doubted.
“We’re going to kill two birds with one stone, boys!” declared Ensign
MacMasters cheerfully to the Navy Boys. “I’ll bet that sailing ship is
the one your friends are aboard.”
His cheerfulness did not wholly overcome George Belding’s depression.
George was now worrying as to what had been done to the passengers of
the _Redbird_ before the mutineers left the sailing ship!
That she was his father’s vessel he was confident. Her rig was familiar
to him.
As the destroyer drew nearer, too, her crew saw certain figures on the
deck of the sailing vessel that seemed to be wildly signaling the naval
craft. Just then the _Colodia_ could not stop to investigate. Her work
was to settle first with the Germans.
The raider had finally started away from the vicinity, leaving the crews
of the two boats to shift for themselves. It was her only chance for
escape, for the destroyer could outsteam the _Sea Pigeon_, fast as she
was.
A fortunate shot knocked away the jury smokestack which had been put in
place of the one the destroyer had previously smashed. Interior damage
was done by this shell, too. This was immediately apprehended by the
raider’s movements.
“Hold fire!” commanded the executive officer of the _Colodia_. Signals
were sent up ordering the German to surrender. Almost at once a white
ensign was displayed, and at the sight of it the destroyer’s crew went
mad with excitement.
Better than merely sinking the _Sea Pigeon_--they had captured her!
Their work of five weeks at sea, away from their base, had ended
gloriously. The raider doubtless had a valuable cargo, and the fact that
she would be put out of commission was a heavy blow to the German arms.
Swiftly the destroyer approached and, at a certain distance, sent a boat
off to the _Sea Pigeon_ to bring her captain and a part of her force
aboard the American ship. But Commander Lang, understanding fully the
anxiety of Phil Morgan and George Belding, ordered another motor boat
launched and allowed them to be members of her crew. She was sent
directly to the sailing ship which now lay about two miles away.
Passing the two lifeboats, Ensign MacMasters, who was in command of the
launch, questioned briefly their frightened crews. At first they denied
that they were mutineers. They declared the raider had commanded them to
abandon their ship and row aboard the _Sea Pigeon_.
But when they were asked the name of the sailing ship, and other
pertinent queries, the sailors broke down. All but their leader.
Suddenly George Belding uttered an exclamation of surprise.
“Phil! Phil Morgan!” he shouted, forgetting in his excitement to address
their commanding officer. “Don’t you know that fellow steering the
second boat?”
“I see him,” returned Whistler. “I--I _do_ know him! Mr. MacMasters!
That is the spy from the Zeppelin we told you about!”
“Emil Eberhardt, I do believe,” murmured Belding. “It’s no wonder things
went wrong aboard the _Redbird_ when that scoundrel was able to cross
the ocean and join her crew.”
No further information could be obtained from the mutineers at that
time. They were quite helpless, and could only row on to the destroyer
and give themselves up as commanded.
Meanwhile the motor launch ran alongside the big, square-rigged ship.
Three girls at the rail shrieked their delight at sight of Whistler and
George Belding. The latter’s father and mother likewise appeared as the
boys, following Mr. MacMasters, went up the ladder which had been left
hanging over the side when the mutineers abandoned the ship.
The Germans had carried away Mr. Belding’s money--and it was a great
sum--in the lifeboats; but they dared not throw it overboard and so,
later, it was recovered. Otherwise the mutineers had done little damage,
nor had they treated the Americans on the ship badly.
After the greetings were over the story of how the radio messages were
sent was told in full. The radio man aboard the _Redbird_ was a German
sympathizer. He usually slept through the afternoon watch, however, and
it was then the girls had been able to get regularly at the instrument.
The rest of the crew thought Lilian was only playing with the radio. She
told them she could receive a little, but she sent in so clumsy a way
that the Germans paid little attention to her.
“And, of course, I never was a Morse expert,” the girl said, laughing.
“You used to make fun of me, George, when we had the radio plant at
home; but I guess I could be an operator, if I put my mind to it, as
well as you.”
“You’re all right, Lil,” declared her brother. Then with a grin, he
added: “I know Phil thinks you are. He can’t keep his eyes off you.”
There was a great deal to say, of course; but there was more to do. The
boys were left aboard while Mr. MacMasters returned to the _Colodia_
with Captain Lawdor of the _Redbird_, who had been locked into his cabin
by the mutineers. He wished to confer with Commander Lang regarding the
make-up of a crew to work his ship into some port. She could not go all
the way to Bahia with only the handful of men who had remained faithful.
This was overcome very easily, however. The captured raider was repaired
and was sent north with a prize crew. Then the commander of the
destroyer sent help aboard the _Redbird_ and agreed to convoy the
sailing ship into a safe zone.
Farther south the Brazilian warships were patroling the coast of South
America, and they would accompany the big sailing vessel into Bahia.
For, of course, Mr. Belding had no intention of changing his plans,
having already come so far from New York.
The girls were too courageous to lose spirit. Phoebe, who had been so
ill when last her brother had seen her, was getting plump again. She had
marvelously improved during the brief weeks of her sojourn at sea.
Altogether, both Philip Morgan and George Belding had become quite happy
and content when the _Colodia_ finally signaled the _Redbird_ good-bye
and turned her prow north once more. She had been ordered to follow the
captured raider into Hampton Roads, there to refit.
Nevertheless, as America’s activities in the war--especially her naval
activities--were increasing rather than diminishing, the Navy Boys did
not expect to be idle, even if the _Colodia_ was laid up for a while.
“No rest for the wicked,” quoted Al Torrance, wagging his head.
“Oi, oi!” cried Ikey. “You know you are not looking for a rest, Torry.”
“Seems to me,” Belding said, “that it will be rather nice to walk on the
streets once more.”
“Bet we’ll all be land-sick when we get ashore,” grinned Frenchy
Donahue. “How ’bout it, Whistler?”
Whistler said, thoughtfully: “But wouldn’t it be nice if we could have
had our leave ashore at Bahia, with the girls?”
“Wow, wow!” shouted the Irish lad.
“He’s hopeless,” groaned Ikey Rosenmeyer. “He is even worse than Frenchy
ever was. Why, he can’t keep his mind off those girls at all!”
But the older lad only grinned. It was small matter to Whistler Morgan
whether they tried to worry him or not. Lilian Belding was certainly a
pretty girl!
THE END
Navy Boys Series
By HALSEY DAVIDSON
12mo, cloth, illustrated and with colored jacket
The true story of the American Jackies of to-day--clean-cut, brave and
always on the alert. The boys join the navy, do a lot of training, and
are then assigned to regular service. They aid in sinking a number of
submarines, help to capture a notorious German sea raider, and do their
share during the taking over of the enemy’s navy. A splendid picture of
the American navy of to-day.
NAVY BOYS AFTER A SUBMARINE
Or Protecting the Giant Convoy
NAVY BOYS CHASING A SEA RAIDER
Or Landing a Million Dollar Prize
NAVY BOYS BEHIND THE BIG GUNS
Or Sinking the German U-Boats
NAVY BOYS TO THE RESCUE
Or Answering the Wireless Call for Help
NAVY BOYS AT THE BIG SURRENDER
Or Rounding Up the German Fleet
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY
Publishers New York
Army Boys Series
By HOMER RANDALL
12mo, cloth, illustrated and with colored jacket
Here we have true-to-life pictures of what our brave soldier boys did,
in the training camps, aboard the transport, and on the battlefields of
France. How they went over the top and had thrilling hand-to-hand
encounters with the Huns, is told in a manner to interest all. Many
side lights are given of how the soldiers enjoyed themselves during the
off hours. A series which ought to be on every bookshelf in the land.
ARMY BOYS IN FRANCE
Or From Training Camp to Trenches
ARMY BOYS IN THE FRENCH TRENCHES
Or Hand to Hand Fights With the Enemy
ARMY BOYS ON THE FIRING LINE
Or Holding Back the German Drive
ARMY BOYS IN THE BIG DRIVE
Or Smashing Forward to Victory
ARMY BOYS MARCHING INTO GERMANY
Or Over the Rhine with the Stars and Stripes
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY
Publishers--New York
Air Service Boys Series
By CHARLES AMORY BEACH
12mo, cloth, illustrated and with colored jacket
Two chums join the air service in this country and then go to France and
enter the Lafayette Escadrille. After doing their duty to our sister
republic they re-enter the American service and are put to the most
severe tests as airmen. They manage to locate a long-range German
cannon which is doing terrific damage, and are present at the bombing
of the last Hun stronghold. A series by one who knows all about army
aviation.
AIR SERVICE BOYS FLYING FOR FRANCE
Or The Young Heroes of the Lafayette Escadrille
AIR SERVICE BOYS OVER THE ENEMY’S LINES
Or The German Spy’s Secret
AIR SERVICE BOYS OVER THE RHINE
Or Fighting Above the Clouds
AIR SERVICE BOYS IN THE BIG BATTLE
Or Silencing the Big Guns
AIR SERVICE BOYS FLYING FOR VICTORY
Or Bombing the Last German Stronghold
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY
Publishers--New York
Joe Strong Series
12mo, cloth, colored jacket and illustrated
Vance Barnum is a real treasure when it comes to telling about how
magicians do their weird tricks, how the circus acrobats pull off their
various stunts, how the “fishman” remains under water so long, how the
mid-air performers loop the loop and how the slack-wire fellow keeps
from tumbling. He has been through it all and he writes freely for the
boys from his vast experience. They are real stories bound to hold
their audiences breathlessly.
JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD
Or Mysteries of Magic Exposed
JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE
Or The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer
JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH
Or Marvellous Doings in a Big Tank
JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE
Or A Motorcycle of the Air
JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL
Or A Young Acrobat in the Clouds
JOE STRONG AND HIS BOX OF MYSTERY
Or The Ten Thousand Dollar Prize Trick
JOE STRONG, THE BOY FIRE-EATER
Or The Most Dangerous Performance on Record
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY
Publishers--New York