the heavy flying clothes and began to run toward the hilly country,
carrying the clothes with me. I thought they might come handy if
the nights were at all chilly in the higher parts of the island. I
continued running for some time, glancing back now and then to see
whether my absence had been noticed.
“In the rough part of the island I was soon out of sight of the beach.
Then I slackened down in my speed and began to look around for a
suitable hiding place as temporary quarters until I could survey the
island thoroughly. I wanted to find a place where I could remain safely
without detection in case they began to look for me.
“On the southeastern side of the island I ran into some rather thick
tropical growth upon the hillside. I penetrated this, and after a
short walk I found a small depression in the side of the hill that
was well screened by the vegetation about it. There were a number of
cocoanut palms in this section and lots of banana plants. As soon as
I had prepared my hiding place I gathered some bananas and ate them
ravenously. I had not eaten since the airship was attacked about six
hours before, so I was very hungry. After I had finished eating I fixed
up my hiding place for the night.
“A short distance from the place that I had selected I found a small
spring which trickled away into a tiny stream to the sea. It looked as
though this would be as good a place as any I could possibly find on
the island. It was well sheltered, and there were food and water close
to it. Only by the closest search could it be located. It gave me a
great feeling of security, and I turned in for a good sleep.
“That’s the story of how I got to the pirate’s base. I certainly was
very lucky. Although I was missed that night, they didn’t make any
search for me until the next day, and then it was not a very careful
one. I heard them shouting, ‘Oh, Harrison, where are you?’, as they
looked around for a while, but they soon gave it up.
“I waited a couple of days before I ventured out of my hiding place.
During that time I lived on the fruit around me and the water from
the spring. On the third day I went out very cautiously and gradually
worked my way to the rock where I had first taken off my flying
clothes. From that point I made a more careful observation of the
pirate’s nest along the bay. For the first time I noticed the schooner
Hilo beached in a narrow inlet on the western side of the bay. I
subsequently found that she had been scuttled there.
“As I looked I saw the pirate and his crew at work on the flying boat.
They were apparently making some repairs. I was glad to see all four of
them busy because then I knew that they could not be looking for me.
It was then that I made a surprising discovery.
“I told you previously that I had observed two buildings along the
shore that had been erected by the pirate. Well, one of them resembled
a long rambling cowshed. While I was watching this particular day
I noticed a peculiar wisp of bluish smoke coming out of a chimney
at the end of the building. This attracted my attention immediately
because I could see no reason for a fire in that latitude. While I
looked a couple of men came out of the building and walked down to the
airplane. It was the first time that I knew the pirate had anyone else
on the island besides his crew, and I was really frightened because it
increased the chances of my detection, and I knew that others could be
put to work to look for me.
“While I was thinking the situation over I saw Miss Ingleton come out
of the other house. She stood still for a few moments, looking over the
bay, then she turned around and looked toward the center of the island.
I waited for the first opportunity and stepping outside the shelter
of the rock, I waved my arm, motioning her to come to me. She saw me
almost immediately, and I ducked behind the rock. She turned back and
looked toward the bay again, and seeing that everything was going on as
usual, started toward me, walking very slowly.
“I saw she had a book in her hand. As soon as she got within hearing I
said to her:
“‘Sit down on the other side of the rock where they can see you, Miss
Ingleton, and pretend you are reading.’
“She did this. Then I asked her how they were treating her. When she
answered me I could tell she was almost crying by the sound of her
voice.
“‘Oh!’ she said, ‘I live in constant fear. They are treating me
alright, but I feel uneasy. This pirate is a man I knew in Washington
who once proposed to me and I refused him. I am really afraid of him,
although he has acted perfectly so far.’
“‘His name is Levanter--Joseph D. Levanter’, she replied. ‘He was an
officer in the aviation service in Washington. He left the service
when I refused to marry him, and we wondered where he had gone. When
I refused him he told me that he had just done something wonderful
and that I would regret my action very much. At the time I didn’t pay
much attention to his threat but now it seems that he took me off the
airship to carry out that threat. I didn’t know who he was until we got
to this island and he took his helmet off. Then I recognized him and he
laughed at me.’
“‘What did he say?’ I asked.
“‘He didn’t say a thing. He just looked at me and smiled in a funny
way. I asked him what he intended to do with me. He said: ‘Do you
remember the last time we were together and what I told you?’ I was so
frightened I couldn’t look at him. I asked him again what he was going
to do with me. ‘Don’t worry, no one is going to hurt you,’ he said.
Then he left me and went away to the airplane to do some work.’
“I could readily see that the situation was very distressing to her,
although I could not see her because she was sitting on the other side
of the rock. Therefore I decided to change the topic, especially as
I was anxious to find how I stood and what the possibilities of any
search for me might be. I asked her.
“‘When did they find out I was missing?’
“‘It wasn’t until they got through with their work. Then they asked one
another if anybody had seen Harrison. That’s the name of the man you
killed on the airship.’
“‘What did they do then?’ I asked.
“‘One of them said: ‘Oh, that lazy devil has gone off somewhere. He’ll
come back.’ The next day they went out to look for you, but they didn’t
seem to be very much concerned.’
“This allayed my fears a great deal. Undoubtedly the man Harrison had
a very unreliable reputation, and it was a good thing for me. Later I
found out that they would have gotten rid of him before, but they were
afraid he might give their secret away.
“I discussed the general situation with Miss Ingleton, and we made
arrangements to meet at the rock every day at a certain hour in the
morning whenever possible, so that she could tell me what was happening
and anything that she might overhear. I promised to take care of her to
the best of my ability. I was on the island over two months, and it was
during that time that we made plans at our meetings for me to get away
from the island. During the two months I learned everything possible
about the pirate’s machine and plans with Miss Ingleton’s assistance.
“While he was away on his flights I went over and examined the schooner
Hilo. It was impossible to use her, as she had been completely
scuttled. This was done evidently to prevent the Kanaka crew from
leaving the island. It was the Kanakas I had seen working in the long
building.
“I did find that the lifeboat of the Hilo could be easily patched
up and made seaworthy, so I made up my mind to try it. I did this
while the pirate was away on his flights. Miss Ingleton helped me by
secreting tools that she obtained from the toolbox whenever possible.
She also carried food to the place every time she got a chance, so
that I would have supplies for my voyage. It was in this way that I
made arrangements to leave the island and bring the information I had
gathered to the authorities.
“It took quite a considerable time to repair the boat, particularly as
the time I had to work on it was very limited. I finally succeeded,
however, and got away in the middle of a night about ten days before
you picked me up. I hadn’t been able to get a compass or any other
navigating instrument, and through the first night I steered by the
stars alone. After that I steered by the Sun, and just let the boat
drift during the night. I was trying to make Midway Island, figuring
that once I got there I could get a schooner to take me to Honolulu.
I must have drifted way off the course during the night because I had
been going for ten days when you picked me up. It was lucky when you
came along when you did because I was about all in.
“The time I chose to leave the island was when I knew the pirate would
have to spend about a week repairing and overhauling his airplane. I
was afraid that if by any chance they discovered the boat was missing
from the old schooner----”
At this moment a quartermaster tapped on the captain’s door and
entering, said:
“Mr. Jones’ compliments, sir, we are now off the harbor.”
The interruption cut Redmond’s narrative short as the captain was
compelled to go to the bridge and give the necessary navigating orders
to bring his ship into harbor. Half an hour later the Farragut was at
anchor in Pearl Harbor.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Out of the realm of his recent adventures Howard Redmond stepped ashore
in Pearl Harbor from the captain’s gig of the cruiser Farragut. With
him came Captain Moore who had refrained from notifying the officials
of Redmond’s rescue, fearing that the pirate might pick up the wireless
message and so become aware of the fact that the location of his base
had been discovered.
Dramatically inclined, Captain Moore seized the opportunity of
presenting Redmond to the naval authorities in an effort to make it as
effective an affair as possible. He personally led the man whom his
crew had picked up on the Pacific Ocean into the office of Captain
Smith, the naval commandant ashore. There, assuming a grandiloquent
air, he announced in stentorian tones:
“Captain, here is the man who has just come direct from the pirate’s
base.”
Pausing, he watched for several seconds with satisfied enjoyment the
result produced by his announcement. He was just about to proceed in
the development of the dramatic situation, when Redmond, with graver
thoughts on his mind, broke in and said:
“What Captain Moore has told you, sir, is true, but before I tell you
about it, will you please instruct your wireless operator to send
the signal ‘QVT’ at the end of each sentence when he sends out his
daily news bulletin, instead of the usual word ‘stop.’ This is very
important, and I shall explain the reason to you when I tell you my
story.”
Captain Smith, after a few perfunctionary questions, issued the
necessary instructions to the operator in charge of the big wireless
station at the naval base. He then sent for Commodore Heathcote, the
commanding air officer of the Hawaiian district. When the latter
arrived Redmond began his narrative. He told in detail again the story
he had already related to Captain Moore. Then he said:
“The last time I saw Miss Ingleton I promised her that if I got away
safely to Honolulu I would get the naval station to send out the ‘QVT’
signal, so that she would know that I had arrived. That’s the reason I
asked you to do it. Levanter has a wireless receiving station on the
island and, knowing that Miss Ingleton has always been interested in
wireless, has permitted her to listen in each day in order to help her
pass the time away. You see, there is no sending station connected with
it, and he knew she could not send out any message that would endanger
his security. Therefore as soon as she gets the ‘QVT’ signed she will
know that help will be coming to her very soon.”
“If that’s the case,” said Captain Smith, “you may rest assured she
knows it already because the news schedule is on right now.”
“Is there anything you can tell us about the machine that Levanter is
using?” interspersed Commodore Heathcote.
“I can tell you pretty well everything about it,” replied Redmond.
“Can you suggest any means to successfully attack him?”
“Well, you can judge for yourself after I have described his machine
and his base,” continued Redmond. “I think it will be best if I tell
you all about the conditions on the island. It’s part of the story that
I didn’t tell Captain Moore, because I didn’t have time.
“In the first place I learned everything about his remarkable machine
from Miss Ingleton and my own observation during the short time I was
on it. Levanter was quite sure of his security and felt confident
that she could not get away from him and with a feeling of pride
occasionally told her some of the secrets of the airplane. He did this
because, at my suggestion, she took a great deal of interest in his
machine and asked him a lot of questions about it. Then she would tell
me at different times when I met her at the rock all that he had told
her.
“Just what he intends to do with Miss Ingleton I don’t know. He has
not said a single thing to her that would indicate his intentions
so far as I know, but she didn’t tell me very much regarding her
relations with him. He takes her with him on his flights every time.
He has insisted on that, but on the island, from what she has told me,
he does not attempt to molest her, or coerce her in any way. He is in
fact extremely courteous to her, and she is free to move about as she
pleases to any part of the island.
“Now, as far as the machine is concerned, it is designed in such a
manner that it can be flown at extremely high altitudes without any
dangerous effect upon the crew who are fully protected within the
cabin. The body is absolutely watertight and is strong enough to
withstand external or internal pressure to a very high degree. In fact
the strength of its plates affords armor protection against normal
attack. It is provided with collapsible wings. When these are folded
up and all the doors secured the machine automatically becomes a
submarine. It has compensating tanks inside that can be filled with
water to enable it to remain below the sea without moving.
“When leaving the air and plunging into the sea it goes under in the
same manner as the diving type of submarine, and the tail surfaces
act as fins, as does also the small projection formed by the folded
wings. Once beneath the sea, its compensating tanks permit it to remain
submerged in a stationary position, in the same manner as an actual
submersible. It is equipped with a telescoping periscope that can be
ejected from the forward gunpit.
“The real secret of the machine, however, is in the design of the
engine. It is used for flying, surface cruising, or propelling the
machine under the water. This engine is Levanter’s own invention and
was built to his special design by the men with him, in a secret
workshop. He employs liquid oxygen for fuel, utilizing the expansive
force of the liquid gas when it is released from its vacuum container.
After the gas has gone through the engine and has been transformed from
a liquid into a gaseous state it is then used for breathing purposes
in the cabin, whenever the machine is at unusually high altitudes, or
beneath the surface of the sea. This explains the reason why we were
able to breathe without difficulty while flying at an altitude of
35,000 feet. It also accounts for the manner in which the pirate was
able to keep beneath the surface of the ocean after his fight with
Commander Fitzgerald, which Miss Ingleton described to me in a very
thrilling manner.
“The engine is located right inside the cabin, near the controls.
Its power is transmitted to the propellers by means of gears and is
applied through a clutch. By the movement of a lever this clutch can be
disengaged, and the power applied to the marine screw at the end of the
cabin. The marine screw is used for cruising purposes, either on the
water or beneath the sea.
“Those are the general features of the machine itself. It is highly
efficient in design, and particularly so in its power. That is the
reason he can get such tremendous speed out of it. Miss Ingleton
told me he had boasted to her that in one test flight over a measured
course, running both against the wind and with the wind, the machine
had averaged a speed of 350 miles an hour. Apparently it is only the
strong construction of the airplane that permits it to withstand
the tremendous pressure at such a terrific speed. The cabin, being
airtight, relieves the crew from any ill effects that might result from
the rush of air at that speed, while the oxygen from the engine enables
them to breathe normally.”
As Redmond paused a moment in his description, Commodore Heathcote
broke in and asked:
“But how does he get the liquid oxygen for his machine?”
“I was just coming to that,” answered Redmond. “Of course, you must
understand that nearly all of this information I got second hand
through Miss Ingleton. She obtained it from Levanter by asking him
questions whenever she caught him in a boasting mood. The whole story
of his career on the island as I got it from her is practically this:
“He came to Honolulu with his machine boxed up in parts. There he
bought the schooner Hilo and shipped its Kanaka crew. Apparently he had
already chosen Patrocinio Island from the map, and the schooner had
sailed there. The island is about five miles long and approximately
two miles wide. As soon as he arrived he made a survey of the island
and decided it was suitable for his purpose. After he had sailed the
schooner inside the coral reef that makes a natural breakwater for the
harbor he got the Kanakas to rig up some tents ashore, and then had
them carry the packing cases on to the beach. When this has been done,
he put them to work, building the permanent log houses. At the first
opportunity during night time he and his crew ran the Hilo ashore and
scuttled her there, so the Kanakas could not leave the island. They
also stove in the lifeboat which I used.
“While the Kanakas were building the houses, Levanter and his crew were
assembling their airplane. Among the equipment they brought with them
was a complete distilling apparatus designed by Levanter. This was put
up in one of the houses. By his own process Levanter obtains alcohol
from the grass and other vegetation on the island. He used the alcohol
as fuel to produce electrical power for the chemical process that is
necessary for extracting the oxygen and later liquefying it.
“One of the two big buildings is devoted entirely to this apparatus.
In fact it is quite a laboratory. The tool and repair plant are also
located in that house. The other house is used for living purposes, and
the Kanakas live in the hut where we stowed the baggage that he takes
from the airships he shoots down.
“His condensing apparatus for the extraction and liquefaction of
oxygen is very remarkable and complete. Miss Ingleton had seen it in
operation, but she could not describe it to me very well. He obtains
his oxygen by means of the fractional distillation of liquid air.
In this connection he has a very remarkable cannon on his airplane.
Instead of using the ordinary high explosive, he utilizes liquid oxygen
with powdered charcoal, which gives far greater explosive force. His
shells are really vacuum containers for the liquid gas, and with the
aid of a very peculiar detonator he breaks down the vacuum and fires
the charge at the same time.
“Of course he is very sparing with his ammunition because he has to
make all he needs on the island. When he came there he brought a
considerable amount of metal suitable for the manufacture of his vacuum
containers, and one of the first things that he did was to construct a
large number of small but highly powerful mines that are filled with
the liquid gas. These have been submerged around the entrance to the
harbor.
“From each airship that he attacked, he has obtained as much metal as
he could get, and with it has constructed more mines, until now he has
practically encircled the island with them. This leaves him pretty
nearly secure from any surprise attack on the island by naval vessels.
The vacuum containers he uses to carry fuel for his engine serve their
purpose continuously and do not have to be renewed. That is pretty well
all I know about his equipment.
“He treats the Kanakas very well, and his men have trained them to do a
great deal of the routine work connected with the laboratory. They do
not know the game Levanter is playing, but think that he is engaged in
some great and important task, and their child-like vanity is tickled
at the work he gives them to do. When they asked him about the schooner
Levanter told them it was wrecked in a storm. He told them he could
get another to take them off the island when he had finished his work
there. In fact he has trained them so well that he leaves them on the
island when he goes out on his flights, without any fear that they will
damage any of his equipment. He has chosen one of them to act as chief
and he tells this man just what he wants the Kanakas to do while he is
away, and they do it.”
As he reached the end of his description, Redmond uttered a sigh of
relief and settled back in his chair. It was only a momentary rest,
however, as Captain Smith immediately asked:
“Where does Miss Ingleton live on the island?”
“In the same house with Levanter and his crew,” replied Redmond. “They
have partitioned off a room for her, and Levanter sees that she has
everything she needs. One of the trunks which they took from the Wilbur
Wright was found to contain feminine apparel, and they have turned
this over to her, and so far as I know she is not in want of anything.
One of the crew spoke insolently to her once, and Levanter happened to
overhear him. A great fight followed, Miss Ingleton told me, and the
man has been very civil to her ever since.”
“Did she ever tell you about her flight at the time of the battle with
Commander Fitzgerald?” inquired Captain Smith.
Before Redmond could reply, Arthur Ingleton arrived at Captain
Smith’s office. The latter had sent for him, knowing well that the
former Secretary of the Navy would be interested to hear first hand
information about his missing daughter. Ingleton came in just at the
moment Redmond was about to answer Captain Smith’s question. After
mutual introductions, Redmond continued:
“Yes! she did describe that to me. She told a very interesting story
about her experience. She didn’t know the airplane could be turned into
a submarine and consequently it was a very thrilling adventure to her,
although it almost gave her heart failure.
“She told me that she was very apprehensive the morning Levanter set
out. She had been on the machine the previous day when Commander
Fitzgerald’s squadron appeared and opened fire upon Levanter. The
latter had told her of his intention to go out the next day and meet
Fitzgerald and fight it out with him. He insisted that she accompany
him on the flight.
“‘I implored him to let me stay behind on the island,’ she told me, but
he said to her, ‘You don’t want me to leave you behind here unprotected
with these Kanakas, do you? Suppose we didn’t come back! What would you
do then, alone here with the natives?’
“She tried to persuade him again, she said, but it was in vain. He
compelled her to go with him. She was very excited and apprehensive,
particularly when Fitzgerald’s squadron was observed coming out of the
northwestern skies. As soon as the machines of the squadron were close
to them, she told me, Levanter came over to her and said:
“‘Mary, I want you to go outside the gunpit and wave to Fitzgerald.’
“‘Oh! you can’t be so cruel as that,’ she said she replied.
“‘You must do as I tell you,’ he said with a savage glint in his eyes.
“‘There was nothing else but to do what he told me,’ she said.
“According to her story she went out and waved to the other airplanes.
She did not know which was the one Fitzgerald was in, and she couldn’t
see any signs of a response from any of them. After a while Levanter
told her to come back inside.
“She did this willingly enough, she said, because she was very scared.
It was not long before she heard the firing from the other ships. There
was no sound from the guns on Levanter’s machine. This was because he
was using liquid oxygen explosive.
“It was then that she experienced the reactions which she told me
about. I shall try to repeat her words as nearly as I can: