operations with extreme interest. A number of heavy rocks had been
brought along in the airplane, one for each bomb. While the airplane
was cruising to the place where they were to be lowered into the sea,
the crew was engaged in splicing ropes to the rocks. The rocks were
to act as anchors to the bombs. As soon as a rope was spliced on to a
rock, the other end of the rope was attached to the bomb, the length of
the rope being just sufficient to keep the mine submerged.
Immediately after the airplane arrived at its destination its wings
were again extended and were used as a platform from which to drop the
bombs into the sea. Levanter had made a careful survey of the island
and had drawn a chart of it and the waters surrounding it. A pin-point
on this chart marked the exact location of each bomb that had been
previously dropped into the sea.
At the point where he desired to sow the remaining mines the airplane
was brought to a stop, and the crew went out on the wings. One of the
rocks with its rope attached was dropped overboard. At the other end of
the rope the mine was attached, and as soon as the rope became taut the
mine was carefully dropped overboard, after the safety lock had been
released.
Mary watched these operations carefully and intently. Occasionally she
asked Levanter a question, which in every case he did not hesitate to
answer. She had now gained a complete knowledge of the manner in which
the bombs were handled safely, and she was convinced that she herself
could handle them without danger.
While the men were still engaged in their work, Mary was deeply
engrossed in the problem of detonating one of the bombs, should she be
successful in obtaining one and placing it under the schooner Hilo.
It was evident that she could not change the mechanism of the bomb
herself, therefore, she must devise some other means of exploding it
from a point of safety, after placing it beneath the schooner.
She was still deep in this reverie when Levanter and his men had
completed their job. She was brought back to realities by the former
who tapped her on the shoulder and said:
“Mary, I am going to say something personal. I hope you won’t
misunderstand me. I am not saying it to insult you because I know what
I am going to tell you is my fault and not yours.”
“What is it?” asked Mary somewhat sharply.
“It’s a pretty difficult and delicate thing to say,” he replied, “but I
couldn’t help noticing as you stood there how much you are in need of
some new clothes. Your wardrobe must be nearly exhausted.”
“Well, you can’t expect me to keep in the height of fashion on your
island, can you?” said Mary with asperity. “The stores here are not
exactly in the same class with those on Fifth Avenue.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude, Mary,” said Levanter, “the fault is mine, I
know. What I wanted to tell you was that I am going out to get you some
new clothes. The airplane is in good repair again, and as soon as we
get this job done I will go out and get you something new.”
Mary was now all attention. His remark had aroused all the feminine
interest and instincts within her. How did he propose to get new
clothes for her? She had been dissatisfied with her appearance but had
become reconciled to it, especially as there were no other women on the
island. His remark opened up a number of possibilities. Was he going to
take her with him, if so, where? This might offer a chance to escape
from him. Quickly she decided to press him on that point and find out
just exactly what his intentions were.
“You don’t suppose that you can buy clothes that will suit me, do you?”
she asked.
“Well, no,” he replied, “I didn’t intend to buy them. I was going to
get them from my next airship. I thought you could come along and pick
out what you wanted.”
The answer was a distinct disappointment to Mary.
“Do you think I want to wear some other woman’s clothes?” she exclaimed
indignantly.
“Why not, Mary,” inquired Levanter. “There is no other way to get them.
We can’t take you to any store to buy you new ones, and even if we
could, the stores we could take you to are so inferior that you would
undoubtedly get better looking clothes from one of the airships than
you would from any of the stores in the Pacific Islands. Women who can
afford to travel on the airships can afford to have good and stylish
clothes, and you can have the best there is on the airship just for the
taking.”
“Oh; if that’s the case I’m not interested,” said Mary with an air
of finality. “The clothes I have are good enough for me under those
circumstances.”
“But, my dear girl, what you have will soon be in rags; you can’t
expect them to last forever. Besides I like to see you looking nice.”
“Well I can sew them if they become ragged,” she replied, “I am not
going to put anybody in danger for the sake of new clothes.”
* * * * *
“I am going anyway, so you might as well have the best we can get for
you,” said Levanter.
“You may do as you please, but I am not going with you.”
Mary refused to discuss the matter any further, and Levanter did not
insist. She dismissed the subject from her mind. On the way back to the
harbor she became deeply engrossed again in the problem of obtaining
one of the bombs. Having decided upon what she thought was the best way
to do this, she tackled the next problem confronting her. How could she
arrange for its explosion after she had placed it under the schooner
and had herself reached a place of safety?
She had no knowledge of mechanics, and she racked her brain for some
means of accomplishing her purpose without danger to herself. Finally,
after thinking over it for a long time, an idea occurred to her which
she thought might help her.
She could employ a trick she had seen the boys use in snaring birds,
while she was a little girl. If she could get a heavy rock, poise it
above one of the contact studs of the bomb by means of a stick, and
then attach a string to it, she could pull the string and let the rock
fall on the contact. She felt sure that it would fall with sufficient
force to explode the bomb, blow up the schooner, and destroy all
evidence that the lifeboat was missing. It was the best solution of the
difficulty that she could think of. The problem now confronting her was
to obtain one of the bombs.
As the airplane neared the harbor Mary’s mind reverted to the subject
of clothes that had just been broached by Levanter. After all he was
apparently determined to go out again and bring down another airship,
and nothing that she could do or say would prevent him from carrying
out his purpose, short of a direct promise to marry him, and she had
no intention of giving him that. Here indeed was a chance to put her
plan into effect while he was away. She felt sure that on the morning
of his departure he would ask her to accompany him. She decided to
feign illness as a pretext for not going. Then after he had left in the
airplane she would try to get one of the bombs from the workshop and
endeavor to complete her task before he returned. She figured that he
would be away fully six hours and probably longer. This would give her
ample time to do what she wanted, provided the Kanakas kept out of the
way. So far as she could see the latter was the only thing that would
stop her.
When the airplane reached the harbor the crew got busy loading up the
remaining mines that were to be dropped on the western side of the
island. Mary went off the machine with Levanter and shortly after said
to him:
“I don’t feel like going out with you again this afternoon. I think
I’ll remain here while you go out. I want to read.”
“Alright,” he replied.
In the afternoon Mary waited until Levanter and his men went down to
the airplane, then she strolled over to the beach and examined the Hilo
very carefully. She looked for the best place to put the bomb. Then
she searched for a rock heavy enough to fall with sufficient force to
explode the bomb. Having found one, she decided it would be a good idea
to save a lot of time by moving it into position right away.
For the rest of the afternoon Mary worked feverishly and laboriously,
moving the rock over toward the schooner Hilo with the aid of a big
stick she used as a lever. With great patience and persistent effort
she succeeded in getting it alongside the wrecked schooner. Her task
completed, she paused, almost exhausted from the exertion. So violent
had been her struggle in moving the heavy rock that perspiration was
running freely down her face, and her breath was coming in deep heavy
gasps. Still panting, she straightened herself up and looked around. At
that moment she got the greatest shock of her life.
Standing directly behind her, was Levanter with a sardonic smile upon
his face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Upon the shattered decks of the cruiser Farragut order had scarcely
been established out of the chaos that followed the explosion when
the sun descended below the western horizon. Two minutes later
complete darkness enshrouded the torn bows of the cruiser in a pall of
obscurity, obliterating from view the effects of the violent explosion.
Order reigned, but it was a tradition-enforced order that existed on
the surface of subdued but intense excitement. The men were at their
stations, all standing at attention, awaiting with ill-concealed
anxiety the next command that would move them into welcome action.
Through the mind of every one there passed disturbing thoughts. None
knew which comrade had perished in the catastrophe, and none dared
voice the fears which the darkness intensified.
So close was the damaged cruiser to the shores of Patrocinio Island
that Captain Moore did not dare to show a light. He feared the terrific
report which followed the explosion had betrayed his presence, and
might seriously endanger him should the pirate come out at daybreak.
The darkness that now engulfed them made the task of ascertaining the
extent of the damage almost impossible.
In the short time that intervened between the explosion and the sun’s
descent the cruiser’s bows had presented a picture of torn and twisted
steel, which in some places had been stripped into metal ribbons, and
in others had been torn into crumpled sheets. How far the crippled stem
of the warship had been rent asunder it was impossible to say owing
to the darkness. That it had been seriously damaged was emphasized by
the complete flooding of the forward compartment. The cruiser was also
badly down by the head, which gave a considerable slant to the decks.
That was the condition which confronted Captain Moore when the bo’s’n
came upon the bridge the second time to make his report.
“How’s it look?” asked the captain curtly.
“Number three is holding tight, sir,” replied the bo’s’n. “The pumps
are working on number two. I think she will hold up, sir. We’ve got her
under control now, sir, I think.”
“Good!” exclaimed the captain. “Keep at your soundings and let me know
what they show.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the bo’s’n, as he went about his task.
Then the captain turned to an officer beside him and issued a number of
commands calculated to take care of the desperate situation. He ordered
the crew away from their “abandon ship” stations and set them to work
at various tasks that were necessary under the circumstances.
As soon as it had been ascertained that the ship was not in any
immediate danger of sinking, the surgeon obtained a detail of men and
superintended them while they carefully placed the unconscious form of
Arthur Ingleton on a stretcher and carried him below to the sick bay,
where he was placed on a cot. There the surgeon made a more thorough
examination of the injured man and took the necessary steps to restore
him to consciousness. Redmond, who had helped in removing the stricken
man from the bows of the ship to the sick bay, was waiting for the
surgeon to complete his examination. As soon as it was over he asked
anxiously:
“How is he, doctor?”
“Well, he is in a more serious condition than I thought at first,” was
the reply.
“Then there’s no chance of his recovering in time to go ashore with me,
eh!” inquired Redmond.
“Good God, no,” answered the surgeon, “it will probably be three weeks
or a month before he recovers under the most favorable circumstances.
If he has suffered internal injuries it will take much longer.
Everything depends upon that.”
Redmond said nothing further, but in his heart he was glad that
Ingleton would not be able to go with him, although of course he was
deeply sorry that his injuries had proved to be so serious. As soon
as he had definitely assured himself that there was no chance of the
former secretary’s immediate recovery, Redmond went forward.
Captain Moore was still on the bridge, receiving reports and giving
orders for the tasks that would help in keeping the damaged vessel
afloat. Redmond waited for his opportunity, then went up and asked:
“How does it look, captain, is there any chance of my going ashore
tonight?”
“Yes,” replied the commander, “we’ll take care of you pretty soon now.
We’ve got the situation under control, but I think we’re pretty badly
damaged. As soon as I have found out just where we stand I’ll make
arrangements to put you ashore. How is Mr. Ingleton?”
“He’s in pretty bad shape. The doctor says there isn’t any possibility
of his getting out of bed for a few weeks. Under the circumstances I
think it will be the wisest thing for me to go ashore and look after
Miss Ingleton as soon as you can arrange to get me there. While you are
completing your emergency measures I’ll get my own stuff ready.”
“Alright,” replied the captain.
Redmond went down to his cabin in the after quarters of the cruiser
and packed up the few belongings he had gathered to take ashore with
him. For half an hour afterwards Captain Moore directed the work of
investigation and superintended the emergency measures taken to keep
the cruiser afloat until she could again reach port. This was a most
vital problem because the nearest port at which repairs could be made
was Honolulu, more than fifteen hundred miles away. It meant that any
temporary measures had to be relied upon to hold up the cruiser until
she was able to cover that vast distance at the snail’s pace of about
four knots an hour. It would be impossible for the war-vessel with its
damaged bows to go any faster than that.
As soon as he had satisfied himself that everything possible had been
done under the circumstances, Captain Moore summoned Redmond to the
bridge again.
“Everything’s ready for you now,” said the captain as Redmond came up
to the bridge, “we are going to put you ashore right away. Owing to
this confounded explosion we will not be able to stay here and stand
by you. I am going to advise Captain Smith at Honolulu by wireless and
ask him to send another cruiser here. It will take the other fellow
at least three days to get here, even if he is ready to start off
immediately after Captain Smith gets my wireless. I doubt, however,
whether there is a cruiser available, and even if there is it will
probably be a couple of days before he can get away. That would make it
four days before the other cruiser could get here under most favorable
circumstances.”
“I’ll have to make the best I can of the situation,” said Redmond.
While this conversation was going on, a detail of the crew had launched
one of the steam pinnaces and had attached one of the ship’s gigs to it
as a tow. As soon as this had been done, the officer who had been in
charge of the detail came on to the bridge and, saluting, said to the
Captain:
“All’s ready, sir.”
Captain Moore turned to Redmond and, seizing his hand in a hearty grip,
said:
“Well, good bye, Redmond, and good luck. I’m sorry this mine has put me
out of business, because I wanted to be in at the finish, but I guess
I’m out o’ luck.”
“Good bye, Captain,” replied Redmond. “Somehow I have an idea that you
will be in at the finish all right. You were there at the beginning and
I have a suspicion you will be here again.”
“Well, I hope you’re right,” laughed the captain.
Redmond then followed the officer to the accommodation ladder on the
side of the cruiser. The two men got into the steam launch, and the
officer gave the word to “shove off.”
On the short run to the beach the officer said to Redmond:
“When we get to the cove my men will give you a hand in putting the
boat ashore. I guess you don’t want it any further inshore than is
necessary. How do you propose to launch it from the beach in case of
necessity.”
“Well, if you can spare the time,” said Redmond, “you can come ashore
with me and look the place over for the most suitable spot to hide the
boat. I never thought of any launching arrangement before. Have you by
any chance got any wooden rollers in the launch that I could use under
the keel of the boat?”
“Yes, I thought of that,” replied the officer, “and I put a few of them
aboard the launch. You can have them, that’s what I brought them for,
but even so it will be a pretty stiff job for you to push the boat into
the sea anyway, especially if anybody is after you.”
“If anybody were after me,” said Redmond, “I wouldn’t attempt to launch
it. I would take a chance of remaining on the island and fighting the
pirate from the bushes. I’m armed now and have got a better chance
against him. Under any circumstances Miss Ingleton will be able to give
me a hand. She is a pretty strong young woman.”
The trip in the launch to the little bay was made very slowly because
of the intense darkness. With extreme care the officer in charge felt
his way, then maneuvred his craft under the direction of Redmond until
it pulled up alongside a ledge of rock that jutted out into the sea.
This made an ideal platform upon which to land, as its surface was just
above the gun’les of the launch. Redmond and the officer jumped out,
and the latter instructed three of his men to row the small gig to the
beach, pull it ashore and wait for them there.
While the men were doing this, Redmond and his companion walked near
the beach where the boat could be hidden in the brush. The beach was
of a gravel nature which extended inshore for two or three hundred
yards in an irregular line. Back of this the tropical vegetation was
extremely thick and was interspersed with banana plants and cocoanut
palms.
After a considerable search the two men succeeded in locating what they
thought was an excellent place to hide the boat. Then they went down
to the beach where the men had dragged the boat ashore and gave a hand
in pulling it over the ground to the place where they had selected its
hiding place. There they carefully placed it in the bushes, after which
they removed with care all traces of the boat’s passage over the beach.
“Well, I guess we’ll go back now,” said the officer, “is there anything
else we can do to help you?”
“No,” replied Redmond.
“Alright, we’ll get along then. I wish you the best of luck, old man,
and I can tell you we are all sorry that we won’t be able to stand
by you. We were all set to have a go at that dirty son-of-a-gun the
pirate, but we’re out o’ luck, that’s all. Good bye--good luck!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
For several moment after the naval crew had left him on the shores of
the little cove at the southern end of Patrocinio Island Redmond paused
deep in thought. He was confronted with a very confusing dilemma.
Should he remain where he was for the rest of the evening and take a
nap in the bushes surrounding the cove, or should he try to make his
way in the darkness to the cave where he had lived during his previous
stay on the island?
If he went forward in the dark, he mused, there was always the
possibility that he might stumble over something and betray his
presence. On the other hand, with nothing but vegetation to hide in
where he was, he might easily be discovered in the morning, should any
of the pirate gang happen to come over to that side of the island.
After weighing the matter carefully in his mind, he decided to stay
where he was. He figured this would entail the least risk, and
moreover, he was anxious to inspect the place where the boat was
hidden, during daylight, so that he would be more familiar with it, in
case of need.
Having reached this decision, he searched around for a suitable spot to
sleep in, and having found it, threw himself down and slept soundly for
the rest of the night.
As daylight burst in on the tropical sky the following morning, Redmond
awoke, bright and alert. He ran over to where a small brook was
trickling its way into the bay and took a hurried wash. Then, after a
meal of bananas plucked from the plants around him, he made a brief
examination of the hiding place where the row boat was stowed away. No
better place could have been chosen even in daylight. It lay alongside
a small bumpy piece of ground not more than a hundred yards from the
sea, and it was completely hidden from view by vegetation. There was
not a single mark on the beach to show where it had been pulled from
the water over to its hiding place. In the boat was the small compact
wireless set which would be a link between himself and the cruiser in
case of emergency. It was of the reflected wave type, operating on a
wavelength of half a meter. It could be conveniently held in the hand,
and yet it could easily carry his voice for a distance of twenty-five
miles in a straight line. This remarkable efficiency was due to the
fact that instead of radiating in every direction, the electro-magnetic
waves were reflected in the same manner that a beam of light is
reflected from a mirror. The set was so designed that it could be used
for transmission and reception, thus making it possible to conduct a
conversation with it. The power required was supplied by a single dry
cell, and a small high voltage battery. It was a development of the
system first produced by Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless,
and his assistants in 1922. Satisfied that the boat would escape
detection and yet be easily moved into the sea in case of need, he
started his journey into the interior of the island, where his old cave
was located. His progress was necessarily slow because of the density
of the tropical vegetation which covered the island in an almost solid
patch. After trudging for a little more than an hour, he finally
reached the cave that had been his home for so many nights. Everything
was practically as he had left it.
Redmond had brought with him a few necessities, which he figured would
make his stay at the cave more endurable, and these he proceeded to
stow away carefully where they could not be seen in case any of the
outlaws should happen to pass that way. Among the things he brought
with him was an automatic pistol, a very small revolver, and a short
range rifle equipped with a silencer. After he had hidden his small
camp equipment, he threw himself down within the shade of the cave for
a brief nap during the heat of the midday sun.
The afternoon was well advanced when he awoke again. Hurriedly he
gathered a meal from the growths around him and washed it down with
copious draughts from the brook that passed around the hill in which
the cave was located. This done, he set out on his journey to the rock
where he had been in the habit of meeting Mary Ingleton during his
previous stay on the island. With him he took the rifle for use in
any emergency that might arise. In his pocket he had placed the small
revolver. This he intended to give to Mary at the first opportunity as
a means of protection for herself.
He moved forward cautiously. It was now a long time since he had last
trodden the path and he was not absolutely sure of himself, and the
trail he had broken was covered completely over with thick growth.
Another reason that impelled him to caution was the fact that he did
not know what changes might have taken place at the pirate’s end of
the island. As he went forward he realized that he was confronted
with the most hazardous part of his trip, and as he walked with
difficulty through the jungle two concurrent but unconnected thoughts
passed through his alert mind. Almost subconsciously one thought was
concentrated upon the task before him of getting to the rock safely
without detection. It was engendered by his fixity of purpose and
developed by the quick observation of his eyes and the keen perception
of his ears.