THE UPPER HAND REGAINED
Jack was highly excited as he dashed into the main salon and made for
the door of the Temples' cabin. And with reason. He believed that now,
if ever, they must attempt to seize the trawler.
The Chinese crew threatened to get out of hand and seize the ship
themselves, in order to make sure of their vengeance upon the boys for
what they had done to Wong Ho. If the boys anticipated them, and got the
upper hand, they could send a call for help by radio to the sub chaser.
It would be a matter of only a very short time before that speedy craft
could swing about and come to their rescue. Moreover, they would thereby
capture "Black George" Folwell. And Inspector Burton had said it would
be a feather in the cap of any man to accomplish that undertaking.
The main salon still was deserted, and the doors to the cabins of "Black
George" and Matt Murphy still closed. Jack did not know, of course,
whether Doctor Marley had returned to his patient. But he believed that
probably the frightened little man had waited above deck to see whether
Engineer MacFinney found any signs of sabotage.
The Temples' door resisted. It was locked. But Bob's voice called
sharply:
"Who's there?"
"It's I, Jack. Open up quickly."
He heard Bob hit the floor, and grinned, even in the midst of his
excitement. The big fellow evidently was sleeping late. By the time Bob
had opened the door Frank stood beside Jack, completing a sketchy toilet
by tucking shirt into trousers.
"Bob, Mr. Temple. We have got to try and seize the trawler at once."
This was Jack's opening remark, as he and Frank closed the door to the
salon.
Father and son, pajama-clad, sleepy-eyed, looked at him in amazement.
"Are you crazy, Jack?" asked Bob.
The older man, however, regarded Jack keenly.
"You've heard something, Jack," he said. "What is it?"
Briefly and graphically Jack related his morning's adventurous prowling
and the result of his eavesdropping. Then he told what Frank had
overheard by the use of the ring-radio.
"That decided me," he said. "When I heard there was a sub chaser near, I
felt we just had to make an effort to capture the trawler's radio room
at least, and call for help. We can hold out until the sub chaser comes
up."
Mr. Temple grew grave.
"But without weapons," he said, "what chance have we against the
Chinese?"
"Look here," said Bob, slowly, "I'll bet this fellow 'Black George' has
a revolver or two in his room. He's bound to keep a weapon handy. Well,
he was helpless last night, and probably still is. What's to prevent our
going in there and taking it from him?"
"Good idea, Bob," said Frank. "And there's my friend, Matt Murphy, too.
According to Jack, he isn't up yet. Probably put in a bad night and is
sleeping while the ship's engines are being repaired. He undoubtedly has
a revolver, too. Suppose we compel him to give it to us. His arm is
broken, and surely if we burst into the room we can overawe him."
The others nodded approvingly, and the eyes of the three boys lighted up
with enthusiasm. Mr. Temple shook his head gravely, but continued to
make a hasty toilet nevertheless.
"Pants and shirt, Dad," said Bob. "That's all we need. Have to hurry."
In a trice the two were thus sketchily clad, standing in their bare
feet, and then Jack, who had assumed command, gave his orders.
"Mr. Temple," he said, deferring to the older man's judgment, "I believe
we had better split into two parties and enter the two cabins
simultaneously, don't you? If we all go into one cabin first, either
'Black George's' or Murphy's, intending to follow into the other later,
the probability is that we would alarm the occupant of the other cabin
and put him on his guard."
"Yes, Jack, that's right. Suppose Bob and I tackle 'Black George' and
you and Frank go after Matt Murphy."
"Right," said Jack, his hand on the door.
"One thing more, boys," cautioned Mr. Temple. "Go in quickly and
quietly, and get your man before he has a chance to fire. We shall do
likewise."
The boys nodded. Then Jack opened the door and, with beating hearts, the
four filed out. Jack tiptoed across the salon to prevent his shoes
making any sound. The others were in their stockinged feet. Two and two
they ranged outside the doors of the two cabins. Mr. Temple nodded that
he and Bob were ready. Jack did the same. Then they flung open the doors
and dashed in.
Jack and Frank found Matt Murphy sleeping heavily. One look showed an
automatic in an ammunition belt suspended from a nail above his head.
With one swoop Jack caught the weapon and belt to him. The movement
disturbed Murphy, who was lying fully clothed on his berth, the bandaged
arm across his chest. He looked at them, then with a roar raised up, but
Frank pushed him back on his pillow. Jack drew the weapon and presented
it at him.
"Quiet now," he said, in a low voice. "We don't want to hurt you. But
our lives are in danger from the crew and we mean to protect ourselves."
Murphy lay back, and a gleam came into his eyes. He looked from one to
the other.
"Are they attackin' ye or do you just guess they're goin' to?"
"They haven't attacked us yet," replied Frank. "But we're not waiting
for what we know would come. Look here, Mr. Murphy, you know what the
sentiment of the Chinese is toward us. Well, my friend Jack here
overheard something this morning which indicated the Chinese planned
immediate action. Now----"
"Come right in," invited Murphy sarcastically, looking over Frank's
shoulder. "This is my hour for receivin' callers."
Frank whirled.
Mr. Temple and Bob were in the doorway.
"What luck?" he asked eagerly, while Jack, not to be diverted, continued
to keep eye and revolver trained on Murphy.
"The man is still drugged," said Mr. Temple. "We found not only one
revolver, but two and a knife besides."
"Was the doctor there?" asked Jack.
"No."
"Mr. Murphy, where is the radio room?" Frank demanded.
"On top av this cabin," replied the recumbent man. "But little good
it'll do ye. MacFinney, the engineer, is the only wan aboard who can
operate it, an' till the engines git goin' there'll be no juice if it's
callin' for help you mane to do."
They looked at each other in dismay. Here was a contingency that had not
occurred to them. Jack groaned aloud. But ere any of them could speak,
the stamp of the engines suddenly began. MacFinney had gotten them
repaired, whether his Chinese had tried sabotage or not. The engines
seemed to gain confidence. A slight quivering shook the trawler.
"There's your juice, lad," Matt Murphy said gruffly, reaching out his
sound hand to pluck Frank's sleeve.
Frank whirled, a broad smile on his face.
"Look here, Mr. Murphy," he declared, "I believe you are on our side at
heart, aren't you?"
Murphy sat up on the berth, swinging his legs over the side.
"Not I," he said. "I'm Folwell's man. But when ye point a revolver at me
an' order me to get up an' navigate the ould tub, what can I do?"
"Right," said Frank gravely, although his eyes were dancing and the
corners of his mouth twitched. "Well, captain, will you please
navigate?"
"Sure," said Murphy. "Follow me."
As they started out of the salon and up the companionway stairs, Bob
pressed a revolver into Frank's hand.
"Take this," he whispered. "I have the knife."
"But Bob----"
"But nothing. If it comes to fighting at close quarters I've got more
beef than you. You keep them off with that revolver, d'you hear? Don't
let them get near you."
Frank, the smallest of the three chums, pressed Bob's hand gratefully,
grasped the revolver, and followed in the wake of his big comrade, thus
bringing up the procession headed by Matt Murphy.
The latter paused as they reached the deck and looked toward the wheel.
He had left it lashed. Not a soul was in sight. The others grouped
themselves about him. He addressed Frank.
"I don't like the looks av things," he said. "The Chinks must all be in
the fo'c's'le, hatchin' their plots. Will ye trust your prisoner to go
below an' see how MacFinney is comin' along? An' do you meantime while
the engines are turnin' over, an' ye have your chance, go into the radio
room off the bridge. 'Tis up this ladder." He indicated a narrow
iron-runged ladder beside him, leading to the tiny bridge above. Keenly
he regarded the boy. "Can ye use it when you're up there?"
"Yes, indeed," said Frank. "Well, here goes before a Chinaman sees me.
Come on, gang."
And shinning up the ladder, he entered the room opening from the bridge,
with Mr. Temple followed by Bob and Jack hard on his heels. One glance
around, and he saw what he was looking for. The control apparatus for
sending messages was on a stand against the opposite wall. Adjusting a
headphone, and pulling a microphone toward him, Frank reached for the
knobs and began calling the Sub Chaser while manipulating them.