by Roy Rockwood
THE WIZARD OF THE SEA
or
A Trip Under the Ocean
by
ROY ROCKWOOD
Author of "A Schoolboy's Pluck," Etc.
A. L. Burt Company, PublishersNew YorkCopyright, 1900byThe Mershon Company
IN FRONT OF HIM WAS A HUGE OCTOPUS. P. 112.]
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCING OUR HEROES. 1 II. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. 8 III. THE GREAT FIGHT. 14 IV. ON THE ROAD. 20 V. HOKE UMMER'S TREACHERY. 26 VI. OUT ON THE BAY. 32 VII. A LIVELY ENCOUNTER. 46 VIII. MONT IS PUNISHED. 51 IX. DOCTOR HOMER WODDLE. 55 X. THE SUBMARINE TERROR. 61 XI. ON THE BACK OF THE MONSTER. 67 XII. INSIDE OF THE "SEARCHER." 74 XIII. THE OWNER OF THE SUBMARINE MONSTER. 81 XIV. THE ATTACK. 86 XV. PRISONERS. 91 XVI. THE MYSTERIES OF THE "SEARCHER." 98 XVII. THE DEVIL FISH. 106 XVIII. MONT IS LOST. 113 XIX. MONT'S PERIL. 120 XX. THE WRECKS. 128 XXI. ON LAND ONCE MORE. 132 XXII. FIGHTING THE SAVAGES. 141 XXIII. ELECTRIFYING THE SAVAGES. 149 XXIV. A PEARL WORTH A FORTUNE. 159 XXV. THE MAN OF MYSTERY. 169 XXVI. THROUGH THE EARTH. 177 XXVII. THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION. 183
THE WIZARD OF THE SEA.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCING OUR HEROES.
"Hip, hurrah! Hip, hurrah!"
"Well, I declare; Mont Folsom, what is the matter with you?"
"Matter? Nothing is the matter, Tom, only I'm going to a boardingschool--just the best place on the face of the earth, too--NauticalHall, on the seacoast."
"Humph! I didn't know as how a boarding school was such a jolly place,"grumbled old Tom Barnstable. "They'll cane ye well if ye git intomischief, lad."
"Will they, Tom? What for? I never do any wrong," and Mont Folsom put ona very sober face.
"Jest to hear the lad! Never do no mischief! Ha! ha! Why you're thewust boy in the town fer mischief, Mont--an' everybody knows it. Anautical school, did ye say. Maybe they'll take ye out in a ship sometime in that case."
"They do take the pupils out--every summer, so Carl Barnaby was tellingme. He goes there, you know, and so does Link Harmer."
"Then you an' Carl will make a team--an' Heaven help the folks as comesin your way," added Tom Barnstable decidedly.
"But we are not so bad, I tell you, Tom," said Mont, but with a slytwinkle in his bright eyes.
"Oh, no, not at all. But jest you tell me who drove the cow into SquireBorden's dining room and who stuffed the musical instruments of thebrass band with sawdust at the Fourth of July celebration? You never doanything, you little innocent lamb!"
And with a loud guffaw the old character sauntered down the streettoward his favorite resort, the general store.
Montrose Folsom continued on his way. He was a handsome youth offifteen, tall and square-shouldered, with a taking way about him thathad made him a host of friends. He was the only son of Mrs. AliceFolsom, a rich widow.
A moment after leaving Tom Barnstable, Mont reached the home of hisparticular chum, Lincoln Harmer. Throwing open the gate, he espied Linkin the barnyard, and made a rush forward.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
"That settles it, Mont, you're going with me next term!" exclaimed Link,a bright fellow of our hero's age.
"If I wasn't I'd sing a dirge instead of shouting, Link. Yes, it's allsettled, and I'll be ready to start with you Monday."
"Your mother has written to Captain Hooper?"
"Yes, and got word back in to-day's mail."
"Good!"
"I'm to buy a lot of things down to Carley's store and then go home andstart to pack up. Come on."
Arm in arm, the two chums made their way to the large general store,where Tom Barnstable was again encountered. Here Mont purchased someextra underclothing his mother said he needed. While he was at this TomBarnstable came close to him.
"When are ye goin' away?" he asked.
"Monday morning, six o'clock."
"Don't fergit the old man, Mont. We've had lots of good times--fishin'an' huntin', ye know."
That was Tom Barnstable, good-natured and willing to do, but an absolutebeggar at the slightest chance.
"I won't forget you, Tom, not I," said the merry-hearted lad. "Here youare," and he slipped a shining dollar into the man's hand. A momentlater he called one of the store clerks aside.
"Have you any of those April-fool cigars left?" he whispered.
"Yes--just four."
"I'll take them."
The cigars bought and paid for, the boy put three of them in an insidepocket and then turned the fourth over to Tom Barnstable.
"Here, Tom, put the pipe away and have a real Havana to celebrate theparting," he said, and the old man immediately did as requested.
The cigar burnt all right for just half a minute. Then something beganto bulge at the end. It kept growing larger and larger, forming intowhat is called a Pharaoh's serpent, three or four feet long.
Tom Barnstable's eyes began to blaze. He stared at Mont wildly.
"Who--what--what is that?" he stammered. "Great Scott! I've got 'em!"
And, dashing the weed to the floor, he rushed from the country store,with the boys' laugh ringing in his ears.
"He'll remember you now, no doubt of that!" said Link merrily.
The day was Saturday, and it was a busy one for both Mont and Link, withpacking trunks and bags, and getting ready otherwise.
The Sabbath passed quietly enough, and five o'clock Monday morning foundthe two boys on their way to Nautical Hall.
The run of the train was to New York, and here they fell in with theirmutual chum, Carl Barnaby, a rich young fellow from their town, andseveral others who will be introduced as our story progresses.
From the Metropolis the boys took another train directly for theseacoast. At Pemberton they had to change cars, and here they metseveral more scholars of Nautical Hall.
"There is Ike Brosnan and Hoke Ummer!" cried Link. "Two of our fellows."
The newcomers were quickly introduced. Ike Brosnan looked a whole-souledfellow and full of fun. Hoke Ummer, on the other hand, seemed of adecidedly sour turn of mind.
"Hoke is a good deal of a bully," whispered Link, later on. "You want tosteer clear of him."
"Thanks; he'll not step on my toes," returned Mont firmly. "The firstman who tries to haze or bully me will get his fingers burnt."
"Oh, the boys will be sure to want a little fun. You mustn't be tooparticular."
"I don't mean that--I mean they mustn't go too far," replied Mont.
Little did he dream of all the hazings and larks to be played ere thatschool term should be over.
The journey to the seacoast was devoid of any special incident. The rideon the train was magnificent, and all enjoyed it thoroughly.
Towards nightfall a landing was made not many miles from Eagle Point.Here at the dock a long stage was in waiting to take them to the Hall.The four boys, along with a dozen others, got aboard, and they moved offrapidly for Nautical Hall, two miles distant.
CHAPTER II.
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
Nautical Hall was a large building of brick, stone, and wood situated atthe top of a small hill. In front was a level parade ground, and to one
side the grounds sloped down to the edge of a small bay, while at theother they were flanked by a heavy wood.
The institution was owned and managed by Captain Hooper, an ex-army and-navy officer, who looked to the military drill of the boys and left theeducational department to an able corps of assistants. With theassistants and the gallant captain himself we will become betteracquainted as our tale proceeds.
Mont soon became acquainted with nearly all of the one hundred and oddboys who attended Nautical Hall, and became the leader of a set composedof himself, Link Harmer, Barry Powell, another lively lad, Carl Barnaby,his old-time chum, Piggy Mumps, a fat youth, and Sam Schump, a Germanpupil, as good-natured as can possibly be imagined.
As soon as the boys arrived they were assigned to their places. Mont wasput in the room with the crowd above mentioned. This room connected withanother, in which were installed the bully, Hoke Ummer; Bill Goul, histoady, and half a dozen of the bully's cronies.
"This room will get into a free fight with that gang some day," wasBarry Powell's comment, after Schump, the German boy, had related howthe bully had treated him.
"Dot's it, mine gracious," replied Sam Schump. "Ve vill git togedder an'show dem vot ve can do, aint it!"
Several days were spent in getting ready for the term. Mont was placedin the first class, with twenty others, and he was likewise put in anawkward squad to learn the steps and manual of arms, for the boys hadregular military and naval exercises.
As luck would have it, our hero was placed under one of the assistantteachers, and fared very well, but poor Piggy Mumps was put in a squadunder Hoke Ummer, who did all he could to make the fat boy miserable.
"Eyes right! Eyes left! Front!" shouted Hoke. "Why don't you mind, youclown!" he added to poor Piggy, who was in a sweat to do as ordered.
"Vot you say, eyes right an' den eyes left, ven da vos right?" askedPiggy innocently.
"Silence! Eyes right! Eyes left! You clown, can't you twist your eyes,or are you too fat?" roared Hoke.
"Ton't vos call me a clown, you--you unchentlemanly poy!" cried Piggywrathfully, when without warning Hoke fell upon him and hit him a blowon the neck.
This was too much for Piggy, and he ran out of the line and closed withthe bully. But he was no match for the big boy, and Piggy would havebeen severely punished had not Hoke been caught by the shoulder andhurled backward against a wall.
"Let him alone!" came in the voice of Mont. "You have no right to touchhim, Hoke Ummer."
"Haven't I, though?" sneered the bully. "Do you suppose I'm going to bemade a fool of by a lump of fat like that? You clear out, or I'll giveyou a dose, too!"
"You can try it on any time you please," replied our hero quietly.
"A fight! A fight!" exclaimed half a dozen at once, and the awkwardsquad was broken up on the instant.
"A fight?" repeated the bully. "He'll get a thrashing--that's all itwill amount to. Come on down to the woods if you want to have it out."
"I'm willing to meet you," returned Mont, and started along, followed byPiggy, Link, and a dozen others.
But scarcely had the boys gone a rod before the belfry bell rang outloudly five times.
That was the signal for assembly on the parade grounds.
"Hullo, we can't go now!" cried Link. "Boys, you'll have to postponethat mill till later."
"I'll meet you after assembly," growled Hoke Ummer, under his breath,as Captain Hooper put in an appearance.
"I'll be ready any time," rejoined our hero.
"Boys, we are to have visitors in fifteen minutes!" shouted out CaptainHooper. "Attention! The captains will form their companies on the campusand a salute will be fired as the visitors enter the grounds."
Orders were quickly passed, and inside of five minutes the boy cadetswere drawn up in long lines, with the officers of the two companies intheir proper places.
The visitors were old friends of the captain who had come to the Hallmerely out of curiosity. As their carriages approached, a cannon was runout, and Link and several others were detailed to fire it off.
Link chose Mont to assist, and before long all was in readiness to touchher off.
"Here they come!" shouted somebody.
"Stand ready to fire!" sang out Captain Hooper, in true military style."Steady, boys, now--I expect all to make the best possible appearance.Fire!"
Link touched the cannon off, while our hero and several others stoodclose at hand.
Bang!
The report was terrific. The old cannon was overcharged, and was blowninto a thousand pieces, which flew in all directions.
Both Link and Mont were hurled flat, and while the former was seen tostagger up again, our hero lay as one dead!
CHAPTER III.
THE GREAT FIGHT.
"He is dead!"
"Run for the doctor!"
"A piece struck me, too!"
"The cannon must have been overloaded!"
Such were some of the cries which went up after the awful explosion.
Captain Hooper stood close at hand, and instantly went to our hero'sassistance.
He caught the youth up in his arms and carried him to a shady spot.
"Bring some water," he commanded, but water was already at hand. With ithe bathed Mont's head.
For a minute there was an intense silence. Then, with a quiver, the ladopened his eyes.
"Wha--what---- Did the cannon burst?" he asked feebly.
"Hurrah! He's all right!" shouted Link joyfully, and inside of fiveminutes more Mont stood up and gazed about him in wonder.
But he was too weak to take part in the review, and while this went onsat in a rustic chair under the oak tree, with several of the ladyvisitors by his side.
The reception to the guests over, the cadets were dismissed, and thecrowd lost no time in dispersing.
Link remained with his chum, and both walked towards the lake.
"How do you feel?" asked Link anxiously.
"Rather faint in the legs, to tell the truth," was the reply. "But Iguess I'll soon get over it."
"Ready to do that fighting?" demanded a rough voice at their elbow, andHoke Ummer ranged up at their side.
"For shame, Hoke, Mont isn't in condition, and you know it," said Link.
"Oh, nonsense!" growled the bully. "That cannon affair was only a fake.He wasn't hurt a bit."
This remark angered our hero, and, stepping up, he faced the bullydefiantly.
"I will fight you whenever you say," he said stoutly.
A boy standing near heard the remark, and the news spread like magic.
"A fight between Hoke and Mont. Come on down to the woods."
The schoolboy cadets needed no second invitation. A score started fromthe campus instantly.
They were about evenly divided as to who would win.
The bully was known to be heavy and strong.
Yet our hero had shown lots of pluck.
In a corner of the grounds, shut out from view from the school windowsby a belt of trees, the boys assembled to witness the conflict.
Mont prepared for the encounter, assisted by Link.
Ummer, satisfied of an easy victory, placed himself in the hands of histoady and backer, Bill Goul.
When the combatants were declared ready they faced each other.
As Hoke looked into the unflinching eyes of his opponent the smile ofsatisfaction he had worn for the past few hours suddenly faded.
He could see he must do his best to win.
"But I'll mash him, see if I don't," he said to his toadies.
"That's right, Hoke!"
"Show him what you can do."
Mont said nothing.
"He's a tough one," whispered Link. "Beware of a foul."
"I'll have my eyes open."
The boys took off their coats and vests.
A ring was formed and our hero and the bully got into position.
"Time!" cried one of the older boys, and the great fight began.
At first Mont was
cautious, for he wanted to take his opponent'smeasure, so to speak.
Sure of victory, the bully rushed at him, and aimed a blow at Mont'snose.
Our hero ducked, and Hoke's fist only sawed the air.
"That was a clean duck."
"Land him one, Hoke!"
"Go for him, Folsom!"
Around and around the ring went the two boys.
Then the bully aimed another blow at our hero.
As quick as a flash our hero warded it off.
Then out shot his fist, and the bully of Nautical Hall got a crashingblow in the chin that knocked him clean off his feet.
What a yell went up!
"Hoke is knocked out!"
"Did you ever see such a blow?"
Wild with rage, the bully was assisted to his feet by several friends.
The blood flowed from his chin and from a cut lip.
"I'll show you yet!" he hissed, and again went at Mont.
But our hero was cool and collected, while the bully was excited.
The bully got in one little body blow, but that was all, while our herofairly played all over his face.
"Better give it up, Hoke!"
"You are outclassed against Mont Folsom!"
"Let me be!" howled the bully.
With every blow that our hero delivered Ummer's anger increased.
His reputation, he felt, was at stake.
If he was beaten that would be the end of him, so far as bossing theboys was concerned.