CHAPTER XXI
PLOTTING
With fear in their hearts the refugees stared at one another. GraceSheldon shrank close to her father, who silently patted her shoulder.
“There, there, Grace,” he said, soothingly, “I dare say we shall find away out of this. Don’t worry.”
“But, Papa, I can’t help it,” she replied in tremulous tones. “He--I’mafraid--yes, I’m sure he’s insane--Dr. Klauss is certainly insane.”
Mr. Sheldon looked at Jerry and his chums.
“What is your opinion, boys?” he asked. “You heard what he said; whatdo you think?”
“I think as Grace does,” declared Bob. “We are in a submarine with amadman!”
Jerry nodded his head slowly.
“That is my view,” he stated, in a low voice. “Either his imaginarywrongs, or his labors over this craft have turned his brain. He iscertainly insane.” Ned indicated his acquiescence.
“Then, since we are agreed on that--and I may say I came to thisconclusion some time ago,” went on Mr. Sheldon, “the next questionis--what can we do?”
“We’ve got to do something,” declared Jerry, firmly. “It is risking ourlives to stay here.”
“But how can we get away?” asked Ned. “If we were on an ordinary shipwe would have some chance. We could drop overboard, if worse came toworst, and swim. Or we might lower a boat some dark night, and get awayin that.
“But here we are, five hundred feet, more or less, under water. Wedon’t even know how to get out of this boat, save by the hatchway, andto open that under water would mean the death of all of us.”
“Of course!” exclaimed Jerry. “That is not to be thought of. But theremust be some other way of getting out of this boat while under water,if what Dr. Klauss told Professor Snodgrass is true. You remember hespoke of going out in diving suits on the bottom of the sea. There mustbe some arrangement of double doors, and a water chamber in the side ofthe boat.”
“But, even if we did get out, what good would that do?” asked Ned. “Wecouldn’t swim home, and we couldn’t all live in diving suits. Theremust be some other way.”
“There is but one way that I can see,” spoke Mr. Sheldon.
“And that is----” began Jerry.
“To compel this madman, by some means, to put us ashore or on somevessel.”
“But how can we?” asked Bob.
“That’s what we’ve got to plan,” said Jerry, who seemed to fall in withMr. Sheldon’s plan. “That’s what we’ve got to talk over.”
“And if he refuses again, as he most likely will?”
Jerry looked around the cabin before answering. Then, in a low voice hesaid:
“There’s but one course left--mutiny!”
“Mutiny!” gasped Grace.
“I mean that we shall have to try to influence the crew against theircaptain. I know that is considered contrary to marine law, but indealing with a maniac there is no law. We have to save our lives, andthat is the first law of nature.”
“But will the crew help us?” queried Ned.
“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” returned Jerry. “I fancy theyhaven’t any love for their captain, and they can hardly refuse to helpus--especially when we tell them what he said. Why, their own case isas bad as ours.”
“But there are two other Germans aboard,” spoke Bob. “They woulddoubtless side with Dr. Klauss.”
“That would only make three,” remarked Jerry, “and if we can get thecrew to side with us we’d have nine on our side. That ought to answer.Even if the crew won’t help us, we three fellows, and Mr. Sheldon andthe professor, ought to be able to hold our own against the six. Thosetwo Germans are likely to be old men.”
“But Rowland and his mates are probably husky chaps,” objected Bob.
“I don’t believe Ted Rowland will be against us when he hears what hashappened,” said Mr. Sheldon. “At worst we can but try, and really wemust do something.
“When Dr. Klauss first rescued Grace and me,” he went on, “I suspectedthat all was not right with him. He had a most peculiar air. But itwas not until I spoke of wanting to get to my friends that oppositiondeveloped. Even then it was not very strong. Dr. Klauss merely madevarious excuses, and I thought perhaps he wanted to complete someexperimental tests before turning back to shore.
“But as a day or so passed his actions became more peculiar. Then heflatly refused to let Grace and me go. I then feared I had to do with amadman, though I did not disclose my apprehension. I did not know whatto do.
“When you boys so unexpectedly and providentially arrived I tookheart. It was a trick of fate. We had been traveling all that day,and at night went to the surface for air. We could hear the stormraging. Suddenly something struck the submarine, and Dr. Klaussgrew much excited. He seemed to think he was being attacked. Then heinvestigated, turned on the light and--well, you know the rest, for youboys came in.”
“Yes, we came in,” spoke Bob, with grim humor, “and now the puzzle ishow to get out again. It’s like a trap.”
“Oh, we’ll get out somehow,” declared Jerry, with more confidence thanhe felt.
“One thing we might do,” said Mr. Sheldon. “And that is to wait onemore day. Then we can renew our request.”
“Why wait?” asked Bob.
“Because,” answered his uncle, “the mind of an insane person changes.At one time he may refuse to do something, and later he will grant yourrequest. Dr. Klauss is no doubt crazy on only one subject. That ishis fancied grievance against our country. That has made him insane.We will make another request, to-morrow, to be set ashore, and if herefuses--why, we will see what we can do with the crew. Fortunately wehave our freedom on board, and that means a lot. If he locked us up wewould have hard work to perfect our plot.”
“And now, Uncle Nelson,” said Bob, “while we are having thisconference, won’t you tell me what it is that you were bringing fromGermany that was so valuable?”
“It is valuable yet, Bob,” was the reply. “I still have it, for I savedit from the shipwreck. But, if it’s all the same to you, I had rathernot mention it here. We can’t tell who may be listening, and if Dr.Klauss knew I had this he might take such precautions to prevent mefrom ever getting away that it would spoil all our plans.”
“Why, is it his?”
“Well, he claims it, but it is not his. Some time later I will tellyou,” and with this Bob and his chums had to be content.
As there was nothing that could be done for the present the littleparty sat about the cabin, talking. Mr. Sheldon had been shown byDr. Klauss how to open the shutters of the side windows, and how toilluminate the water so that the fishes might be observed.
“It will give us something to do--something to take our minds off ourtroubles--to watch the denizens of the deep,” he said as he opened theslides.
The _Sonderbaar_ was plowing along far below the surface, but in whatdirection, or in what locality, the boys could not tell. Nor couldthey say whither they were eventually going, save perhaps back towardGermany.
But the wonderful sight that greeted their eyes--the illuminated watersswarming with ocean life--so interested them that, for the time, theyforgot their troubles.
“Oh, if I could but go out there, and get some specimens!” sighedProfessor Snodgrass. “I must make notes of what I see, at least,” andhe busied himself with pencil and paper.
“I wouldn’t want to go out with that fellow around,” observed Bob, witha shudder, as an immense tiger shark swam into view. “He could bite aman in twain at one clip.”
“And see that octopus!” cried Ned, pointing.
For some time the boys, Grace and Mr. Sheldon watched the marveloussight. Then Jerry suggested:
“I wonder if we would be stopped if we went to the pilot house orengine room? I should like to see how the ship is navigated.”
“Yes, and it might come in useful if we carry out our mutiny,” addedNed.
“Hush!” spoke Jerry quickly. �
�Not so loud. Dr. Klauss may come upon usat any time.”
Ned looked around apprehensively, but the fanatical captain had notentered the darkened cabin.
“Well, I’m going to make a try, anyhow,” went on Jerry. “He can’t domore than order me out. Besides, I may get a chance to sound the crew.”
“I think it would be a good idea,” agreed Mr. Sheldon. “We have no timeto lose. While we are fairly comfortable here, think of the anxiety ofour friends and relatives--of the parents of you boys. We simply _must_get away from this madman!”
So far as the boys could tell they had the run of the ship. Norestrictions had been placed on them, and they felt free to go wherethey liked. Especially were they anxious to observe how the strangecraft was operated. It was knowledge that might be of vital necessitysoon.
If their next request to be set free was met with a refusal, then itwould be time to put their plot into execution.
Jerry, Ned and Bob had risen to go to the engine room, when Grace, whowas standing near one of the glass windows in the side of the cabingave a startled cry:
“What is it?” asked her father.
“Look!” she gasped. “A whale--a great whale, and he seems about to hitus! Oh, tell Dr. Klauss--quick!”
She pointed to the window where could be seen, keeping pace with thesubmarine, a monster whale that was fairly rubbing against the side ofthe boat.
The Motor Boys Under the Sea; or, From Airship to Submarine Page 21