The Motor Boys Under the Sea; or, From Airship to Submarine

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER XXIX

  THE END OF DR. KLAUSS

  They all rubbed their eyes, scarcely believing what they saw. They hadbeen traveling along beneath the dark ocean, unaware that they wereapproaching land, and they had suddenly come upon the island.

  “We--we might have run into it, and smashed all to pieces,” spoke Ned,in a low voice.

  “No, the detectors would have given us warning in time,” replied Bob.“They probably did, but we were so busy over other matters that wedidn’t notice them. I wonder what place this is?”

  “We’ll have to look it up on the maps,” said Jerry. “Just now we’llhave to attend to Dr. Klauss. He seems in a bad way.”

  Indeed the poor, mad commander appeared to be very ill. Probably he hadremained in the small pilot house until it had been almost filled withthe chlorine fumes, and had then rushed out.

  But gradually, as the fresh air entered his lungs, and dispelled thepoison, his eyelids fluttered and his breathing became stronger.

  “He’s coming around all right,” said Ned, with a sigh of relief.

  “What about those other two old men?” asked Mr. Sheldon. “We ought tosee to them.”

  They were found to be nearly overcome, and were helped out on deck.There they, too, were revived.

  “It was a close call,” said Jerry, solemnly, as he helped prop up Dr.Klauss, who had not yet fully recovered consciousness. “We must see howhe escaped, and whether that water leak is a bad one. We may have tostay on this island for a time.”

  “It looks an interesting and romantic place to stay,” spoke GraceSheldon. “Isn’t it beautiful!”

  It was a semi-tropical island of great charm, but the coast, of hardsand, with a heavy surf, made a landing--at least at the spot where thesubmarine was--out of the question.

  A hurried examination of the interior of the craft showed that somesea water had leaked into the storage batteries from a sea cock,opened probably by Dr. Klauss in his mad intention of putting an endto his companions. The cock was closed, and no more water came in. Thebreaking of the connection between the engine room and the pilot housecould easily be repaired.

  “Now the question is, what are we going to do?” spoke Mr. Sheldon,when it was safe to again venture into the interior of the ship.

  “Go home, by all means,” answered Jerry.

  “And we’ll take good care that he doesn’t escape again!” added Ned.

  “Yes, we didn’t think it was necessary to stand guard over his doorin the daytime,” said Jerry. “That’s how he got away without beingdetected. He must have filed off his chains.”

  This was afterward ascertained to be the case. The madman had managedto conceal a file about him, and though it seemed impossible ofperformance, had managed to cut his links.

  “I guess he’ll be so weak for a while that he won’t have to be boundvery strongly,” observed Bob.

  “We’ll take no chances,” decided Jerry. “As soon as he recovers fullywe’ll take him below.”

  But this was never destined to be done.

  Dr. Klauss suddenly leaped to his feet, and rushed to the edge of thedeck. Raising his hands high above his head he cried out:

  “I defy you all!” And then, before anyone could prevent him, plungedoverboard.

  “Poor fellow!” cried Mr. Sheldon. “We must save him!”

  But there was no way. No small boat was available, and it would havebeen folly for anyone to have jumped into the sea to try to save amaniac.

  But Dr. Klauss had no intention of ending his life, it seemed. Hedisappeared under water for a few seconds, and then was seen to beswimming for the island.

  They watched him make his perilous way through the surf to the beach.He seemed strong, even after his trying experience.

  Reaching shore, the madman stood up, and shook his fist at those on thedeck of the submarine. Then the unfortunate man rushed into the densegrowth that came down close to the water’s edge.

  And that was the end of Dr. Klauss. The boys and their friends neversaw him again.

  “What--what in the world did he do that for?” asked Ned, in puzzledtones.

  “He’s insane--he doesn’t know what he is doing,” declared Mr. Sheldon.“Poor man!”

  “Those two Germans! We must get them up here and have them call tohim!” cried Jerry. “We’ll have them tell him we will treat him askindly as he will let us. All we ask is to be allowed to go home. Thenhe can do as he likes with his boat. We must get them up here and havethem call to him in that queer language they use.”