Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

by Marion Ames Taggart

  CHAPTER V

  AN ISLAND PARADISE

  "Land ho!" shouted the look-out from his airy perch in the crow's nest,and with one accord the passengers of the _Fearless_ rushed on deck tocatch the first glimpse of that wonderful land they had all heard somuch about. Hawaii! What a vision of hill and plain, of mountain andvalley, of dangerous precipice and treacherous canyon, of sandy beachand waving palm, of radiant sunshine and brilliant moonlight, the magicof that name evokes!

  "Gee, fellows, can you see anything that looks like land?" Bert asked ofhis companions, as they elbowed their way through the crowd to therailing of the ship. "Oh, yes, there it is," he cried a moment later,pointing to a tiny spot on the horizon, "but it looks as if it werehundreds of miles away."

  "It sure does," Dick agreed. "If this atmosphere were not so remarkablyclear, we wouldn't be able to see it at all. It doesn't matter how faraway it is, though, as long as it's in sight. For the last few days ithas seemed to me that we would never reach it," and he gazed longinglyat the speck on the horizon that seemed to be dissolving into two orthree smaller parts that became more distinct every moment.

  "Yes, I can't wait to try the little old 'Gray Ghost' on some of thoseswell Hawaiian roads. Say, fellows, can't you just imagine yourselves inthe old car; can't you feel the throb of the motor and the whistlingof the wind in your ears as she takes a steep hill with a 'give mesomething hard, won't you' air? Can't you?" he demanded, joyfully, whilethe boys thrilled at the mere prospect.

  "You bet your life," Tom agreed, enthusiastically. "Make believe wewon't make things hum in little old Hawaii, eh, fellows?" and they alllaughed from sheer delight.

  "Glad to find you in such good spirits this fine morning, boys," camea genial voice behind them and the boys turned to find the doctorregarding them with a good-natured smile on his friendly face. "I don'twonder you feel good at the prospect of setting foot on solid groundagain. For, no matter how enjoyable and prosperous the voyage may be,one is always glad to get on shore and feel that he may come and go whenhe pleases and is not at the mercy of the elements. I for one will beglad when we cast anchor."

  "I have always heard that Hawaii was one of the most beautiful countriesin the world, and I've always wanted to see it," said Bert. "What do youthink of it, Doctor? You must have been here many times."

  Dr. Hamilton took two or three long puffs of his cigar before heanswered, reflectively, "It has always seemed to me that when Naturediscovered Hawaii she had some time on her hands that she didn't knowwhat to do with, so she spent it in making this obscure little group ofislands way out in the Pacific, the garden spot of the world. Over thoseislands the wind never blows too roughly or too coldly, the sun nevershines too brightly and there is no snow to blight and kill thevegetation that warm rain and summer sun have called forth. Over therethe grass is greener, the sky bluer and the scenery more beautiful thanit is in any other part of the world. If you should take everything thatyou consider beautiful, multiply it by one hundred and put them in onesmall portion of the earth, you would have some idea of what Hawaii islike."

  The boys were struck by the outburst.

  "Hawaii is the doctor's favorite hobby," Ralph said, in response to thelook of astonishment and wonder on the boys' faces. "If he had his way,he'd live here all the year round."

  "That I would," said the doctor, with a sigh, "but my profession claimsme first, last and all the time. However," he added, with his cheerfulsmile, "I want you boys to make the most of the few days we are to spendhere, to have the time of your lives. The only thing I ask of you isthat you don't run the 'Gray Ghost' over the side of a precipice or seekto inquire too closely into the mysteries of the firepit, Halemaumau.I'll have to leave you, as I have some important matters to attendto before I can enjoy the beauties of Hawaii. Coming, Bert? Yes, Ishouldn't wonder if we would be getting some wireless messages verysoon."

  The three companions watched Bert and the doctor until they disappeareddown the companion-way and then turned once more to the islands.

  After a moment of silence Tom said, "Say, if Hawaii is all the doctorsays it is, Ralph, we ought to have some fun. Imagine driving themachine along a precipice and visiting fire-pits with outlandish names.What was it he called it?"

  "Halemaumau," Ralph answered. "It is a jaw-breaker, isn't it, but I'veheard Dad talk so much about Hawaiian wonders that I've got the namedown pat. You see Halemaumau means 'House of Everlasting Fire,' and it'sthe name of the fire-pit of the crater, Kilauea. There, don't you thinkI've mastered the subject and learned my lesson well?"

  "You have, indeed, my son," Dick said, assuming his best grandfatherlyair. "If you continue on the road you have begun you will make a successof your life."

  "Say, fellows," Tom broke in. "Stop your nonsense and look at whatyou're coming to. I'm beginning to think that Dr. Hamilton didn'texaggerate, after all. Just look at that line of beach with the cliffsbehind it, forming a dark background for the white of the buildings. Andwhat are those funny, bobbing things in the water? I suppose they mustbe boats of some sort, but they don't look like anything I ever saw."

  "I guess they must be the boats of the native money divers."

  "Money divers!" Tom exclaimed. "Where do they get the money?"

  "We give it to them," said Dick. "I remember reading about how passengersthrow their perfectly good money into the water just for the fun ofseeing those little grafters pick it up. A waste of good money I callit."

  "Gee, I'm going into the business," Tom affirmed. "Just give me adiving costume and I bet you couldn't tell me from the natives."

  "You needn't count on annexing any of my hard-earned cash, because youwon't get it. I'd be more likely to throw a dynamite bomb in just as youwere getting ready to dive," Dick said.

  "I know you would, you old skinflint. The only thing is that you wouldbe just as likely as I to get blown up. I guess you left that out ofyour calculations, didn't you?"

  "What's all this about dynamite bombs and getting blown up?" Bert asked,coming up behind them. "It sounds rather bloodthirsty."

  "Oh, he's just threatening my very valuable life," Tom answered, "but Iforgive him, for he's not responsible for what he says. To change thesubject, what are you doing up here when you ought to be taking downwireless messages?"

  "Oh, I'm off duty for a few days, now. I'm glad of it, for, although Ilike nothing better than taking down messages and sending them out, it'sgood to have a few days to explore this country that the doctor hasrecommended so highly. It sure does look promising."

  By this time the _Fearless_ had weighed anchor and the boats were beinglet down to convey the passengers to the shore. All around the ship werethe queer little craft of the natives, the occupants on the alert tocatch the first bit of money thrown to them. They had not long to wait,for soon small pieces of coin were being showered down. As each piecefell into the water, the little brown-skinned native boys would dive inafter it and catch it, with a deftness born of long experience, beforeit reached the bottom. In spite of the boys' declared intentions not towaste their "hard-earned and carefully-hoarded cash," a few pieces ofthat very same cash went to increase the spoils of one especially activeand dextrous young native. No matter how hard they tried to be prudentor how emphatically they declared that "this would surely be the lastbit of money that that little rascal would get out of them," anothercoin would find its way into the eager hands of the little dark-skinnedtempter. There was a very strong bond of fellowship between this smallnative diving for money way off in the islands of the Pacific andthe strong, sturdy college boys who had fought so gallantly on thediamond for the glory of Alma Mater. It was the call of the expertto the expert, the admiration of one who has "done things" for theaccomplishments of another.

  However, the boys were not very sorry when they reached the shore wherethey were beyond temptation. Tom voiced the general sentiment when hesaid, "Gee, if we hadn't touched land just as we did, I'd have had totelegraph home to Dad for more money. They nearly broke me."
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  While they were waiting for Ralph, who had stayed behind to see that the"Gray Ghost" got over safely on the raft rigged up for the purpose, thecomrades took a look around them. And there was enough to occupy theirattention for an hour just in the country in the immediate neighborhoodof the harbor. All around them swarmed the natives, big, powerful,good-natured people, all with a smile of welcome on their dark faces.Everywhere was bustle and life and activity.

  "I always thought that Hawaii was a slow sort of place," Dick said, "butit seems that I was mistaken. This crowd rivals the business crush onFifth Avenue."

  "It does that," said Bert. "But just take a glance at this scenery, myfriends. Did you ever see anything on Fifth Avenue that looked likethat?"

  "Well, hardly. But it's the town that takes my eye. Look at thosequaint houses and the big white building--I suppose it must be ahotel--towering over them. And isn't that a picture, that avenue withthe double border of palm trees? We must explore that first thing whenwe get the 'Gray Ghost.' Say, I'm glad I came."

  "So am I," said Tom. "If it hadn't been for you, Bert, we shouldn't anyof us be here. Prof. Gilbert didn't know what a public benefactor he waswhen he nominated you for the telegraphy job. Say, isn't that the carcoming over now?" he asked, pointing to a great raft that was headingslowly for the dock.

  "It looks like it," Bert replied. "Make believe it won't seem good to bein a car again. I'm anxious to get my belongings up to one of thehotels, too."

  "Yes, I'm glad we decided to stay in a hotel for the few days we aregoing to spend here. It will be good to be able to eat our breakfast onshore for a little while instead of on the briny deep," said Tom, whohad not been altogether free from occasional pangs of sea-sicknessduring the voyage.

  By this time the raft had landed the car and the other luggage. Ralphwas beside his favorite, looking it over from one end to the other tosee that everything was intact, while a crowd of curious little urchinswatched his every action. In a moment our three fellows had joined himand were busily engaged in trying to remedy an imaginary fault. Theyfinally gave this up as a hopeless task as the car was in absolutelyperfect condition.

  "I guess there's nothing very much the matter with the old car, eh,fellows?" said Ralph with the pride of possession in his voice. "Ishouldn't wonder if she could show the natives something of the art ofracing and hill-climbing. I bet she is just as anxious as we are to tryher speed on that palm avenue there."

  "Don't let's waste any time then," Dick suggested. "What's the matterwith piling our luggage into the car and going right over to the hotel?By the way," he added, as a second thought, "what hotel are we goingto?"

  "Why, Dad told me that if we wanted to get off the ship at Hawaii thatthe best place to put up at would be the Seaside House," said Ralph. "Hethinks that we can have more fun at a small place than we could at oneof the swell hotels."

  "I agree with him there," said Bert, "but do you know the way?"

  "You just watch me," said Ralph. "If I don't get you to the Seaside inten minutes I give you leave to hand me whatever you think I deserve inthe way of punishment. Come on, jump in, and the little 'Gray Ghost'will have you and your baggage at your destination before you know it."

  So Tom and Dick jumped into the tonneau with the luggage, while Berttook his seat beside Ralph. Once more they were flying over the roadwith the wind whistling in their ears to the tune of the throbbingmotor. Many nights they had dreamed of it and many days they had talkedof it, but to really be there, to feel the mighty power of that greatman-made monster, to feel the exhilarated blood come tingling into theirfaces with the excitement of the race, ah, that was heaven indeed.

  But all delightful things must come to an end sometime and so, in thevery midst of their enjoyment the speed of the great car slackened andthey drew up before a building that looked like an overgrown cottagewith a sign in front, announcing to all whom it might concern that thiswas the "Seaside House." It all looked very comfortable and homelike,and even as they stopped the host advanced to give them welcome.

  It took the boys a very short time to explain that they had just come inon the _Fearless_ and only wanted accommodations for a very few days. Inless time than it takes to tell the machine was taken around to thegarage and the boys had been shown up to two very comfortably furnishedrooms.

  "Doctor Hamilton expects to stay here, too," Ralph volunteered when theyhad finished exploring their small domain, "but he won't be able to gethere until late this evening. I promised to take the car around for himat the dock about nine o'clock. I suppose all you fellows will go withme, won't you?"

  "Surest thing you know," Bert agreed. "I'm glad that he's going to bewith us for he knows a lot about the country and he'll go with us on allour expeditions. The Doctor's a jolly good sort."

  "He sure is that," said Tom, and so, in the course of time the Doctorarrived and was given the room next to the boys. Just before they wentto sleep that night Bert called into Ralph, "Say, Ralph, what do youlove best in the world?" and the answer came in three words, "The GrayGhost."

  Next morning bright and early the boys, the Doctor and the "Gray Ghost"started for a visit to Halemaumau, the fire-pit of the crater, Kilauea.The day was ideal for such a trip and the party started off in highspirits. They rode for miles through the most beautiful country they hadever seen until, at last, they came to the foot of the great crater.Only a very few minutes more and they stood within a few yards ofthe edge of that wonder of wonders, the fire-pit of Kilauea. It isimpossible to describe the grandeur of that roaring, surging sea offire, the tongues of flame lapping one upon another like raging demonsin terrific conflict. It is the greatest wonder of Nature ever given toman to witness.

  For a few seconds the boys could only stand in amazement that such athing could be. "If anybody had told me," said Bert, almost whisperingin his excitement, "a few months ago that I would be standing here atthe edge of the largest living crater in the world, I would have thoughtthat either I was crazy or that they were. I never could forget thatsight if I lived forever."

  "It sure is about the slickest little bit of Nature that I ever cameacross," Tom agreed. "If all the scenery is like this we ought to spendfour years here instead of a measly four days. I'm beginning to be asmuch interested in this place as the Doctor is."

  "The more you see of it the more you will love it," the Doctorprophesied. "If you would like to we can take a ride across the islandto-morrow. It will be about a day's journey, but I can show you a greatmany points of interest as we go along. What do you say?"

  The boys fell in with the plan very readily, and so it was decided thatthe next morning they would start early. With great reluctance and manybackward glances they finally tore themselves away from Halemaumau andturned the "Gray Ghost" toward home. During the ride they could talk ofnothing else than the wonder and the magnificent beauty of "The House ofEverlasting Fire."

  Mile upon mile they rode with the sun filtering through the trees inlittle golden patches on the road before them, with the caress of thesoft breeze upon their faces and the song of the birds in their ears.

  "I don't wonder that you think Hawaii's about the nicest place on earth,Doctor," Bert said after a few minutes of silence. "I'm almost beginningto agree with you."

  And again the Doctor answered, "The more you see of it the more you willlove it."