CHAPTER IV.
WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE.
"Let's go below, mates," suggested Dick, "and overhaul all this.There's meat in it for us, and it will stand us in hand to get at it."
"I'll not go below this night, Dick," said Matt, "and we'd better allof us stay on deck and keep our eyes peeled for Japs. Carl can go andbring me up some dry clothes, an extra pair of shoes and stockings, andan extra coat."
"Dot's me, bard," chirruped Carl, making for the conning tower.
"Get the boat on her proper course, Speake," said Matt; "we must getout of this neighborhood as soon as we can--and as quick as we can.Watch the torpedo as we come about, Dick, you and Glennie. See that thecable doesn't foul the guys or the periscope mast."
Speake signaled for a fresh start, and as the submarine described acircle and pointed the other way, Dick and Glennie kept the hawserclear. The torpedo took its scope of cable, and the drag of it wasplainly felt as soon as the submarine began to pull.
"It's main lucky, mates," remarked Dick, as Carl regained the deck withMatt's dry clothing, and the young motorist began to get out of his wettogs, "that we've such a smooth sea. If the wind was blowing hard andthe water was choppy, Matt would have a hard time with that torpedo ofhis."
"A lucky thing, too," added Glennie, "that there's a thick fog. IfMatt's enemies had seen him, they'd have finished the work they set outto do with that lariat."
"On the other hand, Glennie," put in Matt, "we don't want to forgetthat it was the fog that enabled them to come so close. Their boat musthave got within seventy-five feet of the _Grampus_ in order for any oneto drop that noose over my head."
"I'll be keelhauled if I can understand how such a trick was done,"said Dick. "From my experiences on the cattle ranges of Texas, I shouldsay that a seventy-five-foot cast with a riata is a mighty big one, andliable to be successful about once in a hundred times. But here's thisswab that lassoed Matt, snaring him the first crack--and throwing froma boat's deck and across water, at that!"
"Then, too," proceeded Glennie, "their boat has less noise to it thanany craft I ever heard of. It shoved along within seventy-five feet ofus--and none of us heard a sound!"
"I thought I heard a noise, Glennie," returned Matt, "and that was whattook me aft."
"I can't understand how it was done," muttered the ensign.
"Veil, anyvays," struck in Carl, "id vas done, no madder vedder anypodyoondershtands it or nod. Kevit making some guesses aboudt der vay itvas pulled off und look der pitzness skevare in der face. It vas derChaps--who else vould dry to plow der _Grampus_ oudt oof water? Sovat's to be done aboudt it?"
"Carl's talking sense, fellows," said Matt. "Those Japs are against us.We thought we had left them behind, and that we should be able to reachSan Francisco before they could make us any trouble, but here they are,going for us harder than ever."
"They're not using that steamer of theirs, mates," averred Dick.
"The steamer might have torpedo tubes," answered Glennie.
"Ay, so she might; but she couldn't lie along within seventy-five feetof us without making noise enough to wake the dead. The Sons of theRising Sun have changed boats--and how have they had time to do that,and reach this part of the coast almost at the same time as ourselves?We've plugged right along ever since leaving the strait."
"That gives me an idea," said the ensign, "and you fellows can take itfor what it's worth. Our knowledge of the Sons of the Rising Sun is atrifle hazy, but we know them to be a secret organization whose aimis to help Japan. The organization is not sanctioned by the Japanesegovernment, for its members commit deeds which would plunge the nationinto war if it sanctioned them. Now, this secret society is probablyquite extensive. Perhaps we are not dealing with the branch of it thatkept us busy most of the way to the Horn, but with another outfit ofthe Sons of the Rising Sun that has been laying for us here."
"That's possible," agreed Matt. "The question is, shall we put intoLota and try to find out something more regarding our enemies, or keepon to Valparaiso, as we had originally intended?"
"I'm for putting in at Lota," said Dick. "We can't tow that infernalWhitehead all the way to Valparaiso."
"It will be just as well to stop there, in my opinion," secondedGlennie. "If we're dealing with another branch of the Sons of theRising Sun, perhaps we can get some information about them in Lota."
"Meppy," ventured Carl, "ve could lay in a sooply oof gasoline in Lota,und vouldn't haf to shdop at Valparaiso, huh? Dot vould safe dime, undI am gedding hungry for a look at der Unidet Shtates again. Der more Isee of odder gountries, der more vat I like my own."
"His own!" laughed Dick, who, now that Motor Matt had been safelyrecovered, was feeling in fine fettle. "You could tell he was a Yank,just by the way he talks, eh?"
"I peen an American mit a Dutch agsent," protested Carl, "und I t'inkso mooch oof der Shdars und Shdripes as anypody. I vould schust as soonshtep on der Pritish lion's tail as anyt'ing vat I know."
"If you step on the British lion's tail, and I find it out, matey,"laughed Dick, "I'll have you hauled up and fined for cruelty toanimals. One of these days I'm going to write to the kaiser and tellhim about you."
"Vat I care for der kaiser?" snorted Carl. "He iss a pooty goot feller,aber he ain'd so big like der Bresident oof der land oof der free undder home oof Modor Matt."
"Fine-o!" chuckled Dick.
"A dandy sentiment, Carl!" exclaimed Glennie. "What do you think ofthat, Matt?"
"Why," returned Matt, "I think that if the lot of us don't stopjoshing and attend more to watching our immediate neighborhood thatthe land of the free and the home of the brave is liable to be minusone submarine and a lot of motor boys. That Jap boat is a particularlynoiseless craft; she came close enough to us to launch a torpedo, andclose enough to tangle me up in a rope and pull me into the ocean. Ifshe did it once, she can do it again. We've got to keep sharp eyesforward, aft, and on both sides. Dick, you'll be the bow lookout, andGlennie can go aft; you watch the port side, Carl, and I'll watch thestarboard. Can you steer for the rest of the night, Speake?" he addedto the man in the conning tower.
"I guess I can stand this extra duty if you can, Matt," replied Speake,"considering what you've been through."
"A dip in the ocean and a ride on a torpedo doesn't count," said Matt,dropping his wet clothes down the hatch; "it's what may happen to us ifwe don't keep on our guard that bothers me. This boat is going to bedelivered at Mare Island, Japs or no Japs."
"Und righdt site oop mit care, you bed you!" cried Carl, dropping downon the port side of the conning tower. "I feel so easy in my mindt asoof I vas alretty pack in der best gountry vat efer vas."
"Carl is full of patriotism to-night, mates," observed Dick, from thebow.
"I vas dickled pecause Matt is alife und kicking. Dot inshpires memit batriotic sendiment, und odder feelings oof choy. Be jeerful,eferypody."
Weighing the evidence offered by the torpedo attack, and the snaringand dragging of Matt into the water, had not resulted in bringing outvery much that was of importance. It served, however, to emphasize theneed of vigilance by developing the resourcefulness and malevolence ofa wily foe.
At 4 a. m. the submarine was close to the land lying south of the Bayof Lota, and, as the mist was still too thick to make out the distanceand bearing of the coast, Matt thought it advisable to stop the motorand wait for the fog to clear with the sun.
Advantage was taken of this stop to prepare breakfast. While all handswere eating, Gaines and Clackett, who had been at their posts duringthe exciting occurrences of the night, were duly informed of all thathad taken place.
At 6 a. m. the morning was bright enough so that Matt felt they couldproceed with safety.
The passage into the Bay of Lota, between the island of Santa Maria andLavapi? Point, is narrow and difficult, abounding with sunken rocks andother hidden dangers that have not been surveyed and charted.
Luck, however, was with the motor boys, and the passage into th
e baywas succesfully accomplished. Just as the sun broke through the mistand brought out the beauties of the bay, the _Grampus_ nosed her wayinto it.
On three sides the bay is surrounded by wooded hills, which shelter itin every direction except on the north.
"Dowse me," muttered Dick; "this coast looks like that of Cornwall andDevonshire, with that red earth, those granite cliffs, and the treesrunning down to the water's edge. What are those chimneys and all thatsmoke over there?"
"Smelting works and potteries," explained Glennie. "They are owned by awoman, Madam Cousi?o, one of the richest women in Chili."
The _Grampus_, being of light draught, was able to go close inshore.Anchor was dropped within a couple of cables' length of the wharf. The"mud hooks" had hardly taken hold before a man in a tawdry blue uniformcame off from the shore in a boat. He was rowed by two negroes, andappeared to be very much excited.
When his boat was laid alongside, the official stood up, flourished hisarms, and spouted a stream of language. It was Spanish, and came insuch a torrent that Matt, who knew something of the lingo, could makenothing of it. Glennie was better versed in the tongue, and listenedattentively and with growing concern.
"Here's a go, Matt!" exclaimed the ensign, as soon as the officialpaused to catch his breath. "This man is the captain of the port, andhe has placed us all under arrest."
"Arrest?" cried Matt incredulously. "What for?"
"He says we're thieves, and that we have stolen this submarine boat."
"Dot's aboudt der lasht t'ing vat I oxpected!" muttered Carl. "Take deruniform off dot feller, und ve vill find he iss a Son oof der RisingSun, I bed you. Led's go to der pottom oof der pay und infite him tocome down und ged us."
Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory For the Motor Boys Page 4