CHAPTER XVI
ASHORE
It was still early morning when the little boat with the sixcastaways--Frank, Jack, Captain Glenn, Williams, fourth officer of theAlbatross' and the two sailors, Timothy and Allen--rounded aprojecting point of land and put into a small harbor.
Along the shore were signs of human hands. There was a recentlyconstructed dock, well hidden under overhanging foliage. It wasperfectly invisible from a distance, being revealed to view only whenthe small boat approached within a hundred yards. There was no vesselin sight.
"Somebody lives around these parts, that's sure," commented CaptainGlenn. "Wonder where we are, anyhow?"
"Thought you said something about South America, Sir," said Frank.
"So I did," replied the erstwhile commander of the Albatross, "butthat's no reason we are. I was just guessing at it, you know."
"Well," said Jack, "we're safe at any rate, and that's something."
"Right you are, Jack," said Frank. "I am sorry the same cannot be saidfor all who were with us aboard the Albatross."
For a time the occupants of the boat were silent as they drew closer tothe shore. At last the nose of the little craft plowed into the sand.Frank leaped lightly ashore and the others followed.
"Drag the boat out of the water, Allen," Frank instructed, and added:"We don't want it to be carried away by the tide."
The sailor followed instructions and the little boat was soon high anddry.
"Now what?" asked Jack.
"Well," said Captain Glenn, "I don't know where we are exactly and thebest thing is to find out. I still incline to the belief that we're onthe coast of South America and the more I look around the more certainI feet about it. It has all the appearance of the tropics."
"We'll have a look, then, sir," said Frank briefly.
"Hold on," called Jack, as Frank moved away. "Don't forget we'verifles in the boat."
"Guess we won't need them," said Frank. "We're out of the war zone, atleast."
"Don't be so sure, youngster," interposed Williams, himself a man wellover forty. "This war has pretty well dragged every nation beneath thesun within its maw. You never can tell where you will encounter thehand of the German Kaiser; and, besides, we'll need something to eat."
"Right, Williams," said Captain Glenn, "and wherever you find theKaiser's band there you also will find trouble. The German is norespecter of neutrality, or anything else, for that matter. We'll takeour rifles and make sure that our revolvers and knives are in workingorder."
The six returned to the boat, from which Frank dragged a dozen riflesand a quantity of superfluous revolvers and sheath knives.
"There's an abundance here," the lad said. "We can carry two revolversapiece and a knife. Also we can lug a rifle, but I am opposed tocarrying more than one."
"I'm with you there," said Captain Glenn. "For that reason I shalldetail you, Chadwick, to guard the boat with Timothy and Allen, whileTempleton, Williams and I do a little exploring."
Frank's face fell a trifle, for he was keen to have a hand in the work;but he was too well trained to protest. So all he said was: "Verywell, sir."
"In the meantime," continued Captain Glenn, "you might drag out allthe ammunition and provisions and make sure that they're dry. It willbe well to provide against eventualities. Should we fail to return by4 o'clock this afternoon, you will know that something has gone wrongand you will look to your own safety without thought of help from us."
"Very well, sir," said Frank again.
Captain Glenn now led the way inland, Jack and Williams striding alongon either side of him. Each carried a rifle in addition to a pair ofColt automatics and a heavy sheath knife stuck in his belt. They feltperfectly able to cope with any danger that might present itself.
Behind, Frank and the two sailors fell to unloading the boat. It hadbeen well stocked with provision, water and ammunition. Such acontingency as shipwreck had been provided for before the Albatrosssailed. Therefore, when time came to desert the ship there had beennothing to do but lower the boats.
Prank gazed after his friends as they strode rapidly inland. As theydisappeared beyond a distant clump of trees he shrugged.
"Well," he said to the sailors, "they've gone and we're here. I don'timagine any one will bother us, but we'll be on guard. Timothy, youkeep your weather eye open for possible callers while Allen and Iunload."
The two proceeded untiringly with the work while Timothy scanned thehorizon.
Now, it so happened that the sailor paid no attention to the waterfront. After one brief glance, in which he made sure that there wasnothing upon the surface of the water, he confined his attentioninland. Therefore, it is only natural that Frank was taken off hisfeet by surprise when, chancing to look up, he beheld in the harbor asmall vessel, to all appearances a submarine, and advancing toward hima dozen or more men, armed with rifles.
Frank straightened up with a cry. Timothy and Allen sprang to hisside. Each seized a rifle and loosened the revolvers in their belts.
"Timothy," said Frank severely, "I thought I told you to keep your eyesopen."
"I did, sir," replied the sailor, eyeing the approaching men in theutmost surprise. "I'll take my oath there was no submarine there fiveminutes ago."
"But it must have been in sight," said Frank. "It didn't materializeout of thin air, you know."
"I can't help that," declared Timothy. "It wasn't there, I tell you."
"What's the use of talking like that, man," exclaimed Frank,exasperated. "I tell you it must have been in sight."
Timothy mumbled something to himself, but made no coherent reply.
"Wonder who they are, sir?" said Allen.
"It's too deep for me," said Frank with a shrug. "However, we'll knowsoon enough. Now, you men keep quiet and let me do the talking. Wedon't want to have any trouble if we can help it. Chances are theywill prove friendly enough. That vessel in the harbor is probably asubmarine of some South American government. These men approaching arethe officers and crew. We are not at war with any South Americancountry, so there is no reason why we should anticipate trouble."
The newcomers had now approached within hailing distance. At a commandfrom the man who appeared to be the leader they halted. Frank saw thatthey were all heavily armed. A man stepped forward and shouted:
"Who are you and what do you want here?"
"Castaways!" Frank shouted back. "We're the sole survivors of anAmerican merchant ship."
This reply seemed to lend courage to the others, who, at a command fromthe leader, advanced boldly.
"Throw down your rifles men," said Frank in a low voice, "but keep yourhands on your revolvers. These fellows seem all right, but there is noneed taking unnecessary chances."
They stood quietly as the men approached. As they drew nearer, Frankmade out that they were indeed a motley crew. Spanish faces--orSouth American, to be more exact--predominated, but there were a fewwho seemed to be English or Americans. Also, there were two plainly ofAfrican descent and three who seemed to be Chinese or Japanese.
Frank whistled softly to himself.
"If I didn't know the days of pirates are over..." he said, and thenshrugged again.
The leader of the party--a young man, he could not have been morethan twenty-four, although he was exceedingly large and powerfullooking--spoke in English. Frank was not wrong when he placed him asan American, though of German descent.
"What's your name?" he demanded of Frank.
"Chadwick," replied Frank quietly. "Frank Chadwick."
"And you say you are castaways?" said the man. "What was your positionaboard the ship?"
"Second officer," said Frank
"A merchant ship, you say?"
"Yes."
Frank did not deem it necessary to tell the other that he held alieutenancy in the British royal navy.
"And you are the sole survivors?" demanded the man.
"So far as I know, yes."
"Good," said the leader of the party. "Then you shall come with us.It may be that you will have brains, in which event your fortune isassured. If no, well, it won't be hard to get rid of you. You'll comewith me. Tell your men to follow."
Frank thought quickly. It was plain that he was in danger of some kindthough as yet he was unable to tell just what.
"One minute," he said. The others paused.
"Who are you?" the lad demanded.
The other smiled.
"Why, I'm Captain Jack," he said quietly.
"I see," said Frank. "And your ship--a submarine, I note--a warvessel, it can be plainly seen. What flag does she fly?"
"The black flag," was the smiling reply; "the jolly Roger."
"As I thought," said Frank. "A pirate!"
His hands dropped to his guns.
Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers Page 16