CHAPTER XXVI
CONVERSION OF CAPTAIN JACK
"Here they come!" cried Jack from the window. Half a dozen formsflitted through the stockade gate and dashed toward the fort. Jack'srevolver flashed twice and one man rolled over on the ground; but theothers came on. Bullets struck close to the window as the piratesreturned the fire.
"Here, Williams," said Frank, "take charge of Captain Jack. I'll lendJack a hand at the window."
Regardless of the bullets that struck close, one every now and thencoming through the window, Frank poked out his head and fired rapidlyseveral times. Came howls of anguish and directly three men ran forthe outer gate.
"Let 'em go," said Frank quietly. "Guess they won't bother us againfor some time."
Jack slammed the window shut and dropped a heavy board down behind it.This was protection in case the pirates without tried their luck atshooting through the window.
"Give us some light, Captain Glenn," ordered Frank.
A moment later the interior of the fort was lighted up by the flare ofhalf a dozen candles, Frank turned and surveyed the prisoner. .
"And how are you tonight, Captain Jack?" he asked.
The reply of the pirate chief was irrelevant.
"You've got me," he said, "what do you think you are going to do withme?"
"We haven't figured that out yet," said Frank. "The first thing was toget you. We do one thing at a time, you see."
"Well, you've trouble on your hands now," said Captain Jack. "My menwon't rest until they have released me."
"We'll risk that," said Frank. "Captain Glenn, I guess it is stillyou're watch. I'm going to lock our pirate up for the night and thenI'm going to turn in."
"Same here," said Jack, and the others signified their agreement.
Frank conducted Captain Jack to the room where so recently he and hisfriends had been imprisoned. The key was in the door.
"Guess you'll sleep all right in here, Captain," said Frank.
He pushed his prisoner in the room and closed and locked the doorbehind him.
The night passed quietly. Allen 'rustled up breakfast the followingmorning and Frank conducted the pirate chief out to help eat it.Timothy stood guard at the window as the others ate.
"How'd you sleep, Captain?" asked Frank of the pirate chief.
"Not very well," was the reply.
"What's the matter, Captain? Conscience?"
"I was thinking, if that's what you mean," replied Captain Jack.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it were precisely what I mean," saidFrank.
"Look here, Captain," said Jack, taking a hand in the conversation."You're not half the bloodthirsty pirate you would have us believe. Totell the truth, I've taken quite a shine to you. In the right way, youcould make a man of yourself."
"Thanks," said the pirate chief. "I've had those same thoughts, but Iguess it's too late now."
"It's never too late," said Jack sententiously.
"Let me ask you a few questions."
"Fire away," said Captain Jack.
"All right. Now, you're an American, are you not?"
"Yes; a German-American, I guess you would call me."
"There is no longer such a thing as a German-American," Frank brokein. "Either you are an American, with the interests of the UnitedStates at heart, or you are a German and a subject of the Kaiser."
"Exactly," Jack agreed, "and for a man born and reared in America, as Ijudge you to have been, I cannot conceive how he could forsake the landof his birth for such brutes as the Germans have proved themselves tobe in this war."
"My parents were German," said Captain Jack.
"That doesn't signify," said Jack. "America is their adopted countryand I am sure that you would find them standing by Uncle Sam."
"You are probably right," admitted Captain Jack. "I can recall tales myfather told of the downtrodden people of his native land. Today he isprobably standing by America to the best of his ability. Truth is,though, I haven't paid much attention the rights and wrongs of thiswar, My sympathies, naturally enough, were with Germany before theUnited States was drawn into the conflict. That, of course, wasbecause of my German ancestry. Since the United States entered the warI have been an enemy to both sides. I have robbed Germany and theUnited States alike, and still, so far, I have killed no man."
"But can't you see," said Frank, "that your present life can result inno good and that, on the other hand, there is much you can do for yourcountry?"
"Oh, I can see it, all right," was Captain Jack's reply. "I'll tellyou something. I really hadn't thought much about it until Iencountered you fellows. You two," indicating Frank and Jack, "areboth young and brave and have done some things to be proud of. Here Iam, older than either of you, and I'm just a pirate. Since I first ranacross you I have thought considerably of the things that might havebeen, but it's too late now."
"I tell you it is never too late," said Jack. "There is still time foryou to mend your ways and do something for your country. You are abrave man and there is little that a brave man cannot accomplish if heonly tries. Just say the word and we will all be willing to lend you ahelping you."
Captain Jack got to his feet, amazement written on his countenance.
"You mean that?" he cried.
"Of course," said Jack.
Frank nodded.
"We'll do what we can," he said.
"But I'm a law-breaker," said Captain Jack. "I should be punished."
"I agree with you there," said Frank. "I would not raise a hand tolighten your punishment, for I feel you deserve it. But every man mustpay for his own misdeeds. The thing for you to do now is to expiate,so far as possible, your past crimes by turning yourself to doing whatis right and good."
"By George!" exclaimed Captain Jack, and brought his great fist down onthe table with a resounding crash, "you are right. Just tell me whatto do and I'll do it."
Jack smiled.
"A man should have to work out his own plan of redemption," he said,"and yet I believe I can help you."
"How?" demanded Captain Jack eagerly.
"I'll explain," said Jack. The others listened anxiously. "You havetold us," Jack continued, "that there is a German submarine base onthis island. You were telling the truth?"
"I was," said Captain Jack. "I stole my submarine, the Roger, from theGermans on the island."
"All right. Now you could do your native land--America--aninvaluable service by destroying that base."
Frank and the others started to their feet at this. It was the firstinkling they had had of a plan that had long been fomenting in Jack'smind.
"By George, Jack! A bully idea!" cried Frank. "Why didn't you mentionit before?"
"Because we were in no position to carry it out," was Jack's reply.
Captain Jack's face grew red. His eyes flashed.
"A good idea," he said quietly to Jack. "I have no doubt it can beaccomplished, though it will of course be dangerous."
"And you are willing to undertake it?" asked Frank, surprised.
"Of course. But I would be alone for a while, that I may think. Haveyou any objections to my retiring to the next room? I give you my wordI shall not attempt to escape."
Jack took the words out of Frank's mouth.
"Go ahead," he said.
Captain Glenn was the first to speak after Captain Jack had left theroom.
"Don't you think this conversion is rather sudden?" he asked. "Is theestimable Captain Jack not taking this means to throw us off ourguard?"
"I don't think so," replied Jack quietly. "I have studied the mancarefully since I have known him and I have discovered that, try as hewill, he is not pleased with the life of a pirate. I can see, too,that he craves action, and it may have been only natural, for thatreason, that he turned to piracy. I am willing to take his word thathe will do what he says whenever he is willing to give it."
"And so am I!" declared Frank.
"
It looks pretty fishy to me," declared Captain Glenn, but Williamssided with the two lads.
Half an hour later Captain Jack returned. Walking up to the table heextended a hand each to Jack and Frank.
"You can count on me," he said simply, and added with a half smile, "ifyou are not afraid to trust an erstwhile pirate."
Frank and Jack grasped the extended hands and gripped them warmly.
"Not a bit of it," they said in a single voice, and Frank added: "Weare glad to have a man like you with us."
And thus came about the conversion of Captain Jack, pirate.
Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers Page 26