CHAPTER XXVII
CAPTAIN JACK'S MEN REBEL
"There are only seven of us here," said Frank, a short time later."Strikes me we won't have a whole lot of success raiding the Germansubmarine base."
"Don't forget my fifty pirates," said Captain Jack.
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Captain Glenn. "I hope you don't want me tothink that crowd of pirates will listen to you when they hear you havereformed."
"Don't you worry about my pirates," said Captain Jack with a smile."Just leave them to me. Most of them are either English, French,Americans or Italians. There are a couple of negroes and someBrazilians and Chileans. I'll probably have trouble with the SouthAmericans, but I feel sure the others will join me in whatever I ask."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," said Captain Glenn.
"I thought most of your men were South Americans," said Frank. "That'sthe way they impressed me."
"You must remember you haven't seen the most of them," said CaptainJack. "But come, we may as well have the job over with. Will youaccompany me?"
"We will," said Captain Glenn decisively.
Captain Jack turned on him.
"You don't trust me," he said.
"You're right," said Captain Glenn briefly. "I don't."
Captain Jack's fists clenched. He was about to make an angry retort,but Frank forestalled him.
"You can't blame him, Captain Jack," the lad said. "It's only an hourago that you were a pirate of the first water, you know."
Captain Jack's fingers straightened out again.
"That's true," he muttered.
He led the way from the fort and out of the stockade into the clearingbeyond. Shouts from the distance told Frank and Jack that the pirateshad seen the approach of their chief, and they hailed him with gladcries.
"They seem to think a lot of him," said Jack to Frank.
"Why shouldn't they?" was Frank's reply. "He's done a lot for them,from their viewpoint. Also, it's plain to be seen that they have awholesome respect for him. I haven't told you how handy he is with agun."
"That so?" said Jack. "Guess I'd bet on you in a pinch, though."
"You'd probably lose," said Frank dryly, and explained the result ofhis first encounter with Captain Jack.
"Whew!" said Jack. "No wonder his men respect him."
The pirates now came forth from among the trees to greet their chief.Their expressions indicated that they were clearly surprised at CaptainJack's apparent friendliness with the foe, but no man ventured a word.
Captain Jack motioned them to gather around. Frank, Jack and the othersa moment later found themselves in the center of the ring of pirates.Captain Glenn's hands, in his pockets, grasped his revolvers firmly.The American sea captain was determined not to be caught off hisguard. He was perfectly certain in his own mind that Captain Jack wasbent on mischief.
As the pirates drew closer, Frank and Jack also dropped their hands totheir automatics. In his heart each lad trusted Captain Jack, but eachhad decided in his own mind that it was better to be prepared.
"Men," said Captain Jack, addressing the rabble, "as I lay a prisonerin the fort during the night, it came to me that we are all wasting ourlives in our present manner of living. Sooner or later we are sure tobe captured and hanged. I've thought it all out and I've come to theconclusion that the life of a pirate is no life for me--nor for anyof the rest of you. Therefore, I have decided to be a pirate nolonger."
Shouts of surprise--and anger came from the assembled men. Amazementwas written large upon every face. The man called Jackson, the samewho had locked up the lads and their friends when they first enteredthe fort, stepped forward.
"You mean that you are going to desert us?" he asked.
Captain Jack shook his head.
"Not at all," he replied quietly. "I mean that I am going to call uponyou to join me in a new adventure, but one that is within the law."
There were wild hurrahs from the men. Jackson's face turned dark as heturned upon them.
"Wait until you know what this new venture is, men," he cried.
Frank and Jack exchanged significant gestures. It was plain to themthat this man Jackson had no love for Captain Jack and that he had onlybeen biding his time to turn the pirates against their leader.
Captain Jack smiled.
"I'll tell them, Jackson, have no fear," he said. He turned again andaddressed the men.
"What I want you to do, men," he said, "is to become true citizens ofthe world and join me in striking a blow at the German submarine baseon the island. The Germans are the enemies of all mankind. They mustbe destroyed. Will you help me give the island of Kaiserland a newname?"
For several moments there was a dead silence as the men digested theirleader's words. The silence was broken by Jackson. Springing quicklyforward, he threw up his right hand and shouted:
"Listen to me, men. Captain Jack here, most likely, has been promisedimmunity for his crimes by these new friends of his. He's trying tolead you on to death or the gallows. I, for one, refuse longer torecognize his leadership. Who is with me?"
But the men, apparently, were not yet ready to take sides. CaptainJack smiled at Jackson; then his face grew stern.
"I'll attend to you directly, Jackson," he said quietly. "Now, men,you know me well enough to know I am not trying to betray you. I amasking you, for once, to do a good deed. Most of you are Americans,French, Italian or British. Your countries are at war with Germany.Will you not strike a blow when you have the chance? It is true, therewill be no rich booty for us, nothing but danger and perhaps death, butthere will be riches greater than booty after all; for the adventurethat I propose will bring to each man the consciousness of a duty welldone, and that is more than gold. Men, we have been together for manymonths. I have not failed you in the past. Will you fail me now?"
There were wild cries of "No! No!" and "Destruction to the Germans,"but there also were voices raised in protest.
Jackson, realizing that his chances were fast slipping away, determinedupon a bold stroke. With a sudden cry he sprang toward Captain Jack, aknife gleaming in his hand.
Frank uttered a cry of warning and his revolver flashed out.
Captain Jack saw the lad's movement from the comer of his eye, andbefore the lad could press the trigger, he cried sharply:
"Don't shoot! Leave this man to me."
He avoided Jackson's rush by a quick side step, and as lie prepared todefend himself, he explained to Frank:
"One shot might prove our undoing. It would set the men wild. I canhandle this fellow. Don't interfere, or allow any of the others to doso, no matter what happens."
Frank returned his revolver to his pocket.
Jackson, who had been carried beyond Captain Jack by the impetus of hisspring when Captain Jack stepped aside, now wheeled about and returnedto the attack, his gleaming knife raised above his head. Captain Jack,with no weapon in his hand, although he wore both revolver and knife inhis belt, waited for him calmly. His arms were spread wide apart andboth feet were implanted firmly in the ground. He smiled slightly.
Apparently he presented an uninviting aspect, for Jackson hesitated inhis rush. This hesitancy caused his undoing.
Captain Jack leaped forward with a mighty spring. His strong right armencircled Jackson's neck, while his left hand clutched Jackson's knifearm. Jackson was borne over backwards and Captain Jack went down ontop of him.
There was a sharp snap and the knife that Jackson held went flyingthrough the air. Captain Jack's powerful fingers had broken the man'swrist. At the same moment Captain Jack drove his right fist intoJackson's face. Then he got to his feet and faced the others.
"Any more of you want my job?" he cried, his face red with anger.
No man stepped forth.
"I thought not," said Captain Jack. "Very well. Now, you have heard myproposition. You are free to accept or refuse it at your pleasure. Asfor me, I am going through
with it, anyhow. Which of you are with me?"
Came cries of "I am, Captain! I am," and the men rushed forward.
Captain Jack smiled again. He was his old self now. He turned toFrank and Jack.
"You see," he said quietly, "I was sure of my men."
"Well, you know how to handle them, that's certain," said Jackadmiringly. "Tell them to follow us back to the fort. Then we'll layour plans."
Captain Jack gave the necessary command. Frank led the way back. Themen followed, talking excitedly among themselves, all save Jackson, whowas carried by two of his comrades.
Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers Page 27