Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam
Page 23
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE DEPTHS OF OLD OCEAN.
Just as Donald, who was no match physically for the burly machinist, waspondering what to do, the door which was open became filled by a rotundfigure.
It was Tubby.
In a jiffy he took in the scene, the threatening attitude of Barton, thealarmed look of Donald, who stood staring at the revolver like a birdfascinated by a snake. Tubby realized that it was no time for thinkingthe situation over. Instead, he crouched low, and then, darting forwardwith surprising agility, he seized the machinist around the legs beforethe fellow knew what was happening.
Taken utterly by surprise, and borne off his feet by Tubby's rush,Barton came crashing to the floor in a heap. As he fell the revolverexploded, the bullet passing by Donald's head.
Barton struggled desperately with Tubby, but the stout youth held on tohim like a leech, at the same time yelling for help. In a few secondsthe ensign and Mr. Barr came rushing in, followed by the Boy Scouts andthe sailors. There was an end to the battle then and there. After abrief resistance Barton, snarling and cursing, was tied hand and foot,and the ensign ordered him locked up in the dining room shed for thepresent.
Donald soon told his story and proudly exhibited the message from theair which told of sighting the green motor boat. All agreed that it wasa cheering bit of news.
"If they were near a lot of islands when sighted, it is most probablethat they are hiding on one of the group. At all events, having thelatitude and longitude, it will be easy to go down there and see."
"What are you going to do about Barton? We have full proof of hisvillainy now," struck in Merritt.
"I suppose we shall have to take him along with us. We can't waste timegoing ashore now and risking the law's delays. We will go down the coastin the submarine with the _Viper_ acting as escort, and Barton aprisoner on the _Peacemaker_," decided the ensign.
"I wonder why he was so anxious to see that message?" spoke Tubby.
"I guess he knew we were trying to trace the green motor boat, and waswatching the wireless through that window. When he saw Donald busytaking a message, he guessed what it was, and decided that it wasnecessary for him to see it," hazarded Mr. Barr. "How I have beendeceived in the rascal!"
"You certainly have. His actions show him to be a scoundrel of theworst type," agreed the ensign.
There was not much more sleep for anybody that night. Excitement ran fartoo high for that. An attempt was made to force Barton to confess hispart in the conspiracy, but he sullenly refused to talk.
"You've got nothing on me," was all he would vouchsafe. "Anything thosetin soldier kids tell you is patched up out of whole cloth."
Slumber being out of the question, the rest of the night was devoted tostocking both craft with food and water in good quantities. In this workthe Scouts helped with a will. They were aided by the three sailors, whowere to be left behind to guard the island, and therefore did not workany too hard.
Dawn found all in readiness, and at the summons of the bugle all linedup before Ensign Hargreaves to receive their orders. To the submarinewere assigned Merritt and Donald, besides Mr. Barr, Ensign Hargreaves,and the prisoner Barton. The _Viper's_ crew was captained by Tubby, acapable motor boat engineer, and Hiram and the others. When this hadbeen done, Barton was led before Ensign Hargreaves.
"Barton," said he sternly, "you have acted the part of a scoundrel andshould be behind the bars now. But I need you for work, and upon themanner in which you perform it, will depend just how severe yourpunishment will be. Cast him loose, men, and take him into the engineroom of the submarine. You are to stand by for orders."
"I'll try to do my best, sir," rejoined Barton in a soft tone of voice,very unusual for him. "I'm sorry, sir, for what I did, but I was ledastray by promises of money."
This change in the man was almost startling. From a sullen, morosefellow he had suddenly, or so it seemed, become a dutiful, attentiveman, willing to obey orders and do his best. Was all this genuine? Weshall have to go further to see.
There being no excuse for delay, and as all were anxious to get off asquickly as possible, the two craft were boarded. The hatch of thesubmarine was left open for the present, for it was the intention of theensign to run "awash," as it is called.
The motor boat running very nearly as fast as the submarine, they kepteach other company down the coast with little difficulty. It was fine,exciting sport in the motor boat as it cut its way over the swells,hurling spray and water out to either side of its sharp bow. If only theboys had had Rob with them, they would have enjoyed it much more,though.
All that was visible of the submarine was the top of her conning tower,and the slender, needle-like "eye" of the periscope. The water surgedround her conning tower as she rushed along, for all the world likesome sea monster speeding on an errand of destruction. She was not goingfull speed, for the ensign wished to keep company with the motor boat.
At noon, just as the lads on the motor boat were settling down to lunchcooked on a blue-flame stove, a head was thrust out of the conningtower. It was that of Mr. Barr.
"We are going to run under the surface in a short time," he said; "justfollow your same course, and you'll pick us up when we rise again."
"All right," shouted Tubby, his mouth full of ham sandwich, which heheld in one hand, while with the other he clasped a big wedge of pie.
The hatch on top of the conning tower closed shortly after with ametallic "clang." The next instant the craft vanished from view in aswirl of water. For a time the tip of the periscope tube, which wastwenty-five feet long, projected above the surface; then that, too,vanished, and the motor boat was alone on the ocean.
On board the submarine the lads were enjoying themselves as much astheir fellow Scouts on the motor boat. This second experience was evenmore novel and enjoyable than their first dive. Mr. Barr sat in thecabin reading some scientific works. Barton, seemingly a changedcharacter, was at work in the engine room. The negro cook was in thegalley, while in the conning tower the ensign was giving Donald andMerritt a lesson in handling a diving craft.
In fact, it was Merritt who was at the deflecting apparatus when theoccupants of Tubby's boat saw the submarine sink.
"That is the descending lever and this the ascending one," explained theofficer before Merritt sent the boat under the surface.
The levers were small affairs and looked fragile for the work they didof starting up the mighty pumps that caused the boat to rise or sink atwill.
"What if one of them should break or be lost?" asked Donald.
"Well, if we were under water and the ascending lever happened to bemissing, we should be in an awkward position, and I don't believe thatMr. Barr carries an extra one."
"Gracious! Then if the lever was lost we should have to stay at thebottom of the sea?"
"That's about the size of it," was the reply.
Mr. Barr, coming into the conning tower just then, confirmed theofficer's suspicion that no extra lever was carried.
"I admit there ought to be one as a matter of precaution," he said, "butwe were in such a hurry to give the boat her tests that we forgot aboutit."
All the afternoon the submarine ran under the water, rising about sunsetto the surface. In the distance was the motor boat, but far in the rear.The _Peacemaker_ was sent around in circle and soon came alongside hercompanion craft.
Then the hatchway was opened and the ensign shouted some orders toTubby. The submarine was going to dive once more, but would come upbefore dark. When night fell a red light would be carried astern whichthe motor craft was to follow throughout the night. When this had beenmade clear, the _Peacemaker_ dived once more, but this time it had beendecided to send her down to a good depth.
"We will eat an early supper under water just for the novelty of it,"declared Mr. Barr.
While the meal was going forward Barton was sent into the conning towerto navigate the craft. He obeyed with the same smooth complacence withwhich he had received every ord
er since his attack on Donald. Evidentlythe man was hoping, by good behavior, to save himself from a long jailsentence.
After supper Barton was relieved, and Merritt sent to the wheel in hisplace. He had been in the conning tower but a short time when he wasjoined by Ensign Hargreaves and Mr. Barr.
"I guess we'll go to the surface now," said the inventor; "it must bealmost dark up above."
Merritt reached for the lever that operated the ascending pumps. Rightthen he received the most acute and alarming shock of his life.
There was no lever there!
"It's gone!" he shouted.
"What? What's gone?" repeated the inventor in a puzzled tone.
"The lever! The ascending lever! We can't rise to the surface withoutit."
The inventor turned pale. Drops of sweat stood out on his forehead. Eventhe ensign turned a shade whiter than usual.
If the lever could not be discovered, they were doomed to an awful deathin the depths of the sea!