Should he notify Australian officials and have them send an inspector to examine this fortune on the bottom of the sea and make arrangements to take away the share belonging to the government?
He knew that governments work slowly. It might be days or even weeks before an inspector would arrive, then more days or weeks before a vessel would be sent for the gold.
But during all that time the gold would be exposed to view and thieves might steal it. He was still pondering this problem when he saw one of Undersea City’s small subs approaching. He recognized it as the runabout used by the Rev. Merlin Kaggs. It passed close. Kaggs waved to him, then went on.
Hal breathed more easily. Kaggs hadn’t noticed what lay on the sea floor, Hal thought But he was mistaken.
Kaggs had seen just enough to make him curious. The little sub returned. It went down and circled around the wreck. Then it rose and passed out of sight.
Hal knew what he must do. Since he didn’t trust Kaggs, he must put this gold where it would not be a temptation to Kaggs or anyone else. He must load it on the Flying Cloud. There Captain Ted and his crew would guard it until the arrival of a government inspector.
How would he get the bars up to the ship? A dolphin could tow them, but only a few at a time. It was really a job for Big Boy, the killer whale. The whale was usually to be found near the house.
Hal drove back to the house and told Roger what he had seen. The boy’s eyes popped.
‘Gee -1 want to see it. I’m going back with you.’
‘Fine,’ Hal said. ‘You can help me.’
‘Have you told Dr Dick about it?’
‘I don’t need to,’ Hal said. ‘But I think I will anyhow.’
He got Dr Dick on the phone and described the wreck and its cargo.
‘Where is it?’ Dr Dick asked.
‘About two miles out.’
‘Well - thank you for telling me about it. But it’s really none of my business. That’s outside our territory. And remember, you’re working for yourself now, not for us. Good luck.’ And he rang off.
Hal said, ‘That man is as honest as the day is long.’
Hal and Roger returned to the wreck, followed by the whale.
As they neared the wreck they saw that somebody else was there. A one-man sub hovered over the place and Kaggs himself stood on a bulwark of the old ship looking at the gold. A few sharks, held off from the lobster farm by the dolphins, passed over his head. He was so occupied in gloating over the treasure that he did not notice them.
Suddenly one of the sharks, perhaps bad-tempered because it could not get at the lobsters, dropped and closed its jaws on his shoulder..
‘Come on!’ said Hal. He and Roger dropped out of the jeep and swam to the rescue of the unfortunate missionary. Blood from his shoulder was turning the water pink. His mouthpiece had dropped from his mouth and if the shark did not kill him he would die by drowning.
Roger had already learned that he had little chance of puncturing a shark with a knife or spear or even a bullet. But he knew that the most tender spot on a shark is the end of the nose. The beast couldn’t be killed by poking its nose, but many a diver had driven off a shark by swatting it with a club on the end of the snout.
Roger had no club. He picked up a gold bar and with all his strength hit the creature on its most tender spot.
The shark dropped Kaggs and swam away. The missionary sagged to the ground, unconscious. A few moments more without air and he would drown. Hal took him by the head and Roger by the feet and between them they got him up to the jeep and inside. Hal pumped the water out of him and gave him first aid. He began to breathe. Slowly he came alive. He opened his eyes. He looked dully at Hal and Roger. He still did not realize what had happened.
Then he noticed his own bloody shoulder, and remembered.
That beast almost did for me. Guess I owe my life to you.’
He closed his eyes for a time, then opened them and said, ‘Why did you do it? After what I did to you on the desert island, why did you stop that shark from making a meal of me?’
Hal was dressing the injured shoulder with antiseptic and salve.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘We must have thought you were worth saving.’
‘That was generous of you,’ said Kaggs. He took Hal’s hand in one of his and Roger’s in the other. ‘Now we are friends, yes? All the past is forgotten, yes?’
‘Yes,’ Hal said.
Roger did not say either yes or no.
‘I see you found some treasure,’ Kaggs said. ‘What are you going to do with it?’
‘Take it upstairs,’ said Hal.
‘To your ship?’
That’s right.’
‘I’ll help you,’ Kaggs said. “That’s the best way I know to show you how I feel about you.’,
‘You’d better rest a while longer …’
‘No, no. I’m all right now. Let’s get going.’
The boys would have been just as glad not to have Kaggs’ help. But the fellow seemed so anxious to prove that he was their friend, they could not refuse him.
Hal phoned Captain Ted. ‘Keep an eye out for the whale. He’ll be bringing up the bars. Hoist them aboard and stow them in the hold.’
Then Hal, Roger, and Kaggs descended to the wreck. Hal carried a stout rope. Big Boy, seeing the rope, guessed that this was going to be a job for him and came close.
One end of the rope was looped around his neck and the other end was tied around a half ton of bars. The load was easily pulled to the surface by the powerful whale and the crane of the Flying Cloud lifted it aboard.
The job was repeated time and time again until every bar that could be found had been transferred to the ship.
Kaggs returned to his sub and, with a final friendly wave to the boys, sped away.
Hal and Roger returned to the glass jeep. Hal phoned the captain. ‘That’s all of it, Ted. Next thing is to get an inspector. This phone won’t reach Cairns but yours will. Phone the chief of police in Cairns and ask him to telegraph Brisbane for an inspector.’
‘And I hope he comes soon,’ the captain complained. ‘Do you realize this ship is almost awash, that stuff is so heavy. If we had a spell of bad weather right now we might go to the bottom.’
Chapter 20
Murder will out
The next morning Dr Dick had a caller. He was a young man, brown-skinned, evidently a Polynesian.
‘Sit down,’ said Dr Dick cordially. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘My name is Taro,’ said the young stranger. ‘I’m from an island up north. It’s called Ponape.’
‘I know the island,’ said Dr Dick. ‘What brought you here?’
‘Looking for a job. I came about a week ago. I was hired by the mining engineer. Yesterday I went to church. I recognized the preacher.’
‘Ah, the Rev. Mr Kaggs. Had you seen him before?’
‘Yes, on Ponape. I was wondering if you knew about him.’
‘What is there to know?’
‘What sort of man he really is.’
‘Well, I know only what he told me. He’s been a missionary in the South Sea islands for years.’
‘He’s no missionary,’ Taro said. ‘He’s a murderer and a pearl thief. He was in prison for a long spell after he committed two murders. Then he pretended that he had reformed. He changed his name and called himself the Reverend Archibald Jones. He went about quoting passages from the Bible and stealing everything he could lay his hands on. He shot a friend of mine. He went with two boys to a desert island, then sailed away and left them there to die. They barely escaped with their lives. I thought you ought to know about these things. I didn’t believe you would have hired him if you had known.’
Dr Dick studied Taro’s face. He looked honest, but how could you tell? The Polynesians were very imaginative people. Perhaps none of this had really happened. Taro might be making up the whole story.
He said to Taro, ‘I hope you are aware that you have been making s
ome very serious charges. I will investigate your story. If it is true, you are to be thanked for telling me. If it is not true, you will be discharged.’
‘Fair enough,’ Taro said.
After he had gone Dr Dick phoned Kaggs. ‘If you aren’t busy could you drop over to see me for a few moments?’
‘Certainly,’ said Kaggs. ‘It happens to be my hour for prayer and meditation and I have a sermon to prepare for next Sunday. But I shall be able to give you a few minutes.’
When he came, Dr Dick said, ‘Sorry to interrupt your spiritual duties. When you came to us did you tell us all about yourself?’
Kaggs was startled. ‘I don’t know what you mean. Of course I told you everything that I thought would interest you.’
‘You told me about your long missionary service in the islands. You told me how you had brought the Gospel to the ignorant heathen of the South Seas. By the way, did you ever meet the Reverend Archibald Jones?’
Kaggs stared. ‘Wh-wh-why,’ he stuttered, ‘the name is not familiar. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman.’
‘Well, you may have the pleasure now. I will tell you about him. He looks very much like you. But he had an unfortunate past. He committed two murders, and spent many years in prison. When he was released he changed his name, came to the islands, and went about like a missionary preaching to the people. Since you were also a missionary in the islands I should think you would have met him - especially when you looked in the mirror.’
An angry flush spread over Kaggs’ face. ‘Who told you this?’ he demanded.
‘That’s not important. The important question is just this: Is it true?’
Kaggs saw that it was hopeless to deny it. Dr Dick had the facts.
‘It’s true,’ Kaggs admitted. ‘And what of it? It’s not the first time that a man has made mistakes and gone to prison. It’s not the first time that a man has come out of prison determined to make a better life. Such a man should be given a chance. He has paid for the wrongs he has done. Prison has given him time to think. It has given him time to read his Bible and resolve to pattern his life according to the teachings in that book. I came out of prison a changed man. I wanted only to do good. My only desire was to be a blessing to the poor and needy natives of the South Seas. I became a missionary and have been doing good ever since.’
Dr Dick smiled. ‘That all sounds very fine. Certainly a man who has paid for his wrongdoing deserves another chance. But if you had become such a holy man, how did it happen that you went about stealing from the very natives you preached to? Had you really changed? How about the new crimes you committed?’
‘What crimes?’
‘You planned the murder of two young men. You left them on an uninhabited island where you thought they would die of hunger and thirst. You shot a Ponapean. I have no doubt it was you who made the landslide down the face of the Great Barrier Reef that almost killed our two naturalists. Are all these acts the acts of a man who has changed?’
Kaggs rose from his chair, shaking his fist ‘You tell me who put you wise to all this or I’ll push your face
in.
‘Try it,’ said Dr Dick. ‘You will leave this house quietly. Your services as the pastor of the church of Undersea City are no longer required. You will get out of town and never come back.’
‘Who told you?’ shouted Kaggs.
‘That’s none of your business.’
‘It is my business. Never mind - I know who it was. And he’ll pay for it.’ He stormed out.
He started towards the house he shared with Hal and Roger. Hal must be the one who had blabbed to Dr Dick. Probably his brother was in it too. Kaggs would kill both of them.
But before he got round the corner into Barracuda Street he had cooled down a bit. He had seen the strength and courage of both of these young men. He was no match for the two of them. Even if Hal were there alone he dared not fight him. He would have to think of another way to get back at these two tattletales.
Then he thought of the Flying Cloud loaded to the gunwales with rare fish worth a hundred thousand dollars, and gold bars of untold value, perhaps millions.
So when he entered the house he was all sweetness and light. He cheerily greeted the boys.
‘What did Dr Dick want?’ Hal said.
‘He just wanted to thank me for yesterday’s sermon. He said it gave him great spiritual comfort. He wanted to increase my salary. I declined to accept more. I am here not for money, but for the good I can do.’
He went into his room. He came out in a few minutes carrying a bag.
‘You look as if you were about to travel,’ Hal said.
‘No, no. Just going to the church.’
‘Why the bag?’ Roger asked.
‘Bibles,’ responded Kaggs. ‘Bibles for my people. Would you believe it - many of my parishioners have no Bible.’
He smiled his way out.
‘Not such a bad guy after all,’ Hal said.
Roger shook his head. ‘I think he has something up his sleeve.’
Kaggs with his bag of personal belongings - and no Bibles - boarded his little sub. He knew that going up would be slow. Any sudden climb would bring on the bends.
He went up fifty feet and stopped. The open hatch allowed some of the helium air to escape and his body slowly adapted itself to less pressure. For a long time he waited, impatient to get on before his trick was discovered.
At last he climbed another fifty feet and stopped again.
The third time he was only fifty feet from the surface. When he had finally fretted through another long delay he rose to the surface, sighted the Flying Cloud, and steered for the rope ladder that hung from its rail. He came out of the sub, abandoning it to float wherever it chose, and climbed to the deck.
There was no one to be seen.
He went down the companionway to the captain’s cabin and knocked on the door. He heard a gruff ‘Come in.’ He took a revolver from his bag, opened the door, and went in.
The captain, seeing the gun, reached for his own. A blast of Kaggs’ gun stopped him. Kaggs had taken care to miss. He would need the captain to navigate the ship.
Captain Ted recognized the fellow: Hal had described him. ‘You’re Merlin Kaggs. What do you want?’
‘Just behave,’ said Kaggs, ‘unless you think you’d look good without a head. Up on deck with you and get under way.’
‘Can’t do that,’ said Captain Ted. ‘My men aren’t here.’
‘Where are they?’
‘Went fishing up the reef.’
‘All the better,’ said Kaggs. ‘That makes two less that I’ll have to shoot.’
‘You think I can run this ship all by myself?’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you. I was mate once on a tub like this. Move.’
The captain climbed to the deck, Kaggs close behind.
‘Where to?’ said Captain Ted.
‘Some quiet cove north of Cairns. Where I can get this stuff ashore without disturbing the police. But near the railway.’
The captain looked up at the idly flapping sails. ‘No use,’ he said. ‘The wind is wrong.’
‘Don’t give me that,’ growled Kaggs. ‘The wind’s okay. Besides, you have an auxiliary engine.’
The captain looked Kaggs up and down. ‘You really expect to get away with this? You evidently know what we have aboard. Don’t you realize that half of it belongs to the Australian government? You could be slapped in jail for the rest of your life for making off with government property. Unless you are killed first by the Hunts.’
Kaggs laughed. ‘I’m not afraid of either the government or the Hunts. How can two boys stop me? I’ve killed before, I can kill again. But I won’t need to. They’ll know nothing about this until it’s too late. We’ve gabbled too long - now get busy.’
‘First,’ said Captain Ted, ‘you’ll have to go forward and get up the anchor.’
Kaggs went forward. The captain sidled toward
s the phone on the bulkhead. The Hunts were going to know right now what had happened. Before he could reach the instrument Kaggs wheeled about and fired. The phone lay in fragments on the deck.
‘I hope you understand now that I know how to handle this,’ said Kaggs, tapping his gun. ‘Last time I shot at you I missed - on purpose. Next time I may not miss. I can run this scow alone if I have to. Any more monkey business, and I’ll do just that. Remember, I’m the boss - you’re only the captain.’
With the anchor up and the sails set the little ship began to move.
‘Not fast enough,’ Kaggs said. ‘Turn on the engine.’
‘It’s not safe to go too fast,’ the captain warned. ‘There are a lot of reefs ahead.’
Tin giving the orders,’ roared Kaggs. ‘Get going.’
Ted dropped down into the engine-room and did as he was told. There was a passage leading from the engine-room to his cabin. He went to the cabin and sat down before the logbook. He would put a report of this affair into the log so that if anything happened to him there would be written evidence to show who had stolen the ship and murdered him.
The door opened and Kaggs came in.
‘What are you up to?’ he demanded. He looked over the captain’s shoulder and saw his own name. ‘Still playing tricks,’ he said. ‘Get up on deck - quick.’
Kaggs grabbed the log and followed the captain to the deck, He went to the rail, opened the book, tore the first sheet into two parts and threw them into the sea. He went on, tearing up and tossing away every leaf. The captain suffered in silence. Nothing is so sacred to the master of a vessel as his log.
When the two missing men returned from their fishing trip their ship was not where it had been moored. Had it sunk because of the great weight of its cargo? They saw the scraps of paper on the sea. They picked up one of them and examined it. It was a piece of the ship’s log. The row of scraps led north-west. It was plain that the ship had sailed away in that direction.
‘Tom, whatever do you think could have happened?’
‘It’s clear enough,’ said Tom. ‘All that treasure aboard was too much of a temptation for him. He’s made off with the ship.’
11 Diving Adventure Page 14