“Are any other men left upon this island?” asked Mr. Cumberford, as the launch gathered way and darted down the inlet.
“Two,” said Chica. “But they have no orders to interfere with you, so they will be blind. Fourteen have gone with Ramon.”
“Are they armed?” asked Orissa.
“I do not know, senorita. Francisco may be, and perhaps Tomas; but Ramon is afraid to trust many of his men with guns.”
Heading out of the inlet they rounded the pillar of rock and skirted the shore until the open sea lay between them and Owl Island. Now they were able to see plainly the big launch of Ramon Ganza plodding along in advance. It had fully half an hour’s start of them, yet from the distance it had gone Steve awoke to the fact that it was not nearly so speedy as Madeline’s little boat. Although the big launch had gasoline engines of comparatively modern pattern, the lines of the boat were broad and “tubby,” in strong contrast with the slender, graceful waist of the Salvador’s launch. Moreover, Ramon had neglected his machinery, as he had everything else on the island, and the engines did not work as well as they should.
“I’ve an idea that I can beat the pirate to the Salvador,” said Steve.
“By Jove!” cried Chesty; “if you could do that, old man, you’d save the day.”
“What difference would it make?” inquired Madeline.
“Their plan is to take our crew by surprise, board the yacht and make prisoners of every man jack — also of Mrs. Tupper,” explained Chesty. “Then, when we arrive, our capture could be easily accomplished. But if we manage to get there first, warning our men and taking them these weapons, we stand a good chance of beating off the rascally potentate and holding possession.”
“They are not really pirates, I suppose,” remarked Sybil.
“According to this child’s story,” declared Mr. Cumberford, “the man is a fugitive from justice and so has no respect for the rights or property of anyone. Mexico, his own country, has outlawed him and doubtless if the authorities could put their hands on the fellow they’d clap him in jail and keep him there.”
They considered this statement gravely.
“For which reason,” remarked Chesty Todd, “Ramon Ganza is desperate. He can’t afford to let us get away and carry the news of where his island retreat may be located. Therefore, good people, this is going to be a lively little scrap, so let’s grit our teeth and do our level best.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
AN EXCITING RACE
STEVE WAS GIVING the engine all his attention and coaxing it to develop all the speed of which it was capable. Even with eight people aboard — two more than its regular complement — it was beginning to gain on the big boat ahead. Orissa, at the steering wheel, was also intent upon her task.
Mr. Cumberford turned to Chica.
“How did Ramon manage to build that house, and make such a big settlement on the island, all in secret?” he asked.
“Pietro knows,” said she.
“In Mexico,” stated Red-beard, halting at times in his English, “Ramon rob bank of much money. Then he escape in boat an’ find islan’. He think it fine place for hide. So he go to Unite’ State — to San Pedro — an’ buy much thing with his money — much lumber — much food in tin can — many thing he will need. He hire ship to take all to his islan’. It big sail-ship, but it old an’ not ver’ good. In San Pedro Ramon find some Mexicans who do bad things an’ so are afraid to go back to Mexico. He say he make them rich, so they go with him on ship. I go, too.
“Storm come an’ make ship leak, but we get to islan’ an’ unload everything. Captain start to go back, but ship leak so bad he run on rocks at West Islan’. Ship go wreck an’ men drown. By’mby Ramon go out to wreck, take all thing he want an’ let wreck go. It now on rocks at West Islan’. No good, now.”
This terse recital was listened to with astonishment.
“Interesting — very,” was Mr. Cumberford’s comment, and they all supported his verdict.
“Then Ramon make us build house an’ make garden,” continued Red-beard. “When we get mad an’ not mind Ramon, he whip some of us with his own hand, an’ then others scare an’ work hard. Two, three time, Ramon go in launch to Mexico. He land secret, in night time, and get more men to come back with him to islan’. Nobody know him in the places he goes. One time he coax Chica from her nice home, that way, an’ bring her to islan’, to make her help the women work in his house.”
Chica nodded.
“But now I go home,” she said, confidently. “When kind Americanos arrest Ramon, I go free.”
But arresting Ramon was not so much in the thoughts of the Americanos just then as the result of the race to reach the Salvador. Madeline’s launch was gaining steadily, but both boats were gradually drawing nearer to their destination and the problem was which could arrive first? Already the little boat had been seen and its purpose understood by the wily Mexican. He could not know how it was that the Americans had managed to secure their boat and were able to follow him so soon, but the fact that they were in his wake and quickly closing the gap between the two launches was sufficient information for the time being, and it did not particularly disturb him.
Ramon Ganza reasoned that in order to beat him to the yacht the little launch must pass near him, but in doing so he would intercept it and by grappling it with boat-hooks take it and its occupants along with him. If the Americans kept out of range and gave his boat a wide berth, he would be able, in spite of their superior speed, to beat them to the yacht by maintaining his course in a straight line.
This danger was soon appreciated by the pursuers; for, whenever they altered their course, Ganza altered his, to head them off by getting directly in their way.
“Ah!” said Mr. Cumberford, grimly, “this interests me.”
“It interests us all,” observed Steve, dryly. “The big boat is like a rock in our path.”
Orissa looked at her brother inquiringly.
“How shall I steer?” she asked.
“We shall have to circle around them, to keep out of their way. They think that they will beat us, and they may; but I’m not sure of it — as yet.”
“Is it best to argue the point, Steve?” asked Chesty.
“I really think our salvation depends on our getting to the yacht first,” was the reply.
For some time after this no one spoke. The engine, under Steve’s skillful handling, was doing its utmost, with never a skip or protest of any sort. The man who was running the larger boat was also crowding his engines, urged thereto by his domineering master. The sea was ideal for the race and favored both boats alike.
They continued the dodging tactics some time longer, the smaller boat being forced to the outside and unable to cut in ahead.
“Confound it!” cried Steve, much chagrined, “here’s the island, and they’ve got the inside track.”
“Yes; but something’s wrong with them,” remarked Mr. Cumberford. “They’re slowing down.”
“By Jove, that’s a fact!” cried Chesty, elated.
Steve stood up and shaded his eyes with his hand.
“Their engines have stopped,” he said. “That’s a streak of luck I hadn’t banked on. Head in, Orissa. We’re all right now, if they don’t start again promptly.”
There was evident excitement on board the larger motor boat. Ramon kicked the new engineer away and himself took his place. The engine revolved, made a brief spurt — and stopped dead. Ramon made another attempt, while his boat bobbed placidly up and down on the waves.
Meantime the launch, still keeping to its wide circle, rounded the point of rock and headed into the bay, where the Salvador lay with her trim white sides glistening in the sunshine.
“Quick!” cried Steve, as soon as he could be heard by those at the rail, “let down the ladder. They’re after us!”
“Who is it?” demanded Mr. Tupper, curiously; but Captain Krell marked the panic on the faces of those on board the launch and issued prompt orders.
The aft davits were run down in a jiffy and Steve and Chesty hooked them to the launch, which was quickly raised with all on board and swung over the rail to the deck.
There were a few tumbles and some scrambling to get out of the boat, but at that moment Ramon Ganza’s big launch swept into the bay, and the Mexican, assured by one sharp glance that his clever plan to surprise the yacht was thwarted, shut down the engines and halted his craft while he examined the situation at his leisure.
Madeline Dentry’s superb yacht was indeed a prize worth winning. It was even worth running some risks to acquire. Ramon reflected that the Salvador and her helpless crew were really at his mercy, for they were unable to float the ship and were at present securely imprisoned. He laughed rather maliciously at their vain opposition, and said to his lieutenant, the one-eyed man:
“Very good, Francisco. Everything comes my way, you see. A little patience and the beautiful ship is ours, for it surely is wreck, and I justly claim all wrecks on my islands. There will be rum aboard, or at least plenty of liquors and wines. Champagne, perhaps. You shall have all the spirits for your drink if you back me up firmly in my demands.”
“What will you do, senor?”
“Insist on taking possession of the ship, which, according to my law, is mine,” he answered, with grim humor. “Perhaps they may object, in which case you will stand by your chief. But understand: you must use no knives or pistols; I can’t afford to have murder added to the charges against me. If diplomacy fails, we will fight with our bare fists, in American fashion, and our numbers will suffice to conquer those insolent strangers who come here uninvited and then refuse to abide by my laws.”
He took from his pocket a note-book and with a fountain pen wrote upon one of the leaves as follows:
“To my beloved Friends, the Americanos:
“Alas, your ship is hopeless wreck. I, the lord and ruler of these islands, behold the sad condition and with grief, for I must condemn the ship as wreck, which I do by right of Spanish Grant to me, from which is no appeal. With pain for your loss, I am obligated to confiscate the ship that before was yours, with all it contains, and to declare it is now mine. I demand that you deliver my property into my hands at once, in the name of law and justice, and I believe you will do so, because otherwise you will become the enemies of the kingdom of” Don Miguel Del Borgitis, Rex.”
He tore out this leaf, folded it neatly and then boldly ran his launch to the side of the yacht. Francisco stuck the paper on the point of a boat-hook and standing on a seat thrust the epistle so far up the side that Captain Krell was able to lean over and grasp it. Then the launch returned to its former position, while the captain carried the note to Madeline.
She read it aloud and their anxiety did not prevent the Americans from laughing heartily at the preposterous claim of this audacious Mexican refugee.
“At the same time,” said Miss Dentry, resuming her gravity, “our case appears to be somewhat serious. The man has unmasked and shown us clearly his intentions. He believes we can expect no succor from outside, and in that he is quite correct. Only by our own efforts and the exercise of our wits may we hope to circumvent his intentions and retain our freedom and our property.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
BESIEGED
DISREGARDING THE LORDLY disposal of the yacht and its contents so coolly outlined by Senor Ramon Ganza, those aboard the Salvador began to face the probability of a siege. They all gathered aft, where, shielded by the bulwarks from the view of the Mexicans, they could converse at leisure and with safety. At Madeline’s suggestion, every member of the crew, seven in number, was present while the details of their visit to the larger island were related by his principals. The character of the lordly islander, and his history as gleaned from Pietro and Chica, were likewise canvassed, and his evident intention to add the strangers to his band of cowed subjects was impressed upon the entire company in a most forcible manner.
“It would have been serious, indeed,” continued Madeline, “had Ganza arrived here before us and found you unwarned and unarmed, for you could not have resisted his invasion. But his clever scheme was frustrated by an accident to the engines of his launch, and now we must bend our every energy to driving him away and making our escape from this dreadful island.”
“We don’t know yet, of course, how that can be done,” added Mr. Radley-Todd, reflectively; “but there’s no hurry about deciding it. We are pretty well provisioned for a siege, and Steve and I captured from the enemy and brought with us nine rifles, half a dozen revolvers, and some ammunition.”
“We have also a small supply of arms and ammunition in the storeroom of the yacht,” said Captain Krell. “The former owner was something of a sportsman, and I think you will find the guns to be shotguns.”
“All the better,” said Chesty. “These fellows may decide to board us, in which case the shotguns, at short range, will scatter their loads and do fearful execution. Get ‘em up, Captain. Let’s have on deck, where it’s handy, every offensive and defensive weapon aboard.”
“I don’t want any shooting,” protested Madeline; “I’d rather give them the yacht.”
“We won’t need to shoot,” returned Steve. “A big bluff is all that is necessary.”
The entire company now understood the importance of a successful resistance, and aside from the fact that Mrs. Tupper had violent hysterics, which lasted several hours and nearly caused her devoted husband to jump overboard, the situation was accepted by all with philosophical composure. A definite plan to guard the deck and prevent the foe from scaling the sides was adopted and each man given his position and instructed what to do.
As they were dealing with a desperate and unscrupulous man, a self-constituted autocrat in this practically unknown group of islands, they realized the wisdom of being constantly alert; so all the men, passengers and crew alike, were divided into watches during every hour of day and night, and those not on duty slept in their clothing that they might respond instantly to any call to action.
The Mexican, however, proceeded very deliberately with the siege, believing his victims were trapped and unable to escape him. He withdrew for a time around the rocky point, where he disembarked ten of his fourteen men. With the other four he ran the launch to the mouth of the bay again and dropped anchor, evidently intending to block any egress by the boats of the yacht.
That night, under cover of the darkness, for the moon was often obscured by shifting clouds, Ramon’s men deployed among the rocks on both sides of the narrow channel, where they erected two miniature forts, or lookouts, by piling up the loose rocks. Behind each rock barrier some of the men were stationed, with instructions to watch every movement on the deck of the Salvador and report to their master. The Mexicans were well protected by the rocks from the firearms of those on board, if the defenders resorted to their use, and because of the slant of the deck from fore to aft Ramon could himself command almost the entire deck as he sat in his launch.
Realizing this disadvantage, Radley-Todd and O’Reilly, the engineer, crept down to the stern and by pushing the ends of their rifles through the hawser-holes were able to bring the launch under such direct fire that the outlaw decided that discretion was the better part of valor and withdrew his boat to a safer anchorage around the point, where he might still intercept the passage of any boat that ventured to come out.
The next morning Francisco of the one eye and a comrade took the launch back to the other island for a store of provisions. When they returned, at noon, they brought the two men who had been left behind when the first expedition set out, and also one of the rowboats, which was allowed to trail behind the launch.
With the Americans surrounded and on the defensive Ramon felt that he could safely remove his entire force from his home island and leave the place to the keeping of the women. If it came to a fight he would need every man he had.
On that first day those on the yacht were alert and excited, but the marked composure on the part of their besiegers
gradually quieted their fears of immediate violence. The decks were not really dangerous, although constantly under the observation of the men in the rock fortresses, so they ventured to use them freely. At one time, when Chesty Todd made a feint of landing on the shore, a group of Mexicans quickly gathered to prevent his leaving the ship, thus demonstrating their open enmity.
“This won’t do!” declared Steve, savagely, as he faced the company assembled around the cabin table that evening. “Those infernal bandits mean to keep us here till doomsday — or until we go crazy and surrender. They’ll make our lives miserable unless we dislodge them from those rocks.”
“I prefer them there to having them attempt to scale the sides of our ship,” returned Chesty. “A hand-to-hand fight would be far more serious.”
“Interesting, isn’t it?” said Mr. Cumberford.
“I don’t think they care for a hand-to-hand fight,” observed the captain. “Such fellows as this Ramon Ganza are always cowards.”
“I don’t know about that,” said Madeline. “He has faced all the men he brought here and in spite of their numbers and their hatred of him has cowed them, every one, single-handed.”
“Ramon is not a coward,” the child Chica declared very positively. “He is bad; yes. But not a coward.”
“He has sixteen men — with himself, seventeen — and we have but eleven,” said Steve. “However, the advantage is with us, because the yacht is a fort.”
“You spoke a moment ago of dislodging them,” remarked Radley-Todd. “Can’t we manage to do that, Steve?”
“How?”
“If we could make some bombs,” suggested the press-agent, slowly, “and hurl them among those rocks, I’ve an idea we could drive them away.”
Steve was thoughtful a moment.
“We’d need nitro-glycerine for that,” said he. “I suppose there’s none aboard, Captain Krell?”
The captain shook his head.
“Plenty nitro-glycerine at big islan’,” announced Pietro. “Ramon use it to blast rock.”
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 560