"Off at last, and I am glad of it!"
"I suppose you are anxious to get to Nanpi, Dave?"
"I am, Roger. Can you blame me?"
"Not at all. In fact, if I were in your place, I think I'd be even more anxious. Meeting this Dunston Porter means so much to you," went on the senator's son.
The two chums were on the forward deck of theStormy Petreland the bark was just leaving the harbor of Tolao. It was a clear day, with a bright sun high overhead, and the boys felt in excellent spirits.
Nothing had been seen or heard of Jasper Van Blott, and, with the sailing of the bark, he was practically forgotten by Dave and Roger. But Phil and the captain remembered him and were sorry that they had not been able to bring the wicked supercargo to justice.
Although he was in nominal authority, Captain Marshall turned over the cargo books to Phil, and the shipowner's son did very well when it came tostraightening out the tangle left by Van Blott. Phil wished to make a clean report to his father and worked with a will, until he "knew where he was at," as he declared.
"I rather think it will open my father's eyes," said Phil. "He has suspected Van Blott for some time, but he didn't think of anything like this."
On the second day out the wind died down utterly, and this state of affairs continued for several days. The sails flapped idly against the masts, and scarcely any progress was made.
"We are not going to make such a quick passage, after all," remarked Roger. "My! but this is slow work, I must declare!"
"And haven't you noticed the heat?" added Phil. "It seems to me to be unusually hot."
"It is," said Dave, who had been consulting a thermometer. "This is our warmest day, by four degrees. If it gets much warmer, we'll certainly melt."
That afternoon the sea appeared to be strangely agitated, and toward night the sailors noticed a large number of dead fish rising to the surface. Dave discovered a large shark, and this proved to be dead, also.
"There has been some disturbance under the ocean's surface," said Captain Marshall. "More than likely an earthquake."
"An earthquake! And we never knew it!"ejaculated Roger, and his tone showed his disappointment.
In the morning the sea was more agitated than ever. One minute it would appear to flatten out, the next, two waves would come together with a clash that sent the spray flying upward for many feet. More dead fish were in evidence on every hand.
"I have never witnessed anything like this," commented Captain Marshall. "I trust it gets no worse."
When the breeze sprang up, it came from the wrong direction, and theStormy Petrelhad to tack as best she could. The breeze kept growing stiffer and stiffer, until it was little short of a gale. Then a thick mist settled down on the ocean, shutting out the view upon all sides.
"I must say I don't like this," observed the senator's son. "Supposing we should run into something?"
"There isn't much to run into," replied Dave. "I just asked the captain, and he told me we were a good many miles from land of any sort."
"We might run into some other ship."
"There seem to be very few ships in this locality."
Morning found theStormy Petrelstill surrounded by the mist, and there was now little or no wind. The barometer had gone down, and thecaptain ordered some sail taken in, in anticipation of a storm.
At noon the mist appeared to lift a little, and once more the wind sprang up. This continued for several hours, when, of a sudden, a strange humming filled the air.
"What can that be?" cried Dave, who was on the forward deck.
"It's wind!" cried Billy Dill. "A reg'lar tornado, too."
Captain Marshall was on deck, no longer disposed to trust his first mate. He at once ordered all of the sails taken in and stowed away securely. This was just accomplished, when the hurricane—for it was nothing less—struck theStormy Petrel, almost sending the bark on her beam ends.
"Better go below!" shrieked the captain to the three boys. "It's not safe for you on deck."
"I'll be careful," answered Phil, but the master of the bark shook his head, and then the three lads started for the companionway, holding on to first one thing and then another as they moved along.
Phil had just reached the bottom of the steps, Roger was half-way down, and Dave still at the top, when a wild cry from the bow reached their ears.
"Hold tight, all of ye!" came in the voice of Billy Dill. "Hold on, or ye'll be swept overboard, sure!"
Everybody on board theStormy Petrelrealized that this could be no idle warning, and all held on like grim death to anything that was handy. The next moment there was a strange hissing and pounding of the ocean, and, in a twinkling, theStormy Petrelwas caught on what seemed to be the top of a giant wave and carried along as if in the grip of a demon of the deep!
The upward and forward movement came with such a force that nearly everybody was taken clean and clear off his feet, and had not each one clung fast, as directed by Billy Dill, somebody must surely have been flung overboard. The bark turned around and around on the top of the wave, and then lurched forward and went on and on, the spray flying so thickly that scarcely a thing of what was beyond could be seen.
"My gracious!" gasped Roger, who had been flung down on top of Phil. "What is this?"
"Don't ask me!" returned Dave, who was sitting on the upper step with his arms entwined around the companionway rail. "I guess it's an earthquake and a hurricane rolled into one."
"Has anybody gone overboard?" asked Phil, as he tried to stand up.
"I don't know. Billy Dill gave the warning."
The door to the cabin was open, and the three lads fairly tumbled into the compartment. The bark was rocking to such an extent that to standupright was out of the question. Everything that was loose was on the floor, shifting from one side to the other.
The boys waited with bated breath, and a few minutes later heard a crash on the deck, which told that a topmast, or one of the yards, had come down. Then came a yell of alarm from one of the sailors.
"We are going to sink! We are going to sink!"
"Did you hear that?" ejaculated Roger. "He said theStormy Petrelwas going to sink!"
"What shall we do?" put in Phil. "I don't want to drown!"
Phil had scarcely spoken when a side door to one of the staterooms burst open and a man came forth, wild with terror, his face scratched and bleeding. Much to their amazement, they saw it was Jasper Van Blott.
"Is the ship really going down?" cried the former supercargo, in a trembling voice.
"Where did you come from?" cried Dave.
"I—er—I've been in hiding. But, tell me, are we going down?"
"I don't know."
"I—er—I must go on deck and see. It nearly killed me, the bark bounced around so," went on Van Blott.
He started for the companionway, but had not yet reached the top when a big wave hit theStormy Petrelbroadside, sweeping the deck from end toend and sending some of the water into the cabin. The former supercargo was washed off the steps and came down flat on his back, screaming with terror.
The former supercargo was washed off the steps and came down flat on his back.—Page 225.The former supercargo was washed off the steps and came down flat on his back.—Page 225.
The boys were nearly as much alarmed, and, as soon as it was possible to do so, all three crawled up to where they could get a view of the deck and the sea beyond.
The outlook was truly startling. The ocean was whipped up into a milk-white foam and was dashing and churning in all directions. One tremendous wave was rolling straight to the southward, and on this the bark was riding, like a monkey on a runaway race horse. The wind was whistling through the rigging, and the sky was filled with dark clouds and a strange, whitish dust.
"What is this?" called Dave to the captain, as the latter passed.
"It's a tidal wave!" yelled back Captain Marshall. "There has been another earthquake, and, most likely, some of the volcanoes in this vicinity have become active."
"Are we going down, as that sailor said?"
"Not yet. I will warn you, if there is any danger of our sinking."
"You can't put out any small boats, can you?" asked Phil.
"No, a small boat would not live a minute in such a sea as is now running."
"Has anybody been washed overboard?" asked Roger.
"I believe not—but I am not sure. It came on so sudden, we had no time to prepare for it," said Captain Marshall.
"Mr. Van Blott is below," said Dave.
"Van Blott! You must be dreaming!"
"No. He had been in hiding, and the alarm scared him."
"Humph! Well, we'll take care of him later—if we get out of this with a whole skin."
The boys could do nothing on deck, and so went below again, to find that the former supercargo had disappeared.
"It doesn't matter," observed Phil. "We know he is on board, and he can't get away until we land, and I guess we can root him out before that time."
TheStormy Petrelwas still being carried forward, but now the motion was a bit more steady than before. It was true that she had encountered a tidal wave, due to a submarine earthquake, and also true that a volcano on the island of Cholomu had become active. The fine volcanic dust floated for miles over the ocean, covering the bark from stem to stern as with flour.
Half an hour later came another alarm. Somebody roared out: "Breakers ahead!" and in a moment more theStormy Petrelwas in the midst of a choppy sea, and staggered from side to side, asif ready to go over. Then came a scraping at the bottom.
"We have struck a reef!" cried the first mate. "We are done for now!" But, even as he spoke, the bark went on, over the reef and into what seemed to be a large harbor. Far in the distance could be seen a palm-fringed shore, with the waves dashing high up on the sands.
It took Captain Marshall but an instant to consider the situation, and he immediately gave orders to cast an anchor. TheStormy Petrelcontinued to rush onward, but quarter of a mile from the shore the forward progress was checked. Then another anchor was dropped, and it was seen that this had secured a good hold. In the meantime the waters of the tidal wave began to recede, and by sunset the ocean was almost as calm as ever.
"Thank fortune, that peril is a thing of the past!" said Dave, fervently; and the other boys and Captain Marshall echoed his sentiments.
The night to follow was an anxious one for all on board theStormy Petrel. The sea was still too rough to think of venturing ashore, and so it was impossible to learn to what harbor they had floated and what was the prospect of continuing their voyage to Sobago Island.
"We must be at least two hundred miles out of our reckoning," said Captain Marshall, in reply to a question from Phil. "This may be Tapley Island, but I am not sure."
"Is Tapley Island inhabited?"
"I am not sure about that, either. There was once a colony there, but I think it died out. The natives on the other islands around here are very fierce."
"Then I hope we haven't landed on one of the other islands," remarked Dave.
"If we came over a reef, how are we to get out of this harbor?" questioned Roger.
"That remains to be learned, Roger," answered the master of theStormy Petrel, gravely.
During the night the sea went down a great deal, and in the morning the harbor could be plainly distinguished. A boat was lowered, and Captain Marshall went ashore, taking Dave and Phil with him.
It was an easy matter to beach the rowboat on the sands, and the boys leaped ashore quickly and ran up to the nearest of the palm trees. A look around showed all how the gigantic tidal wave had torn and twisted everything growing near the water's edge. In some spots the sand lay a foot thick on beds of grass and moss and small brushwood.
"We can be thankful that our ship was not cast up high and dry on the shore," remarked Captain Marshall, as he gazed around. "That wave must have done the shipping for hundreds of miles around great damage."
The party walked up and down the beach for almost a mile, but without seeing the first sign of inhabitants of any sort. The shore was full of dead fish and overturned turtles, and the sailors took some back to the ship with them for eating purposes.
It was nearly midday when they returned to the ship, and the boys were so hungry that a mess of fried fish was particularly appetizing to them. At noon the captain made some observations and got out his charts, and finally announced that they mustbe at a small island, one hundred and sixty miles to the southward of Sobago.
"The island is not of great importance," said he. "It is shaped a good deal like the letter B, and this harbor is formed by the double curve on one side. The interior of each of the two portions is mostly marsh land—a good place for tropical fevers. The reef outside of the harbor is well defined on the chart, and extends in a semicircle for many miles."
"Isn't there any opening at all?" queried Dave.
"For small vessels, yes."
"But not for a bark the size of ours?"
"That remains to be found out. I shall go this afternoon and make some soundings."
"If there isn't any opening in the reef, what are we to do?" asked Phil, blankly. "Why, theStormy Petrelwill have to remain here forever!"
"Which puts me in mind of a story, as Shadow Hamilton would say," came from Dave. "I once heard of a fellow who built a rowboat in the garret of his house. After the boat was done, it was so large he couldn't get it out of the door or window, and he had to take the boat apart again."
"If the boys at Oak Hall could see us now!" cried Roger. "But about our ship. We didn't build it here—the tidal wave sent it in, over yonder reef. Now the question arises, how are we to get over the reef again?"
"If there is no opening in the reef, maybe we can blow one out with dynamite," suggested Phil.
After dinner Captain Marshall went out in the largest of the rowboats, taking with him his pick of the sailors. They took a lead line along, and remained away until dark, taking as many soundings as they possibly could. It was dangerous work, and those on the bark were glad when the rowboat returned.
"Well, did you find a channel?" asked the first mate.
"No," was the short answer. "There are several openings, but none, that I discovered, wide enough for theStormy Petrel."
"Of course, you didn't cover the whole reef?"
"By no means. I will go out again to-morrow—or you may do so."
The news the captain brought was very disheartening, and it was a gloomy party that assembled in the cabin of the bark that evening.
"We shall be perfectly safe in this harbor, so long as the weather remains fair," said Captain Marshall. "But a heavy blow might cause us to drag our anchors and either run ashore or on the reef. We must get away in the near future, if it can possibly be accomplished."
"You can't get away and to Sobago any too quick for me," replied Dave.
That evening Jasper Van Blott came out ofhiding and attempted to take his place at the cabin table. But Captain Marshall would have none of this and sent the former supercargo forward, where the sailors made room for him in the forecastle. This angered Van Blott intensely, and he gritted his teeth with rage.
"Wait until I get the chance," he said to himself. "I'll get square for this insult!"
"He can't run away for the present," the captain explained to the boys. "When we get to a regular stopping place, I'll put him in irons."
On the following morning it was so fair all the boys begged to be allowed to go ashore and do a little exploring. The captain was willing, but told them to be careful. Billy Dill was to go with them, and they took along a pistol, a shotgun, and some provisions.
"If you get into trouble, fire two shots in quick succession," said Captain Marshall. "If I want you to return, I'll fire two shots."
The boys got into the boat, and Billy Dill took one pair of oars and Dave the others. They were soon at the beach and landed in true nautical style. Then the rowboat was drawn up out of the water and into the shade of some palms, that the sun might not crack open the seams.
"We must be extremely careful," observed Phil. "Remember, we do not know what is on this island."
"Sure, there might be lions," suggested Roger, with a wink and a glance at Billy Dill.
"You boys know better nor thet," rejoined the old tar. "None o' these South Sea islands have much in the way o' wild beasts. But you may strike a big snake."
"Excuse me, but I don't want to be introduced to his snakeship," cried the senator's son.
After a little look around, they determined to start up the shore, and did so, with their provisions on their backs and Dave carrying the shotgun and Phil the pistol. Roger and the old tar armed themselves with big sticks.
A half-mile was covered, when they came to a hollow, in which were basking a number of turtles, all of great size. Phil gave a shout, and on the instant the turtles all headed for the ocean with clumsy, but swift, strides. Billy Dill made after them and managed to catch the last one and turn him over.
Billy Dill managed to catch the last one and turn him over. Page 233.Billy Dill managed to catch the last one and turn him over.—Page 233.
"He will make fine turtle soup," said the tar.
"So he will!" cried Dave. "I suppose I might have shot at them."
"Not worth while, lad; one is enough."
They soon came to a portion of the shore where the undergrowth was exceedingly close, and they had to journey a short distance inland. The palms were thick, and they saw numerous cocoanuts and great varieties of beautiful ferns and giganticcreeping vines. Billy Dill also pointed out three varieties of bread-fruit trees.
"Well, a fellow wouldn't starve here, in spite of the scarcity of meat," observed Dave.
"And meat isn't especially good in hot weather," added Roger.
"Natives down here eat very little meat," said the old tar. "They use lots of yams and such stuff, besides bananas and plantains. Everything grows of itself, and they have a lazy man's life of it."
"Excepting when they fight each other," observed Phil.
An hour later they came out on the shore again. They were now away from the harbor and could look straight out on the ocean.
"Look! look!" cried Roger, pointing seaward. "Am I mistaken, or do I see a long canoe filled with men?"
"It certainly is a canoe," declared Dave, after a look.
"And it is filled with natives," added Phil. "What do you make of this?" he added, turning to Billy Dill. "Are they coming here?"
"I don't think they are, Phil. They seem to be headed away from this island."
The canoe was certainly a large one, and they counted at least twelve natives at the paddles, or sweeps. Other natives were in the bow and stern of the craft. In quarter of an hour the canoe wasbut a speck in the distance, and then it was lost to sight altogether.
"We'll have to tell the captain about this," declared Dave. "If there are natives around, he will want to know it."
"Perhaps they can tell us of a way out of the harbor," suggested Roger.
"Like as not, if there is a way out," spoke up Billy Dill. "They generally know the coasts putty well—bein' out so much in their canoes."
The little party continued on its exploring tour, but soon came to a portion of the marsh land the captain had mentioned. Not wishing to get stuck, they began to retrace their steps, until they were in the midst of the thickets again. Then a strange rushing sound through the trees broke upon their ears.
"Wait!" whispered Billy Dill, "I know what that is. Don't make any noise."
"Is there any danger?" queried Roger.
The old tar shook his head. Then he pointed upward, and the boys saw a large flock of beautiful tropical birds settling down on all sides of them.
"What a sight!" murmured Dave. "How pretty they are!"
"They get birds for ladies' hats from places like this," whispered Billy Dill.
"I know it. What a shame to shoot them down, too!"
"It is a shame, lad; and ladies ought to stop wearin' sech finery," said the old tar, soberly.
They watched the beautiful birds for some time. Then the creatures discovered the strangers, and off they went in a mad flight, and were lost to sight.
An hour later found the party passing down the shore once more. Here they walked on the sand until they came to something of a cove, surrounded by stately palms.
"Might as well rest a bit——" began Roger, when Dave uttered a cry:
"See, the remains of a campfire!"
"Yes, and the remains of a feast, too!" added Phil. "Those natives must have been here!"
The boys and Billy Dill viewed the surroundings with interest. Some bones lay on the ground, and they kicked them over.
"These can't be human bones, can they?" whispered the senator's son to Dave.
"No, Roger, they are nothing but the bones of some small animal."
"I was afraid the natives might be cannibals!"
To one side of the camp lay a fantastically carved stick, evidently cut by somebody during his leisure. Dave picked this up and saw that it contained a heart, an anchor, a cross, several links of a chain, and some stars. At the big end of the stick was an American flag.
"Hello, look here!" exclaimed the country boy. "This is strange, to say the least. I don't believe any native would cut a stick in this fashion."
"Neither do I," declared Phil. "That must have been carved by an American, and with his jack-knife. Perhaps some sailors were camping out here."
"To me this campfire, or what's left o' it, looksto be about a week old," said Billy Dill. "The question is, where did the crowd go to from here?"
"Maybe there were some Americans with those natives in that canoe," suggested Roger.
"In that case, the natives must be friendly," returned Phil.
They walked around the locality and down the shore half a mile further, but could find nothing more of interest. Then they sat down to enjoy the lunch they had brought, washing the meal down at a spring, close by where the campfire had been.
"It is wonderful that fresh water should be so close to the salt," observed the senator's son. "You'd think it would all get salt."
"Nature knew man wanted fresh water, and so it was placed there," replied Billy Dill. "Trust a kind Providence to take care on us every time."
After the meal the party set off for the opposite shore of the island, over a small hill which divided one end from the other. Here the jungle was so thick they had to literally force their way through, and each of the boys got his clothing torn more or less. Once the old tar became so completely fastened that the lads had to go to his assistance and cut him loose with their pocket-knives.
"I'm jest about anchored!" remarked Billy Dill. "This is worse nor the Sargasso Sea, ain't it?"
By the middle of the afternoon they gained the opposite shore of the island. Here the ground wasvery rough, but at one spot they found the remains of a village—two houses of logs and half a dozen thatched huts. The houses and huts were bare, and nothing of interest was to be found around the remains of half a dozen campfires.
"This shows that somebody lived here once upon a time," observed Phil. "But it couldn't have been much of a population."
"Can't tell as to thet," came from the old sailor. "These natives live pretty thick sometimes, ten or a dozen in one hut—and a good many live right out under the trees."
Dave and Roger had passed into one of the deserted log houses, and the country youth struck a match, that they might see around a little better. Somewhat to their astonishment, they saw pinned up on a wall a sheet of water-stained brown wrapping paper, upon which was drawn something of a map, with a heavy cross where two lines met.
"Here's a discovery!" cried Dave. "Wonder what this map was for?"
The others came in, and a minute later a torch was lit, and all examined the map with care. Then Roger uttered a cry:
"Dave, look there!" and the senator's son pointed to one corner of the map. In faint letters was the written name:
Dunston A. Porter.
"The very man I am looking for!" ejaculated Dave, and his heart gave a bound. "Oh, boys, what can it mean?"
"It means that Mr. Porter has been here," answered Roger.
"He must have been hunting for that treasure," said Phil. "This may be one of his maps."
"That's a fact," said Billy Dill. "He was always drawing jest such things when I was with him. He said he was bound to find that treasure some day."
"This map looks to be quite old," went on Dave, in disappointed tones. "I wish it was fresh and he was here."
"He must have come here after sailing to Sobago Island," said the senator's son, "and that can't be so very long ago."
After that they made a closer hunt than before in and around the camp, but found nothing, outside of two buttons, a bit of lead pencil, and the broken handle of a spade.
"That spade proves there was some digging done," said Phil. "Undoubtedly he came here looking for that treasure."
"Did you ever get any of the particulars of that treasure?" asked Dave, of the old sailor.
"Not much, exceptin' that it was a treasure of pearls and precious stones once hidden by some native king. Mr. Porter didn't want to tell muchabout it, and I didn't feel as I had the right to ask him."
It was now growing late, and all felt that it was time to return to the ship. Before leaving the hut, Dave pinned a slip of paper over the map, writing upon it as follows:
"To Dunston A. Porter:"I am very anxious to meet you. I am on board the barkStormy Petrel, in the harbor of this island, and bound for Sobago Island. Please see me, by all means.David Porter."
"To Dunston A. Porter:
"I am very anxious to meet you. I am on board the barkStormy Petrel, in the harbor of this island, and bound for Sobago Island. Please see me, by all means.
David Porter."
To this the youth added the date, and also his home address, in case he should fail to meet Dunston Porter and the man should wish to write to him.
"That certainly ought to interest him—especially if he is interested in a lost boy," was Roger's comment.
Dave was in a sober mood when he returned to the ship and did not feel much like talking. He allowed the others to relate the day's experience, to which Captain Marshall listened closely.
"It is certainly a pity we didn't get a chance to talk to those natives," said the master of theStormy Petrel. "They might have shown me some way out of this harbor."
"Then you haven't found any passage through the reef?"
"Not yet. The first mate was out with four of the crew, but they could find nothing wide enough," answered Captain Marshall.
The master of the bark thought he spoke the truth, but he was mistaken. Unknown to the captain, the first mate had found a passage, rather twisting in shape, but perfectly safe. It was near the northern end of the reef—a locality Captain Marshall had not visited. One of the sailors who had been out with the mate also knew of the passage, but Paul Shepley had pledged him to secrecy for the time being.
While the boys and Billy Dill were in the cabin of theStormy Petrelrelating their experiences, an interesting conversation was going on in another part of the ship, between the first mate and Jasper Van Blott.
"I have made an important discovery," said Shepley, in a low tone, so that no others might hear. "I have found a safe passageway out of this harbor."
"Did you tell the old man?" demanded the former supercargo, quickly.
"No; I told him that there wasn't any opening wide enough for the bark."
"Good! Now, if we can only arrange this other matter, Shepley, we'll make a fine thing of this," went on Jasper Van Blott.
"I don't know about this other thing, as youcall it," grumbled the first mate. "I'll be running a tremendous risk."
"Oh, it will be perfectly safe."
"Don't you know that mutiny on the high seas is punishable by death?"
"I do—if you get caught. But you won't get caught. Besides that, please to remember that I am not going to suffer for this cargo affair alone. If I have to stand trial, you'll have to do the same."
"Then you really mean to drag me into it, eh?" said the first mate, sourly.
"Unless you consent to my plan. Why, man, it's dead easy," continued the former supercargo, earnestly. "I know that at least four of the sailors will stand in with us from the start, and we can easily win over the others by the promise of a big reward. All we have got to do is to get Captain Marshall, Billy Dill, and those three boys ashore, and then sail away for some distant port. On the way we can change the name of the bark and I'll fix up the clearance papers, and there you are. You and I can become equal owners, and we can go into the regular Australian-New Zealand trade and make a barrel of money in a few years."
"But supposing some of the men raise a row?"
"We won't give them a chance, until we are out on the ocean. We can tell them—after the captain's crowd is gone—that you have orders to tryto clear the reef. When we are on the ocean, I don't think it will be so hard to manage things. We can arm ourselves and lock up all the other weapons, and tell the men they shall have big money if they ask no questions and stick to their duty," added Jasper Van Blott.
"Well, how do you propose to get that crowd ashore? They may not happen to go of their own free will."
"I think I can manage that, sooner or later. The main thing is, we must watch our chances and strike as soon as the right moment arrives. Now then, what do you say, Shepley?"
The first mate hesitated, and an argument lasting a full hour ensued, during which the former supercargo's plot was discussed from every possible point of view. At last the first mate agreed to do as Jasper Van Blott wanted, and then the two separated, to await the time for making their first move.
On the following morning Captain Marshall went out once more to look for a passageway through the reef. Dave accompanied him, and so did Billy Dill. In the meantime Roger and Phil rowed ashore, to see if they could find any more traces of the natives.
The captain and Dave had been out about an hour, when they noticed a small boat coming toward them, containing two sailors and the first mate.
"Captain Marshall, you are wanted on shore at once!" cried Paul Shepley, when within hearing distance. "Those two boys just sent word to the ship by a native. They said to bring young Porter and Dill along."
"They must have discovered something!" cried Dave, quickly. "Oh, let us go, by all means!"
"I will," answered the master of theStormy Petrel. "Did they say where they were?"
"Near the interior of the island, I believe," answered the mate.
No more was said, and, winding up his lead line,the captain had the rowboat turned around and headed for the island. In the meantime the first mate returned to the bark. Once on the deck of the ship he was quickly joined by the former supercargo.
"What did he say?" asked Jasper Van Blott, anxiously.
"Said he'd go."
"Then we must lose no time in getting up the anchors. Luckily the breeze is just right."
"Wait until they are ashore and have disappeared," answered the first mate, nervously. He was really a coward at heart, and now fairly under the thumb of Van Blott.
It took but a few minutes for the captain, Dave, and Billy Dill to gain the stretch of sand. Then those on theStormy Petrelsaw them draw the small craft up to a safe place and disappear in among the trees.
"Now then, act as quickly as you can," said Jasper Van Blott.
An order was issued for the sailors to come on deck, and all did so, and the second mate, a young man named Bob Sanders, also appeared. Then Paul Shepley issued orders to hoist the anchors and raise some of the sails.
"What does this mean, Mr. Shepley?" asked the second mate, in surprise.
"The captain has found a passageway and wantsme to take the ship out and around to the other side of the island," replied the first mate. "He wants us to be lively, too."
Bob Sanders was mystified, but, as he was not on particularly good terms with the first mate, he asked no more questions. Soon the sails were up, and Paul Shepley himself steered the bark toward the passageway he had discovered.
"You are sure of what you are doing?" asked Jasper Van Blott, coming to the wheel. "We don't want to strike and go to the bottom."
"I wish I was as sure of the future as I am of the passageway," answered the first mate, somewhat grimly.
"Oh, don't worry about the future," answered the former supercargo, lightly. "In a few days we'll have everything in apple-pie order."
There was a good breeze, and the bark cleared the reef with but little difficulty. Then Paul Shepley had all the sails set, and soon theStormy Petrelwas leaving the island far behind.
In the meantime Captain Marshall, Dave, and the old tar were looking everywhere for Phil and Roger. They dove straight into the jungle and called out as loudly as they could. But no answer came back.
"It is queer that we can't locate them," was Dave's comment. "If they wanted us, I should think they would be watching out, wouldn't you?"
"Perhaps they are in trouble," answered the captain, gravely.
He fired his pistol as a signal, and at last came an answering shot from the lower end of the island. At once they hurried in that direction, only to find themselves cut off by a stretch of impassable marsh land.
"Reckon as how we'll have to go around," observed Billy Dill. "If we try to go through thet we'll git stuck, fer sartin!"
Going around was not so easy, and it took them nearly half an hour to cover a mile. Then the captain discharged his pistol once more, and a minute later came an answering shot but a short distance away.
"I see them—at the top of the hill!" cried Dave, and, looking ahead, the others discovered Phil and Roger at the top of the slight rise of ground, waving their handkerchiefs to attract attention. Soon the two parties were together.
"What's the news?" cried Captain Marshall, looking around to see if anybody else was present.
"No news," answered Phil. He gazed at them curiously. "What's up? You look rather excited!"
"Didn't you send for us?" gasped Dave.
"Send for you? What do you mean?" queried Roger.
"The first mate said you sent a native to thebark, asking us to come to you," said Captain Marshall.
"We sent nobody—we have seen no natives to-day."
There was a pause, during which each looked blankly at the others.
"I can't understand this," said Dave, slowly. "Mr. Shepley certainly delivered that message."
"It is a trick of some sort!" burst out Captain Marshall. "The very best thing we can do is to get back to the vessel without delay."
The others thought so, too, and in a moment more all were on their way to the shore, hurrying through the undergrowth as rapidly as the bushes and vines would permit. Phil and Roger had managed to shoot two small animals that looked like hares, but that was all.
At last they came out on the sands, and a shout of dismay went up.
"The ship is gone!"
"TheStormy Petrelhas sailed away and left us!"
The boys and the old sailor turned to Captain Marshall, whose face had turned white. Now it grew dark and stern.
"How could they get out of the harbor?" questioned Dave.
"Shepley must have found a passageway," answered the captain.
"But where has the ship gone to?" queried Phil. "I can't see her anywhere."
Instead of replying, the captain of theStormy Petrelclenched his hands and compressed his lips. He was doing some deep thinking.
"I must say, this looks to me as if somebody had run off with the ship!" declared the senator's son.
"And that is just what they have done!" cried the captain. "Oh, the rascals! the scoundrels! If I ever catch them——" He could not finish, so great was his rage.
"Run off with the ship!" burst out Dave. "How could they do that? Do you think there was a regular mutiny?"
"There may have been—anyway, the bark is gone—and we are left to shift for ourselves."
"I think I see through it," said Phil. "The first mate and Van Blott have hatched this up between them. I know they were as thick as peas—in fact, I suspect Shepley helped the supercargo to hide away on board. They must have bought over the crew and Mr. Sanders."
"I don't think they could buy over Bob Sanders," declared the captain. "I know him too well. He is very quiet, but I'd trust him with almost anything. But I can't say as much for all the crew. Shepley got some of the men to ship, and he most likely knew whom he was getting."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked Roger.
"I don't exactly know what to do, yet, lad. We are marooned, that is all there is to it. And it doesn't look as if they had left us anything to live on, either," added the captain, casting his eyes along the shore.
"Do you mean to say they have deserted us?" cried Dave.
"Doesn't it look like it?"
"And stolen the bark?"
"Yes."
Dave drew a long breath. Here was another set-back, of which he had not dreamed. If theStormy Petrelhad really sailed away, not to return, what were they to do, and when would they get a chance to leave the lonely island?
"This is positively the worst yet!" groaned Roger. "The fellows who would do such a thing ought to be—be hanged! And they haven't left us a thing!"
"Let us separate and see if we can sight the bark," said the captain, and this was done, one party going to the upper end of the island and the other to the lower. But not a trace of the missing vessel was to be seen.
It was a decidedly sober party that gathered on the sands two hours later to discuss the situation and decide upon what was to be done. Here theywere, marooned on a deserted island, with no food and but little shelter, and with only two pistols and a shotgun between them. It was certainly not a situation to be envied.
"I used to think, when I was a small boy, that I'd like to play Robinson Crusoe," remarked Roger. "But I've changed my mind, and I'd much rather be back on the ship."
"Humph! If you are going to talk that way, what will you say if we have to stay here weeks, or months, or maybe years?" asked Phil.
"Gracious!" burst out Dave. "You don't think we'll have to stay here years, do you?"
"We'll have to stay until we can git away," was the sage remark of Billy Dill. "Captain, are we in the track o' any ships?"
Captain Marshall shook his head slowly.
"I don't think we are. That storm blew us far out of our course. I doubt if a ship comes this way once in three months."
"There, what did I tell you!" cried Phil. "But don't think I want to stay," he added, quickly. "I am just as anxious to get away as any one, and anxious to regain my father's ship, too. Why, to lose her would mean a serious loss to my father!"
They talked the matter over until nightfall, but without reaching any satisfactory conclusion. Not one of the party could bring himself to think thathe would really have to stay on the island for any great length of time.
"If we do have to stay, we'll have to rassle around fer somethin' to eat," remarked Billy Dill. "The mean sharks! They might at least have left us a barrel o' salt horse an' some canned goods—an' a little tobacco," he added, dolefully. His pipe was empty and so was his pouch, and this added the last drop to his misery.
As night came on they gathered some driftwood and lit a campfire, not because they were cold, but because it looked more cheerful, and because it also helped to keep away some obnoxious insects that had appeared. Over the fire they cooked the game Roger and Phil had shot, and made a supper of this and some crackers the boys had been carrying in their pockets. Then they sat down to talk the matter over once more. As the night advanced, the bright stars bespangled the heavens and all became perfectly calm and quiet. Tired out by what had passed, one after another sought a comfortable resting-place, and soon all were sound asleep.
When Dave awoke, it was with a start. The wind was blowing half a gale and the rain was falling.
"What a change since last night," he murmured to himself, as he sat up. "Hello, are you up already?"
"I am," answered Billy Dill. "Thought as how I'd better keep the fire a-goin', if it's goin' to storm. This ain't so nice, is it?"
"I should say not, indeed. My, now the wind is rising!"
The others soon roused up, and all gathered under the shelter of some dense tropical trees and vines. Soon the rain was pouring down in torrents, shutting out the landscape on all sides.
"Well, in one way, it's a good thing theStormy Petrelgot out of the harbor," remarked Captain Marshall. "This wind might make her shift, and either throw her up on the island or on to the reef."
They could do nothing with the fire, and so allowed it to die out, and crawled still further into the jungle in an endeavor to keep dry. But therain followed them, until each one of the party was about soaked.
"This is another one of the comforts of a Robinson Crusoe life," remarked Phil. "Soaking wet, and nothing to eat. Oh, don't I wish I was on the bark again and had hold of those mutineers!"
The rain and wind kept up for the best part of that day. There was but little thunder and lightning, and at nightfall the storm died away, although the wind still kept up at a lively rate. During the afternoon they managed to find a turtle in a hollow, and, after turning the creature over, killed it and cooked it in its own shell. The meal was not particularly appetizing, but all were exceedingly hungry and partook of it without a murmur.
"To-morrow we must gather some yams and some plantains, and also do some fishing," said the captain. "We might go hunting, too, but I would rather save our ammunition for emergencies."
To keep from taking cold in their wet clothing, all slept close to the campfire that night, and early in the morning they hung most of their garments out in the bright sunshine to dry. Fishing proved good, and the boys and Billy Dill caught over a score of good-sized fish, and also discovered a bed of oysters, which, as Roger declared, "were not half bad, even if they weren't particularly good." In the meantime the captain, who knew not a littleabout tropical life, tramped around and found some bread-fruit and some luscious berries, which he declared were perfectly good to eat.
"This solves the question of food, at least for the present," said Dave. "Not a very extensive list of things to eat, but much better than nothing at all."
"What would the boys of Oak Hall say if they could see us?" asked Roger.
"We'll certainly have a tale to tell—if we ever get back to tell it," returned Phil.
Having nothing in particular to do, they took their time about preparing the next meal, and, when it was done, it proved to be a regular spread. Some of the fish made particularly good eating, and the berries topped the repast off in good style.
"I do not believe that theStormy Petrelwill come back to this harbor," said Captain Marshall. "And that being so, I think we had best take ourselves to the other side of the island, to those log huts and shacks you mentioned. That is, most likely, the spot where the natives land and where ships may stop. We can put up a flag of distress, and, after that, there will be nothing to do but to wait and make the best of it."
"Shall you leave the rowboats here?" asked Dave.
"We can leave one boat here and row around the island in the other. We can carry the craft to some point beyond the reef."
This advice was followed, and beyond the reef line the ocean was found to be comparatively quiet, despite the storm of the day before. All entered the rowboat, and the captain and Billy Dill took the oars, and the voyage to the other side of the island was begun.
By the end of the day they had reached the log houses, and they cleaned out the larger of the two and gave to it as much of a homelike appearance as possible. Then they set to work to gather all the driftwood possible, for they had nothing with which to cut firewood. The boys fell to fishing once more, and Phil began to manufacture a snare, with which he hoped to trap some small animals that had been discovered at a distance.
Another whole day passed by slowly, and they began to feel a little more settled, when, in the middle of the afternoon, Billy Dill, who was out in the rowboat trying to catch some big fish, set up a loud shout.
"What is it?" demanded Captain Marshall, who was busily at work breaking up some of the driftwood.
"I see a big canoe comin', loaded with niggers!" announced the old sailor.
This news brought all to the shore immediately, and they watched the approach of the canoe with much interest. It was all of twenty-five feet in length and manned by twelve dark-colored men, sixon each side. The natives in the craft numbered, all told, nineteen, and some of them had guns, while others had bows and arrows and long spears. Each man had also a long and sharp knife stuck in his girdle.
"Do you think they will be friendly?" asked Dave, in a low tone.
"I hope so," answered the captain. "They have nothing to gain by being otherwise."
When the natives discovered the whites, they stopped rowing and set up an animated jabbering among themselves. They looked around, thinking a ship must be close by, and, finding none, were much astonished.
"Hello!" called out Captain Marshall, waving a welcome. "Glad to see you!"
To this the natives did not answer. But the canoe was sent closer and finally beached, and the majority of the black men leaped ashore, each carrying his weapons with him.
"How do you do?" went on the captain, extending his hand and smiling. "Glad to see you. Can anybody speak English?"
At the question, one of the natives, a short, thickset fellow with a peculiarly flat nose, came to the front and shook hands.
"Soko speak Inglees," he said, and grinned. "Soko once on Inglees ship."
"I am glad to know you, Soko," replied the captain. "I am Captain Marshall, of the shipStormy Petrel. What island is this?"
"Dis Yam-kolo Island," answered Soko, still grinning. "How you come dis way? Where he ship?"
"Some rascals have stolen my ship. She is a fine-looking bark. She was here a few days ago. Have you seen her?"
"No see ship, no—no ship, so many days," and the native held up four fingers, all stumpy and not overly clean. "Steal ship on you? Big thief, yes!"
"You are right. Where do you come from?"
"Come from Waponu. Dat on Sobago Island."
"Yes, I have heard of the place." The captain turned to the others. "It is a native village some ten miles from the town for which theStormy Petrelwas bound," he explained.
"Then perhaps they can take us to Sobago," said Dave, eagerly.
"Perhaps they can," answered the captain. "But it must be a long trip in such a canoe as that."
"Tell me," said Dave, to the native. "Do you come here often?"
"Sometime, not many time," answered Soko, still grinning. He was evidently of a sunny disposition.
"Did you ever come here with a man named Dunston Porter?"
At this question the native shrugged his shoulders and looked perplexed.
"I mean this man," went on the youth, and, taking the native by the hand, led him into the hut and up to the map on the wall. Instantly the face of Soko brightened.
"Yes, Soko know," he said. "Dat man come, so many time here——" He held up three fingers. "Look in ground, dig, not can find much, no. Go back to Sobago, so." And he made a dejected face, at which Roger and Phil had to laugh.
"He means Mr. Porter didn't locate the treasure," said the senator's son.
"Is that man in Sobago now?" went on Dave, paying no attention to his chum's remark.
"Yes, him at big town, Nanpi!"
"Good I Then I would like to get to Nanpi just as soon as I can," cried Dave, enthusiastically. "Will you take me there? I can pay you well," he added, for he still had his money belt and cash with him.
"Yes, can take to Nanpi," answered the native.
After that he explained that he and his companions had come to the island to hunt for some rare birds and for turtles. They were quite willing to return to Sobago Island immediately, if paid for so doing. A bargain was struck, and it was decided that the voyage should be begun in the morning. In the meantime all hands were to catchsome fish and cook them, and also gather in a supply of other eatables. The natives had a number of hollow reeds with them, and these were filled with fresh water, just previous to setting out. It was calculated that, weather permitting, the distance would be covered in three days.
"These fellows know how to handle their big canoes very well," explained Captain Marshall. "They go out hundreds of miles, and sometimes weather the worst of storms. Occasionally, of course, they get swept away, but not often. They sail altogether by the sun and stars, and can strike almost as straight a course as if they were using a compass."
Dave questioned Soko further about Dunston Porter, but could learn little, outside of the fact that the man was a treasure hunter and had paid very well for what was done for him. Soko added, however, that he thought the man expected to remain at Sobago for some time.
The boys could sleep but little that night, so anxious were they concerning the trip before them. They were up at dawn, but, early as it was, found the natives ahead of them. A hasty breakfast was had by all, the things to be taken along were packed in the bow and stern of the canoe, and shortly after sunrise the craft was pushed from the shore, whites and natives scrambled in, and the start from the lonely island was made.
For the whole of that day the natives kept at the sweeps of the long canoe, one set of rowers relieving the other. The whites were willing to assist, but Soko said the natives could get along best alone, they having their own peculiar manner of handling the craft.
The weather remained fair, with only a bit of a breeze blowing, and the bosom of the ocean was as calm as they could wish. They were soon out of sight of the island, and then all they could behold was the sky above and the sparkling waters on every side.
"It must be terrible to be lost on the ocean," remarked Phil, as he gazed around. "I don't wonder that men go mad, after they have been out days and days."
"And think of having nothing to eat or to drink," said Dave. "Ugh! it gives a fellow the shivers to think of it!"
At noon the whole party partook of a lunch, and toward nightfall had supper. Then the whites went to sleep, and so did half of the natives, theremaining blacks keeping at the sweeps, guiding themselves by the stars, now that the sun had gone down.
When the boys awoke they were dismayed to see that a mist covered the sea.
"Hello! I didn't expect this!" cried the senator's son. "Why, a fellow can't see a hundred feet in any direction."
"What are the natives going to do now?" asked Dave of Captain Marshall, who had been awake for some time.
"Soko says they must rest and wait," answered the captain. "He cannot go ahead, for he knows not in what direction to steer."
"I've got a pocket compass!" cried Phil, bringing it forth. "How odd that I didn't think of it before."
The captain took the compass and showed it to the native who could speak English. He had seen such things before, and, after a short talk with the master of theStormy Petrel, set the others to using the sweeps as before.
It was about ten o'clock of the forenoon that one of the natives, who was watching in the bow, uttered a short cry. At once those at the sweeps stopped pulling.
"What is it?" asked Captain Marshall, quickly.
"Big ship over dare!" announced Soko, a moment later.
All of the whites looked in the direction pointed out, and through the mist saw a large vessel drifting along, the sails flapping idly against the masts. The wheel was lashed fast, and nobody was in sight on the deck.
"TheStormy Petrel!" ejaculated Captain Marshall.
"Are you sure?" asked Dave and Phil, in a breath.
"Sure it's the bark," cried Billy Dill. "Say, but this is great luck, ain't it?" and his face brightened up. "Now we can teach them dirty mutineers a lesson."
"Dat you ship?" asked Soko.
"It is," answered Captain Marshall. "See here, Soko," he went on, "can I depend upon your helping me? I will pay you and your men for whatever you do."
The native shugged his ebony shoulders and then consulted with his fellow-tribesmen. All decided that they would aid the captain, providing he would give them each a piece of silver "so big," pointing out the size of a trade dollar. Captain Marshall agreed on the spot, and preparations were made for boarding the bark.
"It is queer that nobody is in sight!" remarked Phil, as the canoe drew closer.
"Somebody is coming on deck now!" cried Dave, in a low tone, and Paul Shepley appeared, followedby Jasper Van Blott and, close behind him, one of the sailors.
"Hello! what's this?" sang out the first mate, on catching sight of the canoe.
"Captain Marshall and the others!" muttered the former supercargo. "Hi! keep away from here!" he roared.
"Surrender, you villains!" called out the captain. "What do you mean by running off with my ship in this fashion?"
"You keep off!" warned Paul Shepley, without answering the question. "Keep off, I tell you!"
"We'll fire on you, if you don't keep off," called the former supercargo, and he brought forth a big pistol.
"Be careful, cap'n, or somebody will git shot!" whispered Billy Dill. "Those fellers look like they was des'prit!"
"Don't you dare to shoot!" called out Captain Marshall. "The first man who fires shall swing from the yardarm!"
The loud talking had brought several sailors to the deck, and they were followed by the second mate, who stared at the canoe and its occupants as if he could not believe his eyes.
"Hello, Captain Marshall!" sang out Bob Sanders. "I am mighty glad you have come."
"Then you are not in this mutiny, Sanders?"
"Not by a jugful! They tried to buy me up, butI wouldn't consent. Podders, Diski, and McNabb are not in it, either."
"I am glad to hear it. Sanders, take control of the ship until I get aboard."
"He will do nothing of the kind!" yelled Jasper Van Blott, and was about to turn on the second mate, when the latter hit him a blow in the ear, sending him headlong to the deck.
"McNabb! Podders!" called the second mate. "Grab Mr. Shepley!"
The sailors called upon understood, and before the first mate could turn, one tar had him from behind, so that he could not raise his arms. Then the other seized a pistol and, turning, faced the crew with the weapon.
The turn of affairs had been so sudden that Shepley and Van Blott were taken completely by surprise, as were likewise the sailors who had sided with the rascals, and, for the moment, none of them knew exactly what to do. In the meantime the canoe bumped alongside of theStormy Petrel, and, catching hold of a trailing rope thrown overboard by the sailor named Diski, Captain Marshall hauled himself to the deck, followed by Billy Dill and the boys.
"Do you surrender?" demanded the captain, striding up to the first mate, revolver in hand.
"Ye-yes!" burst out Shepley. "It's—it's all a mistake, Captain Marshall—all a mistake!"
"I reckon it was!" answered the captain, grimly. "What about you, Van Blott?" And he turned on the former supercargo, who was struggling to his feet.
"I suppose I've got to give in," muttered Jasper Van Blott.
"And what about you men?" demanded Captain Marshall, turning his stern eyes on the portion of the crew that had mutinied.
"We're with you, cap'n," said one, humbly. "Mr. Shepley led us into this, without us knowin' what we was a-doin'. Ain't that so, mates?"
"That's so," said the others, humbly.
"Are you willing to obey me, after this?"
"Yes! yes!" came in an eager chorus.
After this a long talk took place, and Jasper Van Blott and Paul Shepley were placed in irons and conducted to a closet in the bow of the ship, used for the storage of oil and lanterns. The place was given a rough cleaning, and then the pair were locked inside, Captain Marshall putting the key in his pocket. Both of the prisoners wanted to protest, but the master of theStormy Petrelwould not listen.
"You can do your talking later, when I have time to listen," said he. "Just now I have other matters to attend to."
From Bob Sanders and the three loyal sailors Captain Marshall got a fairly accurate account ofthe mutiny. He was told that Jasper Van Blott had done his best to get all hands to join in the plot. The former supercargo was the prime mover in the affair, and the first mate was a coward and had been little more than his tool. The sailors who had gone in had done so rather unwillingly, and, after thinking the matter over, Captain Marshall decided to read them a stern lecture and then forgive them.
It was now no longer necessary for the natives to take the whites to Sobago Island, and, after a brief consultation, Soko and his men were paid off and given some presents, and then, the mists rising, the canoe was headed back for Yam-kolo Island. It was the last that Dave and his friends saw of these black men, who had proven so friendly.
With the first mate in irons, Bob Sanders was advanced to fill his place. This left the position of second mate vacant, and, after a consultation with the boys, the master of theStormy Petreloffered Billy Dill the position, and he accepted gladly.
"I always kind o' wanted to be a mate," said the old tar. "I'm tickled to death!" And his face showed it.
With the lifting of the mist a stiff breeze came up, and preparations were made for continuing the voyage to Nanpi. It was found that the last storm had slightly disabled the rudder, which accounted for the fact that the bark had not madegreater headway on her trip. But additional parts were on board, and by nightfall the damage was made good, and then theStormy Petrelanswered her helm as well as ever.