CHAPTER X.THE STORM.
The Celt knew fully what was the trouble with Captain Uriah.
The pressure upon the helmet had lasted so long that faintness or syncope had descended upon the luckless man.
There was danger that he would die before he could be got aboard the Dolphin, and Barney realized this.
So he yelled:
“Misther Frank, for the love av Heaven, cum quick! Shure there’s the divil to pay! The captain has been overcome, sor!”
Frank needed no second bidding.
Quick as a flash he rushed into the cabin. He sprang into a diving suit, locked the helmet with a click, set the generator going, and then sprang into the vestibule.
All this was done with great rapidity.
Then he opened the outer door and was in the sea.
The companions of Captain Uriah were staggering from the same cause.
They had been too long subjected to the pressure.
Frank motioned to them to go aboard the Dolphin instantly.
Then he sprang to Captain Uriah’s side.
The captain lay partly upon his back, and Frank saw through the helmet window that his face was horribly distorted.
The young inventor instantly picked him up bodily and started for the Dolphin.
He reached the rail and dragged the overcome man into the vestibule.
It was but a moment’s work to close the door and expel the water. Then Frank tore away the helmet clasps.
Captain Uriah was like one dead. But Barney had appeared on the scene instantly with a stimulant.
This was administered, and in a few moments all were overjoyed to see the old captain revive.
He opened his eyes and looked about him.
“It was a close call, my friend,” said Frank, cheerily, “but we’ve pulled you through.”
Captain Uriah remained in a sitting posture.
“What happened?” he asked, feebly.
“You were overcome,” said Stanhope.
“Overcome?”
“Yes.”
“How did that happen?”
“Why, you simply stayed out there in the water too long. The pressure was too great for a beginner like you.”
Captain Uriah nodded his head slowly.
“Maybe you are right,” he said. “But why didn’t it affect the others so?”
“It did,” replied Frank. “They have come aboard also.”
“Ugh!” exclaimed the captain, struggling to his feet. “I’ll be all right in a little while, but the pearls——”
“Are all safe,” said Frank. “Pomp went out and got them.”
This was true. While they were resuscitating the captain, Pomp had gone out and brought in the sack of pearls.
Captain Uriah was soon himself again, and a few hours later came into Frank’s cabin.
He poured out a heap of pearls on the table, and said:
“Take such of them as you want, Frank.”
“I don’t want any,” replied the young inventor. “I have no use for them, captain. I am a rich man, anyway. You must keep them yourself.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes.”
“But what will repay you?”
“I ask no pay. I am pleased to have been able to serve you.”
“Well,” said Captain Uriah, bringing his hand down on the table with a thump, “you are the biggest-hearted man I ever knew. Mark my words, before I die I will repay you!”
Frank laughed.
“Do not ever disturb yourself about that,” he said; “it is all right. But how much longer will we remain here?”
“Not a minute!”
“What! Have you finished your work?”
“Every bit. I have got all the fortune I want right here.”
Captain Uriah poured the pearls back into the bag. He turned to the door. Frank arose, saying:
“Then if you are all through we will go to the surface.”
“That suits me.”
The pearl-hunting expedition was over.
Captain Snow was now possessed of what he believed would make him a very wealthy man.
Naturally he was happy.
But he was not selfish. He intended that every member of his crew should have a fair share.
Frank sent the Dolphin to the surface at once.
But as she came up out of the water into daylight there was revealed to the crew a thrilling state of affairs.
A mighty yellow cloud hung from horizon to zenith, and was sweeping down into the east.
The sea was rough and tumbling in long and uneven billows. A heavy wind went soughing by.
A terrible storm was at hand. In fact a literal tornado threatened.
Far to the southward was a white sail.
That it was the Belden seemed a certain fact. Captain Uriah viewed the situation anxiously.
“I hope they will get down to bare poles before this blast!” he declared. “It is going to be a fearful one!”
“It is possible we can reach her before the storm comes on,” said Frank.
“I wish we could.”
“I will try.”
Frank shouted to Barney to put on all speed. The Dolphin shot away over the waves like a meteor.
She was an extremely swift boat in any sea, and the heavy rollers did not disturb her.
On she ran like a bird.
The Belden was standing up to the wind with fore and main topsails so that Captain Uriah’s mind was easy.
Yet he was naturally desirous of reaching the ship before the storm should strike her.
Every moment the Dolphin drew nearer. She was even sighted by the crew of the Belden.
The flash and report of a signal gun was heard.
“We shall make it!” cried Captain Uriah, excitedly. “You shall see!”
But even as the words left his lips there came a distant bellowing sound, a rumble like thunder, and then the storm burst.
It was a terribly grand moment.
It seemed literally as if all the elements had combined in one fearful effort to outdo pandemonium.
Rain fell in sheets; the sea ran mountains high and tossed the frail Dolphin about like an eggshell.
Frank saw that it was utterly impossible to reach the Belden.
He knew that the safety of his own boat depended upon prompt action.
So he opened the reservoir lever and let the boat go down.
One hundred fathoms beneath the surface the storm was not felt.
The Dolphin glided along slowly.
Captain Uriah was not a little worried about his ship.
“Have no fears,” said Frank. “She will outride it, I know. Then we will find her safe enough.”
“She will if the lubbers handle her right,” declared the captain; “but I am afraid they won’t.”
At least it did no good to borrow trouble, and realizing this, the captain became more cheerful.
“What do you care?” said Stanhope. “You have a large fortune in pearls. You can buy many such ships.”
Thus Captain Uriah was consoled.
The Dolphin cruised aimlessly about in the meanwhile.
The barometer yet showed that there was disturbance above, so those in the cabin of the Dolphin proceeded to make themselves easy until the storm should pass.
And now by way of diversion Barney and Pomp provided their quota in the line of a musical entertainment.
The Celt had a genuine Irish fiddle which he solemnly asserted had been in his family for ten generations.
“Shure, it’s dearer to me than the apple av me eye!” he declared. “Didn’t me ancistors play it in the coort av the Oirish kings afore iver England got her bould foot on the neck av ould Oireland!”
The amount of melody which Barney could evoke from that antiquated fiddle was indeed wonderful.
He could rattle off jigs, and play and sing ballads by the score.
His voice was a fine baritone, and he sang well.
Pomp, on the other hand, was provided with a fund inexhaustible of negro melodies savoring of plantation days.
He played the banjo and the bones, danced a clog dance and could sing in a full tenor voice.
They played and sang to the company until completely exhausted. Captain Uriah’s sailors were particularly delighted and cheered them roundly.
Thus several hours were passed in the cabin.
Frank finally went to the barometer and cried, joyfully:
“The storm is over!”
“Hurrah!” cried Captain Uriah. “Let us go to the surface.”
“Is it best?” asked the young inventor.
“Why not?”
“Darkness has come on.”
This was true. With the going down of the storm had come night.
Those on board the Dolphin under the sea had no means of knowing this save by the chronometer.
Captain Uriah was thoughtful a moment.
Then he said:
“I think we had better, Frank.”
“All right,” agreed the young inventor. “It shall be so.”
He touched the lever and the boat sprang upward.
Up, up, she went, and rose from the depths into the night air. Above was the moonlit sky. All around them was the storm-swept but calm sea.
Instinctively all looked for the lights of the Belden.
But even to the horizon they were not to be seen.
The ship must have been driven many miles from her course.
Here was a predicament. Captain Uriah was disposed to regard it seriously, but Frank said:
“I should not worry at all. There is not the slightest doubt but that she will return here. It is her best and only course.”
“Certainly it seems so!” agreed the captain; “that is if those lubbers will have the good sense.”
“But will they not? Have you not a competent crew?”
“I think so.”
“Then do not worry any more about it.”
All night long the Dolphin rocked upon the swelling but peaceful sea. All on board were very tired.
Barney kept watch the first of the night, and Pomp the latter part. At length daylight came once more.
And as the sun rose up out of the sea it revealed a surprising spectacle.