CHAPTER XIXBLOCKING THE GAME OF BADGER
“Here’s a pretty kettle of fish!” declared Jack, in a disgusted tone.
“To think that we’d have to run across that duffer right here in the canal locks,” Ballyhoo went on to say gloomily. “What if those two old filibusters get to scrapping while we’re neighbors here for a while? It might mean the finish of our fine little cruise; for if anything happened to knock Captain Shooks out of the running there’s no one else could manage this queer old tub.”
“We’d have to take charge, pay off the crew, ship the cargo home, and then store the submarine down here in some boatyard until the company decided what to do with her,” said Oscar decidedly; “but what’s the use crossing a bridge before we come to it? The two skippers may not exchange a single word, knowing how they’d get in a fighting humor in consequence.”
It turned out that Ballyhoo was wrong in guessing they would have to remain in the lock all night. With such magical artificial illumination as was afforded by the numerous electric lightsscattered along both sides of the great walls, work could be carried on just as well during the hours of night as in the daytime.
It was not long afterwards when water began to come into the lock, and both boats commenced to rise toward the higher levels. The boys could see that their craft was an object of great curiosity to the entire crew of the steam yacht, for a group of sailors gathered along the side to watch them.
Something caused the trio of boys to go ashore in order to observe at close hand the working of the magnificent machinery by which the locks were controlled. Jack hoped that on the return trip they would be passing through here by daylight, for he must secure a set of pictures that would show just how the conditions were.
Evidently strict orders had been given to the crew of the other boat, for there was none of the customary interchange of salutations and jokes, such as might be expected. Those men knew who those aboard the submarine were. They possibly labored under the impression that they had been cheated out of more or less prize money by Captain Shooks’ shrewd policy in getting ahead of them on two occasions. Hence they felt a bitter animosity toward the crew of theArgonaut, and it was well for the sake of peace in the Canal Zone that the rivals were kept apart.
When the time came for their release from the lock, the boys hastened to once more get aboard. The captain was sitting on the little deck abovethe conning tower. Oscar believed he was holding some sort of weapon in his hands, though he could not be quite sure about this, for the skipper hastened to conceal whatever he had there.
“The expected storm didn’t break, eh, lads?” he remarked, as they joined him.
“If you mean trouble with those other chaps,” Ballyhoo quickly said, “we’re just shaking hands with ourselves that nothing happened. We’ve heard some one whooping things up aboard the other boat, which we kind of imagine must have been Captain Badger. The men seemed to jump every time he shouted anything, and it’s plain to be seen they’re afraid of him when his mad is up.”
“Yes, he was always reckoned a terror,” admitted the skipper, between his set teeth; “and I’ve half expected to be favored with a visit from him. But the sight of those boys in khaki along the walls of the lock must have kept him from bothering us.”
“But what about after we pass out of the lock, Captain?” remarked Ballyhoo; “it strikes me there may be places along the canal, or in the big lake we’ve got to pass through, where he might give us trouble, such as ramming into us, and claiming it was a sheer accident?”
“I’ve thought of all that,” the other admitted, “and when we pass out I mean to tie up here close by, and spend the balance of the night within touch of these same U. S. regulars. Then if we have any trouble, we can look to them for assistance.”
Somehow the boys all approved of this idea. It seemed both reasonable and prudent in their eyes. While ready at all times to defend themselves, as every American should, if they wish to maintain their self-respect, all the same they did not believe in going around with a “chip on their shoulder,” and inviting an attack.
So they remained there on the upper deck, watching all that took place. The boys knew that after the crew of theDauntlesshad dispersed to their quarters, at the command of their captain, others were constantly watching the submarine. They could see dim figures flitting back and forth, and acting as though they were desirous of remaining under cover.
“Hope they’ll know us another time,” grunted Ballyhoo, after the captain had stepped ashore to see about a matter of business; for fees had to be paid to cover their passage through the locks, since the U. S. Government does not propose to run a “free show,” after going to such heavy expense.
“I’d give something just to know what they’re saying about us over there,” Jack went on to observe; “because there’s no question but what that’s Badger himself and his officers who are watching all we do here.”
“For one thing,” chuckled Ballyhoo, vindictively, “I reckon they’re trying to figure just where we keep all those bully ingots of gold we cribbed from the old Spanish hulk, where they’d lain under the sea for some hundreds of years. They’d like to be able to use Roentgen Rays, andlook right through the sides of our boat so they could count how many bricks we stowed away. But even if they had that knowledge what good would it do ’em, tell me?”
Neither of the others appeared to know; at least they failed to answer Ballyhoo’s question.
Later on the submarine skipper was notified that his vessel could leave the lock and proceed. He had already made arrangements, however, to stay in the canal just beyond until morning, allowing the steam yacht to pass him by, and go ahead.
It was a singular happening when those two boats ranged alongside each other. There was an utter absence of the usual greetings and rough badinage, and this must have struck any idle observer on the canal wall as peculiar, though the true inwardness of the situation might not be apparent to him.
Then theDauntlesspassed on, and the squat submarine, looking like an ugly whale, being low down in the water, and with only the conning tower rearing itself above the superstructure, remained at her moorings.
“Well, we’re not sorry to see the last of that steam yacht, if we told the honest truth about it,” remarked Ballyhoo.
The boys being tempted to once more leave the boat and go ashore, for there seemed to be a number of other interesting sights they had missed on the previous occasion, spoke to one of the men about it, asking him to sit there on deck, and make sure that no stranger slipped aboard.
After another hour or so they had seen all that was possible under the conditions, and again made their way back to the boat. More than ever were they struck with the queer and ungainly appearance of the submersible, as they drew alongside, to find the sailor smoking his pipe and apparently keeping a faithful watch above.
“But,” said Ballyhoo, when this fact was mentioned, “she’s a dandy in her own specialty, which is diving, and staying under water. They ought to have named her theMallard, it strikes me, because she’s built on that order.”
None of them cared to remain up any longer. The skipper made his appearance just then, and announced that he would see to it that a guard was posted on the upper deck, and armed in the bargain.
“It may be those sharks won’t think to try and do us any harm while we’re here in the canal,” he went on to say dubiously, “because it might be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs; for their only hope seems to be to chase around after us, and try to swoop down on something we’ve found. But I’m taking no chances. You see, I know Badger too well to trust him one minute. He’s well named, though Weasel might fit him even better.”
Going below Oscar and his two chums soon made themselves comfortable in their several bunks. As the hatch in the conning tower was open, and the ventilators doing their regular work in addition, it seemed much more comfortable down below thanordinary, for the weather was excessively warm during the days.
Oscar remembered lying there for a little while, thinking of things in the past; but he finally went to sleep. The other pair were already far in dreamland, as their regular breathing attested.
When Oscar awakened he could not tell why it was he seemed to feel a strange sensation, just as though some deadly peril hovered over them. A slight sound drew his attention, and turning his head on his pillow he saw something that caused him to hold his breath with amazement.
There was always a dim light left in the apartment the boys occupied, which, in fact, bordered the little den Captain Shooks dignified by the name of “office.” Where he lay Oscar could look straight through the open doorway, and see the whole interior of this “cubby-hole,” as Ballyhoo always called it.
Some one was stooping over in front of the desk at which the skipper so often sat when writing up his papers, and entering events in his log of the cruise. Oscar saw to his dismay that it was not Captain Shooks, but an utter stranger, a small, wiry fellow, who had managed in some mysterious way to get inside the submarine. Instantly Oscar suspected that the sailor they had left in charge of the upper deck while they went ashore must have been unfaithful to his duty, and left the hatch unguarded for a few minutes while he crept below, possibly to get his pipe.
It did not matter so muchhowthe spy had managedto get aboard as that he was searching eagerly through the skipper’s private papers, evidently looking for the priceless chart that told, as near as was known, the exact location of a dozen other sunken treasure ships, besides the two already visited.
Oscar could not hold in any longer. Giving a shout he sprang from his bunk, and made a swift lunge toward the door of the office, intending to close this, and keep the intruder shut in until the skipper could attend to him.
Unfortunately, Oscar caught his foot in some object that may have been purposely placed there with the intention of tripping any of the sleepers should they awaken while the spy was at work.
As the boy went headlong to the floor, he saw the stranger shoot past him and make for the ladder leading up into the conning tower. As soon as Oscar could get to his feet, although half dazed from having struck his head severely, he hastened to chase after the vanished figure. Ballyhoo and Jack were at his heels, though utterly in the dark as to what it all meant.
When they got above they found that the man on guard was staring into the half gloom alongside the moored submarine. He had been thrust aside by something that came bolting out of the hatch; for, not expecting danger from that quarter, the sentry was caught unprepared; and before he could recover enough to use the gun with which he had been armed, the unknown had utterly vanished.
But after all it might have been much worse, for no particular damage had been done. The skipper told them he had the precious chart and directions where no spy could ever find them; and so Oscar and the other boys finally went back to their bunks, though an additional guard was stationed in the conning tower for security.