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diff --git a/78892-0.txt b/78892-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..86d5fcb --- /dev/null +++ b/78892-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8193 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78892 *** + + + + + THE FLYING BUCCANEER + + + + + THE + FLYING BUCCANEER + + _A Novel of Adventure in the Skies_ + + BY + JACK BINNS + + NICHOLAS L. BROWN + NEW YORK, :: 1923 + + + + + Copyright, 1923 + By + NICHOLAS L. BROWN + + All Rights Reserved including + Dramatic and Photoplay Rights + + Printed in U. S. A. + + + + + THE FLYING BUCCANEER + + + + +CHAPTER ONE + + +“Oh! George, something terrible has happened. You must read the paper +right away.” + + * * * * * + +Mrs. George Cowl, wife of the Secretary of Air, in a state of great +excitement met her husband at the foot of the stairs as he descended, +and handed him a copy of the Washington _Tribune_. + +“Look at this!” she exclaimed. + +Taking the proffered newspaper Cowl’s eyes fell immediately upon the +eight column “banner” line spread across the front page: + + TRANSPACIFIC MAIL AIRSHIP DESTROYED BY AERIAL PIRATE IN MIDOCEAN + +Quickly he read the sub-heads, which told in terse sentences a story +of piracy in the Twentieth Century more amazing than any exploit of +the roving buccaneers who struck terror through the Spanish Main two +hundred years ago. + + _Giant Rigid Airship Langley Shot Down Midway between Honolulu and + Manila from Altitude of_ 10,000 _feet._ + + _Survivors Picked Up by Cargo Steamer Yang-Tsze._ + + _Masked Aerial Pirate Escapes with Valuable Cargo Taken from Langley._ + +“Good God!” he exclaimed, then turning to his wife, he added, “I’ll +have to go right over to the office, Dear.” + +Snatching his hat, Cowl hurriedly kissed his wife, and then rushed out, +leaving his breakfast untouched. He ran as he had not run for years +across the streets to the office in the government building, dodging +the early morning traffic and miraculously escaping injury. + +Breathlessly, he dashed into the elevator, to the astonishment of Jim +the night caretaker who had not yet been relieved. + +“Take me right up Jim,” he shouted. + +Before the caretaker could close the doors of the elevator, Theodore +Mitchell, the Assistant Secretary of Air rushed in, as excited as his +chief. The two men looked at each other for several seconds with an +expression of utter bewilderment written across their faces. In one +momentary flash each read the other’s thoughts, and then Mitchell broke +out: + +“It’s evident that you’ve read the paper, George, or you wouldn’t be +here so early. What do you think of it?” + +“I don’t know yet,” replied Cowl, “I just glanced over the headlines +and rushed right over. I haven’t read the report yet. I hurried here to +see whether we had been officially advised of it.” + +When the elevator stopped on the tenth floor, the two men rushed out +and ran into Cowl’s office. + +“You read the newspaper account, while I call up the telegraph office,” +said Mitchell. + +Cowl sat down somewhat nervously, and began to read: + +Manila, P. I., Sept. 26, 1952.--(By Associated Press.) The mail airship +Langley flying from Yokohama to San Francisco was attacked and shot +down by a mysterious airplane yesterday, according to a brief wireless +dispatch received here from the Captain of the steamer Yang-Tsze. The +passengers and crew of the Langley were picked up by the Yang-Tsze +which is proceeding to this port. + +The mysterious airplane which attacked the airship flew away in a +northeasterly direction after removing all the valuable cargo and +sinking the disabled airship. + +The details of this act of piracy are contained in a later wireless +report sent by Captain Carruthers, commander of the Langley, from the +Yang-Tsze to Captain Deverest, commander of the naval district, in this +city. This report as given out here reads as follows: + +“September 25th, Airship Langley flying on a course due East in +Latitude 20.35 N., Longitude 170.45 E., overtaken by large airplane of +flying boat type. Without warning airplane opened fire at one thousand +yards using three inch incendiary shells from automatic cannon. + +“Third shell penetrated valve in number three ballonet, releasing +helium gas. Firing commenced while Langley flying at altitude of 10,000 +feet. Langley began to settle, and I ordered colors hoisted as distress +signal. Airplane then ceased firing. + +“Langley rapidly settled to surface. Attacking airplane spiralled +down, landed approximately same time as Langley, and then proceeded +in hailing distance. Commander and crew of airplane all wore peculiar +mask-like helmets. Former ordered us to launch boats and abandon +Langley. + +“Sea smooth, no wind. Boats launched from disabled Langley without +difficulty, and passengers taken off quietly and in good order. +Commander of airplane ordered us to lay off half a mile from Langley. +Soon as transfer of passengers complete, I ordered officers in charge +of each lifeboat to obey this command, as attacking airplane had +assumed threatening attitude. + +“Crew of airplane boarded Langley, and were observed removing part of +cargo. This continued half an hour, then airplane lay off two hundred +yards and opened fire on envelope of Langley with its three inch +cannon. Langley disappeared below surface a few seconds after the fifth +shot was fired. + +“Airplane then came over to our boats, and her commander megaphoned +across that he would wireless for assistance. He then took off. Half an +hour later he returned, and informed us that he had sighted a steamer +15 miles SSE of us, and had requested her to come to our assistance, +giving our position. + +“The airplane again took off and disappeared in a Northeasterly +direction at terrific speed. One hour later cargo steamer Yang-Tsze +hove in sight and picked us up. Entire ship’s company unharmed, and +passengers all well. Attacking airplane bore no international marks, or +anything of an identifying character.” + +It is understood that Captain Carruthers included a complete and +detailed description of the piratical airplane in his wireless report, +but Captain Deverest here refused to make public that portion of the +dispatch on the ground that it was confidential official information. + +The remarkable incident has caused quite a stir here, and the aerial +transport companies are considering the advisability of cancelling all +schedules until adequate protection of the airways has been established +by the Department of Air in Washington. + +Officials of the Trans-Pacific and Oriental Aerial Line, owners of the +Langley, have cabled details of the affair to the head office at San +Francisco and requested that the Westbound airship Wilbur Wright, which +is due to leave early tomorrow morning, be held up until the government +puts effective patrol units along the course. The officials were +doubtful, however, whether the cable would arrive in time. + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + + +Scarcely had Cowl finished reading the newspaper story when the door +of his office opened and Mitchell entered with Arthur G. Ingleton, +the Secretary of the Navy. The latter’s worried expression seemed to +indicate that the gravity of the situation was even greater than was +apparent from the newspaper report. Looking at his colleague, he said: + +“This is a pretty serious situation, George. I’ve just received a +cipher cable from Deverest at Manila giving me complete details of the +affair. From his description of the pirate it looks as though we have +got a pretty desperate character to deal with. His airplane appears to +be something entirely new. + +“I am greatly worried, because as you know Mrs. Ingleton and Mary are +due to leave for the Philippines on the Wilbur Wright this morning. I +have got a long distance call in to San Francisco, trying to stop them +from leaving until we get this fellow. We can’t hold up the commercial +lines, but there is no telling where he will strike next. I have cabled +Deverest to make temporary arrangements to police the airways with +naval units until we make some organized effort to hunt this desperado. + +“My chief anxiety is for Mary, because I doubt whether I shall reach +her in time to prevent her departure on the Wilbur Wright. She has +had her heart set on this Orient trip for the past six months. Here’s +Deverest’s report. I’ve had it deciphered. You read it while I try to +get the long distance operator again.” + +Cowl took the message while Ingleton went back to his own office to +telephone. The message contained the report of Captain Carruthers as +given in the newspaper account, but included the following description +of the pirate machine, which was withheld from the press. + +“Carruthers report shows the attacking airplane unlike any known +design. He states it was a monoplane flying boat, apparently of metal +construction throughout. The boat body was squat and wide, but entirely +enclosed. It had the appearance of being constructed of plates riveted +together like a steamship. Length of boat approximately 105 feet. Tail +construction seemed to be very small, but otherwise conventional. +Spread of wings about 110 feet, and chord (width) about 11 feet. Wing +was internally braced and was two feet thick at a point two feet from +leading edge. Wing covering also had appearance of plates riveted +together. + +“It is equipped with a disappearing marine screw propeller for cruising +purposes on the surface of the ocean. In the air it is driven forward +by two pusher propellers, but according to Carruthers who examined +it carefully, there is no sign of any engine housing, and just where +the engines are located he could not determine. It was equipped with +a three inch automatic cannon, on a disappearing mount over the nose +of the enclosed hull. The airplane apparently is capable of prodigious +speed, that Carruthers could not account for.” + +Mitchell had read the report over his chief’s shoulder. + +“It doesn’t tell us very much, does it?” he queried. + +A few minutes later Ingleton returned, having failed to get his call. +The operator had told him there would be an hour’s delay. His frantic +appeal that it was an urgent government call had failed to expedite +matters. To Cowl he said: + +“Judging from that report, George, we have a pretty hard task before +us, and the only way to handle that brigand will be by means of a +thoroughly organized plan. As I said, I have told Deverest to use the +naval units to take care of the Eastern Pacific airways, and I shall +cable Smith at Honolulu as well as Harrington at San Francisco to put +all their craft on patrol duty. You had better send similar orders to +your commanders, don’t you think?” + +At this moment Air Marshall Charles B. Hartley, military director of +the Air Service, entered the room in a state of suppressed excitement. + +“I would willingly give up my commission, if only Joe Levanter were +here now,” he said. “He was by far the best man we had, and would have +been just the one for this job. He was a regular daredevil, but at the +same time shrewder than anybody else in the service. I can’t imagine +what became of him.” + +The four officials then held a conference to decide their plans. After +some considerable discussion Ingleton jumped up, and started to leave +the room saying as he went: + +“I am so worried about Mary and her mother. I am trying to get them off +the airship before it leaves. I am going to try and get San Francisco +again. I’ll be back shortly.” + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + + +The scene of activity that marks the pending departure of a +transoceanic airship was being enacted at the great airport of San +Francisco just as the first streaks of dawn broke over the Eastern sky. +At the peak of terminal tower number six, one thousand feet above the +ground, the airship Wilbur Wright was moored by its nose. The airship +moved slowly and sluggishly back and forth in a small arc of a circle +whenever the fitful breeze caught its glistening sides, as though it +were a mammoth weathercock indicating the direction of the wind. + +The top of the tower was a huge revolving globe with a vast socket +on one side. It was in this socket that the nose of the airship was +automatically locked, the entire tower being a mooring post that +enabled the airship to swing to the action of the wind in the same +manner that a steamship swings on its anchor chain to the action of the +tide. + +Upon the airship the rigging crew was busily engaged in unscrewing the +feed pipes from the gas valves, after the last volume of helium gas had +been taken into the ballonets. The buoyancy of the gas naturally kept +the giant airship afloat in the sea of air and relieved the tower from +all strain of the ship’s great weight. + +Through the center of the tower was a shaft for passenger and freight +elevators. The latter were running at maximum speed, taking up the last +pieces of cargo. + +On the aerodrome below, the big transcontinental passenger airplane had +just landed on the concrete runway after a fifteen hour non-stop flight +through the night from New York. It taxied over to the landing platform +at the foot of the tower, after the pilot had drawn up the retractible +wings to the sides of the fuselage. + +As it drew alongside the landing platform, a door in the side of +the fuselage swung open, and the workers on the platform put out a +gangplank to the door. The passengers then filed out, carrying their +small hand baggage. They walked into the waiting hall inside the base +of the tower. Here was situated the restaurant, wireless station, and +all other facilities necessary to a terminal station. + +Immediately after disembarking the passengers trooped into the +restaurant and ate breakfast, while the terminal employes were busily +engaged in taking their baggage up to the airship. + +Among the passengers who had just arrived on the transcontinental +airplane were Mrs. Ingleton, wife of the Secretary of the Navy, and +her daughter Mary. With them was Wing Commander Kenneth Fitzgerald, +an aviation officer who had been transferred from a departmental +executive job at Washington to the command of the air station at +Manila. He was on his way to take over his new command in the East. + +In Washington he had been a close friend of the Secretary of the Navy +and his family, and very naturally Mr. Ingleton had asked the commander +to look after Mrs. Ingleton and Mary during their voyage, since all +three were bound for the same destination by the same ship. + +Together with the other passengers the three entered the restaurant and +breakfasted. + +Mary Ingleton was a prepossessing athletic young lady imbued with the +full sense of importance of her twenty-two Summers. From the moment +of her debut she had been one of the reigning belles in Washington +society, with all the eligible young men of the Capital in her retinue +as willing slaves. + +She was a blonde with a crowning aureole of golden tinged hair and her +big flashing blue eyes gave a true indication of the independence that +formed the basis of her character. She was rather tall. Her features +were regular, perfect and charming. + +She had been the principal of a hundred romances. All these, however, +were but minor incidents that came and went to form the background of +her life. + +Suddenly Washington was confronted with the fact that Mary, the +acknowledged queen, had quit her domain, at the height of her triumphal +conquests, to travel for no apparent purpose in the Orient. Her +departure, so unexpected, set the tongues of gossip and jealousy +awagging. The coincidence of Fitzgerald’s appointment to the Eastern +station was developed to the fullest extent of its possibilities in the +small talk that followed. Six months previously, it was recalled, Joe +Levanter, the dashing young aviator had disappeared, and he had been +one of Mary’s most persistent admirers. He had vanished as completely +as though the earth had swallowed him up. + +Since his disappearance, pointed out gossip, there was no doubt about +the change that had come over Mary. From the central figure in the +varied activities of social life she had changed into a recluse and had +begun to take her pleasure more seriously. + +With the characteristic imperturbability of youth Mary had remained +oblivious to the covert glances and whispered remarks of those about +her. But there was more than mere imperturbability that made her gaze +so indifferent, her actions so apathetic. She was absorbed in a process +of self-study that claimed all her mental energies. Stubbornly and +deeply she was questioning something, probing something, prying into +something. This something, though but a memory now, she endeavored to +recreate into a present reality. And in her tireless effort to make the +past live again in the present she sought an opportunity to reexamine +and reappraise her actions. Were they altogether right? What possible +effect did or will they have on her future? How was she to gain that +ease and tranquility of mind that seem to be the result as well as the +reward of making a right decision. Has her opportunity come and gone? +Will she ever have another? She did not know, and the less she knew the +more she thought and speculated on the subject. + +Her mind dwelt continuously upon a scene that six months previously had +made a profound impression upon her. From the moment of its enactment +she had been in the grip of that mental self-absorption until it +began to affect her even outwardly so seriously that her parents had +willingly consented to her eastern trip. + +Even now in the transoceanic air terminal for the first time, Mary’s +mind, unaffected by the sights that were novel to her, reverted to +the occasion that had persistently beset her. In her mind’s eye she +pictured for the hundredth time the incident with Joe Levanter that +was the direct cause of her present unplanned journey. Mary was uneasy +mentally. She was not sure that she hated Levanter, nor was she sure +that she loved him. Of one thing only was she certain, and that was she +could not be indifferent to the memory of their last meeting. + +He was indeed a remarkable young man who had precipitated within her +strange, mixed feelings that she could not define. She remembered +the last call he made upon her at her home in Washington. Back upon +the screen of her memory there flashed again a moving picture which +portrayed every incident of that momentous evening. She saw herself +stroll out of the house with him across the porch to the rustic seat +back of the lawn. She again saw him go through the impassioned gestures +of his proposal, and her ears--deaf to the multitudinous noises around +her--again heard his words repeated from the indelible record impressed +upon her mind. + +“Mary, if you will only say yes the world shall be yours and mine. I +have just done something wonderful that will bring me great fame, and I +want you to share it with me. Won’t you say the word that will make me +forever happy, dear?” + +She again saw his coal black eyes peering straight at her with a +penetrating gaze, and the living intenseness stamped upon his face. She +saw herself held immovable by the equal strength of the opposing forces +that were battling within her. She saw herself transfixed in this pose +of painful indecision for what seemed to be eternity, until the sound +of his voice again broke through her reverie. + +“Mary, I must have your answer now, this very minute, my life, my +future--everything depends upon it.” + +Then as in a dream she heard herself repeat the momentous “No” that +escaped from her lips before she realized she had spoken. Why she had +said it she did not know then, and the constant introspection of the +past six months had failed to produce a reason. Was it the spontaneous +response of intuition? + +Daily for six months she had reviewed the scene, and yet even now, +as on the day of its occurrence she gave an involuntary start as she +thought of the effect produced by her refusal. She again saw the quick +change that came over Levanter, the rage that suddenly lit up his olive +brown features and shone from his eyes. She again heard him as he spoke +with suppressed fury in his voice: + +“Mary I love you. I still love you, but evidently to you my feeling +has been nothing but a pleasant diversion. You have played with it, +encouraged it. You have led me to believe that there was more than +hope for me. And now you coldly dash that hope to pieces, knowing full +well that it has been the moving principle of all my plans, of all my +efforts.... I don’t know what is going to happen to me. But I know one +thing. You cannot by a mere word detach yourself from the fate which +you and I have been preparing for ourselves. Whether with me or away +for me, you too shall bear the responsibility for my future as you bore +it for my past, and shall feel the effects of whatever is in store for +me.” + +“Good bye, Mary, but don’t forget. I shall not.” + +As Mary, still enthralled, saw with her mental eye the stalwart frame +leaping over the fence back of the lawn, she felt a tug at her arm. +Turning around she passed from the realm of memory to that of actuality +in the person of her mother who was exclaiming: + +“Why, Mary, you haven’t touched your breakfast, dear. What are you +thinking of, child? Come now, we shall have to hurry, for the ship is +leaving in a few minutes.” + +Almost automatically Mary began to eat impelled by duty rather than +appetite. She listened attentively while Fitzgerald with the fervor of +an expert was explaining everything about the station. His own branch +of aeronautics was concerned chiefly with the lighter than air types of +air vessels, and he was now in his very element, anxious to impart his +knowledge to his fair ward. + +Breakfast over, the three walked from the restaurant to the elevator +and ascended with other passengers to the landing platform at the +top of the tower. There a steward took their baggage and escorted +them along the alleyway to their cabins. As soon as they had located +themselves Fitzgerald took them to the observation room, and secured +for them a favorable window seat where they could watch the departure +of the great airship. + +The view unfolded before their enraptured gaze was unforgettable. +One thousand feet below they saw the glories of the island-strewn +San Francisco Bay. It was spread out beneath them like a map. They +saw its shores, and those of San Pablo Bay. They saw the magnificent +rivers Sacramento and San Joaquin emptying their streams into the +beautiful bay. A few miles to the north Mount Tamalpais towered above +them. On the hazy horizon of the Pacific they could just make out the +Farallones. Directly below, the hilly city appeared almost flat. + +Meanwhile the airship was making ready to leave. The six engines were +now running slowly, but the propellors were locked in a horizontal +position. The captain, megaphone in hand, and his officers were on +the bridge waiting to give the signal to cast off. Friends of the +passengers were grouped about the balcony beneath the mooring globe, +waving flags and handkerchiefs. + +Finally the agent of the line left the airship. The captain rang an +order to the engine room, and a moment later the changeable pitch +propellor on the after engine nacelle was thrown into reverse and +commenced to revolve slowly. Then through the megaphone the captain +shouted the order to the employes on the tower: “Let go!” + +The engineer on the pier touched a button, and the electric machinery, +moving with swiftness and precision, released the clutch that held +the airship to the tower. The reversed propellor pulled the giant +frame clear of the tower before it could rise. A few moments later the +buoyancy of the helium gas had lifted it to an altitude of ten thousand +feet. + +The watchers on the balcony saw the ship turn slowly in a circle, and +then with gathering speed swiftly float to the western horizon. As the +last farewell cheer died away the telephone bell in the main office +rang. A clerk reached leisurely over and lifted the receiver to his +ear. He uttered a languid “hello!” A voice came back immediately: “We +have a rush long distance call from Washington for Miss Mary Ingleton, +a passenger on the airship Wilbur Wright,” it said. + +“Too late,” replied the clerk, “the ship has just gone.” + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + + +When Joe Levanter left Mary’s home on the day of their final parting he +felt a sense of vacuous misery overpowering him. All at once he became +aware of the fact that he had no one to turn to, no one to care or live +for. All his dreams, his youth, his past full of ardor and promise +had been swept away from him, it seemed, by the single movement of a +woman’s arm. What this arm had meant to him as a sustaining prop for +his ambitions he realized only now, when a sort of dull, flat weakness +filled his frame. + +He entered his comfortably furnished apartment in one of the +fashionable homes of the capital and threw himself on a sofa, burying +his head in the cushion, as if wishing to escape the dark and crushing +force of his depression. + +For the first time in his life he faced existence without a set +purpose, without energy, without zest. He was a brilliant aeronautical +engineer, the inventor of many remarkable devices which revolutionized +the construction of airplanes. He was a daring pilot. He was also +engaged in conducting experiments with a new type of air vessel of +his own invention which was considered of utmost importance by the +United States government in whose employ he was. He was internationally +known as one of the most original and successful builders of airships. +His name was uttered with respect by scientists in every country, +and the whole aeronautical world expected further and even more +splendid achievements of him. He was genuinely loved and admired by +his colleagues, while to those who were assigned to assist him in his +laboratory work and field tests he was an ideal superior and companion +at the same time. But all this work and glory, all this popularity, +these personal and social triumphs brought him no consolation in this +hour of anguish, so keen, so humiliating. + +There was his fame of course. But of late it had become a source of +embarrassment to him that was as unusual as it was unwarranted. For +some time he had been the recipient of letters from unknown people +residing in various parts of Europe and South America, who professed +a great interest in the work he was doing. In a subtle but persistent +manner these people hinted that with his genius and courage he could +make his work the foundation of a material prosperity far greater +than he could possibly achieve as a mere government employee. The +letters came at regular intervals and bore the seals of apparently +well situated and even noble personages. The last letter he received +contained a request for a personal interview to discuss a matter, +which the writer was certain would prove of interest to Levanter and +might rebound to the advantage of all parties concerned. Levanter was +informed that unless he definitely made known his unwillingness to see +the party seeking an audience with him, the latter would call at his +residence where it was hoped there would be laid the beginning of what +was certain to prove an amicable as well as profitable association. + +This, by some strange association, flashed in his mind as he lay a prey +to disillusion and despondency. Helpless protest stirred somewhere +between the intermittent gleams of conscious self-analysis. Defiance +and hatred occasionally welled up within his breast. But the confusion +and intensity of the reactions made Levanter feel only more dejected, +and with listless resignation he abandoned himself to the tortures of +his soul. + +As he thus lay and grappled with the shadows of despair the door bell +rang. Being alone in the house, he was forced to get up and open the +door. A tall man, immaculately dressed, asked if Mr. Levanter was at +home and whether he could be seen alone. When the latter introduced +himself as the gentleman in question, the stranger was visibly affected +and, making a low bow, said he was Monsieur de Ribaud of Marseilles who +had asked for the interview. Levanter invited him in. + +After a short pause the visitor said: + +“I have come here on an important mission. I represent an international +group of investors who are anxious to secure your cooperation and +guidance in a very profitable undertaking.” + +“What is it?” Levanter asked. + +The visitor looked at Levanter intently for some time, then answered: + +“It is something that will demand the greatest courage and grit. But +we know you have that. Mr. Levanter, have you ever thought of the +tremendous riches that is now being carried in airships across seas and +continents and oceans? It is a booty worthy of the bravest.” + +Levanter, astonished, made no reply. + +“You are a genius, Mr. Levanter, and genius knows no law. Can you be +satisfied with the paltry offering of the mediocre whom you yourself +teach how to be rich and powerful, when you yourself have it in your +power to command all...? Why should you live this life of small reward +and duty, when you can make a whole world your own? You are the master +of the air. There is no one to dispute your supremacy. Your knowledge +and skill have built and operated marvelous machines for others, why +not use your abilities for yourself? We propose to pay you your own +price for the invention you are now working on. We offer you all the +money you want for the construction of airplanes for our operations. +And we invite you to become the head of our organization which has +every chance of success on its side. Are these terms fair enough? I +shall not press you for a decision right now. Whenever you are ready +let me know at the following address (offering his card) and we shall +have no trouble arranging the details.... Meanwhile we must part. Good +bye, Mr. Levanter. We hope to hear from you.” + +Monsieur de Ribaud rose and left. Levanter remained sitting in the same +position, dazed by the offer and its prospects. + +He sat thus all evening and through a long and dreary night. He thought +of his eventful past and of his contemplated future. He thought of +the woman whose lovely face seemed to link the two, only to mock and +torment him and to deprive him of both. He thought of fleeing and +secluding himself somewhere. He thought of death, of revenge, of +tremendous hazards and overwhelming sacrifices. He thought of all those +things that seeth and boil in the heart of a rejected lover. + +Then out of the black denseness of his thoughts there floated up the +dim but piercing flicker of the offer he had been made. To his desolate +soul it shone like a dull-red, turbid smudge of light and hope.... +It warmed and caressed and beckoned. It promised peace, revenge, +forgetfulness and fortune.... + +It made that answer for Levanter for which de Ribaud so very tactfully +had refused to press. + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + + +Five hundred miles from San Francisco, high over the vast expanse of +the trackless Pacific Ocean, the airship Wilbur Wright was tearing +through space. All of her six engines were running smoothly and +sweetly, each turning out the power of two thousand horses, sending +the huge airship forward at an average speed of one hundred and twenty +miles an hour. + +In the navigating cabin, built into the keel and streamlined to the +forward end of the envelope, Captain Johnstone and his officers were +engaged in “shooting the sun” for latitude. On the forward lookout +post, atop the envelope 90 feet higher up, stood Howard Redmond, the +second officer, sextant glued to his eye, engaged in the same task. + +The passengers were spread about the ship, some taking their morning +walk along the 1,000 foot promenade deck built on top of the envelope. +Some were in the smoking-room playing cards, or getting up a pool on +the day’s run. Others were in the observation saloon, lying recumbent +in comfortable lounging chairs. + +Upon the after end of the promenade deck, seated in long deck chairs +were Commander Fitzgerald and Mary Ingleton. They had gone there +immediately after breakfast, which was served two hours after the +airship had left San Francisco. Mrs. Ingleton was still in her cabin +below. For some time the naval officer and his companion sat watching +for a glimpse of the placid ocean through the occasional rifts which +split the rolling clouds below the airship. The clouds themselves +presented a remarkable sight as the brilliant sun played upon their +rounded billows and gave them the appearance of gigantic puffs of +snow-white cotton. Beneath these fleecy billows a tropical rain-storm +was in progress, but in the sea of air through which the Wilbur Wright +was speeding all was calm and serene, with not a single speck of cloud +above to mar the perfect contour of the sky-blue vaulted heavens. + +Neither Fitzgerald nor his companion had spoken since they sat down. +Mary was in raptures over the scene unfolded below her. Fitzgerald was +plainly nervous. His unusually steady hands were shaking perceptibly, +and he was constantly shifting uneasily in his chair. This became so +noticeable at last that Mary turned to him and asked: + +“Don’t you feel well, Commander?” + +“Why do you ask that?” parried Fitzgerald. + +Mary paused a moment and then replied: + +“Well from your manner you don’t appear well. In fact you look quite +worried.” + +“I’ve just been thinking about something,” answered Fitzgerald, “and +trying to make up my mind what to do.” + +“Oh! do tell me,” exclaimed Mary, “maybe I can help you.” + +Fitzgerald suddenly sat up in his chair with an eager look in his +eyes. Mary’s remark had brought more animation to his face than he had +exhibited at any time since they had boarded the airship. + +“You can help me, Miss Ingleton,” he said eagerly; then after a +moment’s reflection, he continued in a more dejected tone, “but I don’t +know whether you would be willing to.” + +“How strange you are, Commander. What makes you think that I wouldn’t +help you if I could?” + +“Well I know you could help me in this case, but it is something of +such vital importance that I hesitate to ask you for fear you would +refuse.” + +Mary looked up at him, and in a short quick glance her intuition +divined the cause of Fitzgerald’s agitation and his cryptic remarks. +She quickly lowered her eyes as a warm blush suffused her cheeks. +Then with true womanly instinct she promptly attempted to change the +embarrassing subject by exclaiming: + +“Oh! look Commander, there’s a break in the clouds. You can see the +ocean now. Isn’t it wonderful?” + +“Yes it is,” replied Fitzgerald, “but to me it isn’t nearly as +wonderful as you are--Mary!” + +He lingered longingly over her name, the first time he had used it in +her presence. Again Mary blushed, and then in her confusion she said in +whispering tones: + +“Don’t, please don’t, or I will have to leave you.” + +“You can’t,” exclaimed Fitzgerald, as he suddenly leaned over and +grasped her hands. Then before she could make any move he continued in +impassioned tones, “No! you can’t leave me until you have heard what is +in my heart Mary. I love you Mary! I love you with all my soul. I have +tried hard to tell you Mary, but I could never gather up sufficient +courage. It is hard for me to tell you now. I am just a plain man. I am +not gifted with speech, but even if I were there are no words in any +language that could describe my feelings toward you, Mary. I have loved +you since the first time I saw you, with a love that has grown from day +to day. You are more than all the world to me. I want to be with you +always. I watch for you every moment, Mary. I am unhappy and lonesome +when you are not with me. Mary, won’t you be my wife?” + +The unusual fervor that gripped Fitzgerald and spurred him to unwonted +eloquence kept him keyed up while he waited anxiously and impatiently +for Mary to reply. He devoured her with his eyes, as with downcast +head, she nervously twisted her hands within her lap. Thus she sat +for several minutes trying hard to find a way to deal with the new +and unexpected situation. She had never dreamed that Fitzgerald was +in love with her. The excitement of the voyage, and the constant +retrospection upon the incident with Levanter had kept her in a state +of oblivion to the persons about her. In a way she had acted toward +them as though they were necessary parts of her surroundings, and she +had not given them a moment’s thought, nor paid any attention to their +whims or moods. Therefore the proposal of Fitzgerald came to her like +a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. She was completely non-plussed by it +and at a loss as to what to say. + +She knew she did not love him. In fact so far as her feelings were +concerned she had in an abstract way looked upon him as one commanding +her filial respect. The thought as a possible lover had certainly never +entered her head. As she mused, Fitzgerald’s impatience gained mastery +over him, and Mary was suddenly awakened from the reverie his proposal +had plunged her into, by his exclamation: + +“Mary dear, can’t you say something.” + +“Really I don’t know,” she blurted out, “I don’t know what to say. It +would be silly to say it was so unexpected, but honestly you took me by +surprise. I have never thought of you as a lover, Commander, really I +haven’t, so I cannot give you an answer unless it be, ‘No.’” + +“No, don’t say that,” pleaded Fitzgerald, “don’t say that! I am willing +to wait. I do love you, Mary, and nothing that ever happens can change +the feeling. I am yours only and always. I am willing to do anything +you say dear, but can’t you give me some little encouragement?” + +Mary suddenly assumed an air of dignity that seemed strange in one so +young. + +“Listen Commander,” she said, “haven’t you wondered why I am making +this trip at this time of the year? I will tell you.” + +She then told the story of her experience with Levanter, leaving out no +detail of her own perturbation. + +“So you see Commander,” she continued, “I am not yet myself. I don’t +know just what to say to you. I want to say ‘No,’ but I like you very +much. As matters stand now I can’t give you any encouragement, it would +not be right. Let us be friends, but please, please do not ask me +again.” + +“Very well, Mary,” said Fitzgerald, “I will wait gladly under those +circumstances. Maybe you will change your liking into love. I will +certainly do all I can to bring that about. I hope so with all my +heart. I will obey your command, for this voyage anyway, but I am going +to ask you again dear, when I think the time has arrived.” + +While this scene was being enacted unobserved upon the after end of the +ship, another incident was occurring in another part of the ship. In +the wireless cabin just abaft the navigating room, Herbert Alexander, +the wireless operator, sat with his legs upon the instrument table, +the receivers fastened to his ears, and a novel in his hands. He read +as he listened for stray calls and smoked with ease, at peace with all +the world, dreaming between paragraphs of the Geisha girl in Yokohama +waiting to entertain him at the end of the flight. + +Presently, with a bored expression on his face, he dropped the book +and leisurely withdrew his legs from the table. His sensitive ears had +responded to the call, WWR. WWR. WWR., of his ship. The calling station +signed San Francisco. + +With a patience born of experience he waited until the operator at San +Francisco finished, then grasping the sending key, he answered the call +and gave the signal to go ahead. Taking one of the telegraph blanks he +wrote down: + +“Be on your guard. Air pirate again operating.” This was followed by a +brief description of the attack on the Langley. + +The news of the threatening danger spread like wildfire among the +passengers. Their moods immediately changed. Upon their countenances +appeared the shadows of deep thought, the furrows of deep anxiety and +fear. All grew quiet and expectant. + +In a corner of the salon, apart from the rest stood Wing Commander +Kenneth Fitzgerald, with Mrs. Ingleton and Mary. Mrs. Ingleton was +very perturbed, but not so Mary. She was obviously pleased with the +situation, for she evinced a greater interest in it than she had shown +for months. + +“Just think,” she said joyously to Fitzgerald, “that we might get +an honest to goodness adventure. Isn’t it thrilling? The girls in +Washington will be terribly envious when they read about it. Oh! I +do hope the old pirate shows up. I’ll be terribly disappointed if he +doesn’t. Isn’t it terribly exciting?” + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + + +Throughout the night the Wilbur Wright had steadily forged ahead. +The crew had willingly volunteered to two watches instead of three, +consequently a more rigid lookout had been maintained at all points of +the ship. The course lay a little more than ten degrees south of the +Tropic of Cancer. + +The night had been well illuminated with a starry heaven, such as +one sees only in tropical regions, but to the anxious watchers it +had been passing slowly. Now at six o’clock dawn was emerging with +tropical swiftness, to replace the star punched blackness of the sky. +The airship was rapidly approaching the southern end of the Hawaiian +archipelago. + +An hour afterward Captain Johnstone came into the navigating cabin. A +few minutes later the towering crater of Mauna Loa, the volcanic mass +of the Island of Hawaii, appeared on the northwestern horizon like a +dim cloud specking the clear sky about them. It was fully three hundred +miles away. Howard Redmond, the second officer, who was on watch at the +time, pointed it out to the commander in the usual terse manner of the +navigator. + +Captain Johnstone looked at it in an abstract manner, while in his mind +he went over the events of the previous day. There to the northwest, +a few hours flying distance, lay Honolulu. Not a single aircraft was +in sight, although undoubtedly government ships were patrolling in the +vicinity of the Hawaiian capital. He had already made his decision to +continue flying on the more southerly course direct to Manila without +stopping at Honolulu, but now the actual sight of Hawaii without any +sign of the pirate had put the situation in an entirely new light. + +There seemed to be no question that he could make Honolulu safely, +particularly with government craft undoubtedly but a short distance +away. Then too, if necessary, he could leave for Manila at a different +time from that given in the schedule, and make arrangements to keep his +departure secret. + +After considering these points for some time Captain Johnstone suddenly +made up his mind to depart from his original plan and go to Honolulu. +Accordingly he gave orders to bring the airship about, and place her on +the new course. After seeing these commands obeyed, he went into his +cabin and rang for his breakfast. + +Half an hour later the lookout man at the observation post on top +of the envelope shouted down through the loud speaking telephone: +“There’s a ship three points off the port bow, Sir, very high.” + +Redmond rushed over to the port window in the navigating cabin and +searched the sky. Finally he made out a tiny speck at an almost +unbelievable altitude. For a few seconds he watched it, and then +decided that its general appearance and position were sufficiently +suspicious to warrant action. He sent a boy to call Captain Johnstone +from his room. The latter who had just finished his breakfast, hurried +to the navigating room, where Redmond told him of the strange craft +that had just been sighted. + +Captain Johnstone picked up his glasses and pointed them to the distant +object in the skies. He watched it as it swept along in apparent +circuitious course at tremendous speed. At this time the Wilbur Wright +was flying at an altitude of 15,000 feet. He next picked up a pair +of altitude finders and trained them upon the stranger. After an +observation lasting several seconds, he turned round to Redmond and +said: + +“My God; it’s fully 45,000 feet above the sea! It must be a very +unusual craft to keep that altitude. It may be the pirate. Anyway I’m +not going to take any chances with it. We’re pretty close to Honolulu +now, and even if it is the pirate we ought to make the airport safely. +Please send for Mr. Alexander.” + +The captain then picked up his field glasses again and continued to +watch the stranger through them. Shortly afterwards the wireless +operator appeared in response to the captain’s call. At this very +moment the captain observed the stranger in the skies turn around and +then begin a wide spiral dive. All hesitation disappeared from his +mind. Throwing down the glasses, he picked up a piece of paper and +began to write: + +“Captain Smith, Naval Commander Honolulu. + +“Wilbur Wright in Latitude 15.20 N. Longitude 152.35 E. Strange craft +approximate altitude 45,000 feet now spiralling toward us. Believe it +to be pirate airplane. Please rush assistance. Johnstone.” + +Turning to the waiting wireless operator, he thrust the message in his +hand and said: + +“Please get that off immediately, Mr. Alexander.” + +Then he rang for the chief steward and at the same time ordered the +bugler to sound the alarm. Even before the steward started for the +navigating cabin, the thoroughly alarmed passengers began to troop +into the dining room. As soon as the former had reported to Captain +Johnstone he was told to have the stewards make a search of the +passengers’ quarters to see that all the passengers were in the dining +room. + +“When they are all in the dining salon,” continued the Captain, “tell +them that we have sighted a suspicious craft, and that I thought it +best they should remain in the salon until further orders. Tell them +we are only 400 miles from Honolulu, and that I have wirelessed for +assistance, and that I do not think there is any danger.” + +The steward left to go about his task. In the wireless room Alexander +had just got into communication with Honolulu and had started to send +the captain’s message. + +By this time the passengers were in the dining salon. They were talking +to each other in excited tones in groups at the various tables, when +the chief steward arrived and delivered the captain’s message. + +At the captain’s table in the center of the salon sat Commander +Fitzgerald with Mrs. Ingleton and her daughter. They had been in the +dining room when the warning bugle was sounded. Mrs. Ingleton, being +somewhat nervous, was almost terror-stricken, and Fitzgerald was doing +his best to allay her fears. Mary however, was alive with intense +excitement. She could hardly restrain herself from clapping her hands +over the prospect of the adventure. “Oh! isn’t it thrilling!” she +exclaimed. + +Just then one of the passengers at a window on the port side shouted +across the room: + +“He’s getting very close to us. He’s coming very fast. Just look at +him!” + +The passengers who had remained seated started excitedly for the +windows. Before they could reach them there was the sound of an +explosion followed by a sizzling, ripping sound, and the ship shook +from stem to stern. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + + +An air of anxiety hung over the United States Naval Station at Pearl +Harbor on the Island of Oahu, six miles west of Honolulu. In the +office of the commandant sat Captain James H. Smith, an expression of +deep concern spread over his weather-beaten face. Seated with him and +sharing his gloomy thoughts was Air Commander Heathcote, commander of +the aerial forces using the Hawaiian archipelago as their basis. + +Both had just been discussing the airship Wilbur Wright which was now +several hours overdue. Not a single word had been received from her. +The fate of the Langley, only a few hours previously, was freshly +engraven on their memories. In fact the passengers were still aboard +the tramp steamer Yang-Tsze, which was ploughing its lubberly way +toward Manila. Now there loomed up the possibility that the Wilbur +Wright had shared the same fate. + +Both officers had dispatched every craft that was available under their +command to search the seas and the air, in accordance with orders from +Washington. All were in immediate wireless intercommunication with each +other, but none had sighted or heard from the overdue airship. + +Thus they sat and discussed the possibilities of the situation while +waiting impotently for information. Presently a messenger came in from +the naval radio station with a penciled note from the operator. It +stated that a distress signal had been received from the Wilbur Wright, +but that the operator had been unable to receive it completely owing +to interference from another station, that was working on the same +wavelength as the Wilbur Wright. + +Captain Smith showed the note to Heathcote, and the two men immediately +walked over to the wireless station. There the operator was frantically +endeavoring to get into touch with the Wilbur Wright. Upon the entrance +of the two commanders, the operator ceased his efforts long enough to +advise them of what had occurred. + +“I heard an S.O.S. call, Sir,” he said, “and it was signed by the +Wilbur Wright. The interference made it impossible to get the message, +but I got parts of it. I have been trying to get the Wilbur Wright +again, but now I don’t receive any answer at all, and the other +station has also stopped sending. I sent out a general call too, in +the hope that the nearby craft might answer in case the Wilbur Wright +didn’t, but there’s no reply. Here’s what I managed to get through the +interference.” + +The operator handed Captain Smith a slip of paper on which was written +parts of a message, just as they had been received by the operator, as +follows: + +“Captain Smith ** *** ** Honol * Wilbu * Wright *** itude 15.2 ** 52.35 +** craft believe ***** pirate ***” + +“That’s all I could get, Sir,” added the operator “and it’s just as it +came in.” + +Captain Smith and Commander Heathcote both pored over the fragmentary +message intently for several seconds. Then the former said: + +“It looks as though he were being attacked by the pirate and was trying +to tell us. Those figures are undoubtedly his position.” + +“Yes,” said Heathcote, “that’s probably the case. The first of those +figures is most likely to be his latitude, and the other his longitude. +There must be a figure missing though. It’s probably 15.2 N. and 152.35 +E. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to send out some patrol craft in that +general direction. I’ll order my outfit to proceed there immediately. +It may be that the station interfereing was the pirate himself.” + +Turning to the operator Commodore Heathcote asked whether any of the +aircraft, or the naval vessels had received the call from the airship. + +“I imagine they did, Sir,” replied the former, “but as soon as the call +came in I told everybody to keep off while I took the message. They +would probably listen in too, and take the message down, but I don’t +think they got anything more than I did. I didn’t bother to ask them, +because I have been busy trying to raise the Wilbur Wright ever since. +If you want me to I’ll ask them now.” + +“You might as well,” said the Commodore, “and then when you get the +flagships I’ll give you a message to send to the commanders.” + +The operator proceeded to send out a general call, and shortly +afterwards received replies from the flagships of the naval unit +and the aircraft squadron. He asked both of them whether they had +received the message from the Wilbur Wright, and after a brief wireless +communication learned they had received no more than he. + +While the operator was calling the patrol craft, the two commanders had +picked up a chart and pin-pointed the position given in the message. + +“It’s about four hundred miles from here,” said Heathcote. We could +probably get out there as soon as any of the ships on patrol duty. +The big P. Q. flying boat is the fastest thing around here. It’s +practically ready to take off any minute. I’m going out in her, do you +want to come along?” + +“You bet,” replied Captain Smith, glad to be active, and greatly +relieved that some of the uncertainty had passed. + +Heathcote turned over a message he had hurriedly written to the +wireless operator and ordered him to send it immediately to the +commander of the patrol aircraft. It advised the commander to proceed +to the position given with all possible speed, and make a careful +search within a radius of one hundred miles, and also to listen +carefully for any wireless messages from the Wilbur Wright. + +The two officers then went out to the seaplane landing beach, and +gave orders to the handling crew to get the P-Q flying boat ready. +This was quickly obeyed, and ten minutes later the big aircraft had +risen gracefully from the smooth waters of the harbor and was circling +rapidly to an altitude of five thousand feet. As soon as this height +was attained, the ship was straightened out and placed on a direct +course to the position given in the message from the Wilbur Wright. +Swiftly it passed over the mountainous archipelago, skirting the lofty +peaks of the volcanoes. + +Two hours later the look-out man in the forward gun nest shouted back +through the inter-communicating telephone: “There are some small +objects in the water, Sir. I can’t make out what they are.” + +Commodore Heathcote took his glasses and looked down, and then ordered +his pilot to make a landing near them. He also swept the skies in +search of other aircraft. In the distance the war planes that had been +on patrol duty were coming up at rapid speed. Heathcote ordered the +wireless operator of the P-Q to tell them he was going to land and +request them to circle around the vicinity until further orders. + +The pilot of the P-Q threw over the wheel control and pushed the rudder +bar with his feet. The big flying boat nosed over and down, then +went into a swift spiral dive. In rapid corkscrew movements it swept +down through the air five thousand feet in sixty seconds, and then +straightened out fifty feet above the surface of the sea. Two seconds +later it was skimming over the smooth surface less than a hundred feet +from the nearest boat. + +All doubt as to the nature of the objects in the water had now +vanished. There were six lifeboats, and they were from the airship +Wilbur Wright. As the flying boat taxied over towards them the +passengers let loose a rousing cheer and waved a welcome to their +rescuers. Through his glasses Commodore Heathcote made out the +uniformed figure of Captain Johnstone in the leading lifeboat. He told +his pilot to taxi over toward it. A few moments later the P-Q drew up +alongside. + +“What happened, Captain?” shouted Commodore Heathcote. + +“We were shot down by an airplane,” replied the airship commander, “we +have a lady passenger in serious condition and in need of immediate +hospital attention. It is Mrs. Ingleton, Secretary of the Navy’s wife. +Have you got any machine that would take her to Honolulu quickly? She +is in a critical condition. As soon as you take her off I’ll come over +and tell you what happened.” + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + + +One of the patrol airplanes, in response to an order from Commodore +Heathcote, came down and landed near the lifeboats, and transferred +Mrs. Ingleton from the captain’s boat. It then took off and started for +Honolulu at high speed. + +As soon as this operation had been completed, Captain Johnstone was +taken off his lifeboat, aboard the P-Q, flying boat, where he was +received in the after gunpit by the two government commanders. “I have +wirelessed for a couple of destroyers to come along here and pick +up the passengers and crew, Captain,” said Captain Smith. “It will +take them a few hours to get here, and we will stand by you till they +arrive. Tell us how it happened.” + +Captain Johnstone narrated the story of the second act of aerial piracy +that was destined within a few hours to shock the world into frenzied +action. + +“We had been fully warned about the Langley,” he began, “so I put the +ship a hundred miles off her course. At first I decided to fly to +Manila without a stop, but when we fetched up with Hawaii without any +sign of the pirate I changed my mind and decided to make Honolulu. + +“I’d scarcely changed my course when the lookout man observed a strange +craft at tremendous altitude. After an observation I figured it must +have been at least 45,000 feet up, and it was moving rapidly in +circles. Suddenly it commenced to spiral down toward us, and I decided +it was no time to take chances, and I ordered my wireless operator to +send out an S.O.S. + +“The stranger came down on us with terrific speed. He didn’t make a +sound, with the exception of the hum of his propeller. He soon reached +our level and circled around us. Then he fired a shot straight at us. +It went clean through the middle of the envelope. I gave orders to nose +down and land, but it was useless. The pirate was doing some great +shooting, and he soon had us disabled. + +“We settled quickly and he came down after us. As soon as we had landed +I had the boats out, and started putting the women in them. When we had +done this he came up alongside. A man leaned out of the window in the +body and shouted through a megaphone. + +“‘You’ve got a Miss Mary Ingleton of Washington on board. Where is +she?’” + +“As soon as he had asked this question another man stood up in a small +cockpit in the bows and fingered the trigger of a machine gun fixed +there. He looked as though he meant business. I hesitated a few moments +and tried to evade his question, but he shouted back: + +“‘I know she’s on board. Tell her to come right here, I want to speak +to her. I’m not going to stand any nonsense. If she’s not here in five +minutes, you will be placing all your passengers in danger. It’s up to +you.’ + +“Miss Ingleton was in my boat with her mother and Commodore Fitzgerald, +and she heard what the stranger had said. Mrs. Ingleton immediately +became hysterical and pleaded with me not to let her daughter go. +Fitzgerald was also against it, as he was quite sure the pirate would +not have the heart to endanger defenseless people. ‘All we’ve got to do +is to stand firm against him, and he’ll weaken,’ he told me. + +“I was in a terrible dilemma. Naturally I didn’t want to let Miss +Ingleton go over to the pirate, and I didn’t want to jeopardize the +rest of the passengers. We could only see the two men on the strange +airplane. They wore heavy flying clothes and had chamois masks over +their faces. I imagine that was for the high altitudes they were +flying, as well as for the purpose of disguise. While I was trying to +figure a way out, Miss Ingleton got up and said: + +“‘Let’s row over there, Captain. It won’t do any harm to talk to him +and find out what he wants.’ + +“I gave the order and my crew pulled away until we came within a few +feet of the airplane. As we drew up the fellow in the cabin leaned out +and asked: + +“‘Have you got Miss Ingleton on board that boat. Where is she?’ + +“Before I could answer Miss Ingleton stood up and said: + +“‘Here I am, what do you want?’ + +“‘We want you to come on board here,’ he replied. ‘If you do so we will +let the rest of the passengers alone. If you don’t come willingly we’ll +be compelled to use force.’ + +“To this Miss Ingleton answered: ‘I’ve got my mother with me, can she +come too?’ + +“‘No, we only want you,’ the fellow replied. + +“Mrs. Ingleton began to cry hysterically. ‘Don’t go Mary, don’t go, +I’m afraid.’ Her daughter spoke to her soothingly a few minutes and +tried to console her. Miss Ingleton was not in the least afraid and was +acting very calmly. I overheard her say to her mother: ‘I can take care +of myself, mother dear, don’t worry, you don’t want to make all these +other poor people suffer, do you. We can’t stop this man from doing +what he wants. If I don’t go willingly he can get me by force. I don’t +know what he wants, but he will probably let me come right back again.’ + +“After a little more pleading Miss Ingleton stood up again and shouted +over to the man in the airplane: ‘Alright, I’ll come over now.’ + +“I went to her, and said: ‘It’s funny that he should know that you were +on board. Do you recognize his voice.’ She said that as far as she knew +it was the first time she had heard it. It was quite strange to her +and she did not recognize it at all. I was trying to get a clue to the +man’s identity by asking her that question, but she couldn’t help me. + +“When we came up alongside, the fellow stood in the doorway of the +cabin and assisted Miss Ingleton on board. While he was doing this the +other man in the gun cockpit stood over us with a revolver in his hand. +As soon as Miss Ingleton was on board the airplane the fellow in the +doorway ordered us to shove off and lay clear. I tried to look into +the small doorway while we were alongside, but he stood so full in the +small aperture that it was impossible to see anything. + +“As soon as we fell away the cabin door was closed, and the airplane +started over to where the Wilbur Wright was lying awash in the water. +He evidently had a marine screw for use on the water, as his propellers +were not working. I saw some of the crew go aboard the disabled +airship. There seemed to be five of them. Whether any remained I don’t +know. They were there for upwards of twenty minutes, and during that +time one of them was engaged in passing most of the valuable cargo from +the airship to the airplane. Then they all got aboard the airplane +again and taxied away about a hundred yards. From that position they +opened fire on the Wilbur Wright and continued firing until she sank. + +“Suddenly the propellers of the airplane began to whirl around, and in +a few seconds she was in the air. She climbed with incredible speed and +disappeared in no time. We could not hear any motor sound at all, and +there was apparently no room for the motors where the propellers were +housed. The propellers must have been connected to the motors by means +of gears. + +“As soon as the airplane disappeared Mrs. Ingleton collapsed +completely. She had been buoyed up by the hope that her daughter would +come back, but now that the pirate had left without hesitation she was +heartbroken. We tried our best to console and revive her, but it was of +no avail. + +“After the pirate had disappeared I made the rounds of the boats to +find whether all my passengers and crew were safe. In the hurry we had +not had time to make a roll call. The round showed all the passengers +were safely on board with the exception of Miss Ingleton. All the +crew were also on board, except the second officer Howard Redmond, +who is missing. I made inquiries, but no one seems to have seen him +anywhere on the ship. I am afraid he is lost. I can’t account for his +disappearance. He must have got tangled up somewhere in the ship and +gone down with her.” + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + + +The sinking of the airship Wilbur Wright by the unknown aerial pirate, +coming as it did twenty four hours after the airship Langley had been +shot down, shocked the entire world, and caused a wave of anxiety to +surge through every civilized country. “Where will he strike next?” was +the thought on every mind. + +Its immediate effect was the wholesale cancellation of all commercial +air transport schedules along the Pacific railways, completely +isolating Australia and the Orient from rapid communication with the +rest of the world. + +This was followed by a universal demand that the pirate be tracked down +and brought to justice. Throughout the North American continent there +was an insistent demand by every newspaper for immediate action in +running down the menace. + +The question was immediately brought up before the executive committee +of the League of Nations, but at the request of the American member it +was decided to allow the United States Government to patrol the airways +and apprehend the pirate, particularly as only American ships had been +attacked thus far. + +The news of the Wilbur Wright attack brought the utmost consternation +to official Washington. To the Secretary of the Navy it brought the +added fear for his daughter’s safety and anxiety over the seriousness +of his wife’s condition. With his daughter actually in the power of the +unknown pirate, he was fearful lest harm should come to her when the +forces of the government bore down upon the outlaw. + +This fear weighed so heavily upon him that he gave expression to it at +the cabinet meeting which was called at once by the President to plan +the campaign against the pirate. As soon as the meeting was called to +order Secretary Ingleton arose and addressing the President, gave voice +to his fears and concluded by saying: “Therefore Mr. President I desire +to be excused from taking any part in formulating the plans that will +be devised to run down this man, because I feel my judgement might be +influenced by fears for my daughter’s safety. I will, however, pledge +myself to carry out as far as possible, wherever my department is +concerned, any plans that my colleagues may decide upon.” + +The President and the other members of the cabinet expressed their +sympathy with the Secretary of the Navy and assured him that in the +plans laid down every possible precaution would be taken to insure the +safety of his daughter. + +Then George Cowl, Secretary of Air, arose and read an official cipher +cablegram he had received from Commodore Heathcote describing the +attack on the Wilbur Wright in detail. + +“You will see,” he said, after reading the cablegram, “that its details +coincide exactly with those of the attack on the Langley. The methods +adopted in both cases are practically identical, except of course for +the abduction of Miss Ingleton. In fact to me there seems to be no +possibility of any doubt as to the pirate being the same in both cases. +The chances of there being two pirates operating in that vicinity are +extremely remote. + +“In laying our plans to hunt him down there is one important point to +bear in mind. He cannot operate without a base. He must have a base to +replenish his fuel, food and execute whatever repairs are necessary to +his machine after each flight. + +“It seems to me that our first task is to locate this base. It must be +on one of the Islands in the mid-Pacific groups. Another problem which +we must solve is this: What is his method of keeping his base supplied +with the necessary stores? + +“These are two very important points, and I think it would be wise +to investigate whether any coast vessels have been carrying cargoes +necessary to airplane maintenance, and whether they have been destined +to unusual places. It would also be a good plan to make inquiries at +all aircraft factories to ascertain whether they had by any chance +constructed the machine used by the pirate. Even from the meagre +description we have of the machine one gathers that its design is quite +out of the ordinary, and should be easy to trace if it was constructed +by any ordinary manufacturer. + +“The next thing in my opinion would be to issue explicit instructions +to all the naval radio operators in the Pacific. The incident yesterday +when the pirate shot down the Wilbur Wright and then inquired for Miss +Ingleton shows that he must be equipped with wireless, because there is +no other way in which he could have known she was on board. + +“The fact that he has wireless on board and uses it is borne out by +what occurred when the Wilbur Wright sent out an S.O.S. call. The +operator at Pearl Harbor was unable to get the complete message because +of interference, which, judging from all the facts in the case, could +have come from no one else except the pirate. + +“Under these circumstances I would suggest that a description of his +signals be obtained from the Pearl Harbor station operator and sent out +by rush cable to all the other operators with instructions to listen +for them at all times. + +“Then I would also suggest that the operators at Pearl Harbor, Guam and +Manila be instructed to adjust their Direction Finder apparatus on the +pirate immediately they hear him, and get a bearing on him. In this +way we might possibly be able to trace him to the base. We could also +arrange a new code for the operators to use in transmitting the results +of their Direction Finding bearings. This code should also be rushed +to them by cable, with the request that they repeat it back to us, so +that there will be no chance of any error. + +“So much for that phase. We must now lay plans for tracking him down +with patrols. In my opinion we must proceed with this on well organized +lines, and should use both naval and aircraft units. The latter should +be fast scouts with long cruising range. Dirigibles are too slow for +this work, I think, and too vulnerable against this man. We must +arrange a complete co-ordination between the wireless and the patrol +units, and the latter should be advised of all codes. + +“In this connection I have just received an interesting cable from +Commander Fitzgerald who was a passenger on the Wilbur Wright. Here it +is. He says: + +“‘Respectfully request that I be given opportunity of leading any +expedition against airplane which shot down airships. As Miss Ingleton +was under my escort I feel it a personal duty to see no harm comes to +her and that she be safely restored to her parents. I am anxious to go +after the pirate, and strongly urge my request be granted.’ + +“Now Fitzgerald had ample opportunity of getting a comprehensive idea +of the attacking airplane, and he observed it both on the water and +in the air. Therefore he is the logical man for the job. Moreover, +he undoubtedly feels he has been remiss in the pledge to look after +Mrs. Ingleton and her daughter and seeks to atone, although personally +I do not think there is anything else he could have done under +the circumstances. I propose putting him in command of the pursuit +forces and having Commodore Heathcote at Honolulu in charge of base +operations. I think that Honolulu would be the best place to base the +expedition because of its central location to the apparent field of the +pirate’s operations. + +“I think that we should have at least twelve squadrons of pursuit +airplanes for the task, and while they should be based on Honolulu for +repairs and refitting, I am in favor of having each squadron located at +some particular island so that it can be concentrated rapidly at any +particular spot the pirate is reported in. + +“The task of running down the pirate should be carried out by a double +arrangement, first a daily patrol and second a special concentrated +patrol. In the first case I would suggest that the squadrons be located +on islands approximately five hundred miles apart and that each +squadron be assigned to patrol a definite territory of approximately +five hundred miles square. This could be done each day with four +airplanes, leaving each squadron with fourteen machines in reserve for +emergency. + +“The patrolling airplanes would keep in constant wireless communication +with their squadron headquarters, and all the squadron headquarters +should be linked together by wireless or cable. The airplanes held in +reserve by each squadron will be kept in readiness at all times, and +in the event of a patrol airplane sighting the pirate, the reserve +machines will concentrate on the spot as soon as possible, after +receiving the wireless report. It would also be well to determine +the types of naval vessels to use, and the manner in which they can +co-operate with the aircraft. + +“Those are my views gentlemen, but I am willing and anxious to +co-operate in any other plan that you may adopt.” + +As Secretary Cowl finished, and even before he could sit down, a murmur +of approval swept through the room, and one or two of the cabinet +members actually clapped their hands in applauding the general plan +outlined by the head of the Air Department. For a few seconds there was +a spirited discussion as the members went over the points of Cowl’s +suggestions. Then John F. Seeley, the Secretary of War, arose and said: + +“The Secretary of Air has stated the case concisely and admirably. I +agree absolutely with all his main points and heartily concur in the +methods he had so masterly proposed to meet the menacing situation. +There is, however, one phase of the situation that he only touched +upon--the use of naval craft in the pursuit. + +“Under normal circumstances we would await the pronouncement of our +colleague of the Navy Department upon that subject, but in view of his +statement at the outset of this meeting I am presuming to venture a +suggestion in his place. + +“Before I do so, however, I want to state that there may be a very +grave question as to the efficacy of a surface patrol in this +situation, and I would very urgently suggest that before anything +definite is done that we consult with the experts of the Navy +Department as to the utility and feasibility of using naval vessels. + +“Should they decide that it would be feasible to use them, it seems to +me that since we are dealing solely with an aviation problem there are +only two classes of naval craft that can be at all considered in this +question--namely, destroyers and fast, light scout cruisers. Even these +are inadequate so far as speed is concerned, but we might find them +useful in long range, continuous patrol work. + +“In using naval craft we must determine the amount of territory that we +are going to patrol. Having definitely done this, we can then decide +the exact number of vessels we shall require under the plan that I am +going to propose to you. + +“From the vantage point of a destroyer’s decks or lookouts the skies +can be swept for a radius of approximately thirty miles. Therefore my +plan is this:--place flotillas of destroyers or squadrons of scout +cruisers on the ocean, each vessel to take a station sixty miles from +its neighbor in any direction. These vessels are to do patrol duty at a +predetermined speed along definite courses arranged so that the patrol +is constantly maintained over the same stretches of water. At no time +during the patrol must the sending apparatus of the wireless be used +by any vessel, but the operator on each ship must maintain a constant +watch at his receiver. + +“All these vessels should be equipped with a low powered wireless +sending apparatus. I believe such sets are available, and the radio +engineer should be instructed to adjust them so that they have a range +no greater than sixty-five miles. + +“If at any time it is necessary for the patrol craft to +intercommunicate they would use these sets for the purpose. In cases of +emergency they could use their regular sending apparatus. + +“In the event of the pirate being observed the word will be passed +along the lines by the wireless sets. In this connection I would +suggest a simple code to express that fact, which could be followed +by the figures of the position. For instance the letter O could be +used to express the meaning ‘pirate observed’. Suppose he were seen in +Longitude 178 E. and Latitude 12 N.; the signal sent along the lines +would be 'O 178 12'. + +“Immediately upon receipt of such a signal the vessels of the flotilla +would proceed to the general vicinity of that position at full speed +and render such assistance with their anti-aircraft guns as would be +possible under the circumstances. + +“That is the general plan I have to suggest, gentlemen. If it is +feasible the next question to be determined will be the extent of the +territory we must cover by this means.” + +A large map of the Pacific Ocean was spread across the table before +the members of the cabinet, and they had all studied it during the +discussion. At this stage the President said: + +“Well, gentlemen, if it is found feasible by the naval experts to use +naval vessels in this work, don’t you think that it would be advisable, +in order to save valuable time, to authorize the Secretary of the Navy +to go ahead along the lines of the plan that Mr. Seeley has outlined, +or along similar lines that may be suggested by the naval staff. I +also think that Mr. Cowl should be authorized to proceed under the +admirable plan that he has put forward for the forces controlled by his +department. + +“Before we go any further, however, I would like to state, in +connection with Mr. Seeley’s suggestion, that I have been studying +the map of the Pacific ocean. Of course I am not an expert, but at a +glance, it seemed to me that if naval vessels were used at all, it +would be a very good scheme to use them in a belt between the Hawaiian +archipelago and the Marshall Island group to the eastward. How much +territory would that involve Mr. Ingleton?” + +“Why, roughly speaking, Mr. President,” replied the secretary of the +navy after a quick calculation, “it would mean a belt of about two +thousand miles in length, and I presume three hundred miles in width. +This would not be impossible. In 1919, within our own memory, the Navy +Department spread out a network of destroyers across the Atlantic Ocean +over a distance as long, although not so wide, in connection with the +first flight across that ocean with the historic old NC seaplanes that +are now in the Smithsonian Institute. So far as the physical aspects +are concerned, such a patrol would not be impossible.” + +“That’s what I thought,” said the president. “There is another thing +that suggests itself to me, and it is this: Why not take advantage +of the location of the mid-Pacific islands as lookout positions, +place observers on each of them, and make them part of the general +observation system, with instructions to the observers to report +immediately to Honolulu if they should happen to sight the pirate. + +“Well, gentlemen, I propose that the different departments be empowered +to put the suggestions made here to practical use. The details of each +scheme can be worked out by the experts and then be put into operation.” + +Before any reply could be made to this suggestion, Secretary Ingleton +broke in and said: + +“Mr. President, the fears that beset me constantly arise in my mind, +and I cannot overcome them. I feel that in the circumstances I am +in no condition to actively prosecute the affairs of my department, +particularly as the most pressing problem of the department is in +connection with the cause of my own troubles. Therefore I desire +to tender my resignation right now, and transfer my department to +abler hands. I will send you, Mr. President, the formal notice of my +resignation as soon as this meeting is concluded, and I implore you to +accept it in the interests of the country. I am going to the Orient to +cheer my wife and aid in the search of my daughter.” + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + + +For two months after the attack on the Wilbur Wright the airways of +the Pacific Ocean remained free from the activities of the unknown and +mysterious flying pirate. The aerial transport companies slowly and +cautiously resumed their schedules as the government patrol system +steadily increased in efficiency and scope. + +Although the pirate had apparently suspended his operations, the +government had gone ahead with the organized plan developed at +Washington for dealing with the menace caused by his advent. By the end +of two months squadron after squadron of fighting airplanes had been +dispatched to the Pacific, and had taken up the duty of patrolling the +airways. + +Under the plan of stationing a squadron at every available island as +nearly as possible within five hundred miles of each other, squadrons +had already been distributed and established as follows: + +Squadron No. 1, at Johnston Island, Hawaiian Archipelago. + +Squadron No. 2, at Wake Island. + +Squadron No. 3, at Jaluit Island, Marshall group. + +Squadron No. 4, at Ponape Island, Eastern Carolines. + +Squadron No. 5, at Truk Island, Middle Carolines. + +Squadron No. 6, at Yap Island, Pelew group. + +Squadron No. 7 at Guam. + +Squadron No. 8 at Asuncion, Marianas. + +In addition to these, six reserve squadrons had their base at Honolulu +and were operating temporarily from the islands of Midway, Laysan, +Necker, Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii. All of the first eight squadrons were +now definitely engaged in patrolling the airways east of Honolulu. To +the westward the reserve squadrons and other squadrons on the Pacific +coast of the United States were doing similar work. Wing Commander +Fitzgerald in charge of pursuit operations had taken up headquarters +with squadron No. 2 on Wake Island as the most centrally located. + +The squadrons on the islands had each twelve airplanes in reserve at +all times. Their headquarters had been linked together with special +cable arrangements wherever facilities permitted. Where cables did not +exist special wireless stations had been installed, and the code system +had been definitely agreed upon. + +The big naval wireless stations at Honolulu, Guam and Manila had been +designated to control all operations within their respective zones, +and the Honolulu station was in supreme charge of the entire situation +so far as wireless was concerned. Each of the three big stations was +equipped with the latest type of Direction Finder apparatus. + +Thus slowly, methodically and persistently the government laid the +trap which it hoped would ensnare the man who had caused the havoc +that threatened to entirely disrupt all aerial transportation. As yet, +however, the quarry had refused to snap at the bait and in fact had +apparently vanished completely so far as information revealed. The +routine of the organized plan, however, was continued daily, with an +occasional alarm to test the efficiency of the system. + +Commodore Heathcote at Honolulu, who was in control of all base +operations, had taken a keen interest in all the plans for the pursuit +of the pirate and had personally tested all the arrangements. More +particularly was he interested in the wireless arrangements for +co-operating with the aerial fleets. + +As soon as he was appointed, he made it a point of going to the naval +radio station at Honolulu and familiarizing himself with the methods +employed by the operators in picking up the signals of the pirate and +getting his location in the event the latter should use his wireless +apparatus. He listened attentively as the chief operator explained to +him the working of the Direction Finder. + +“The theory of its operation is very simple, Sir,” said the latter, +“although some complicated calculations enter into the working out of +a position due to certain variations that have to be determined and +allowed for.” + +“You see this loop of wire around this frame,” continued the operator +pointing to a large square wooden frame, around the edge of which a +wire was wound several times in parallel loops, with the two ends of +the wire attached to another piece of apparatus. “Well it was found +several years ago that such a ‘loop’ produced peculiar results when +placed in the path of a train of electro-magnetic waves. It was found +that if the edge of the loop was pointed toward the direction from +which the waves were coming, signals would be recorded on the apparatus +connected with it. In other words a small current was induced in the +coil which was then registered by the delicate detectors and recording +instruments. + +“Now if the coil is turned so that its edge is at right angles to the +path of the waves there is absolutely no current induced in it. In +fact the moment the edge of the coil is turned away, either to the +right or the left, from the true direction of the wireless waves, the +signals immediately decrease in strength, and this decrease is more +pronounced the more the coil is turned toward the right angle position. +As a matter of fact the amount of current picked up by the loop is so +small that we have to employ apparatus that amplifies or increases the +effect produced by the current, consequently signals picked up from +long distance are only received when the edge of the coil is pointing +directly towards them. + +“As you see, we use a compass with the Direction Finder. With that +we are able to get the bearing of the coil in degrees as soon as the +adjustment for the strongest signals has been completed. That bearing +of course tells us in what direction the station sending out the +messages is located. Of course there have to be allowances made for +magnetic deviation and certain other factors, but they are all charted +and comparatively easy to apply.” + +“That’s very interesting,” said Commodore Heathcote, “very interesting, +but as I understand it that only gives you the direction of the sending +station. How do you find his exact location?” + +“Well, we do that with the aid of two known wireless stations and +triangulation,” replied the operator. “It’s done this way. Take for +instance the station at Guam and this station. Suppose there is a ship +at sea between us that is sending out signals, and we wish to determine +its exact location. First of all I get a bearing on the ship with my +Direction Finder, and of course Guam is doing the same thing with +its apparatus at the same time. Now we know the exact latitude and +longitude of both Guam and this station. As soon as I get the bearing I +take a chart and then work out the angle of the bearing to our meridian +of longitude and continue the resulting line of that angle across the +chart. + +“Guam then tells me what bearing he has obtained on the ship. I +repeat the operation by obtaining the angle of Guam’s bearing to his +meridian, and also continue the line across the chart. Somewhere on +the chart the two lines will cross each other, and the point where +they cross is the exact location of the ship that is sending out the +wireless signals. If the ship is moving we repeat the process in a +couple of hours, and that gives us an exact line on the course the ship +is following. That’s how it is done, Sir.” + +“By George!”, exclaimed Heathcote, “that’s wonderful. Now I’m sorry +I didn’t pay more attention to wireless. Why, there are marvelous +possibilities in that. The more I think of it the more it appears to be +the only way in which we shall be able to track this fellow down. God +help him if ever he opens his wireless mouth.” + +“If he does, Sir, we’ll get him sure,” said the operator with the +earnestness of conviction. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + + +Day after day had passed in continuous patrol by the aircraft +units without event. The concentrated destroyer and cruiser patrol +discussed by the President and his cabinet in Washington had not been +established, as the experts of the naval staff had considered it would +be ineffectual in the circumstances. By this time practically all the +aircraft of the aerial patrol developed in detail at the conference in +Washington had been placed at their respective posts over the Pacific +Ocean, and the whole plan was functioning well. The airway had remained +clear so far as anything of piratical intent was concerned, and the +aerial transit lines were very close to normal again. + +So the daily round of routine passed until one morning, about ten weeks +after the pirate had made his conspicuous advent, the operator at the +Honolulu naval wireless station was suddenly moved into intensive +concentration by strange signals in the receivers about his ears. +Although they were continuous wave signals and lacked the individuality +of the old type spark signals, there was nevertheless a very familiar +aspect about the sending itself that caused the operator to pay the +closest attention to the signals. + +Switching hurriedly to the Direction Finder apparatus he began to work +feverishly with the searching coil, moving it around slowly within +the radius of a narrow arc as he adjusted the delicate receiving +instruments connected with it. While he worked with excited but +skillful haste, he turned around to his assistant and exclaimed: + +“I’ve got the pirate. Get Manila and Guam on the cable quick. Tell them +to get a bearing on him. He’s using a five thousand meter wave. Rush it +before he stops sending.” + +The assistant jumped to the table where the cable apparatus was located +and in a few seconds had flashed the news across the Pacific that set +the operators at the other two control stations busy. + +“Gee!”, yelled the chief operator in delight after a few more seconds +intensive work, “I’ve got my bearing on him. If the other fellows hurry +up they can get one too before he stops. Get Mr. Heathcote on the +’phone. Tell him we’ve got the pirate, and that we’ve got a bearing on +him. My bearing reads W by S 78. Rush it quick now. This looks like the +best chance we may get.” + +In response to the telephone message Commodore Heathcote came rushing +over to the wireless station personally. + +“Have you heard from Manila or Guam yet?” he inquired. + +“Not yet, Sir,” replied the operator. + +“Is the pirate still sending?” + +“No Sir, he stopped just before you came in.” + +At this moment the cable instruments began to work, and the assistant +operator read out aloud each word from off the tape as it came in: + +“Guam--got--bearing--on--pirate--just--before--he +stopped--sending--but not--finally--adjusted--for +maximum--signals--bearing--as--obtained--is--E by S 82.” + +“Fine,” said Commodore Heathcote, “you say yours was W by S 78. +Alright, give me that chart.” + +Quickly and steadily the air officer worked out the triangulation +of the bearing on the chart, first obtaining the bearing line on +the Honolulu reading, then one from the Guam bearing. When this was +completed he continued the resulting lines across the chart until they +crossed one another. + +“That puts him roughly in latitude 16.50 N. and longitude 179 W.” he +mused to himself, “Let’s see now, that’s about 700 miles from Wake +Island, and--er--about 500 miles from Johnston Island.” + +Turning to the operator he said: “Get Commander Fitzgerald on the cable +at Wake Island quickly. Tell him we have heard the pirate sending by +wireless from Latitude 16.50 N. and Longitude 179 W. Tell him to rush +to that position at full speed with every available machine in his +squadron. Tell him that we will advise him by wireless code of any +change in the pirate’s position we may get. If he doesn’t hear from us +again, tell him to make a general search of that vicinity as soon as +he arrives there. By the way you haven’t heard from Manila, have you?” + +“No, Sir.” + +“Alright, get Wake Island first, then when you have sent the message +call up Manila and ask him if he got a bearing. If he did we may be +able to work out a more definite position.” + +The assistant operator at the cable complied with the Commodore’s +request, and in a few moments got an acknowledgment of the receipt of +the message from Wake Island. Then he called up Manila. After a short +conversation with the operator at the latter station, he told the +Commodore that Manila had not been able to get his instruments adjusted +properly before the pirate stopped sending. + +“Alright, never mind, we’ll do the best we can with this,” said +Commodore Heathcote, “Let’s see now, there’s no cable at Johnston +Island is there? Well, I don’t know whether it would be advisable to +notify the squadron there by wireless or not. The position that we +would have to give with the message would tip the pirate off that we +were on his trail. Wait a little while till we hear from Fitzgerald, +and then I’ll tell you what to do. In any case it will not take the +machines at Johnston Island so long to get to the position as it will +Fitzgerald’s squadron.” + +About five minutes later a cable reply was received from Commodore +Fitzgerald at Wake Island. It said that fourteen airplanes of the +squadron stationed on the island were ready to take off and would +start out immediately to the position given. + +“That’s fine,” said Heathcote, “it will take them about three and a +half hours to get there. Fitzgerald will undoubtedly use his judgment +in spreading his forces so as to cover as wide an area as possible. +Keep our ears open for the pirate, and if he sends again get a bearing +on him if possible so that we can get an idea of the course he is +following. Tell Manila and Guam the same thing over the cable. Don’t +use your wireless at all. I’ll be back again soon and let you know when +to advise the Johnston Island squadron. If you get another position let +me know immediately.” + +“Alright sir,” replied the operator. + +Before Commodore Heathcote got to the door, the operator at the cable +instruments called to him to wait a moment as a message was coming. A +few seconds later, he said: + +“It’s from Wake Island, sir, he says that Commander Fitzgerald with +fourteen airplanes has just left in pursuit of the pirate.” + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + + +For two hours after Commander Fitzgerald and his squadron left Wake +Island a wireless silence reigned over the Pacific Ocean. Throughout +that period the operators at the naval wireless stations of Honolulu, +Guam and Manila sat with the telephone receivers glued to their ears +listening with concentrated attention for the slightest sound from the +pirate. + +In the meantime the squadron of pursuit airplanes was speeding over the +vast reaches of the ocean at slightly better than two hundred miles +an hour toward the position given in the cable message from Honolulu. +They were now within a flying distance of one hour and a half from that +spot. The question revolving in the mind of Commander Fitzgerald as he +sped along was the probability of the pirate rushing along from the +position given at a speed equal to, or even greater than their own. The +next two hours would determine that all important point. + +Suddenly in all three of the great naval wireless station the signals +from the pirate’s airplane were heard again simultaneously. Clearly +and distinctly they came across the intervening space. Apparently the +operator on board was merely trying out his apparatus because he was +not sending out any intelligible message. Nevertheless the operators +at the naval stations took full advantage of the situation and trained +their Direction Finders on him. A few moments work and all three +obtained bearings before the pirate operator ceased sending. + +“’Phone Commodore Heathcote quick,” yelled the chief operator at the +Honolulu station to his assistant. This done he continued, “Now get +Guam and Manila and ask them if they got bearings.” + +Before the cable queries were sent and answered Commodore Heathcote +entered the station. + +“What do you make it this time?” he inquired breathlessly. + +“Why, Sir, it’s very strange,” said the operator, “but my reading +is exactly the same as last time. I’m waiting to see what Guam and +Honolulu say so that I can check up with them.” + +“Here’s the Guam report now,” broke in the assistant operator from the +cable table. “It says ‘my bearing is the same as last time. I made two +adjustments but obtained the same results each time.’” + +“Alright,” said Heathcote, “Now call up Manila and see if by any chance +he has succeeded in getting a reading. He was forewarned this time, and +may have got a bearing. If he has it will act as a complete check on +the position.” + +After a few seconds’ work, the operator at the cable instruments got up +and said: “Yes sir, he obtained a bearing, and he reports that it is E +by N 87.” + +“That’s good, let’s see what it shows,” replied Heathcote as he picked +up a chart and commenced to work upon it. + +“By George!” he continued a few moments later, “that absolutely +confirms your first observation and puts the position at 16.50 N., +179 W. The only explanation I can give for it is that the pirate has +been flying in circles around that general vicinity, probably for the +purpose of picking up and attacking some commercial airship. If he +only keeps there, Fitzgerald will get to him within the next hour. We +couldn’t have wished for anything better.” + +“Shall I advise Commander Fitzgerald by wireless, sir?” asked the +operator. + +“No,” replied Heathcote, “keep quiet. Fitzgerald is going to that +position as fast as he can get there. He will continue on his course +I’m sure, even though he does not hear from us, and it will bring him +there shortly. If you send any signals now it will tip the pirate off. +Fitzgerald will be able to tackle him with his squadron, and won’t need +any assistance. This looks like a great chance to get this fellow. I +don’t think it would be wise to send the Johnston Island squadron after +him. No, the best thing we can do now is to keep quiet. Tell Guam and +Manila the same thing. Tell them under no circumstances to use their +wireless again without instructions from us.” + +For the next hour Heathcote remained in the wireless station. Both he +and the chief operator were in a state of suppressed excitement. The +latter listened intently for the slightest sound. In their minds both +conjured up a picture of the dramatic scene that they were certain +was about to be enacted close to the central meridian of the eastern +world, a scene they felt sure would cause a thrill to surge throughout +civilization. The minutes ticked slowly by until more than an hour +passed since the second reading had been obtained. Then across the +ether came this signal from Fitzgerald’s airplane: + +“PCG.” + +That was all. Heathcote, keenly alert, had noticed the almost +imperceptible movement of the operator as the signal commenced and +leaned over his shoulder as the latter wrote down the three letter +signal. + +“Good,” exclaimed the commodore, “that means he has sighted the pirate. +Now things will begin to happen in a few minutes. Everything depends +upon the speed and maneuvrability of the pirate machine. If it is no +better than our own machines we’ll get him sure.” + +Patiently the three men in the wireless station waited for what seemed +an eternity. Then suddenly there came this signal: + +“AE.” + +“That means he has engaged the pirate,” said Heathcote, “and has opened +fire. Keep your ears open now for everything that comes along. There’s +nothing more we can do but wait.” + +And wait they did. For thirty long minutes not a sound came from the +spot in the vast Pacific where was being fought the momentous battle +in the skies that was to determine the immediate future of commercial +transport. At the end of that period Heathcote could no longer restrain +his impatience. He said to the operator: + +“Send out a call to Fitzgerald and ask him what has happened if you can +get him.” + +The operator obeyed. For several minutes he called repeatedly, but +could get no reply. Suddenly at the end of ten minutes he began to +adjust his receiving apparatus very carefully with his right hand, +while with his left hand he pressed the telephone receiver tightly into +his ear. He continued this for several minutes and then with a sigh of +disappointment relaxed. + +“What’s the trouble,” asked Commodore Heathcote. + +“I couldn’t raise Commander Fitzgerald’s ship,” replied the operator, +“but I heard very faint signals that sounded like the sending of the +pirate operator. I thought perhaps he was using a small powered set. +I tried to amplify the signals, but it was no use. He was sending +something but I couldn’t make out what it was.” + +“That’s strange,” said the air officer, “I wonder what’s happened. +In any case if that was the pirate it means that he is still flying, +otherwise he wouldn’t be sending by wireless. I wonder why Fitzgerald +doesn’t reply.” + +“Oh, here he is now, sir,” said the operator, “he’s sending something. +Wait now.” + +Picking up a pencil the operator began to write the following: + +“Why do you impose such a condition. Why don’t you act like a man. You +ought to take a fair chance or none at all.” + +“Is that what he said?” asked Heathcote, and receiving an answer in the +affirmative continued, “I wonder what he means? That certainly sounds +funny.” + +The operator listened in for several minutes but no further messages +were sent. He had just made up his mind to call up Fitzgerald when +signals began coming in. Turning to Commodore Heathcote the operator +exclaimed. + +“Here’s Commander Fitzgerald calling us now, Sir.” + +The operator answered the call, and then began to write: + +“Heathcote Honolulu: We sighted the pirate flying in circles at +approximate altitude of twenty-five thousand. At that time we were +in widespread formation at fifteen thousand. I gave order to ascend +to twenty-five thousand. The pirate continued flying on his circular +course until we came within range. + +“I ordered our machines to open fire at three thousand yards, and +the pirate returned it. Suddenly he straightened out his course and +commenced to fly due north. We followed up, but he evidently had +greatly superior speed and greater climbing ability. We started the +chase but he soon outdistanced us, and he is now disappearing over the +northern horizon. We were making two hundred miles an hour, but he must +be doing close to three hundred miles an hour. We were hopelessly +outclassed. Just as he was disappearing we received a call from him by +wireless. He sent us the following message: + +“‘You took us by surprise today, and we weren’t ready to engage you. We +are not afraid of your superior numbers. We are going back to our base +for more ammunition. We shall be back at the same position tomorrow at +this time, and will join action with you on the following conditions: +that you do not bring any more airplanes with you than you have today; +that no other machines are held in reserve; and that you do not send +any destroyers or cruisers to this position. We are willing to give you +battle on those terms. By the way, we promised to give Miss Ingleton a +flight tomorrow.’ + +“You can easily see the significance of that last sentence. I +will discuss this with you by cable when we get back to our +base.--Fitzgerald.” + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + + +Three hours after the dramatic scene had been enacted in Mid-Pacific, +Commander Fitzgerald and his squadron landed at their base on +Wake Island. After ordering the mechanics to examine the machines +thoroughly, Fitzgerald went to the telegraph office where, with the aid +of the operator, he resumed his conversation with Commodore Heathcote +at Honolulu. It began with a detailed description of the remarkable +encounter with the pirate over the vast expanse of the Pacific. It +told of the receipt of the wireless challenge from the pirate with its +sardonic conclusion and continued with Fitzgerald exclaiming: + +“My God, Heathcote, it looks as though he were carrying Miss Ingleton +with him as a shield wherever he goes. It certainly complicates the +situation for us.” + +“It’s a terrible dilemma,” agreed Heathcote, “but we’ve got a duty to +perform. Don’t you think perhaps that the last part of his message is a +bluff to scare us off and insure his immunity from attack?” + +“It may be,” came back the answer, “but we can’t afford to take any +chance on it.” + +“That may be true,” replied Heathcote, “and there’s no doubt that if +you attack him you will jeopardize the life of Miss Ingleton, but we +must not allow the last circumstance to deter us from making the attack. + +“The pirate may not be as careful of life in future attacks as he has +been in the past if he gets the impression that he has secured immunity +from attack by the presence of Miss Ingleton on board. It is a stern +situation that faces us, but my judgement is that we have a duty +confronting us, and that we must perform that duty irrespective of the +consequences.” + +“It may be just a blind to cover up his operations somewhere else,” +said Fitzgerald. + +“Well, if it’s a plant,” replied Heathcote, “we will have to take care +of the situation to the best of our ability with the other squadrons. +They have all been advised now and are on the alert. If he’s on the +level about coming to the same position, it’s a good chance to have a +go at him. You ought to be able to take his measure with your squadron, +if he will stand the fight and not take advantage of his great speed.” + +“Don’t misunderstand me,” Fitzgerald shot back, “I desire nothing +better than to try conclusions with him, and I’m anxious to get back +there. I was only discussing the possibilities of the situation so +that we couldn’t get left anywhere. You don’t realize how serious the +situation is with me, old man. I may as well tell you right now that +I am desperately in love with Miss Ingleton and would willingly give +my life for her, and now I am placed in a position where by doing my +duty I may take her life. Oh, I know the dictates of duty allow but one +decision, but I’m human. Besides, I have another duty to her parents. +I promised them to take care of her under all circumstances. Don’t you +see what a difficult position I am in?” + +“Yes, I understand,” replied Heathcote, “and I certainly sympathize +with you, but it seems to me the best thing to do under the +circumstances will be for you to proceed to the position we located +him in yesterday, with your squadron fully prepared to engage him. You +ought to arrange to arrive there as nearly as possible at the same +time as today. I’ll tell my wireless operator and the operators at +Guam and Manila to keep a sharp lookout for him. If he starts sending +by wireless we can check up on his position and let you know where he +is. If he does show up I think that you ought to engage him and take a +chance of disabling him if possible. If you could do that and compel +him to alight on the surface of the ocean there might be a chance of +saving Miss Ingleton. What do you think?” + +“Alright then, I’ll go back to that position at the same time +tomorrow,” replied Fitzgerald, “I’ll be ready to engage him if he shows +up. I’ll also be on the lookout for any communication from you. I’ll do +the best I can and instruct every pilot in my squadron to do likewise.” + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + + +The following day dawned fair and clear, and with everything +prearranged Fitzgerald and his squadron set out again to the rendezvous +with the pirate, but without the keen desire and light-heartedness that +marked their departure on the previous day. + +Fitzgerald’s heart was heavy with fear but he was now on his way +determined to engage the pirate no matter what the consequences to his +beloved might be. For the moment he was a man prompted in his actions +solely by the strength of a single determination. + +From the time his squadron left its base at Wake Island a hundred ears +listened patiently but anxiously upon the various islands for the +outcome, and the operators at the three big naval wireless stations +were keenly alert on their jobs. Each minute that slowly passed by was +almost a lifetime of concentrated effort for them. For two long weary +hours this condition prevailed. Then came the break in the monotony, +as all three simultaneously heard the signals of the pirate’s wireless +voice. + +Feverishly they worked with their Direction Finders. Each moment was +precious, as there was no telling when the pirate operator would cease +his voluntary effort, particularly as he must be fully aware by this +time that his tell-tale signals were betraying his location to the +alert ears of the government operators. Still he continued sending as +though blissfully ignorant of the fact. + +A few moments of intensive work on the part of the naval operators +completed their important task, and a brief cable intercommunication +gave the operator at Honolulu all three bearings. These the latter +quickly worked out on the chart. The resulting position showed the +pirate was practically in the same locality that he had been detected +in the previous day. Shortly before this Commodore Heathcote had +entered the wireless room to await the outcome of the situation, and he +went over the position with the operator. + +“Well, that’s alright,” said Heathcote; then as though thinking aloud, +he continued, “It shows he has kept the first part of his challenge. +Now if he’ll only stand a fight we may get him, but can we save Miss +Ingleton, that’s the question? There’s another thing that I’m worried +about too, and that’s his willingness to fight. He has already shown +that he possesses superior speed to us and he may have another surprise +up his sleeve as far as fighting is concerned. I can think of no other +reason for his apparent willingness to accept a fight against greater +odds. Still if he has such a surprise we might as well learn it by +experience now as later. It may mean the safety of Miss Ingleton. +Anyway once we know what it is we can take steps to meet it in the +future. One thing I’m sure of and that is Fitzgerald will give him a +good fight even if it means sacrificing Miss Ingleton. He puts duty +above everything else.” + +Then to the operator he said: + +“Call up Fitzgerald and tell him by code we’ve located the pirate in +the same position.” + +This the operator did, and then for slightly more than an hour another +weary wait ensued for the watchers ashore. Presently came the signal +from Fitzgerald that he had sighted the pirate, and this was followed +twenty minutes later by the three letter code indicating the battle +had opened between the man who had outlawed himself and the organized +forces of government. + +It was the signal for anxious moments in the wireless station, where +the full significance of the momentous battle was fully understood. +Would the pirate stand his ground to the conclusion of the encounter +and risk Miss Ingleton and himself, or would he again take advantage of +his great speed and flee from the scene at the critical moment of the +fight? Did he have Miss Ingleton aboard, as he intimated he would in +his wireless challenge? Had he really some battle surprise to spring on +his unwary but numerous opponents? + +These questions were to be fully answered within a short time, but in +the period of uncertain waiting that had to elapse before the outcome +of the battle could be learned every possible angle of the tense +dramatic situation revolved again and again within their minds. + +For ten epochal minutes they waited and then came another three letter +code signal from Fitzgerald. Air Commodore Heathcote quickly decoded it. + +“It says the engagement is now general. That means the pirate is +standing his ground and risking everything. Now we’ll soon know whether +he has got any surprise in store for us or not.” + +For another fifteen minutes the watchers at the wireless station waited +with as much patience as they could command. Then suddenly the operator +with almost imperceptible movement straightened up in his chair, picked +up his pencil and began to write: + +“R. C. G.” + +“Good God!” exclaimed Heathcote, “that means the pirate has been +vanquished. Get Fitzgerald back as quick as you can and ask him to give +us a brief outline of the fight right away. Ask him if Miss Ingleton +was saved. My God, get him quick! This suspense is killing.” + +Without waiting to reply the operator grasped his key and sent out the +call, while the air commodore leaned over his shoulder impatiently. In +a few minutes the answer came back: + +“I am flying direct to Honolulu, but will stop at Johnston Island +for fuel. I will make a complete report. We have won the victory, +but I have lost my soul. The pirate airplane was shot down and sank +immediately with all hands, including Miss Ingleton.” + +Heathcote read the message word by word mechanically as the operator +wrote it down. Then in a brief flash its full significance sank +deep within his mind, and he collapsed in his chair from the mental +overstrain. + +“Oh! my God!” he exclaimed weakly. “Have we done right. What shall I +do.” + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + + +Hour after hour Heathcote, a prey to conflicting emotions, waited with +patience at the landing beach of the Pearl Harbor seaplane station for +the arrival of Fitzgerald from the scene of action. Ten hours after the +momentous battle in the skies had been fought the leading pursuit plane +of number two squadron hove in sight and quickly came to a landing in +the bay. + +As it drew up alongside the landing beach, mechanics waded out and +carried Commander Fitzgerald back on their shoulders to the beach. He +was almost exhausted from the long physical and mental strain he had +undergone. Heathcote rushed over to him, and grasping him by the arm, +almost shouted in his anxiety. + +“Come over to my office quick, and tell me all about it.” + +The two men walked over to the executive buildings and entered +Heathcote’s office, where Fitzgerald literally fell into a chair from +exhaustion and explained: + +“Get me a stimulant of some kind, and then I’ll tell you what happened.” + +A few moments later he began his narrative of the encounter with the +pirate: + +“We arrived at the position and found conditions about the same as +yesterday,” he began. “The pirate was circling around at about the +same altitude. I had maneuvered to the north of him to be in a better +position in case he should determine to run. + +“As soon as we came within 3,000 yards of him I was about to give the +signal to open fire, when he began to send us a message on his short +range wireless set. In it he said: + +“‘I see you have complied with the conditions I stated yesterday. Are +you still determined to fight?’ + +“I told him I was, and then he said: + +“‘Well, I thought it was only fair to tell you that I have Miss +Ingleton on board. She is coming out to wave to you.’ + +“By this time we were pretty close to the pirate’s machine. As he +finished sending a figure from the forward gunner’s cockpit, and, after +standing upright a few moments as though in doubt, began to wave to +us rather weakly. The figure was clad in flying clothes and it was +impossible to recognize who it was. There was, however, something about +the waving of the arm that suggested a feminine rather than a masculine +gesture. In my mind there was no doubt that it was Miss Ingleton. + +“The sight of her standing there helpless at the pirate’s mercy, and +undoubtedly compelled to do his bidding, made me see red. It was a good +thing for the pirate that he was not near me at the time. I could have +torn him limb from limb in my fury. + +“The effect on the rest of my squadron was the same. I had discussed +the situation fully with my pilots before we left Wake Island and had +impressed upon them the fact that duty was paramount to everything. +Despite their anger at the pirate’s tactics they were not at all +anxious to be instrumental in the death of a woman. Still they were +ready to obey my orders. + +“I signaled back to the pirate to get ready for action because I +was going to attack immediately and not waste any further time in +theatricals. That’s what I told him. There was a change of figures in +the forward cockpit of the pirate’s machine, which was undoubtedly the +gunner taking the place of Miss Ingleton who went inside the machine. + +“I gave the order to engage and all our ships opened fire with +incendiary shells. The pirate answered vigorously. We soon found +the range but he began a series of lightning-like maneuvers that +demonstrated the remarkable qualities of his machine, particularly in +its ability for rapid climb. He commenced to climb, and we followed +him, but we were outclassed. + +“He was putting up a magnificent fight, and with the advantage of +maneuvrability in his favor, he succeeded in shooting down two of our +machines in the first two minutes of the encounter. This loss fired the +rest of our squadron with the desire to finish the pirate once for all. + +“The action was now general. Our men were firing every time there was +an opportunity. The advantage of superior maneuvring ability enjoyed by +the pirate, however, put him in a favorable position of immunity from +concentrated attack, because we were so numerous there was a chance +that we might hit one another. Consequently our men were only firing +when they got an absolute sight on the pirate’s machine. + +“After a few minutes indulged in these tactics the pirate began a rapid +descent, and we followed him as closely as possible. The battle was +continued throughout the maneuvre of descent. + +“Down came the pirate until he wasn’t more than a hundred feet from +the surface of the ocean. In this position he went through a number of +rapid evolutions fighting desperately all the time. At this altitude +he showed considerable daring and succeeded in downing another of our +machines. Our men were having more difficulty at the low altitude, +especially while turning. + +“Quite suddenly it was noticed that the forward gunner on the pirate +machine was missing from his position, and for several seconds there +had not been a shot fired from any part of his machine at all. Before +the pirate could resume action one of our ships seemed to get a lucky +hit, and the most remarkable thing I have ever seen occurred. The wings +of the pirate machine literally crumpled up, and it plunged into the +sea. It was not a nose dive, because he went under at a wide angle with +terrific speed, leaving a tremendous wash of water behind. The whole +thing happened so quickly that it was impossible to give an accurate +description of the scene. + +“We cruised around for a few minutes, but there was no further sign of +the pirate’s machine. It had disappeared completely and carried all +hands with it. We had hoped to be able to rescue Miss Ingleton, and I +landed on the surface and cruised around near the scene looking for +every possible chance to do this, but our efforts were in vain. There +was not a single trace left of him. Apparently he had sunk absolutely +and completely. There was not even a trace of oil on the surface where +he disappeared. + +“I am sorry to say that Flight Lieutenants Frank, Evans and Dallinger +were killed in the action together with their gunners and mechanics. +Their machines were completely lost, and we were unable to render them +any assistance. That is our story, all there is of it.” + +As he concluded, Fitzgerald rose to his feet unsteadily. A marked +change had come over him as he reached the climax of his dramatic +story. He was plainly in the throes of dispair. Upon his face there was +a look of horror, and his hands were tightly clenched by the intensity +of his feelings. His whole frame shook violently as he raised his arms +and then shouted with a frenzy that was almost histerical: + +“I have done my duty,--yes, I have done my duty, but I have damned +my heart and soul. For the rest of my life the vision of my beloved +standing irresolute and waving her arm with such hesitant fear in the +pirate’s machine will be forever before me. I cannot cast it from my +mind. It remains to prey upon my conscience. I have done my duty, but +at what a price,--I am through. Oh! my God! I’ve killed the woman I +love!” + +The light of passion died out in Fitzgerald’s eyes. He wavered a moment +upon his tired feet and then collapsed from sheer exhaustion and mental +agony. Heathcote rushed over to him and with some difficulty managed +to get him into a chair. He then reached for restoratives and began to +apply them. + +As he worked the door of his office opened. Heathcote looked up. On +the threshold stood Arthur Ingleton, former secretary of the Navy. +For several seconds the two men looked at each other, then Ingleton +exclaimed: + +“Tell me, what has happened to my daughter?” + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + + +Thus came the climax to the most remarkable piratical adventure in +history. Glaring headlines in the newspapers throughout the world +told the story of the dramatic battle in the skies and brought a sigh +of relief to the inhabitants of every country that the menace of the +pirate had been removed. Editorials galore were written pointing out +the futility of such excursions into outlawry and praising the action +of organized government that planned and executed so successfully the +measures against the man who had placed himself outside the pale of the +law. + +Although the news of the pirate’s demise brought a feeling of +satisfaction to the world in general to two persons in Honolulu it +brought calamity. To one, a father, it brought grief over the tragic +death of his only daughter and fear for the recovery of his wife who +had been prostrated from shock ever since the forcible abduction of +her daughter by the pirate. To the other, the victor over the pirate, +after a brief moment of merciful oblivion, it brought a state of +collapse of all his forces of vitality which set in as a result of the +complications that had followed upon his physical fatigue and grave +mental anguish. + +Fitzgerald’s condition had become so serious after his collapse that +it had been necessary to remove him immediately to the post hospital. +There physicians were attempting to restore him, but his mental +condition was such that they expressed grave fears over the chances of +his recovery. + +By one of the strangest freaks of fortune, Arthur Ingleton had arrived +on the transpacific airship at Honolulu at the dramatic moment in +Fitzgerald’s narrative. He arrived to begin the quest for his daughter, +only to learn that she had been killed. + +His was a tragic quandary. On the one hand he found his mission set to +naught at its very inception by the irony of fate, and on the other +he was confronted with the task of breaking the news to his wife who +was already in a serious condition as the result of the abduction of +her daughter. What effect would the news of her death have upon his +wife? He dreaded the thought. He had already made inquiries as to her +condition to telephone immediately after his arrival. When told how +serious her condition was he had agreed with the hospital authorities +that it would be best not to tell her of his arrival before he had +surveyed the situation. Now all he had to tell her, when greeting her, +was that Mary was dead. + +As he pondered over the situation he realized that he must think before +acting. “I cannot tell her yet,” he told himself, “because the news +would kill her. Yet I cannot permit her to build up false hopes as the +effect of the final announcement might be equally grave. I must await +before seeing her and plan out some means whereby the shock of the news +will be minimized.” + +For two days he was impaled upon the horns of his dilemma, with no +escape in sight. It was more than two months since his wife had been +carried to the hospital after her daughter was taken on the pirate +machine. He himself had not been able to get to Honolulu before because +of the interruption in the transpacific airship schedules caused by +the presence and activity of the pirate. His wife was convalescing +very slowly, and while much better physically, was still in such a +mental state that her physicians counseled against anything that might +cause her further shock. He had consulted with them, told them of the +situation as soon as he had learned Fitzgerald’s story and asked their +advice. They told him it were best for the present to keep the news of +their daughter’s death from his wife, and also that it would be better +for him to wait further before seeing her, particularly as she would +unquestionably ask him about Mary. + +Not only was Mrs. Ingleton in a serious condition, but Commander +Fitzgerald was much worse. His long exposure in the flight to the +scene of the battle and during the battle, and the subsequent flight +to Honolulu, coupled with the extreme mental strain under which he had +labored, had produced such serious results that the doctors at the +post hospital were of the opinion that his recovery would be a very +long process, even with every chance favoring him. In fact they frankly +stated there was a strong possibility that he might not recover at all. + +During the past two days he had been in a semi-conscious state, but +extremely restless. Throughout this period he uttered unintelligible +and incoherent sentences in long, rambling speeches, and he had not had +a single lucid moment. He had failed completely to recognize anyone who +approached him. Even Ingleton who called in the hospital in the hope of +learning something from him about Mary’s death, failed to elicit the +slightest recognition. + +Such was the situation at Honolulu. In the meantime Commodore Heathcote +and the other air commanders had received instructions from Washington +to disband, as quickly as possible, all the emergency aerodromes that +had been established for the purpose of coping with the pirate. They +were told to superintend the work of transporting all the squadrons and +their equipment back to their permanent bases. + +This work was already under way. The commercial air transportation +lines resumed their normal schedules. The operating companies had lost +no time, after the official notice of the pirate’s destruction had been +announced, in getting back to their regular service. The experience +gained since the advent of the pirate and during his brief reign of +terror, were the subject of many governmental conferences. From all +quarters came the insistent demand for adequate permanent policing of +the distant airways of the world with the most up-to-date and effective +aircraft units, so that any possible menace of similar nature could in +the future be coped with at the very outset, thereby eliminating any +possibility of disruption to the regular aerial transit lines that had +become necessary arteries in the world’s commerce. + +To satisfy this demand two picked squadrons that had been dispatched +to the Pacific for duty against the pirate were ordered to remain in +Honolulu temporarily until such time as their permanent location for +police duty should have been finally decided. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + + +The time passed slowly as the situation over the Pacific Ocean +gradually assumed a normal condition. Day after day lapsed into +infinity with Arthur Ingleton waiting aimlessly and almost hopelessly, +wondering what to do. In this manner two weeks passed by. Then one +morning he received a call at his hotel over the telephone from the +hospital where his wife was lying, asking him to come there as quickly +as possible. On arrival there he was met by the superintendent who said: + +“I’m very sorry to tell you Mr. Ingleton that your wife has suffered +a relapse, and we thought it best to call you. I will summon Dr. +Harrington who is attending her.” + +A few moments later Dr. Harrington came into the superintendent’s room. + +“There is no use in discussing the situation, Mr. Ingleton,” he said, +“Your wife has taken a decided turn for the worse. She is in a kind +of stupor. I have been thinking that if we could awaken her interest +we might bring about a change and put her on the road to recovery. +There is no doubt that your presence will revive her interest, but if +she should find out about your daughter’s death the result would be +disastrous. What do you think?” + +The expression of deep concern and apprehension that crept over +Ingleton’s face clearly showed his thoughts. After a few moments’ +reflection he said: + +“I think it may be just as well if I go and see her. I may be able to +awaken her interest sufficiently to help in improving her condition. +If she asks me about Mary, I’ll try to evade her question for the time +being.” + +Ingleton followed Dr. Harrington through the hospital until they came +to a room where his wife was lying. As they entered, the nurse who +was sitting alongside the bed, got up and made way for them. Ingleton +walked over to the head of the bed and, bending over, kissed his wife +and gently clasped her hand. The patient’s eyes opened languidly and +glanced up wearily. Then as she recognized her husband, they lit with a +gleam of pleasurable excitement. + +“Oh! Arthur,” she said feebly, “I’m so glad you came. I have waited +such a long time for you, dear.” + +An expression of contentment settled upon her worn face, and Dr. +Harrington who stood by watching closely, nodded approvingly. + +“I came here as quickly as I could, dear,” replied Ingleton. “Now I +want to see you get well again soon.” + +“Oh! I will,” declared his wife, and then as in an after-thought, she +asked, “Have you got Mary for me?” + +For a moment Ingleton paused, thinking rapidly for a reply. Before he +could frame one his wife exclaimed: + +“Nothing has happened to her, Arthur?” + +The unexpectedness of this question coming in the midst of his hurried +thoughts left Ingleton still further perplexed and at a loss for an +answer with which to allay his wife’s anxiety. With quick intuition she +grasped the situation and cried out: + +“Oh! Arthur, for God’s sake, tell me! I know something terrible has +happened, and you don’t want to tell me. I know it. What is it?” + +“There, there, dear,” pleaded Ingleton, “Don’t excite yourself. We want +you to get well again. Everything will be alright.” + +“Oh! you’re hiding it from me,” sobbed his wife, “you won’t tell me. I +know it’s something terrible. I know it! I know it!!” + +Turning over in bed and burying her face in the pillows, she burst +into a fit of hysterical tears, and her weakened frame shook with the +violence of her sobs. Her husband looked on in helpless fear. Dr. +Harrington, however, quickly saw the seriousness of the situation and, +summoning the nurse, administered a drug in an effort to quiet the +paroxysm of his patient. He motioned Ingleton to be seated and not to +say anything further. + +While this pathetic scene was being enacted in the hospital, another +more amazing one was taking place over the Pacific Ocean. The wireless +operator on duty at Pearl Harbor, listening with indifferent patience, +had been electrified into sudden action by an S. O. S. call. Quickly +answering it, he received a reply from the transpacific airship +Montgolfier, whose operator sent the following message: + +“Montgolfier, 300 miles east of Honolulu attacked by strange airplane. +We are disabled and settling to the surface of the ocean rapidly. Rush +assistance immediately. Won’t be able to send much longer.” + +Before the Honolulu operator could acknowledge the message, another +call came in on the same wavelength. There was something familiar about +the sending, and he listened carefully. Presently the second station +began to send a message. Picking up a pencil the Pearl Harbor operator +wrote down: + +“Please give my compliments to Commodore Heathcote. Tell him he has +a lot to learn about the art of aviation. I hope that Commander +Fitzgerald enjoyed his little scrap with us. Miss Ingleton sends her +best wishes.” + +That was all. Reading it over after it was completed, the operator +rubbed his head in amazement and then exclaimed: + +“Well I’ll be damned.” + +For a few minutes he sent out a series of queries to the sender of +the message, but got no further response. He also tried to get in +touch with the Montgolfier again, but his efforts in this respect also +failed. Then he telephoned to Commodore Heathcote and read the message +to him. The latter came over to the station, where he examined the +message carefully and questioned the operator about their receipt. + +“Good God!” he exclaimed, “if they mean anything at all they mean +that the pirate is still on the job and couldn’t have been destroyed +by Fitzgerald. How on earth could he have possibly escaped? That’s +strange! The pirate certainly had a surprise up his sleeve for us +alright. I wonder what his secret is? We’re in a worse fix now than +ever.” + +Without wasting any further time on conjecture, Heathcote rushed out +to the hangars and ordered a squadron of the largest type of bombing +machines to fly out three hundred miles east and search for traces +of the Montgolfier, and if possible pick up her survivors. Having +completed this task and witnessed the departure of the rescuing craft, +he went over to the post hospital. He knew the astonishing news would +materially affect Fitzgerald, and the fact that Miss Ingleton was safe +might prove to be the rallying point for his recovery. + +Before he left for the hospital, however, Heathcote also dispatched +an officer over to Ingleton’s hotel with copies of the messages to +show to the former secretary of the navy. The clerk of the hotel told +the officer that Mr. Ingleton was at the general hospital, and the +latter went there. He was ushered into the waiting room. After he had +explained the urgency of his message, a nurse went to summon Ingleton +from the bedside of his wife. In a few seconds she returned with the +former secretary. + +“We have just received word that your daughter is alive and well, Sir,” +said the officer handing copies of the message to him. + +Ingleton read them over carefully and slowly, then with a sigh of deep +regret he exclaimed: + +“Good Heavens! why didn’t I wait.” + +He hurried back to his wife’s room and pushed the messages into Dr. +Harrington’s hands, saying: + +“Here’s good news for your patient, doctor.” + +Almost mechanically Dr. Harrington took the messages and glanced over +them. Then his eyes wandered slowly over to the recumbent figure in +the bed now strangely silent, and then, with the light of compassion +softening them, they turned upon Ingleton as the doctor, with a catch +in his voice, said: + +“I’m sorry, dreadfully sorry, Ingleton, but these messages came too +late.” + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + + +A flight of an hour and a half over the island-strewn waters of Hawaii +brought the rescuing airplanes to the scene of the latest aerial +outrage. The machines of the squadron were spread out in open formation +and had been flying at an altitude of ten thousand feet until they +arrived at a point approximately three hundred miles from Honolulu, in +the vicinity of the position given in the S. O. S. messages. Now they +spiralled down to a thousand feet and began a careful search of the +waters for signs of the Montgolfier or her survivors. The skies were +absolutely void of other craft. + +After cruising about for a few moments, a number of small objects were +discerned on the water, and the commander of the squadron ordered +his machines to alight near them. The order was quickly obeyed, and +shortly afterwards the plane taxied up alongside what proved to be the +lifeboats of the airship Montgolfier. There was no sign of the airship +itself. Undoubtedly it had sunk. + +After a quick survey of the situation the commander of the squadron +decided there was ample room in the bomb chambers of the huge +airplanes to carry all the passengers and crew of the Montgolfier back +to Honolulu, and the task of transferring the survivors from the boats +to the airplanes was quickly accomplished. + +This done, the machines started back on the flight to Honolulu, which +was accomplished in a little less than two hours. On arrival there, +special care was taken of the women passengers who were suffering quite +a little from the trying experience, followed by the long exposure in +the small open boats and the flight back to the Hawaiian capital. While +this was being done the captain and officers of the Montgolfier were +escorted to the office of Commodore Heathcote, where the captain told +the story of the loss of his airship. + +It was a story similar in detail to the previous attacks made by +the pirate. It left no doubt that the airplane which attacked the +Montgolfier was the same that had destroyed the Langley and Wilbur +Wright, and had supposedly been sunk during the battle with the +squadron of Commander Fitzgerald. Whatever doubt might have existed +about the identity of the perpetrator of the latest piratical attack +was quickly dispelled by the latter part of the captain’s narrative. + +“While we were transferring our passengers to the lifeboats,” he +continued, “the attacking airplane, which had landed on the surface of +the ocean, taxied over to us. As soon as it came alongside, a door in +the cabin body opened, and a tall, dark man appeared in the doorway and +began to talk to me. He wore very heavy flying clothes, but no helmet. +He was a rather good looking chap, and although his flying clothes made +him look somewhat bulky, I got the impression that he was slim and +lithe and undoubtedly very strongly built. His features were dark, and +his skin had an olive tan. His eyes were coal black, and so was his +hair. I caught one view of him side face, and he had rather an aquiline +nose. While his features were very sharp, there was nothing cruel about +their aspect. He seemed to be of a studious rather than active nature, +although he was the boss of the pirate machine. + +“He asked me several questions about the Montgolfier, what kind of a +cargo we carried, and then some general questions about the news in the +United States. After a short conversation along these lines he said to +me: + +“‘You will be alright, Captain, Honolulu received your S. O. S. +message, and they will be sending some rescue craft out here to you +pretty soon. When you get back there, if they ask you about me, you can +tell them that I am the same fellow that sank the Wilbur Wright and +the Langley. I don’t want to leave them in doubt about that. You know, +Captain, I’ve just played quite a joke on them. They sent a squadron of +airplanes out a few weeks ago to fight me. I played around with them +for a little while and had a lot of fun. I carried it further than I +had expected to though, and one of them got a hit on our machine, but +it did not do much damage. + +“‘I decided not to play any further, easily made my getaway. The damned +fools thought they had sunk me. Now I am back on the job, and they +will never be able to stop me from carrying out my plans and desires. +I am the king of the Pacific airways and I intend to be monarch of the +entire aerial world before I’m through. I am sorry I was compelled to +shoot down three of their machines, but that could not be helped. I am +master of the situation and intend to dictate my own terms before I +retire. They cannot successfully fight me and they might as well know +that fact now as later.’ + +“That was about the gist of his conversation. He was anxious that I +should get his meaning clearly. In fact, he asked me whether I had any +doubt what he wanted me to tell you. When I told him that I understood +him thoroughly, he started to go into the cabin, but hesitated a moment +and then said to me: + +“‘By the way, Captain, they may ask you about my lady passenger when +you get to Honolulu. Her name is Miss Mary Ingleton, and she is a very +old friend of mine, that’s why I asked her to accompany me on my little +pleasure flights. You can tell them that she is very well, indeed, and +is enjoying herself immensely.’ + +“That was all he said. I started to ask him some questions but he went +inside his cabin abruptly. A few minutes later his ship taxied away +and waited until we had transferred all our passengers and crew. As +soon as we were through, he signalled to us to stand off away from the +Montgolfier. There was nothing for us to do but to obey this command. +Immediately afterwards his machine moved over alongside the disabled +airship, and some of the crew went aboard. It was not long before +they began to pass out some parts of the cargo. As soon as they had +satisfied themselves they put off about a hundred yards and opened fire +on the Montgolfier, which quickly sank. Without any further ceremony +the airplane then took off and quickly disappeared at terrific speed.” + +“Did you see Miss Ingleton at all while the pirate was talking to you?” +asked Heathcote. + +“No,” replied the captain. + +“Did he say whether he had her aboard or not?” + +“No. He did not mention her name except in the manner I have told you,” +said the captain. + +“Did you see any other members of the crew?” required Heathcote. + +“No,” came the reply, “that’s all I saw, but it was more than enough +for me.” + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + + +From the unfathomed depths where lies the mythical locker of Davey +Jones, the pirate came back to renew his depreciations over the clear +expanse of the Pacific Ocean. His return was more than astonishing, it +was cataclysmic. It took the world completely by surprise and left it +aghast, helpless, but still infuriated. + +What manner of man was this who could so easily flout the power of +organized government and laugh at its efforts against him? What hidden +powers did he possess that made him invincible in the struggle with a +whole world risen in anger against him? + +There was no doubt about the pirate possessing some remarkable secret. +The unprecedented incidents in his meteoric career of crime amply +proved this. How could he be dealt with and brought within the power +of the law? That was the problem that had to be solved. It was evident +that the steps had already been taken against him had proven woefully +inadequate. + +The new situation resulted in numerous conferences among the various +leading government officers. It was complicated by the fact that most +of the squadrons which had been established on the various Pacific +islands to aid in hunting down the pirate had been disbanded and +returned to their bases in the United States after Fitzgerald had +reported the supposed death of the pirate. Now there were but two +squadrons left in the Pacific waters that were at all adequate to +cope with the murderer, and these lacked sufficient speed to make any +impression against him. + +It was about this time, however, when the problem appeared to be +impossible of solution that something occurred which gave the +government officers a new line to follow in their action against the +pirate. It came as the result of part of the program adopted at the +conference held in Washington immediately after the pirate had made his +first appearance so memorable by destroying the airship Langley. At +this conference George Cowl, Secretary of the Department of Air, had +suggested that careful investigation should be made to discover whether +any aircraft manufacturer had received orders to build the machine and +also if possible to discover the mode of transportation to the Pacific. +This, he thought, might help in the task of locating the pirate’s base. + +The proposal had been adopted, and operatives were assigned to running +down every available clue, under the command of Captain Charles J. +Somers, chief of the Secret Service. + +Now after many months of intensive work, the first fruits of the +investigation became apparent, and Captain Somers was able to render +a preliminary report. His men had been divided into two sections, the +first detailed to make a thorough canvass of the aircraft manufacturing +companies, and the other to trace the movements of the pirate in the +Pacific prior to the establishment of his base. + +The canvass of the aircraft companies had disclosed the fact that about +eighteen months previous to the advent of the pirate over the Pacific +Ocean, a series of orders had been placed with different manufacturers +for airplane parts of special design. The specifications of each part +were included with the order, and in each case instructions were given +to make delivery to a warehouse in San Francisco upon completion. By +careful reconstruction, based upon these reports, it was found that the +parts fitted together into a flying boat that corresponded in a general +way to the descriptions given by those officers who had encountered the +pirate. + +There was this important point, however, the theoretical machine +constructed from the details thus gathered had several important parts +missing. Also the closest inquiry failed to produce any knowledge or +information regarding the engine. At that point the investigation +came to an abrupt halt. An examination of the various parts and the +specifications merely showed the pirate had constructed a cabin +airplane of sheet tungsten-steel with retractible wings. The wings were +so arranged that they folded closely up to the side of the fuselage, in +collapsible style, when the machine was not in flight. A locking device +kept them rigid in flight. + +Moreover, the most peculiar thing about the theoretical machine was the +fact that there was no apparent provision made for the emplacement of +the engine or engines which the pirate used to give his actual machine +its prodigious speed. In the trailing edge of the wings, however, there +were two fairly large circular holes that could be used as housings for +the propeller shafts. + +The second detail of operatives had picked up the trail in San +Francisco from the address to which the airplane parts had been +delivered. Weeks of detailed investigation had followed. Then by +carefully dovetailing together the facts obtained, the secret service +men were enabled to construct the story of the pirate’s movements +immediately preceding his advent over the Pacific airways. In outline +the story was as follows: + +In April, 1952, four men arrived at the warehouse in San Francisco +and took charge of the large cases that had been delivered there. A +tall, slim, dark man, was apparently the leader of the party, for it +was he who gave all the instructions for delivering the cases which +were addressed to him under the name of Joseph W. Devant. As soon as +he had checked up the number of cases he had them re-labelled, then he +told the warehousemen to have them shipped as freight in his name to +Honolulu on the steamship Chosen Maru, which sailed the same week. + +Carrying the investigation further, it was discovered that this man +Devant and his three companions were passengers on the Pacific mail +steamship Nippon which sailed for the East from San Francisco on the +last Saturday of April. They took with them as baggage several large +cases that were heavily insured. These cases were marked with complete +instructions regarding the manner in which they were to be handled, +and bore bigger labels upon which was inscribed in large letters: +“Scientific apparatus. Handle with care.” + +Picked up from this point the story showed that during the voyage of +the Nippon Devant in casual conversation with the officers of the ship, +had declared that he was on a scientific expedition that was about to +engage in meteorological investigation in the various Pacific islands. + +Upon arrival in Honolulu the cases from the two ships, the Chosen Maru +having arrived a few days previously, were stored away, and Devant went +around the port in search of a suitable schooner. A few days after his +arrival he bought the 500 ton schooner Hilo and signed up the Kanaka +crew that had been aboard her. The cases were then placed aboard from +the storage warehouse, and the schooner sailed away with Devant and +his white companions acting as navigators. They did not comply with +the port regulations before leaving, and there was no record of their +intended destination. + +From this point all traces of the expedition vanished. It had already +been listed as a total loss. The schooner Hilo had not put into any +known port or island, nor had it been sighted by any other craft. + +Such was the report of Captain Somers, which he delivered to Secretary +Cowl shortly after the pirate had made his dramatic return to the +Pacific airways. Cowl read it over very carefully several times and +asked Somers a number of questions in connection with it. Then after +further consideration he said: + +“There is no doubt in my mind that Devant is the pirate. Did you get +any line on him personally?” + +“No”, replied Somers, “The name Devant is undoubtedly an alias, but we +were unable to get any further information about him.” + +“Well,” added Cowl, “your investigation is conclusive, to say the +least. The cases undoubtedly contained his airplane, while the other +cases then he took with him the Nippon probably contained the parts for +his engines and other apparatus he had designed or needed.” + +“That’s my opinion, too,” agreed Somers, “We tried to learn something +about his ancestry, but so far have not met with any success. I have +told our men in the Pacific to continue their investigation into the +movements of the schooner Hilo, in the hope that we might get some +trace of her. Meanwhile the men in this country are following up their +investigation by making inquiries at the place from which Devant sent +his orders to the aircraft manufacturers. In this way we hope to get a +line on his antecedents. I have issued explicit instructions to my men +not to pass up a single chance, no matter how unimportant it may seem +to them.” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + + +In Honolulu the greatest consternation prevailed. The return of the +pirate over the airways had completely disrupted the service of its +airport, which was the most important in the whole Pacific Ocean, +because of its central location. The destruction of the airship +Montgolfier came at the moment when the confidence of the commercial +aerial transport companies had just been completely restored through +the report issued by the government to the effect that the pirate had +been killed. + +Now chaos again ruled the air. Every company had cancelled its +schedules, and the only transportation to and from the islands was +by means of the slower mode of travel afforded by steamships. The +government officials were somewhat at a loss how to deal with the +unprecedented situation. Their chances of bringing the pirate to +justice were apparently very meagre, particularly as there were now +fewer government aircraft units in and about the islands than ever +before. + +It began to look as though the only way to deal with the marauder lay +in the destruction of his base. Without a base to operate from the +advantage he enjoyed in the air over all other types of aircraft would +be destroyed. This view had rapidly gained the uppermost support of +the government authorities and it formed the subject of an exchange +of ideas, by cable, between the officials in Washington and Honolulu. +After considerable discussion it was finally decided to commission +every available naval craft in Pacific waters to a detailed search of +the lesser known islands in an effort to discover the point from which +the pirate operated. + +Commander Fitzgerald was now rapidly convalescing in the post hospital. +His illness had been chiefly due to mental causes developed by exposure +and worry. The news that Miss Ingleton was alive and well had been +just the tonic necessary to set him on the road to recovery. But as he +was not expected to be in a condition to resume his command for a long +time to come yet the aerial forces of the government assigned to the +duty of attacking the pirate and policing the airways, had been placed +in charge of Wing Commander Emerson, who had been Fitzgerald’s chief +lieutenant. + +A new plan of attack was adopted and put into operation. It involved +using the two squadrons of battleplanes at Honolulu solely for police +duty. These squadrons were instructed to keep the airways open as far +as possible. It was decided that other squadrons would be dispatched +to the Pacific to aid in this purpose. They were only to give battle +to the pirate in case he was sighted, but were not to go outside their +prearranged zone of patrol. The carefully detailed plan for searching +the pirate out and attacking him had been abandoned because it was +conceded that his superior speed and maneuvrability made aggressive +tactics impossible. + +In other words the offensive had passed from the air to the sea for the +time being, so far as the government forces were concerned. The naval +craft under orders of Captain Smith, the commandant of the Hawaiian +naval district, were assigned to the duty of locating the base from +which the pirate operated. As soon as any of the vessels had found this +base, their instructions were to attack it, destroy everything within +it connected with the pirates’ enterprise and take prisoner any one +found upon the island. + +Practically every vessel in the Pacific fleet was secretly detailed +to this duty--battleships, cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, +torpedoboats and auxiliary craft. Even submarines were put to work. +Each division was given a certain section of territory to cover and was +told to land upon and search every unimportant island within it. In +addition to this the commanding officer of each vessel was instructed +to make a detailed survey of each island visited and gather whatever +information of a scientific character was obtainable. The latter +instructions were, of course, apart from the main object of the plan, +and were issued with the view of obtaining as much as possible out of +the expedition. + +In such manner was the new machinery for hunting down the aerial +buccaneer set in motion. The experts in the Navy Department, after +carefully examining the reports of the pirate’s previous activities, +had calculated that the radius of his operations was limited to +approximately two thousand miles. Taking the general location of his +attacks upon the airships as a center, they had divided the circle +within the 2,000 mile radius into six different zones. These zones by +a strange coincidence naturally included six groups of mid-pacific +islands. The naval patrol vessels were therefore divided into six +divisions, each division assigned to a specific group of islands as +follows: + +Division No. 1.--America Islands. + +Division No. 2. Hawaiian group. + +Division No. 3. Phoenix Islands. + +Division No. 4. Gilbert Islands. + +Division No. 5. Marshall group. + +Division No. 6. The Carolines. + +The task of searching these zones thoroughly was commenced immediately +with every available naval vessel. The forces employed were augmented +as rapidly as other war-vessels could be rushed to the scene. Then +for two weeks the six divisions of the naval patrol went about their +task of searching the innumerable smaller islands without any concrete +result. Suddenly one morning the light cruiser Farragut of the second +division, which was steaming in Latitude 28 and the 180th meridian +of longitude, sighted an open boat with what appeared to be a shirt +hoisted upon an oar. Captain John B. Moore, commander of the Farragut +altered his course in order to pick up the boat. As the cruiser drew +closer to it he made out the name painted on the stern of the small +boat, through his glasses. It read: “Hilo Honolulu.” + +“Hilo,” he mused. “Let’s see, that was the name of the schooner that +was used by the man Devant who was supposed to be the pirate. This may +be the boat from that missing schooner, and if it is, we have made a +real find.” + +Ten minutes later the cruiser drew up alongside the small boat. Inside +it was the figure of a man laying prone along the keel beneath the +seats. An oar had been fastened to the center seat and a shirt was +attached to it, evidently to act as a sail. A boat was lowered from +the cruiser. It’s crew rowed over to the drifting boat and quickly +lifted the man out of it and then rowed him back to the cruiser. He was +still alive but exhausted. After a few hours of medical attention on +the cruiser, the man began to show signs of returning consciousness. +Presently he had recovered sufficiently to take an interest in his +surroundings. + +“Where am I,” he inquired feebly. “What ship is this?” + +He was told, and then asked who he was and where he came from. + +“Take me to Honolulu as quickly as you can, it is very important,” he +replied. + +“Are you a survivor of the schooner Hilo that sailed from Honolulu with +Mr. Devant’s expedition?” asked the captain. + +“No,” replied the man. + +“Why do you want to go to Honolulu then?” + +“I am very tired. Please don’t ask me any more questions just now.” + +“But why do you want to go to Honolulu? Are you in any way connected +with the aerial pirate who has been attacking airplanes?” + +“No! but I’ve just come from his base,” replied the stranger weakly. +A moment later, overcome by the strain, he again lapsed into +unconsciousness. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE + + +For three days the cruiser Farragut steamed steadily forward until the +island of Oahu hove in sight. During those three days the constant +care, coupled with the restful influence of the voyage, had proved most +beneficial to the stranger who had by now practically recovered from +the effects of his exposure. The captain of the cruiser had refrained +from any attempt to question the man until he was convinced there was +no further chance of a relapse. The circumstances surrounding the man’s +rescue, together with his statement that he had just come from the +pirate’s base, were sufficiently important, the captain thought, to +warrant him in taking the man to Honolulu. + +On the morning that the Hawaiian capital was practically in sight, the +captain decided it was time to ascertain the identity of the stranger. +With this purpose in view he had him brought to his cabin, and then +asked him who he was. + +“Where are you bound?” parried the man, somewhat suspiciously. + +“We are going to the Pearl Harbor naval station,” replied the captain, +“in fact we’ll be there in a few hours from now.” + +“That’s fine,” said the stranger, his face brightening visibly, “I want +to thank you very much, captain for your kindness I’ll tell my story +to the authorities ashore as soon as we arrive there. Have you been +looking for the pirate?” + +“I don’t want you to tell me anything you don’t wish to,” resumed the +captain, “but don’t you think you ought to tell me who you are so that +I can get you to the proper authorities without delay as soon as we +arrive?” + +“Why yes, Captain, I’ll tell you,” he replied. “My name is Howard +Redmond. I was the second officer of the airship Wilbur Wright that was +destroyed by the pirate.” + +The effect produced by Redmond’s simple statement could not have been +more pronounced under any circumstances. It took the captain and the +officers who were present in his cabin completely by surprise. + +“Good Heavens, man,” exclaimed Captain Moore, “you were reported +drowned. How on earth did you get to the pirate’s base?” + +“Well, it’s a long story, captain,” replied Redmond, “but it’s a good +thing that I did get there, because I’ve got information that we +possibly could not have gotten in any other way. How much time have you +got before you reach your anchorage?” + +“I expect to be there in three hours,” said the captain. + +“That will give me time to tell you before you go to the bridge,” began +Redmond. “I will tell you how I got to the pirate’s base, captain, but +you must excuse me if I keep part of the story for the authorities +ashore.” + +“Oh, that’s perfectly alright,” said Captain Moore, “but quite +naturally we are very much interested in anything that you feel you can +tell us. By the way, where is the pirate’s base?” + +“You were not very far from it when you picked me up, captain,” replied +Redmond. “It’s on a little island known as Patrocinio which is located +about 170 East and 28 North. It’s right on the end of the Hawaiian +archipelago. You couldn’t have been more than two hundred miles away +from it at the time you found me.” + +“Good God! why didn’t you tell me that before? I could have gone right +there and finished that bird for good,” exclaimed the captain. He was +plainly angry at learning how close he had been to the object of his +quest without knowing it. His anger grew as he rapidly realized the +wonderful chance he had missed to fulfill his mission. + +“Wait a minute, captain,” cautioned Redmond quietly, “it’s a good thing +I didn’t tell you, otherwise nobody would have known where the base was +located.” + +“What do you mean?” queried the captain sharply. + +“Well, sir, you don’t suppose the pirate, knowing what the result of +his capture meant, would pass up any chance to protect himself, do +you?” asked Redmond in reply. And without waiting for an answer to +his question, continued. “No! Well he hasn’t. He is engaged in a very +risky business and he knows it, and he knows the consequences of his +capture. He hasn’t passed a single chance up that I know of. That +island is completely surrounded by a wide field of submerged mines. If +you had gone there, captain, your ship would have been blown sky high +before you knew it, and then of what good would that have been?” + +The latter question was too much for the captain who simply gasped in +his astonishment. The explanation, however, had completely mollified +him. + +“I would never have thought of that,” he said simply. + +“No,” continued Redmond, “I knew you wouldn’t, that’s one of the +reasons I didn’t tell you. There’s a lot of other reasons that I can’t +tell you about just now. Well, to get on with my story. I’ll tell +you how I happened to get to his base. When the pirate attacked the +Wilbur Wright I was on the observation platform on top of the envelope. +I stayed there watching him while our people were transferring the +passengers. I was very much interested in the unusual appearance of his +machine and was looking at it through my glasses. + +“I stayed there too long. + +“When he first came up to us he opened fire with his forward gun, +and two of his shots went right through our envelope. One of them +penetrated number four ballonet, releasing the helium gas, and the +other struck the stairway running between the navigating room and +the observation post, carrying part of the stairway away. When I +started to go down I discovered this. Without trying to climb down the +wreckage, I went back to the observation post and walked along the +promenade deck on top of the balloon to the passenger elevator shaft. I +thought it would be easier to walk down the stairs around the shaft. I +was doomed to disappointment again, because I soon found that the shaft +had been injured by the second shot. + +“It looked as thought I would have a tough time getting down. I went +back to the observation post and started down the accommodation +stairway there. After considerable difficulty I managed to get down +over the wreckage. Of course this took considerable time because I +had to go down practically hand over hand. I had to do it slowly +and carefully, by sense of touch, as all the lights inside the ship +had gone out. A slip would have meant a ninety foot drop inside the +envelope. + +“By the time I reached the navigating cabin all our passengers and +crew had left and were in the lifeboats. They had pulled away from the +airship some considerable distance. I saw the pirate’s airplane on +the surface near one of the boats, and presently I saw someone step +over from the boat to the airplane. I found out later that it was Miss +Ingleton. + +“In the meantime I was in a pretty bad predicament. There was not a +boat left on the airship, and our lifeboats were too far off for me +to swim over to them. I didn’t know what to do. I was not certain +how long the buoyancy of the remaining helium gas would keep the +airship afloat, and then I remembered that the report we had received +by wireless had stated the pirate sank the airship Langley after the +passengers had left that ship. I was afraid he might do the same thing +with the Wilbur Wright before I could find some means of getting off. + +“While I was still undecided what to do the pirate’s airplane began to +move away from the lifeboats. I watched it a few moments, and then saw +that it was coming toward the airship. I went aft to the baggage room +and watched through one of the small portholes there. The airplane came +right up alongside the Wilbur Wright with its wings folded up. Three +men got off and came aboard the airship. + +“After a little while I saw two of them return to the place where the +airplane was holding on and pass some packages out. I immediately +jumped to the conclusion that they were picking out the valuable parts +of our cargo and putting them aboard the airplane. + +“While I was watching this I suddenly heard a noise in the baggage +room. I was standing behind some large trunks and couldn’t be seen from +the doorway. I looked around the edge of one of the trunks and saw one +of the men from the airplane moving about inside the room. He was still +attired in his heavy flying suit and wore a helmet, with a chamois face +mask. His goggles were pushed back on his forehead. He walked slowly +over to where I was standing, looking the baggage over carefully as he +came. + +“I did not dare to move. Looking down I saw a piece of metal pipe at my +feet. I stooped down carefully and picked it up for use in case I was +attacked. Then suddenly an idea occurred to me which I thought might +give me a chance to get off the ship. I figured out quickly that I was +doomed to die like a rat in a trap if the pirate opened fire and sank +the airship after he had finished rifling the cargo. I decided that if +anyone was to be lost it should be one of his crew instead of me. + +“I waited as patiently as I could, watching for my opportunity. The +man in the flying suit came gradually over to the place where I was +standing. Soon he was passing in front of the trunks behind which I was +hiding. As he passed on the other side I sprang forward and struck him +on the head with the pipe I held. + +“He went down like a log, without making a sound. + +“I didn’t like the job at all, but I eased my conscience by arguing +with myself that it was a case of his life or mine, and that he was +a dangerous criminal who had taken part in jeopardizing the lives of +women and children. The deed was done now, and it was no time for idle +regrets. I set to work and stripped the flying suit, helmet and face +mask off him. Fortunately for me he was about the same size and build +as myself. As soon as I had got the clothes off him, I put them on +myself. I picked up a piece of baggage that I thought contained some +valuables, and walked along to the place where the airplane was moored. + +“It was now that my supreme test came, because I knew the slightest +false move would betray me. I didn’t know a thing about the pirate’s +airplane, and it would be an easy thing for them to detect me. +Fortunately, however, another man from the airplane crew was still on +board, and I found him making his way to the airplane just as I came +along. I fell in behind him and decided to do just what he did. + +“At the door of the cabin of the airplane a man was standing. +Afterwards I found out that he was the actual pirate. He was very +impatient, and as we came along he said: + +“‘What the devil’s the matter with you, fellows. Do you think I want +to stay here all day, till the government ships come along? Get inside +quick.’ + +“The fellow in front of me muttered some sour remark, and I did the +same in a low tone. I really believe the pirate’s impatience saved me. +He was so anxious to get away that he didn’t pay any attention to us. +I followed the other fellow into the cabin. He went into the rear of +it and stowed away a piece of cargo that he was carrying, and I did +the same with my piece. Then he sat down on a seat that ran lengthwise +along the side of the cabin. + +“There was another man sitting on the opposite seat, and alongside him +was a woman. I looked at her in astonishment, and then it suddenly +dawned upon me that it was Miss Ingleton from our ship. She was +looking very pale and somewhat frightened. I didn’t dare move or say +anything, I just waited and watched. They had given her a leather coat +to put on, and she held a flying helmet in her hands. + +“The pirate had now sat down at the controls, and the fourth man was +tinkering about with some apparatus that proved to be the power plant. +Before I could take in my surroundings more completely, the propellers +began to revolve and in an incredibly short time we were in the air. I +looked at the air speed indicator and saw that it was registering 250 +miles an hour, despite the fact that we were climbing. There wasn’t +a sound from the engine, in fact the only noise I could hear was the +whirr of the propellers. The man next to Miss Ingleton leaned over and +said something to her. She then put on the helmet and mask. + +“I had been wondering why the pirate and his crew wore such heavy +flying clothes and face masks, especially as they were in a cabin +plane. I soon found out. We were climbing very rapidly. I watched the +altimeter, and to my astonishment found that forty minutes after we had +left the surface of the ocean we were at an altitude of thirty-five +thousand feet. It was bitterly cold. I could feel it even through the +flying clothes which were fur lined. The funniest thing to me, though, +was the fact that we experienced no difficulty in breathing. We had +no oxygen apparatus, and yet we were breathing as easily as though we +were at sea level, despite the rarified air in which we were flying. +I couldn’t understand it at all. Neither could I understand his reason +for flying at such high altitudes, unless it was that he had discovered +a trade wind that aided him in his speed, or that he wished to avoid +meeting government aircraft. + +“After we had been going for a couple of hours, the two men in the +cabin in which we were sitting got up and walked over to the forward +part of the machine. I saw them take up some flasks that looked like +vacuum bottles. And then they began working near the power plant. + +“I seized this opportunity and moved toward Miss Ingleton. I put my +finger to my mouth to caution her not to move or say anything. Then +leaning close to her I said: + +“‘I’m Redmond, the second officer of the Wilbur Wright. Don’t give me +away. I’ll try to take care of you.’ + +“Before she could say anything, I went back to my place on the other +side and stretched myself along the seat, feigning sleep. I thought +this would be the best thing to do because I might be expected to +perform some routine duty about the ship that I didn’t know anything +about. I figured that if there was something that I should be doing, +they would try to wake me up and tell me to do it, and that would give +me an idea what it was that I was expected to do. + +“Although I was pretending to be asleep, I kept the corners of my eyes +open. After a little while the two men came back to their seats. As +they passed me they both looked at me. One of them said. + +“‘There’s that lazy devil Harrison asleep again.’ + +“That was a fine cue for me. I now knew what my name was supposed to +be, and fortunately I was keeping up the reputation of the man I had +killed. + +“After two more hours of flying I experienced the slight sensation that +told me we were descending and I figured that we must be coming to the +pirate’s base. The other two fellows had gone to the forward part of +the cabin again, and the pirate was very busy at his controls. All of +the other three were looking out of the windows at the ground below. + +“Very cautiously I edged over a little toward Miss Ingleton. As soon as +I was near her I whispered loud enough for her to hear: + +“‘As soon as we land, I’m going to try and hide myself somewhere. I +want you to keep me informed of what is happening and to keep some food +for me if possible. I’ll come and see you whenever I get a chance, if +I’m successful in getting away.’ + +“She nodded that she had heard me, and I moved back to my original +position, still pretending to be asleep. It was not many minutes before +we landed on the water, inside a small coral reef that made a natural +harbor on the eastern side of the island. It could not have been better +designed for the purpose of the pirate. + +“As the airplane came to a stop near a ledge of rock one of the men +came over and gave me a light poke in the ribs with his elbows and +yelled: ‘Get up you, lazy devil, we’re home. Take some of this stuff +ashore.’ + +“I was all keyed up for the test that now confronted me. I went over to +where the packages were stowed, picked up as many as I could carry and +leisurely walked ashore with them. One of the other men was in front +of me with some of the packages. I followed him into a crude hut that +had been erected about a hundred yards inshore and there deposited the +packages. + +“The other fellow began to pull off his heavy flying clothes and +helmet, as they were terribly hot in that climate. I was almost +fainting with the heat myself, but I did not dare take mine off. I +muttered some excuse about what I wanted to do and went out. As soon as +I got outside, I took a quick glance at my surroundings. The island was +apparently of volcanic origin and was very rocky. I began to walk over +as slowly as I could in my excited state to a rock that was not more +than fifty yards away. There was a level patch of gravel beach facing +the little bay, and on this were two buildings, in addition to the hut, +that had been erected by the pirate and his crew. + +“As soon as I got behind the shelter of the rock I paused again to +take in my surroundings. Some distance to the westward there was rough +hilly country rising to about five hundred feet. I peered around the +rock toward the beach and saw the pirate assisting Miss Ingleton +ashore. Two of the crew were making the airplane fast to a ringbolt in +the rock. The third man I had followed ashore was now returning to the +airplane in his ordinary clothes. + +“It was an excellent opportunity for me, I thought. I hurriedly shed +the heavy flying clothes and began to run toward the hilly country, +carrying the clothes with me. I thought they might come handy if +the nights were at all chilly in the higher parts of the island. I +continued running for some time, glancing back now and then to see +whether my absence had been noticed. + +“In the rough part of the island I was soon out of sight of the beach. +Then I slackened down in my speed and began to look around for a +suitable hiding place as temporary quarters until I could survey the +island thoroughly. I wanted to find a place where I could remain safely +without detection in case they began to look for me. + +“On the southeastern side of the island I ran into some rather thick +tropical growth upon the hillside. I penetrated this, and after a +short walk I found a small depression in the side of the hill that +was well screened by the vegetation about it. There were a number of +cocoanut palms in this section and lots of banana plants. As soon as +I had prepared my hiding place I gathered some bananas and ate them +ravenously. I had not eaten since the airship was attacked about six +hours before, so I was very hungry. After I had finished eating I fixed +up my hiding place for the night. + +“A short distance from the place that I had selected I found a small +spring which trickled away into a tiny stream to the sea. It looked as +though this would be as good a place as any I could possibly find on +the island. It was well sheltered, and there were food and water close +to it. Only by the closest search could it be located. It gave me a +great feeling of security, and I turned in for a good sleep. + +“That’s the story of how I got to the pirate’s base. I certainly was +very lucky. Although I was missed that night, they didn’t make any +search for me until the next day, and then it was not a very careful +one. I heard them shouting, ‘Oh, Harrison, where are you?’, as they +looked around for a while, but they soon gave it up. + +“I waited a couple of days before I ventured out of my hiding place. +During that time I lived on the fruit around me and the water from +the spring. On the third day I went out very cautiously and gradually +worked my way to the rock where I had first taken off my flying +clothes. From that point I made a more careful observation of the +pirate’s nest along the bay. For the first time I noticed the schooner +Hilo beached in a narrow inlet on the western side of the bay. I +subsequently found that she had been scuttled there. + +“As I looked I saw the pirate and his crew at work on the flying boat. +They were apparently making some repairs. I was glad to see all four of +them busy because then I knew that they could not be looking for me. +It was then that I made a surprising discovery. + +“I told you previously that I had observed two buildings along the +shore that had been erected by the pirate. Well, one of them resembled +a long rambling cowshed. While I was watching this particular day +I noticed a peculiar wisp of bluish smoke coming out of a chimney +at the end of the building. This attracted my attention immediately +because I could see no reason for a fire in that latitude. While I +looked a couple of men came out of the building and walked down to the +airplane. It was the first time that I knew the pirate had anyone else +on the island besides his crew, and I was really frightened because it +increased the chances of my detection, and I knew that others could be +put to work to look for me. + +“While I was thinking the situation over I saw Miss Ingleton come out +of the other house. She stood still for a few moments, looking over the +bay, then she turned around and looked toward the center of the island. +I waited for the first opportunity and stepping outside the shelter +of the rock, I waved my arm, motioning her to come to me. She saw me +almost immediately, and I ducked behind the rock. She turned back and +looked toward the bay again, and seeing that everything was going on as +usual, started toward me, walking very slowly. + +“I saw she had a book in her hand. As soon as she got within hearing I +said to her: + +“‘Sit down on the other side of the rock where they can see you, Miss +Ingleton, and pretend you are reading.’ + +“She did this. Then I asked her how they were treating her. When she +answered me I could tell she was almost crying by the sound of her +voice. + +“‘Oh!’ she said, ‘I live in constant fear. They are treating me +alright, but I feel uneasy. This pirate is a man I knew in Washington +who once proposed to me and I refused him. I am really afraid of him, +although he has acted perfectly so far.’ + +“‘His name is Levanter--Joseph D. Levanter’, she replied. ‘He was an +officer in the aviation service in Washington. He left the service +when I refused to marry him, and we wondered where he had gone. When +I refused him he told me that he had just done something wonderful +and that I would regret my action very much. At the time I didn’t pay +much attention to his threat but now it seems that he took me off the +airship to carry out that threat. I didn’t know who he was until we got +to this island and he took his helmet off. Then I recognized him and he +laughed at me.’ + +“‘What did he say?’ I asked. + +“‘He didn’t say a thing. He just looked at me and smiled in a funny +way. I asked him what he intended to do with me. He said: ‘Do you +remember the last time we were together and what I told you?’ I was so +frightened I couldn’t look at him. I asked him again what he was going +to do with me. ‘Don’t worry, no one is going to hurt you,’ he said. +Then he left me and went away to the airplane to do some work.’ + +“I could readily see that the situation was very distressing to her, +although I could not see her because she was sitting on the other side +of the rock. Therefore I decided to change the topic, especially as +I was anxious to find how I stood and what the possibilities of any +search for me might be. I asked her. + +“‘When did they find out I was missing?’ + +“‘It wasn’t until they got through with their work. Then they asked one +another if anybody had seen Harrison. That’s the name of the man you +killed on the airship.’ + +“‘What did they do then?’ I asked. + +“‘One of them said: ‘Oh, that lazy devil has gone off somewhere. He’ll +come back.’ The next day they went out to look for you, but they didn’t +seem to be very much concerned.’ + +“This allayed my fears a great deal. Undoubtedly the man Harrison had +a very unreliable reputation, and it was a good thing for me. Later I +found out that they would have gotten rid of him before, but they were +afraid he might give their secret away. + +“I discussed the general situation with Miss Ingleton, and we made +arrangements to meet at the rock every day at a certain hour in the +morning whenever possible, so that she could tell me what was happening +and anything that she might overhear. I promised to take care of her to +the best of my ability. I was on the island over two months, and it was +during that time that we made plans at our meetings for me to get away +from the island. During the two months I learned everything possible +about the pirate’s machine and plans with Miss Ingleton’s assistance. + +“While he was away on his flights I went over and examined the schooner +Hilo. It was impossible to use her, as she had been completely +scuttled. This was done evidently to prevent the Kanaka crew from +leaving the island. It was the Kanakas I had seen working in the long +building. + +“I did find that the lifeboat of the Hilo could be easily patched +up and made seaworthy, so I made up my mind to try it. I did this +while the pirate was away on his flights. Miss Ingleton helped me by +secreting tools that she obtained from the toolbox whenever possible. +She also carried food to the place every time she got a chance, so +that I would have supplies for my voyage. It was in this way that I +made arrangements to leave the island and bring the information I had +gathered to the authorities. + +“It took quite a considerable time to repair the boat, particularly as +the time I had to work on it was very limited. I finally succeeded, +however, and got away in the middle of a night about ten days before +you picked me up. I hadn’t been able to get a compass or any other +navigating instrument, and through the first night I steered by the +stars alone. After that I steered by the Sun, and just let the boat +drift during the night. I was trying to make Midway Island, figuring +that once I got there I could get a schooner to take me to Honolulu. +I must have drifted way off the course during the night because I had +been going for ten days when you picked me up. It was lucky when you +came along when you did because I was about all in. + +“The time I chose to leave the island was when I knew the pirate would +have to spend about a week repairing and overhauling his airplane. I +was afraid that if by any chance they discovered the boat was missing +from the old schooner----” + +At this moment a quartermaster tapped on the captain’s door and +entering, said: + +“Mr. Jones’ compliments, sir, we are now off the harbor.” + +The interruption cut Redmond’s narrative short as the captain was +compelled to go to the bridge and give the necessary navigating orders +to bring his ship into harbor. Half an hour later the Farragut was at +anchor in Pearl Harbor. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO + + +Out of the realm of his recent adventures Howard Redmond stepped ashore +in Pearl Harbor from the captain’s gig of the cruiser Farragut. With +him came Captain Moore who had refrained from notifying the officials +of Redmond’s rescue, fearing that the pirate might pick up the wireless +message and so become aware of the fact that the location of his base +had been discovered. + +Dramatically inclined, Captain Moore seized the opportunity of +presenting Redmond to the naval authorities in an effort to make it as +effective an affair as possible. He personally led the man whom his +crew had picked up on the Pacific Ocean into the office of Captain +Smith, the naval commandant ashore. There, assuming a grandiloquent +air, he announced in stentorian tones: + +“Captain, here is the man who has just come direct from the pirate’s +base.” + +Pausing, he watched for several seconds with satisfied enjoyment the +result produced by his announcement. He was just about to proceed in +the development of the dramatic situation, when Redmond, with graver +thoughts on his mind, broke in and said: + +“What Captain Moore has told you, sir, is true, but before I tell you +about it, will you please instruct your wireless operator to send +the signal ‘QVT’ at the end of each sentence when he sends out his +daily news bulletin, instead of the usual word ‘stop.’ This is very +important, and I shall explain the reason to you when I tell you my +story.” + +Captain Smith, after a few perfunctionary questions, issued the +necessary instructions to the operator in charge of the big wireless +station at the naval base. He then sent for Commodore Heathcote, the +commanding air officer of the Hawaiian district. When the latter +arrived Redmond began his narrative. He told in detail again the story +he had already related to Captain Moore. Then he said: + +“The last time I saw Miss Ingleton I promised her that if I got away +safely to Honolulu I would get the naval station to send out the ‘QVT’ +signal, so that she would know that I had arrived. That’s the reason I +asked you to do it. Levanter has a wireless receiving station on the +island and, knowing that Miss Ingleton has always been interested in +wireless, has permitted her to listen in each day in order to help her +pass the time away. You see, there is no sending station connected with +it, and he knew she could not send out any message that would endanger +his security. Therefore as soon as she gets the ‘QVT’ signed she will +know that help will be coming to her very soon.” + +“If that’s the case,” said Captain Smith, “you may rest assured she +knows it already because the news schedule is on right now.” + +“Is there anything you can tell us about the machine that Levanter is +using?” interspersed Commodore Heathcote. + +“I can tell you pretty well everything about it,” replied Redmond. + +“Can you suggest any means to successfully attack him?” + +“Well, you can judge for yourself after I have described his machine +and his base,” continued Redmond. “I think it will be best if I tell +you all about the conditions on the island. It’s part of the story that +I didn’t tell Captain Moore, because I didn’t have time. + +“In the first place I learned everything about his remarkable machine +from Miss Ingleton and my own observation during the short time I was +on it. Levanter was quite sure of his security and felt confident +that she could not get away from him and with a feeling of pride +occasionally told her some of the secrets of the airplane. He did this +because, at my suggestion, she took a great deal of interest in his +machine and asked him a lot of questions about it. Then she would tell +me at different times when I met her at the rock all that he had told +her. + +“Just what he intends to do with Miss Ingleton I don’t know. He has +not said a single thing to her that would indicate his intentions +so far as I know, but she didn’t tell me very much regarding her +relations with him. He takes her with him on his flights every time. +He has insisted on that, but on the island, from what she has told me, +he does not attempt to molest her, or coerce her in any way. He is in +fact extremely courteous to her, and she is free to move about as she +pleases to any part of the island. + +“Now, as far as the machine is concerned, it is designed in such a +manner that it can be flown at extremely high altitudes without any +dangerous effect upon the crew who are fully protected within the +cabin. The body is absolutely watertight and is strong enough to +withstand external or internal pressure to a very high degree. In fact +the strength of its plates affords armor protection against normal +attack. It is provided with collapsible wings. When these are folded +up and all the doors secured the machine automatically becomes a +submarine. It has compensating tanks inside that can be filled with +water to enable it to remain below the sea without moving. + +“When leaving the air and plunging into the sea it goes under in the +same manner as the diving type of submarine, and the tail surfaces +act as fins, as does also the small projection formed by the folded +wings. Once beneath the sea, its compensating tanks permit it to remain +submerged in a stationary position, in the same manner as an actual +submersible. It is equipped with a telescoping periscope that can be +ejected from the forward gunpit. + +“The real secret of the machine, however, is in the design of the +engine. It is used for flying, surface cruising, or propelling the +machine under the water. This engine is Levanter’s own invention and +was built to his special design by the men with him, in a secret +workshop. He employs liquid oxygen for fuel, utilizing the expansive +force of the liquid gas when it is released from its vacuum container. +After the gas has gone through the engine and has been transformed from +a liquid into a gaseous state it is then used for breathing purposes +in the cabin, whenever the machine is at unusually high altitudes, or +beneath the surface of the sea. This explains the reason why we were +able to breathe without difficulty while flying at an altitude of +35,000 feet. It also accounts for the manner in which the pirate was +able to keep beneath the surface of the ocean after his fight with +Commander Fitzgerald, which Miss Ingleton described to me in a very +thrilling manner. + +“The engine is located right inside the cabin, near the controls. +Its power is transmitted to the propellers by means of gears and is +applied through a clutch. By the movement of a lever this clutch can be +disengaged, and the power applied to the marine screw at the end of the +cabin. The marine screw is used for cruising purposes, either on the +water or beneath the sea. + +“Those are the general features of the machine itself. It is highly +efficient in design, and particularly so in its power. That is the +reason he can get such tremendous speed out of it. Miss Ingleton +told me he had boasted to her that in one test flight over a measured +course, running both against the wind and with the wind, the machine +had averaged a speed of 350 miles an hour. Apparently it is only the +strong construction of the airplane that permits it to withstand +the tremendous pressure at such a terrific speed. The cabin, being +airtight, relieves the crew from any ill effects that might result from +the rush of air at that speed, while the oxygen from the engine enables +them to breathe normally.” + +As Redmond paused a moment in his description, Commodore Heathcote +broke in and asked: + +“But how does he get the liquid oxygen for his machine?” + +“I was just coming to that,” answered Redmond. “Of course, you must +understand that nearly all of this information I got second hand +through Miss Ingleton. She obtained it from Levanter by asking him +questions whenever she caught him in a boasting mood. The whole story +of his career on the island as I got it from her is practically this: + +“He came to Honolulu with his machine boxed up in parts. There he +bought the schooner Hilo and shipped its Kanaka crew. Apparently he had +already chosen Patrocinio Island from the map, and the schooner had +sailed there. The island is about five miles long and approximately +two miles wide. As soon as he arrived he made a survey of the island +and decided it was suitable for his purpose. After he had sailed the +schooner inside the coral reef that makes a natural breakwater for the +harbor he got the Kanakas to rig up some tents ashore, and then had +them carry the packing cases on to the beach. When this has been done, +he put them to work, building the permanent log houses. At the first +opportunity during night time he and his crew ran the Hilo ashore and +scuttled her there, so the Kanakas could not leave the island. They +also stove in the lifeboat which I used. + +“While the Kanakas were building the houses, Levanter and his crew were +assembling their airplane. Among the equipment they brought with them +was a complete distilling apparatus designed by Levanter. This was put +up in one of the houses. By his own process Levanter obtains alcohol +from the grass and other vegetation on the island. He used the alcohol +as fuel to produce electrical power for the chemical process that is +necessary for extracting the oxygen and later liquefying it. + +“One of the two big buildings is devoted entirely to this apparatus. +In fact it is quite a laboratory. The tool and repair plant are also +located in that house. The other house is used for living purposes, and +the Kanakas live in the hut where we stowed the baggage that he takes +from the airships he shoots down. + +“His condensing apparatus for the extraction and liquefaction of +oxygen is very remarkable and complete. Miss Ingleton had seen it in +operation, but she could not describe it to me very well. He obtains +his oxygen by means of the fractional distillation of liquid air. +In this connection he has a very remarkable cannon on his airplane. +Instead of using the ordinary high explosive, he utilizes liquid oxygen +with powdered charcoal, which gives far greater explosive force. His +shells are really vacuum containers for the liquid gas, and with the +aid of a very peculiar detonator he breaks down the vacuum and fires +the charge at the same time. + +“Of course he is very sparing with his ammunition because he has to +make all he needs on the island. When he came there he brought a +considerable amount of metal suitable for the manufacture of his vacuum +containers, and one of the first things that he did was to construct a +large number of small but highly powerful mines that are filled with +the liquid gas. These have been submerged around the entrance to the +harbor. + +“From each airship that he attacked, he has obtained as much metal as +he could get, and with it has constructed more mines, until now he has +practically encircled the island with them. This leaves him pretty +nearly secure from any surprise attack on the island by naval vessels. +The vacuum containers he uses to carry fuel for his engine serve their +purpose continuously and do not have to be renewed. That is pretty well +all I know about his equipment. + +“He treats the Kanakas very well, and his men have trained them to do a +great deal of the routine work connected with the laboratory. They do +not know the game Levanter is playing, but think that he is engaged in +some great and important task, and their child-like vanity is tickled +at the work he gives them to do. When they asked him about the schooner +Levanter told them it was wrecked in a storm. He told them he could +get another to take them off the island when he had finished his work +there. In fact he has trained them so well that he leaves them on the +island when he goes out on his flights, without any fear that they will +damage any of his equipment. He has chosen one of them to act as chief +and he tells this man just what he wants the Kanakas to do while he is +away, and they do it.” + +As he reached the end of his description, Redmond uttered a sigh of +relief and settled back in his chair. It was only a momentary rest, +however, as Captain Smith immediately asked: + +“Where does Miss Ingleton live on the island?” + +“In the same house with Levanter and his crew,” replied Redmond. “They +have partitioned off a room for her, and Levanter sees that she has +everything she needs. One of the trunks which they took from the Wilbur +Wright was found to contain feminine apparel, and they have turned +this over to her, and so far as I know she is not in want of anything. +One of the crew spoke insolently to her once, and Levanter happened to +overhear him. A great fight followed, Miss Ingleton told me, and the +man has been very civil to her ever since.” + +“Did she ever tell you about her flight at the time of the battle with +Commander Fitzgerald?” inquired Captain Smith. + +Before Redmond could reply, Arthur Ingleton arrived at Captain +Smith’s office. The latter had sent for him, knowing well that the +former Secretary of the Navy would be interested to hear first hand +information about his missing daughter. Ingleton came in just at the +moment Redmond was about to answer Captain Smith’s question. After +mutual introductions, Redmond continued: + +“Yes! she did describe that to me. She told a very interesting story +about her experience. She didn’t know the airplane could be turned into +a submarine and consequently it was a very thrilling adventure to her, +although it almost gave her heart failure. + +“She told me that she was very apprehensive the morning Levanter set +out. She had been on the machine the previous day when Commander +Fitzgerald’s squadron appeared and opened fire upon Levanter. The +latter had told her of his intention to go out the next day and meet +Fitzgerald and fight it out with him. He insisted that she accompany +him on the flight. + +“‘I implored him to let me stay behind on the island,’ she told me, but +he said to her, ‘You don’t want me to leave you behind here unprotected +with these Kanakas, do you? Suppose we didn’t come back! What would you +do then, alone here with the natives?’ + +“She tried to persuade him again, she said, but it was in vain. He +compelled her to go with him. She was very excited and apprehensive, +particularly when Fitzgerald’s squadron was observed coming out of the +northwestern skies. As soon as the machines of the squadron were close +to them, she told me, Levanter came over to her and said: + +“‘Mary, I want you to go outside the gunpit and wave to Fitzgerald.’ + +“‘Oh! you can’t be so cruel as that,’ she said she replied. + +“‘You must do as I tell you,’ he said with a savage glint in his eyes. + +“‘There was nothing else but to do what he told me,’ she said. + +“According to her story she went out and waved to the other airplanes. +She did not know which was the one Fitzgerald was in, and she couldn’t +see any signs of a response from any of them. After a while Levanter +told her to come back inside. + +“She did this willingly enough, she said, because she was very scared. +It was not long before she heard the firing from the other ships. There +was no sound from the guns on Levanter’s machine. This was because he +was using liquid oxygen explosive. + +“It was then that she experienced the reactions which she told me +about. I shall try to repeat her words as nearly as I can: + +“‘My heart was beating terribly,’ she said, ‘and I was so frightened +that I just simply shivered on the seat inside the cabin. After a +long, long time I felt the machine go into a giddy dive, and my heart +went into my mouth. I could bear the suspense no longer. I went to the +window and looked out. The sea seemed to be coming right up to us. It +looked as though we were falling into it. + +“‘After a while the airplane straightened out, just when it seemed +as though we were about to plunge into the sea. The other airplanes +were coming after us, firing their guns all the time. It was really +horrible, and I was in perfect terror. A little later there was a dull +heavy sound when one of the shells struck our airplane and made it +shake violently. As I looked horror-stricken through the window our +machine went right into the sea. + +“‘At that moment I experienced the most terrible feeling I ever knew. A +hundred thoughts passed through my mind so quickly I couldn’t realize +what they were all about. Suddenly something told me I was about to +die. The thought chilled me with horror, and I fell off the seat in a +dead swoon. + +“‘How long I was unconscious I don’t know, but when I opened my eyes +again the horror of it all passed through my mind very rapidly. I +looked around with fear. I couldn’t see a thing. It was inky black all +around me. I lifted my hand in front of my eyes but couldn’t see it. +Then I felt around me to find where I was. Suddenly a terrible thought +passed through my mind and I cried aloud in absolute terror: + +“‘Good heavens! I’m blind! where am I?’ + +“‘A terrible harsh voice near me replied: + +“‘‘Don’t make a noise, you’re alright. You’re not blind. Keep still, +and you’ll be alright in a few minutes.’ + +“‘Where am I? Where am I?’ I cried. + +“‘‘Shut up, will you!’ was all the answer I got. + +“‘The time that I lay petrified with fear seemed like ages. I didn’t +know what was the matter, and the man who spoke to me had such a rough +voice that I didn’t dare speak again. I was afraid to move or try to +get up from where I was lying, although it was very painful on the hard +floor, because I didn’t know but what I might fall down in the darkness. + +“‘After a long, long time, a faint greenish light began to come, +wherefrom I couldn’t tell. It increased very quickly, and I looked +around to find that I was still in the cabin of Levanter’s airplane. +I couldn’t understand it at all. In a very short time everything was +quite normal again, with as much light as we ever had there. + +“‘Joe Levanter was sitting at the controls, and the other men were at +their stations. They didn’t look at all concerned. I got up slowly. I +was aching terribly from the fall and the hard floor. How long I had +been lying there I don’t know, and Levanter never told me. + +“‘I walked over painfully to the window and looked out. The airplane +was on the surface of the sea, but I couldn’t see its wings. There +wasn’t another vessel or airplane in sight. While I was looking +Levanter said to one of the men: + +“‘‘Go outside and see where the shot hit us, also how much damage it +has done. I think it must have hit one of the wings.’ + +“‘The man opened the cabin door and went out. He was gone quite a +while. When he came back he said: + +“‘‘It hit us on the starboard wing and it has buckled one of the +plates. You’d better open up the wings and see whether they are +alright.’ + +“‘Levanter pulled a lever, and I saw the wings shoot out from the sides +of the airplane, then I heard a loud snapping sound, and they became +rigid. + +“‘The man who made the examination went outside again and walked over +the right wing. He got down on his knees near the end of the wing and +examined it very carefully. From the window I could see a big dent +where he was stooping down. That must have been where the shell struck +the wing. After a while the man returned inside the cabin and said to +Levanter: + +“‘‘It has made a very nasty dent in the plates but it hasn’t done any +material damage. The wing is not seriously injured, and I think it will +hold up alright!’ There was some more conversation, and in a little +while Levanter opened up the engine and took off. After three hours +flying we were back at the island again.’” + +Redmond paused a moment and looked around, then he added: + +“That was about the gist of the story she told me.” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE + + +Arthur Ingleton with the marks of his recent suffering deeply engraven +on his face, sat motionless while Howard Redmond related the thrilling +experience of his daughter during the historic battle in the Pacific +skies. It was the first concrete information concerning her that he had +received since she was taken from the lifeboat of the Wilbur Wright by +the aerial pirate. As soon as Redmond finished the dramatic narrative +Ingleton plied him with innumerable questions regarding his daughter’s +welfare and the conditions generally upon the island. Then after a +considerable discussion along these lines he asked in anxious tones: + +“If we attack Levanter at his base, how can my daughter be protected.” + +“Well, I’ve thought of that very carefully,” replied Redmond, “in fact +the question has been in my mind ever since I first got on the island. +It seems to me that the best way she can be protected now is for me to +return to the island and get into communication with her. When I left +I promised her that I would do my best to come back, if I got here +safely, and let her know what was going to be done. I can get back +there easily enough, I think. I have thoroughly explored the island, +and know every portion of it. My plan is that one of the cruisers take +me back to the island. The captain of the cruiser can arrange to arrive +off the island about midnight without any lights burning. He can steam +to within a mile of the southern coast, where there is a little cove, +without any danger from the submerged mines which do not extend so far +out on that side of the island. Then a boat crew can row me over to +the landing place on the shores of the cove. We can tow a smaller boat +behind us, which can be hidden on the beach, so that if it is possible +Miss Ingleton and I can use it to escape from the island. + +“When I get back to the island I propose to go to the cave on +the southeastern section where I lived before. Then at the first +opportunity I shall go over to our meeting place on the rock and tell +your daughter of any plans we may devise for her rescue. What we have +got to do now is to agree upon some plan of attack.” + +“Are you absolutely sure that Levanter does not know that you were on +the island?” asked Ingleton, “it seems strange to me that he should +not have taken more active steps to ascertain what became of his man +Harrison.” + +“Well, he did,” replied Redmond, “but I didn’t tell you about it +because I wanted to let you know the more important details first. As a +matter of fact after my first conversation with your daughter he did +make a very complete search of the island. + +“In this search he was assisted by the men with him. Fortunately for +me, I got word of his intentions from Miss Ingleton in advance. I +cleaned up my place about the cave, so that there was no evidence of +my presence there. Then I picked out one of the thickest trees I could +find. I climbed up into it and stayed there until they had passed +through my little grove. It was a very trying ordeal, but it was the +only way that safety lay for me. Believe me I stayed there for a +considerable time after they had departed. I wasn’t taking any chances. + +“I learned afterwards from Miss Ingleton that they made a complete +and exhaustive search of every part of the island. Levanter seemed +to be very worried that Harrison might have escaped from the island +and informed the government authorities where his base was. He freely +confessed his fears to your daughter. That was why he made such a +complete search. + +“There is quite a stretch of sandy beach on the western side of the +island, and during the day after her arrival Miss Ingleton learned that +Harrison was in the habit of going there to take a swim. She found this +out from Levanter while he was discussing the absence of Harrison with +his men. At that time they casually remarked that he had probably gone +there and would soon be back again. + +“She told me about it when I met her the next day, and consequently I +went right over to that side of the island and took Harrison’s flying +suit that I had worn on the airplane, with me. As soon as I found the +beach I threw the flying suit down carelessly and left it there. I +figured that if they made a search of the island they would find it +there and might possibly draw the conclusion that Harrison had gone +there and had been drowned while swimming. It was the best chance to +explain his disappearance that came up, and it practically eliminated +the possibility of Levanter surmising that there was a stranger on the +island. + +“It was a good thing that I did this because that is exactly what +happened. They were so afraid that Harrison would betray them that +they made a complete search of the interior of the island before they +went to the beach. When they were unable to locate him anywhere in the +center of the island they gradually worked their way toward the western +beach. + +“There they found the flying clothes which they carried back with them +to the station. Afterwards, in discussing the situation, Miss Ingleton +heard Levanter advance the opinion that Harrison had been drowned. At +the time of their search, however, they did not take any chance on that +belief, because as soon as they had scoured the island Levanter ordered +the airplane out, and he and his crew took the air to search the waters +near the island, on the possible chance that Harrison might be escaping +in a boat of some kind. They thought it strange that he had not left +his other clothes about the beach. + +“Because of the fact that he had been missing for three days by that +time they made a search for a considerable distance about the ocean in +every direction from the island, to make sure that he was not in a boat. + +“I was convinced that I would be safe so long as I was not seen +anywhere on the island, and throughout the time I was there I was +very careful about my movements. I did not relax my vigilance at any +moment and was very careful to cover up every move that I made. Even +when Levanter was away on his flights I was very careful because the +Kanakas were still on the island, and I did not want them to see me. +Consequently the work I had to do on the lifeboat of the schooner Hilo +was accomplished under the greatest difficulty because I had to keep +one eye open for Kanakas all the time I was working. + +“I think we can safely dismiss the problem of Harrison, as I am sure +that Levanter and his men are convinced he was drowned. In fact I +believe they have forgotten all about him by this time. I am equally +sure that Levanter is completely ignorant that I was on the island, so +we have the advantage over him in that respect. It only remains then in +my opinion to devise a plan to attack upon.” + +“Have you got any suggestions to make that would help us to attack +him?” asked Commodore Heathcote. + +“Well I haven’t thought much about it,” replied Redmond. “I’ve told you +practically all the main facts. I am not very well acquainted with the +military situation, but it seems to me that you would not stand much +chance against his machine with your present equipment, and personally +I don’t think the naval vessels would be of any help, if you are +considering to use them. But, of course, my opinion isn’t worth very +much, I’ll admit.” + +“We might use naval craft to blockade the island and make it untenable +by a continuous fusilade of fire from all sides,” suggested Captain +Smith. + +“The blockade itself wouldn’t interfere with his flying operations,” +interposed Commodore Heathcote, “and he could bomb the naval vessels. +There is no doubt the shelling would annoy him, but outside of a direct +hit on the supply plants, it wouldn’t be of any material value and it +might endanger Miss Ingleton.” + +“That’s true,” replied Captain Smith, “but I believe it would worry him +to such an extent that he would not be able to carry out his raids on +commercial airships. He would either have to fight us at the island or +else move on to a new base. Have you any other plan in mind?” + +“Well, yes, a tentative one,” said Heathcote. “On second thought I +think the naval cordon around the island would be a good idea under +these circumstances. We have now an excellent description of Levanter’s +airplane and in fact practically all the details concerning it. I +suggest cabling them to Washington and have the experts in the +construction bureaus of the different departments there devise some +weapon that we could use to fight his machine. As soon as we get this +from them we can establish the blockade around the island and attack +him with the new weapon. For instance, what I have in mind is this: +If he uses liquid gas for his explosives, there must be some chemical +weapon that would counteract the effect of such explosive and which we +could use successfully against him.” + +“Why not place the blockade around the island anyway?” argued Captain +Smith. + +“Well, the thought I had in mind was that such a blockade would tip +Levanter off that we knew the location of his base, and we are not +actually ready to attack him. Of course, if we did establish the +blockade he would realize we knew where he was located,” answered +Heathcote. “It seems to me that we can go ahead and make all possible +arrangements to meet and check his attacks on the commercial lines +until we are ready to fight him, and then go after him properly +organized and completely equipped.” + +“Alright, I understand your point of view,” said Captain Smith, “but +nevertheless I am still convinced that the blockade would be extremely +useful. Even if we did not attempt to shell the island, our very +presence would worry him and limit the extent of his raids. Moreover +if he should leave the island we would know it immediately and could +wireless the fact, so that our aerial patrols could be on the lookout +for him and be ready to protect the commercial ships. + +“In addition to this I think that Redmond’s plans to return to the +island could be more easily carried out with the assistance of the +blockade, and the chances of his getting Miss Ingleton off the island +would be a hundredfold better with the navy boats there than otherwise. + +“We could arrange a system of signals with Redmond, so that he could +keep us informed of what was going on as soon as he learned anything +through Miss Ingleton. The blockade would not interfere in any way with +your plans to devise more efficient weapons to attack him with. It +would assist in keeping Levanter on the island. + +“You must not forget that if when we throw the blockade around the +island, he should decide to go to another island and establish a new +base, it would be impossible for him to take his manufacturing and +repair plants with him, unless he made a number of very long flights to +and from the new island. If he did this, we could learn of it through +Redmond and also possibly learn of his new destination, and then we +could take steps to attack him there before he had a chance to fortify +himself. + +“Personally, however, I think he will stay where he is until the very +last minute. He will not take any chance of moving to a new place where +we might get him more easily, at least that is my opinion. Such a +move would be too hazardous and too difficult to accomplish. He might +fly away and abandon his machine at some unknown place, if pressed too +closely at Patrocinio. + +“Taking all these things into consideration, I am absolutely of the +opinion that the best move we can make is to establish an immediate +blockade around the island. We can take every possible measure of +defense to protect the naval vessels from bombing attacks, which I +don’t think will be very numerous, judging from Redmond’s description +of the difficulty he has in obtaining metal suitable for the +manufacture of the bombs. I am willing, however, to put the matter up +to the authorities in Washington and let them decide, although I am +equally willing to assume the responsibility for ordering the move. +In any case I think it will be a good thing to advise Washington +completely of the situation.” + +At this moment Ingleton, who had been listening attentively to the +discussion, broke in: + +“Whatever you decide, there is one thing I want to say. It is this: I +cannot stand idly by while my daughter is in danger. I am going to the +island with Redmond when he goes.” + +“But Mr. Ingleton,” objected Redmond, “I think that would seriously +handicap our chances. You don’t know the island or the conditions +there.” + +“I’ve made up my mind!” stated Ingleton firmly. + +“I appreciate your anxiety and your feelings,” replied Redmond, “and I +hope you will excuse me for speaking frankly, because it is a question +of life and death for your daughter. You must pardon me, Sir, but you +are not as active as you used to be, and this is a situation that needs +vigorous action for success. In addition the chances of recovering your +daughter will be greatly lessened if we are discovered, and the more of +us are on the island the greater the danger of our being discovered.” + +“I’ve made up my mind and nothing will change it,” declared Ingleton +with emphasis. + +“Very well, Sir, if such is the case I must accede to your wishes,” +said Redmond. “I only hope that our mission will be successful.” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR + + +For two long, weary weeks Mary Ingleton watched upon her island prison, +with a patience born of hope, for the news that would tell her of the +safe arrival of Howard Redmond at Honolulu. Day after day she sat in +the improvised wireless room with the receivers fastened to her ears, +vainly listening for the code word they had agreed upon before his +departure--the code which meant ultimate freedom for her and the longed +for return to her parents. + +Her watch for this signal, though weary and lonesome, was actuated by +her keen desire to get back to her mother who was deeply distressed +when Levanter took her off the airship. She knew that her mother would +be worrying over her safety and that worry would materially affect her +mother’s health. This thought greatly depressed Mary and added to her +anxiousness to get away from the island. + +Mary had little thought that a long captivity awaited her when she +agreed to leave the airship Wilbur Wright at the pirate’s behest; and +of course, she did not know then that the pirate was Joe Levanter, the +man she had refused to marry in Washington. Many times since then, +however, she had pondered over the momentous occasion and regretted +the actions she had not taken at that time. At the critical moment when +she was ordered out of the lifeboat by Levanter it seemed as though she +had done the best thing possible under the circumstances for everybody +on the airship. She did not then know what motive actuated the pirate +in ordering her to go aboard his airplane, and still less did she dream +that her compliance would mean separation from her family, and virtual +imprisonment upon an isolated island for many months. + +Had she known these facts, she mused, she would have insisted that +her mother be permitted to accompany her, and she felt that Levanter +would finally have given in to her demands. Many times had she berated +herself for not having done this. Now, as she waited for the agreed +signal, all these thoughts came back to her mind with greater force to +add to her dejection. + +Now that Redmond had gone, there came upon her for the first time +a true realization of the seriousness of her situation upon the +island and of its possibilities. While Redmond had been on the island +the thought of personal danger had never occurred to her. She had +automatically become accustomed to looking upon him as a protector in +case of need. Moreover the attitude of Levanter toward her had been +irreproachable. In a vague way she had occasionally been disturbed by +fears as to what her captor might do, but as yet nothing had occurred +that would indicate what his intentions were. She was his prisoner, +but he had been a most irreprovable jailer both in word and in deed. +This situation in particular had been responsible for the fact that the +thought of personal danger never occurred to her at any time during her +reflections upon her imprisonment. + +For the first time in her life Mary felt that something was lacking in +herself. For the first time her dominant spirit of independence left +her. For the first time she experienced the feeling of helplessness. +These new and strange misgivings came upon her as soon as Redmond had +started out so bravely upon his mission. Within her heart there grew +a feeling such as she had never known before; a feeling she could not +define, but yet one which left her ill-content and perplexed. + +It was a feeling strangely bound up with Redmond, and when in the grip +of it she frequently surprised herself conjecturing upon his fate. Each +time her mind reverted to Redmond her imagination painted a picture of +him in the open boat, upon the waters of the Pacific; a picture that +seemed to affect her mood and bring fears for his safety. Each day this +picture was re-drawn in colors more vivid and theme more ardent and +hopeless. Thus did she live in each day an eternity of alternate hope +and despair. Added to this was the constant fear that Levanter would +make the discovery that the Hilo’s lifeboat was missing and guess that +a stranger had been on his island base. + +Then with that malice which the Fates seem to delight in visiting upon +human beings in distress the cloud of uncertainty that hung over Mary +was lifted only to bring her face to face with despair. Early in the +second week after Redmond’s departure Levanter came to her and for the +first time spoke about her presence on the island. There was something +in his manner and his attitude that sent a thrill of apprehension +through her. + +“Mary,” he said. “For what reason do you suppose have I brought you +here?” + +She looked at him in blank amazement. The suddenness and unexpectedness +of his question took her completely unawares, and she was unable to +reply. He watched her intently for several seconds, then without +heeding her silence went on: + +“Shortly after you turned me down in Washington I made up my mind +that you would marry either me or no one. You little thought at that +time that you would ever be in this position, but I knew then what I +could do, and I was certain that sooner or later I would get you. Of +course, I did not know that you would make a trip on one of the Pacific +airships, in fact I had no idea of such a voyage, but that did not +make any difference, because I would have succeeded in getting you +eventually. Your trip on the Wilbur Wright only hastened matters.” + +“Oh! I would never believe that you could stoop to that!” exclaimed +Mary passionately. + +“Well of course, you may regard this as a stooping down affair. But I +rather think that I have risen to the height of a daring opportunity,” +replied Levanter. + +“What do you intend to do with me?” demanded Mary, her anger overcoming +her fear. + +“I am going to marry you!” he replied. + +“Never! I will never marry you! Never!! I would sooner die,” declared +Mary with emphasis. + +“Don’t be in such a hurry to die. Your life means infinitely more to +me than your heroic death might possibly mean to you,” said Levanter. +“Take your time and think it over. Do you really think you can oppose +my power?” + +“I don’t know what you can do, and I don’t care,” exclaimed Mary, +stamping her foot in emphasis. “I will never marry you, never!” + +“Well, never is a long, long time and may never come,” he replied, with +a sardonic smile. “You are a little obstinate just now, but you’ll soon +see the light.” + +“You are just a brute, and I hate you!” The last remark of Mary wrought +a sudden change in Levanter. + +From the forceful, dominating man who had successfully pitted himself +against the rest of the world, outlawed himself and resisted all +efforts to subdue him, he changed to the pleading attitude of a suitor. + +“Now, Mary, don’t be cruel. I can’t bear to think that I am hateful +to you. I love you and you must be mine! Nothing in the world, not +even this power that I have and the riches it brings me, can make me +forget my passion for you. I would be willing to give it all up on the +condition!” + +“I wouldn’t have anything to do with you under any conditions,” +interrupted Mary. “You have got me here in your power, but you can’t +make me do anything willingly. To me you will always be repulsive, +because I think you are a coward at heart.” + +“But surely, Mary, you don’t want me to continue this work, do you?” +Levanter still pleaded. + +“Don’t try to put the responsibility of your evil deeds on me,” said +Mary angrily. “You don’t have to commit these crimes, and you know it. +Nothing you say will change my mind about you, or about your proposal. +I won’t have anything to do with you, no matter what you promised.” + +The steely determination which shone in Mary’s eyes stung and hurt him +to the point of madness. He shook with anger and anguish. Suddenly a +wave of passion swept through his frame. Lunging forward, he violently +grasped Mary in his arms and pulled her toward him. She struggled +desparately. + +“You’ll do as I want you to do,” he exclaimed savagely. + +In sheer desperation Mary slapped and scratched her captor. Their +interlocked figures swayed and wriggled in the room as Levanter, +actuated by the unreasoning passion that engulfed him, struggled +desparately to overpower Mary. + +Suddenly in the midst of the struggle, just as the strength of Mary was +about to give out, the door of the room opened, and Walter Johnston, +the chief lieutenant rushed in. He was the man who had tried to kiss +Mary on the first day of her arrival on the island and had received a +violent blow from Levanter for his pains. He had been attracted to the +room by the sound of the struggle, and rushed to investigate. Taking +the situation in at a glance, he strode over and separated the two. + +As Levanter released his hold on Mary he turned ferociously upon his +aide and aimed a terrific blow at the intruder. Johnston, fresh and +alert, easily avoided the blow and in turn planted one on the face of +his chief which sent the latter sprawling on the floor. + +“What’s the idea?” asked Johnston. “You don’t think you are going to +pull anything over on me, do you? I’ll tell you right now that don’t go +with me. What I can’t do, you can’t do, chief, and that ought to about +settle it.” + +Levanter slowly rose from the floor. + +“This is my affair, Johnston.” + +“Oh, no, Boss,” replied Johnston smoothly, “you’ve got it wrong. It’s +my affair, too. We sink or swim together, and what’s good enough for +me, is good enough for you. That’s only fair.” + +“What do you mean?” asked Levanter. + +“What I say,” replied Johnston, “you are trying to do something you +stopped me from doing, and that don’t go--see!” + +While the two men thus disputed, Mary, with her hand over her +palpitating heart, stood in the corner, panting from her exertions +in resisting Levanter. Her eyes followed every movement of the two +men, and she listened keenly to each word that passed between them. +For upwards of half an hour they engaged in a rapid fire of violent +argument, then gradually the heat of the altercation spent itself. As +it subsided, Levanter said with a smile slowly growing upon his face: + +“Let’s forget it, Johnston. If we quarrel we are lost. You don’t +understand the situation. Miss Ingleton is an old friend of mine, and I +asked her to marry me. The reason I stopped you from molesting her the +day she came here was because I was still waiting for her answer, and +I hoped to marry her. Now she has refused to marry me. So it’s no use +quarreling about her.” + +“Well, that’s alright, you leave her alone and I’ll do the same,” said +Johnston. + +Then turning to Mary, he added: + +“You tell me, Miss, if he tries to interfere with you in any way.” + +To this Mary made no reply, but she experienced a feeling of great +relief. The struggle she had just undergone with Levanter had left her +exhausted and had caused her great alarm, although it had awakened +in her a lively feeling of resentment and determination to fight for +her safety and honor to the very last. A hundred desperate thoughts +had been engendered in her mind while the altercation between the two +men was raging. She would plunge into the sea as soon as she got out +of the room. Then came the determination to kill Levanter with the +first weapon that came to hand, should he attempt to molest her again. +Finally she had decided she would destroy Levanter, his crew, and +herself with one of his liquid bombs. + +Then the altercation between the two men came to an end, and its +outcome rent the curtain of her fears and disclosed the clear path +of safety before her. She realized that the bad blood that had been +stirred up between Levanter and Johnston spelled freedom from danger +for her, at least for a time, and she determined to be wary and never +be with either one of them alone, or go anywhere where one of them +could be alone with her. + +She could therefore allay her fears for several days at least, allowing +for a reasonable time to hear from Redmond. Then should such time +elapse without hearing from him by wireless, she would know that he +had failed in his attempt to get to Honolulu, and then she could think +the situation over and make whatever plans were necessary under those +circumstances. Until that time she was now determined to compose her +mind and wait patiently and hopefully. + +By the time these thoughts had revolved themselves in her mind she was +thoroughly recovered from her exertions and emotions. With a rapid but +cold glance at the two men, Mary turned around and walked out of the +room. She went into the wireless room. A glance at her watch showed her +that it was almost time for the news schedule of the naval wireless +station at Honolulu. + +She sat down at the instrument table and picked up the receivers which +she carefully adjusted to her head. Then, after delicately adjusting +the apparatus in front of her, she picked up a pencil and began to +write as the news message came in. + +Mechanically she wrote down word by word the first item of the +despatch, her mind following its import just as mechanically. As the +sentence terminated her hand had already began to write the word +“stop” which normally came at the end of each item. She had already +got the first letter of the customary word on the paper before her, +when suddenly she arrested the movement of her hand and listened more +intently. In place of the usual “stop” a new signal was coming. Within +her mind she repeated it as it came. + +It was composed of three letters “QVT.” + +The full meaning of the signal burst in upon her thoughts. Joyously she +pulled the receivers off her head, flung them on the instrument table +and with all the fervor of her soul exclaimed, “Thank God!” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE + + +For several days after she had received the welcome wireless signal +which informed her of Howard Redmond’s safe arrival in Honolulu, Mary +Ingleton constantly speculated on the possibilities of her early escape +from her island prison. Ever since her terrific struggle with the +aerial pirate shortly before she received the wireless signal she had +been greatly perturbed. Would Redmond be able to get assistance quickly +and come to her rescue before Levanter tried to molest her again? Would +Johnston keep his promise and interfere against his chief, if Levanter +should again force his unwelcome attentions upon her; or would Levanter +succeed in placating his assistant by some arrangement and then renew +his attentions? These were the thoughts which ran successively and +repeatedly through Mary’s mind and disquieted her greatly. Her fears +were greatly enhanced by the persistency with which she dwelled upon +them, for the lack of anything else to do. + +Since the incident with Levanter that was ended by the abrupt +appearance of Johnston, she had not been molested again. Levanter had +remained aloof from her and busied himself with the affairs of his +criminal enterprise. The repair work on the airplane that had been +started just before Redmond’s departure had not yet been completed, and +Levanter was busy each day superintending it. It included a complete +overhaul of both the machine and its engine. + +While dwelling on the problems before her, Mary was considerably +worried that Levanter might at any moment walk over to the place +where the wreck of the Hilo was lying piled up on the beach and there +discover that the lifeboat of the schooner was missing. The more she +thought of this possibility the more worried she became, for she +felt certain that if the fact that the lifeboat was gone should be +discovered, Levanter would logically surmise that a stranger had been +on the island. She was sure that in that case the strange disappearance +of Harrison would again crop up in his mind and arouse his suspicions. + +As she turned this problem over in her mind Mary tried to think of +some way of solving it. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. Why not get +hold of one of Levanter’s chemical bombs at the first opportunity, +plant it under the Hilo and blow the schooner to fragments? This done, +there would not be any possible chance of the pirate’s discovering the +disappearance of the lifeboat, and all fears on that score would be +eliminated. + +No sooner had the idea occurred to her than Mary began revolving in her +mind a possible way of putting it into effect. In the first place she +did not know just how the bombs were operated. All she knew about them +was what Levanter had told her in a casual way at different times. She +knew that they were filled with liquid gas and that there was a special +detonating arrangement that broke down the vacuum of the container and +released the gas so rapidly that it emerged with terrific explosive +force. How this detonating device worked she did not know. + +She fully realized that it would be extremely difficult to obtain one +of the bombs and very dangerous to place it underneath the Hilo in such +manner as to ensure the destruction of the schooner. Before she could +attempt this, therefore, she had to find out how to handle the bombs, +also if there was any way in which they could be exploded by a time +arrangement, so as to enable her to get away to safety before the bomb +exploded after she had placed it under the Hilo. + +Having recognized these facts, she decided, after further thought on +the matter, that the only way to obtain the necessary information would +be from Levanter himself. In order to do so, she realized that she +would have to get on speaking terms with him again. This was extremely +repugnant to her, but she decided that it could not be avoided under +the circumstances. Therefore she made up her mind to submerge her +own feelings in order to achieve the purpose she had in view, which +was very vital to her safety and indispensable for her escape from +the island. She relied upon the quick return of Howard Redmond to +counteract any advances that Levanter might make after she had resumed +speaking relations with him. + +Now that she had made this decision Mary waited until Levanter was in a +good humor and not pre-occupied with the repair work on his airplane. +At the first available opportunity she approached him and said: + +“I have been thinking things over, and it seems to me that it is very +silly for us to be sulky. I am perfectly willing to be friendly with +you, if you will not try to interfere with me again as you did the +other day. Why can’t you promise me to act like a man and put an end to +this ridiculous situation?” + +“What’s the idea?” asked Levanter in reply, “I thought you said you +hated me.” + +“Well, you must admit that was your own fault,” replied Mary. “After +thinking it over I don’t believe that you were really responsible for +your actions then, so I am willing to forgive you, if you will only +promise not to do anything like that again.” + +“I don’t quite understand you,” said Levanter suspiciously. “There must +be some reason for the sudden change in your attitude now. What is it?” + +“Well, I am very lonesome here, and it is very unpleasant not to be +able to talk to anyone.” + +Levanter began to thaw with this explanation, and he actually smiled. + +Did she really mean what she said? + +“Well, I think you are right to a certain point. I am glad that you +are at last beginning to realize that there is no escape from fate. +That makes things much simpler for us. I don’t see though why I should +promise you anything. I can say this however. I may be blamed for my +actions, but I don’t have to defend any motives. I love you, I have +always loved you, and I believe I shall always love you.” + +“Well, I accept your apology,” said Mary. “But why can’t you forget +what you have just said? You know I don’t love you. I have said that +often enough for you to realize it. I have always been determined to +marry no one but the man I love. I don’t intend to marry anyone. Let us +agree to bury the hatchet, forget all these things and live amicably, +since I must stay on the island. But tell me, what are your intentions +toward me. Surely you are not going to keep me here all my life. +Surely, you don’t intend to live here yourself, do you?” + +“I don’t know yet,” replied Levanter. “I haven’t made up my mind what I +am going to do. Why do you ask that?” + +“Oh, I was just wondering what you intend to do. It explains my reason +for wanting to be on speaking terms with you again. I didn’t think that +you would live here forever. I felt sure that some time you would quit +this island, and of course I didn’t expect you to be so cruel as to +leave me here after you left. I was sure that when you did leave, you +would find some way to let me get back to my parents.” + +“You can go back to them immediately if you promise to marry me,” +declared Levanter. + +“Now, there you are again, returning to that forbidden subject,” +replied Mary. “Why can’t you agree to forget that. You know what my +answer is now.” + +Suddenly, as she reached this stage in the conversation, an opening +occurred to Mary. She would dissemble her real feelings and hold out a +hope to the man she despised and hated. Intuitively she felt certain +that he would immediately jump at the possibility offered indirectly +to him and promise not to interfere with her again while she was on +the island. Then having obtained this promise, she could go about her +task of destroying the Hilo and lay such other plans to assist Howard +Redmond when he returned, as were possible under whatever circumstances +might develop. These thoughts flashed quickly through her mind as she +was talking, and with only a slight pause to go over them again and +make sure of herself, she continued: + +“Of course, whether my answer will always be ‘No’, I cannot say at +the present, but you will not get me to change my mind if you keep on +forcing your attentions upon me, that is certain.” + +Mary had angled well and caught her victim on the well prepared +hook. Like a fish Levanter rose to the bait and grasped it. The hope +contained in Mary’s simple statement arose before Levanter with all its +possibilities. + +“I think you are right,” he replied slowly. “What I did the other day +was done in the heat of passion, and I was not really responsible. I am +very sorry and I hope you will forgive me.” + +As he said this Levanter extended his hand toward Mary. She grasped +it and shook hands with him on the compact. She did it with an +apparent show of sincerity, but in her heart there was the bitterest +of feelings. She despised herself for doing it, and she still more +despised the man whose hand she shook. She consoled herself, however, +with the thought that what she had done was necessary to her own safety +and freedom, and that the treachery of the man who held her in his +power could only be overcome by stratagem on her part, much as she +disliked to employ it. + +Following the conclusion of the compact, the two continued to converse +generally until Levanter was called away by the men working on the +airplane. Mary felt that it would be extremely unwise to question the +sky pirate on any matter concerning his enterprise so shortly after the +reconciliation with him. It would be much better to wait a few days +she thought and be extremely friendly with him until he was completely +disarmed regarding her intentions before she asked him any questions. +Otherwise, she argued with herself, he might guess the reason for such +pertinent questions and know that she had approached him solely to get +the information wanted. + +And so several days passed by without further incident of any kind. +Each day Mary made it a point to chat with her captor on some trivial +subjects, in order to get him completely off his guard. Meanwhile she +had been thinking over the details of her plan. She knew that as long +as Levanter was busy with the repair work on his airplane there was +very little chance that he would go over to that part of the harbor +where the Hilo was lying beached. + +As soon as the repair work was completed, however, there was every +possibility that he might go over there and discover that the lifeboat +was missing. Consequently there was no time to be lost in completing +her arrangements. + +If she were successful in the task of destroying the Hilo she could +take similar steps against the remarkable airplane of Levanter. If she +could only shatter one of its wings, or damage its hull, it would be +impossible for the sky pirate to take the air again for several months, +while there was the possibility that the machine might be completely +wrecked. Even if it were only slightly damaged it would give Redmond +sufficient time to organize any help that he might need in getting back +to the island and rescuing her. + +No sooner had this thought occurred to her than Mary began to debate in +her mind whether it would not be better to go right out and blow up the +airplane instead of the schooner Hilo. If the airplane were destroyed, +she argued, it would not make any difference whether Levanter +discovered that the Hilo’s boat was missing or not, because he could +not leave the island anyhow. If she succeeded in doing this completely +it would be a very important thing, and she might be able to do it +without attracting suspicion if she went about it carefully. In fact, +she continued in her mental argument, Levanter might think that the +explosion had been caused by a bomb left on the airplane. + +Should she try to blow up the airplane or the Hilo? That was now the +all important question in her mind. If she made her attempt on the +airplane and failed she might not get another chance, and there was +a very great possibility of failure until she had learned how to +handle the bombs properly. In the event of failure through premature +explosion, or any other similar cause, both Levanter and his crew would +be extremely careful with the remaining bombs, particularly as to where +they left them, and her chances of getting another would be eliminated. + +On the other hand if she made the attempt on the schooner Hilo and +it was unsuccessful, she felt certain that Levanter would attribute +the explosion to the washing up of one of his mines ashore, and +then she would have another chance to try again. Besides, she would +learn something from her failure if she did fail. If her attempt was +successful, Levanter and his men might still think that the explosion +was from one of the mines washed up from the sea. In that case she +would have sufficient knowledge in the use of the mines to make the +attempt on the airplane at the earliest possible moment. + +About a week after Mary had made her reconciliation with Levanter the +opportunity she had been looking for arrived. She was conversing with +her captor, and he was in an exceptionally good humor. While she was +talking with him, Johnston came over and said: + +“Say, Boss, we’ve used up all our supply of metal, we’ll have to get +some more somewhere for the extra vacuum containers.” + +After the two men had discussed this for a little while Johnston left +and went over to the workshop. As Levanter turned back to her Mary +asked: + +“Aren’t you afraid that one of the bombs might wash up from the sea and +explode?” + +“Oh, no,” he replied. “There wouldn’t be any danger unless they were +thrown violently against some object. They have a contact detonator, +and as long as the detonator didn’t touch anything they would be +harmless.” + +“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” replied Mary, “because I was a little +alarmed over it.” + +“You needn’t be, there’s no danger,” declared Levanter. + +“Well, you know that’s stupid of me,” said Mary, “I always thought that +bombs and explosive things went off with some kind of a fuse, some kind +of timing arrangement, if you get what I mean.” + +“They can be made to explode that way,” replied Levanter, “but my bombs +are not constructed to explode with time fuses, although they could be +set to go off at any predetermined time. Only the shells we use in the +guns have the timing arrangement.” + +“How interesting, but of course I am very ignorant of those terrible +things. I thought they all went off by time.” + +“Oh, no. Of course, I am very proud of those bombs because they are +my own invention,” continued Levanter. “The bombs are put in the sea +for protection against any fool government war-vessels that might come +snooping around. A time fuse wouldn’t be of any use for that purpose, +because we don’t know when they might come along. If they do come here +they will hit one of those mines we’ve got laid around the island and +explode it. That would be the end of the snooper.” + +“But that’s terrible!” exclaimed Mary, her horror at the thought +momentarily overcoming her effort to dissemble her real feelings. +“That’s downright murder!” + +“Oh, don’t worry Mary,” replied Levanter soothingly. “We don’t expect +any of them around here. It’s only a precautionary measure I was +compelled to take to protect us here. Even if they did come and strike +one of the mines we could rescue the crew and make them prisoners. You +see we could then use them as hostages, and they wouldn’t be able to go +back and disclose my secret place.” + +“But how would you be able to control such a large number of men?” +persisted Mary. + +“Well, if such a thing were to happen we would find some means of doing +it, but we don’t expect such a thing. Anyway, Mary, you know it can +be stopped any time you say the word,” said Levanter looking at her +significantly. + +“Oh, please, please don’t. You promised not to talk about that, can’t +you keep your word?” entreated Mary. + +“Alright, let’s forget it. I don’t see how this conversation started. +I’m so confounded proud of these bombs that I suppose I went too far in +talking about them. It can’t be very interesting to you.” + +“I realize that you must be proud of them,” agreed Mary, “and really +I am very much interested in them, although it’s too deep for me to +understand, but I should like to see how you make them. I have never +been inside your workshop, and it would help me to pass the time away.” + +“That’s alright,” said Levanter, “you can come in any time.” + +After a further brief conversation he offered to take her over the +shop right away. She readily assented because she was impatient to get +her task completed, especially as the repair work on the airplane was +almost done. + +They strolled over to the house where the entire mechanical plant +of Levanter was installed. He showed her the distilling plant with +which he made his alcoholic fuel. Then he led her into the room where +the liquid oxygen was produced that gave him the energy to fly his +airplane. He explained it all to Mary, and she listened carefully, +although somewhat impatiently. + +Next he took her into the room where the vacuum containers for the +liquid gas were made. There were two types of containers, one to carry +the fuel for the airplane, and the other for use as bombs. In the +former there was a remarkable siphon arrangement that permitted the +liquid gas to flow freely into the engine, where its expansion was +allowed to take place in such manner that the energy spent by the gas +in expanding from the liquid to the gaseous state was fully utilized in +the propulsion of the airplane. + +The second type of container was equipped with a vacuum cap that +included the detonator, thus making the whole thing a very ingenious +bomb when filled with the liquid gas. Levanter explained to Mary that +a little charcoal was included in the container, as it added to the +explosive force of the liquid gas. + +After expressing her unqualified admiration at the ingeniousness of +their construction, Mary questioned her captor as closely as she dared +regarding the details of the bombs. She was anxious to learn as much as +possible about them without appearing to be over-curious, or arousing +the suspicion of Levanter. At the time he showed her around his plant +there were none of the shells used in his cannon under construction +but only the bombs which were used to form a protective belt around +the island. Picking one up, Levanter explained it to her in detail. +He showed her where the liquid gas was placed and how it was put it. +Next he showed her the mechanism of the detonator and explained its +operation. It was extremely fortunate for Mary that this was the only +type under construction, as it suited her purpose admirably, if she +could but get possession of one of them. + +While Levanter was showing her over the plant she had carefully noted +every detail of each room, the position of the doors, and the way in +which they swung open. She observed the position of the fixtures in +each room and the position of the clear spaces. She had made a complete +mental picture of the place, sufficient, she thought, to enable her +at any time to enter and find her way without difficulty and without +stumbling into anything in case it were necessary to go there at night. +In fact she had noted the place with such extreme care that she had +paid but little attention to Levanter while he was describing many of +the things to her, until she arrived in the bomb construction room. +There she gave her undivided attention to him, because of her desire to +learn just how to handle the dangerous things. + +Immediately after Levanter had finished his description, Mary turned to +him with an assumed air of ignorant simplicity and asked: + +“I don’t see how you dare carry those dreadful things around if they +are arranged to explode on contact. Aren’t you afraid that you might +press one of those contacts while you are carrying them?” + +“There’s no danger of that,” replied Levanter laughing. “You see this +little gadget here on the side,” he asked pointing to a small switch +button, “well, when that is pushed over this way it locks the contact +studs, and they cannot be pressed inward. That button is really a +safety lock. When it’s in this position the studs can’t be pressed in, +and therefore the bomb cannot be exploded. That makes it absolutely +safe to carry around. When we are planting these mines in the sea we +have the safety button on, and take it off just as we lower the mine +into the sea.” + +“That’s just what I didn’t understand,” said Mary. “What stops the +mines from being washed ashore?” + +“We anchor them with a weight. You see, we haven’t got any real +anchors, because we haven’t got any metal to spare, but we get a great +big heavy rock and tie the mine to it and then drop it overboard.” + +“But aren’t you afraid that two of the mines will hit each other? They +must sway about in the water.” + +“Well, naturally the movement of the water does that,” replied +Levanter, “and the tides also move them, but we know the length of the +rope we use, and we make allowances for that. You see, we plant them so +far apart that no matter in what direction they move in, they cannot +hit one another. Then we make the whole field wide enough so that a +ship trying to come to the island would be bound to hit one of them.” + +“How interesting,” said Mary, carefully concealing the horror she felt +at the diabolical plan unfolded by the man. + +“Yes,” answered the pirate, “we are going to plant a few more of these +tomorrow. We are going out in the airplane and will cruise there on the +surface. Would you like to come along with us, and see how we do it?” + +“Yes, indeed,” said Mary. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX + + +Over in Honolulu Howard Redmond had gradually become aware of a +feeling, more important but not nearly as thrilling as his adventure +on the sky pirate’s remarkable airplane. It was a feeling destined to +change the entire course of his life. It came during the period of +impatient waiting while trying to overcome red tape and get official +action that would help him to return to Patrocinio Island, and when it +became part and parcel of his consciousness he realized that a mighty +change had taken place in his whole being. + +For the past three months he had led a life of such intense action and +adventure, that he had had no time for aught else. The delays he had +experienced in Honolulu had caused him to concentrate his thoughts upon +Mary Ingleton who was languishing in the power of the pirate Levanter +upon an island far removed from civilization, and had intensified his +desire to rescue her at all hazards. While dwelling upon this problem +the conviction suddenly came over him that his desire to rescue her +was not prompted by the mere sense of chivalry in aiding a woman in +distress, but that his feelings toward Mary were entirely above that. +For several days he was in a daze, trying to define these feelings. +He turned all the forces of his mind upon his problem in an effort +to analyze it, but failed; then in the very moment of failure a new +intuitive power he had suddenly gained spread before him the cause of +his new sensation. He was in love! In love with Mary Ingleton! + +This sudden realization had a profound effect upon Redmond. He was +in all respects a typical man of the air. Women had always played +a natural but quite incidental part in his existence. They were a +necessary part of his life and surroundings insofar as all human +association is necessary. His whole attention had always been +concentrated upon the details, both technical and practical, of his +chosen profession. He was a stolid individual, naturally shy and +bashful in the presence of the other sex. There was not the slightest +thing in his make-up that would suggest the “ladies man”, in fact he +was the very antithesis to all that is implied by the comprehensive +phrase. + +His relationship with Mary Ingleton had been thrust upon him by the +force of circumstances, and his attitude toward her had always been +extremely diffident. He had made his perilous voyage on the Pacific +in the small open boat as a matter of duty. His anxiety to return and +assist her had at first been governed by the same feeling, but the +delay in getting started had rapidly developed the change that her +entry into his life had caused. + +Now for the first time in his life he experienced the pangs and +pleasures of the feeling which he defined as love. It tempered his +impatience with tenderness while all the time growing in intensity. It +enthroned within his heart the picture of the girl he was anxious to +succor and cast about her the halo of purity and charm. + +While he was still kicking his heels in the office of Captain Smith, +the naval commandant, waiting for the official action which would +send him back as fast as a cruiser could carry him to the woman whose +influence had worked such a wondrous change within him, in strolled +Kenneth Fitzgerald, who was just convalescing from the effects of the +battle with the pirate and the violent emotions which he experienced +during the period of the battle. It was his first day out of the +hospital. He had been informed of the arrival of Redmond in Honolulu +and of the manner in which the officer of the airship Wilbur Wright had +been picked up at sea. He had also been told in substance the story +Redmond had brought back from Levanter’s base. + +As Fitzgerald entered the room, still feeble from the effects of his +lengthy illness, Captain Smith looked up and walked over to greet the +air commander. After a brief conversation he turned to Redmond and said: + +“Redmond, I want you to meet Wing Commander Fitzgerald. He is the man +who commanded our air forces in the fight with Levanter.” + +Then with a smile and knowing wink he added innocently enough: + +“And I can whisper to you confidentially that he is madly in love with +the young lady you are anxious to rescue.” + +It was then that jealousy laid its bitter grip upon Howard Redmond +for the first time in his eventful life. He grasped the hand that +Fitzgerald extended to him with such force that the latter winced with +pain. + +“Good Lord!” he exclaimed weakly though smilingly, “you nearly broke my +hand,” then with an apologetic air he continued: “I’m still pretty sick +you know.” + +It was several seconds before Redmond dared trust himself to speak. +During that brief period his mind was consumed with many bitter +thoughts. He knew that Fitzgerald had known Mary for a long time, that +they had been passengers together on the ill-fated Wilbur Wright, and +Mary had often spoken of him on the island. Now he had been told by +Captain Smith that Fitzgerald loved her. Apparently it was an open +secret and therefore Mary must know it too. + +Did Mary love Fitzgerald? That was the question with which jealousy now +tortured him. As the thought entered his mind with the full force of +its possibilities he looked into the eyes of his unwitting rival and +then remembered what Fitzgerald had just said: + +“Excuse me,” he replied, “I was so busy thinking of getting back to +assist Miss Ingleton that I didn’t realize what I was doing.” + +As he spoke a momentary flush of red tinged Redmond’s tanned and +weather-beaten face. The suffusion was caused by his natural ingrained +honesty which rebelled at the untruth he was uttering. It was the first +time in his life he had ever dissembled his real feelings, and the +novelty caused him to blush with shame. + +All this was unnoticed by Fitzgerald, who replied easily enough, “Oh, +that’s alright. I know how you feel. My God, I feel worse. I’m dying to +go with you, but the doctors here won’t let me. I’m not only anxious to +help Mary, but I have a great score to settle with Levanter, and by God +I intend to make him pay in full.” + +“It’s just as well you can’t go,” said Redmond, “because it would only +add to our difficulties. I know the island thoroughly, and it would be +much better if I went alone. I’ve been trying to convince Mr. Ingleton +of this, but he will not listen to me, so I’ve got to take him along. +It will seriously handicap me.” + +Redmond had scarcely finished talking when the door opened and Arthur +Ingleton entered. + +“That’s funny,” said Fitzgerald to the newcomer, “we’ve just been +talking about you.” + +“I hope it was nothing bad,” replied Ingleton laughingly. Then, before +he could say anything further, Captain Smith, who had been talking over +the telephone, came over and said: + +“I’ve got some good news for you, gentlemen. I just got word from +the cable operator that he had received a message from Washington +authorizing me to send the cruiser Farragut to Patrocinio Island and +take both of you there.” + +“Have they worked out a plan?” asked Redmond eagerly. + +“Yes, the message +outlines the plan of action. Captain Moore has been chosen because he +is familiar with the waters around the island. He is to take you there +and arrange to arrive off the island at sundown, then row you ashore +and land you on the beach Redmond has described. Captain Moore is to +come within sight of the cove at a certain time each night that you and +he will arrange. Then if you have any information to give him, Redmond +can send it by means of a small portable reflected wave wireless set he +will give you. If it is important enough Captain Moore will send it to +us by wireless, using the special naval code. All the details you can +arrange with him.” + +“You are not going to put a blockade around the island then, Captain?” +inquired Redmond. + +“No,” replied Captain Smith, “it has been decided best not to do this +until everything is in readiness to attack the pirate with every +possibility of success. What do you propose to do after you get on the +island?” + +“Well,” said Redmond, “I think it would be best to get Miss Ingleton +away from it the first possible chance we have. I think that I ought +to have a boat left at the cove where we land. There is plenty of +opportunity to hide it there in the vegetation, and the crew of the +cruiser can help us to drag it ashore. If the cruiser is going to +remain within steaming distance all the time, I would suggest that a +light boat be left with us, one that we could readily carry and launch.” + +“Oh, certainly,” said Captain Smith, “everything possible will be done +to assist you. Captain Moore will be given instructions to give you +anything you need, and give you every possible assistance that he can. +I would suggest that you confer with him and arrange all your details +together. By the way, if you are successful in getting Miss Ingleton +off the island would you be willing to remain there afterwards and give +us whatever information you could gather about the pirate, until we +have captured him?” + +“Why, I would be delighted to do that,” Redmond answered, “first +efforts, however, will be directed toward getting Miss Ingleton away +from the island. You can understand that, of course. After that I will +do everything that I possibly can to get information for you that may +be of use in your operations against him.” + +“We appreciate your offer,” said Captain Smith. “We will keep in touch +with you at all times, and if it is necessary for you to remain on the +island after Miss Ingleton has been taken off, you may rest assured +that we will stand by you all the time.” + +Immediately after this conference Redmond tried again to dissuade Mary +Ingleton’s father from accompanying him to the island. He brought every +argument that he could think of to bear in the attempt to discourage +the former secretary of the navy from making the trip. + +“It would be just as well if you went with us on the cruiser and +remained aboard while I went ashore,” he said to Ingleton. “You would +be fully posted there as to what was taking place, and you could be +ready to come ashore at a moment’s notice if it were necessary for +me to have assistance. But don’t you see how much it will add to the +danger if you come ashore with me right away. It will make it so much +easier for the pirate or his men to discover us. Not only that, but +in case there is a chance of getting your daughter off the island, it +will add to the dangers of our trip in the small light boat, before the +cruiser picks us up.” + +“I appreciate all your arguments,” replied Ingleton, “and in a way I am +convinced that you are right. But I can’t bring myself to stand idly by +while knowing that she is in danger. No, it is useless for you to plead +with me. My mind is fully made up, and I am going to the island with +you, or else I go there alone.” + +Seeing the futility of further argument, Redmond dropped the entire +matter and began to make his own arrangements for the trip to +Patrocinio Island. He got into communication with Captain Moore and +discussed with him the details of the arrangements between them that +were to be carried out after Redmond had been landed on the island. + +It was agreed that Redmond should be at the cove each evening at nine +o’clock and that he would rig up his portable wireless set and call +the cruiser with it until he got a response. This would only be done +in case he had a message of importance to deliver. Each evening at nine +o’clock the cruiser would steam within five miles of the island. At all +other times she would be just below the horizon but within a convenient +radius. + +As soon as the details of the trip had been completed the cruiser +Farragut left Honolulu with Redmond and Arthur Ingleton aboard as +passengers. It was decided to proceed to Patrocinio Island at cruising +speed, and it was estimated that the voyage would take about three +days. It was timed so that the cruiser should arrive off the southern +shores of the island after sunset. Captain Moore was then to take his +vessel within a mile of the beach, and a detachment from his crew in a +long boat would row Redmond and Ingleton ashore in a small light boat +and give them assistance in hiding the small boat in the vegetation +ashore, after which the crew would return to the cruiser. As soon as +the two men had landed they were to proceed to the little cave where +Redmond had lived during the period he was on the island and spend the +night there. The following morning they were to go to the meeting place +at the rock where Redmond had always met Mary Ingleton and wait there +for a possible chance of getting her attention again. + +At five o’clock on the evening of the third day out from Honolulu +the engines of the cruiser Farragut suddenly slowed down and in a +few minutes stopped altogether. Redmond who was walking along the +quarterdeck with Arthur Ingleton immediately turned to his companion +and said: + +“Well, I guess we are almost within sight of our destination. The +engines have just stopped, and I imagine that means Captain Moore is +going to wait for sundown before he proceeds any further.” + +Ingleton’s face lit up with a greater animation than he had displayed +in months. + +“Let’s go forward and see whether we can make the island out,” he said +eagerly. + +Redmond assented to this, and the two made their way forward into the +sharp bows of the cruiser. After they got there both men strained their +eyes at the horizon. A few moments later Redmond, who had picked up a +pair of glasses, said: + +“I can just see the island faintly. If you look through these glasses, +sir, you will observe what looks like a small cloud directly to the +north of us. That’s it.” + +Ingleton took the proffered glasses and peered through them intently. +While he looked Redmond said: + +“I’ll go aft and ask Captain Moore what his plans are. I guess he will +land us immediately after sundown, which will be in another hour’s +time. We’ll probably have dinner before he puts us ashore. I’ll be back +shortly if you want to remain here.” + +“Alright,” replied Ingleton, “I think I’ll remain here for a while. I +am anxious to see what the island looks like as we get nearer to it +before dark.” + +Redmond turned round and went aft, leaving his companion standing on +the quarter deck. The cruiser still had considerable way on and was +moving through the water at about ten knots an hour. No effort had +been made to check the vessel’s momentum, after the engines had been +stopped. Captain Moore had simply signalled down to stop the engines +and was now allowing the headway to carry his vessel forward. + +In less than an hour the blazing sun would disappear below the western +horizon, and then night would descend over the sea with the suddenness +known only in tropical regions. As soon as darkness had cast its +obliterating mantle about them, Captain Moore planned to run his vessel +within a mile of the beach, which was now within sight through the +marine glasses. After that he would land his passengers. + +As Redmond reached the companion-way leading to the bridge the roaring +crash of a mighty explosion rent the stillness of the summery sea +and arrested his progress. For one fleeting second a blinding flash +eclipsed the brilliance of the sun and illuminated the forward part +of the ship in its consuming rays. Pausing involuntarily upon the +stairway, Redmond looked toward the bows of the cruiser. As he turned +the vessel shook violently from stem to stern in a sickening, vicious +vibration, which seemed to wrench it plate from plate. It was as though +some volcanic agency had seized it in a destroying grip and was +rending it apart. + +Stupefied by the very suddenness of the catastrophe, Redmond could not +remove his eyes from the deck before him. Automatically they recorded +upon his active brain a moving picture of the vivid scene that was +enacted within the brief measured space of two seconds. As he looked +he saw the figure of the former Secretary of the Navy outlined in +sharp contrast by the blinding rays of the flash which accompanied the +explosion. Then, before he could draw a breath, he saw Ingleton’s arms +shoot upwards involuntarily. He saw the figure of the man he had just +left sway unsteadily for a moment and then crash helplessly to the +deck. Then suddenly the spell that had held him in frozen immobility +ended, and he rushed forward blindly, to the man he had just seen fall. + +For a few moments chaos reigned upon the war-vessel. Upon the bridge +Captain Moore had been struck in the arm by a piece of flying metal +and painfully injured. Ignoring this, he remained at his post, and +with trained calmness of a naval officer and leader, quietly ordered +the bugler to sound the call “Collision quarters.” Like magic the +discipline of the navy exerted itself and quickly brought order out of +the chaos. Rapidly and steadily each man went to his station, while +officers who were detailed by the commander went forward to ascertain +the cause and effect of the explosion. + +Before they had received their orders, however, Redmond had reached +the bows of the ship and was bending over the prostrate form of Arthur +Ingleton. He raised the head of the former naval chief in his arms and +did the best he could to restore consciousness. While he worked, the +ship’s surgeon arrived and quickly examined the injured man. Redmond +watched him a few moments and then said: + +“Is he badly hurt, Sir?” + +“So far as I can see,” replied the medical officer, “he has not been +seriously injured. He was knocked unconscious by the shock of the +explosion. That in itself is pretty bad and will take a long time for +recovery, but I don’t think he has got any broken bones or internal +injuries. It’s too soon to tell though. I’ll have him removed to the +sick bay right away.” + +While this was being done the officers who had been examining the +bows of the cruiser to find out the nature and extent of the damage +completed their task and returned to the bridge where they reported the +result of their examination to the captain. + +“It looks as though we had struck a mine, sir, there’s a big hole in +the bows,” the senior officer reported. + +“It must be one of that pirate’s mines,” exclaimed the captain. Then he +cried: “Where’s the bo’s’n? Send him here.” + +“Here, sir!” replied the bo’s’n, saluting as he came upon the bridge. + +“Have you taken any soundings for’ard?” asked Captain Moore. + +“Yes, sir!” answered the bo’s’n. + +“What do you find?” + +“Number one compartment is flooded, sir. Water is pouring into number +two, but we can’t find at what rate yet.” + +“Will she stand up?” queried the captain sharply. + +“Don’t know yet, sir. The men are taking soundings again now. We are +watching number three. The water’s pouring in very rapidly, and she’s +down by the head.” + +“Alright,” added the captain, “report back to me as soon as you find +out at what rate it’s coming in.” + +Then turning to the chief executive officer, he ordered: + +“Put out the lifeboats and have the crew stand by. Order the fires shut +off down below. Have everything in readiness in case she shows signs +of going down, and wait for further orders, in case we have to abandon +ship.” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN + + +The day after Levanter had showed her through his manufacturing plant +dawned fraught with grave possibilities for Mary. It was the day set +for laying the mine bombs in the sea on the western side of the island. +Now or never was her chance! She was to get a first hand demonstration +in the manner of handling the bombs; and after that she must carry out +her dangerous plan immediately, as the repairs to the airplane were now +completed, and there was no telling when Levanter might stroll over to +the beach near the Hilo and discover that the lifeboat was missing. +True he did not go in that direction often, but there was no way of +knowing how soon he might. + +As soon as she was dressed Mary went down to the dining room that +had been built in the house where they all lived. Levanter and his +crew were all seated at the table, eating the breakfast that had been +prepared by the Kanaka cook of the schooner. As she sat down the sky +pirate said to her: + +“We are going to set out immediately after breakfast, Mary. Will you be +ready then?” + +“Yes,” she replied. + +She was far too excited to eat much, although she made an ostensible +effort to do so, as she did not wish the men in front of her to suspect +that her feelings were anything but normal. Immediately after the +meal, the men went outside and began to load the bombs which had been +completed on the airplane. Mary went out with them. She noted that they +had carefully observed whether the safety lock was in before picking +up the dangerous things. There were too many to carry on one trip, and +it was decided to make two voyages to the place where they were to be +submerged. + +When the task of loading the bombs on the airplane had been completed +Mary went aboard with Levanter and the rest of the crew. The airplane +was released from its mooring to the ringbolt on the jutting rock, and +the marine screw was started. It took about an hour to make the voyage +to the destination because the airplane, although only of shallow +draft, was compelled to cruise well within the mine belt and go slowly. +Its retractible wings were drawn up close to the side of the fuselage +cabin. Only in the harbor itself had sufficient room been left free +from mines for the airplane to land upon and take off from the water. + +Once arrived at the scene of the mine laying, Mary watched the +operations with extreme interest. A number of heavy rocks had been +brought along in the airplane, one for each bomb. While the airplane +was cruising to the place where they were to be lowered into the sea, +the crew was engaged in splicing ropes to the rocks. The rocks were +to act as anchors to the bombs. As soon as a rope was spliced on to a +rock, the other end of the rope was attached to the bomb, the length of +the rope being just sufficient to keep the mine submerged. + +Immediately after the airplane arrived at its destination its wings +were again extended and were used as a platform from which to drop the +bombs into the sea. Levanter had made a careful survey of the island +and had drawn a chart of it and the waters surrounding it. A pin-point +on this chart marked the exact location of each bomb that had been +previously dropped into the sea. + +At the point where he desired to sow the remaining mines the airplane +was brought to a stop, and the crew went out on the wings. One of the +rocks with its rope attached was dropped overboard. At the other end of +the rope the mine was attached, and as soon as the rope became taut the +mine was carefully dropped overboard, after the safety lock had been +released. + +Mary watched these operations carefully and intently. Occasionally she +asked Levanter a question, which in every case he did not hesitate to +answer. She had now gained a complete knowledge of the manner in which +the bombs were handled safely, and she was convinced that she herself +could handle them without danger. + +While the men were still engaged in their work, Mary was deeply +engrossed in the problem of detonating one of the bombs, should she be +successful in obtaining one and placing it under the schooner Hilo. +It was evident that she could not change the mechanism of the bomb +herself, therefore, she must devise some other means of exploding it +from a point of safety, after placing it beneath the schooner. + +She was still deep in this reverie when Levanter and his men had +completed their job. She was brought back to realities by the former +who tapped her on the shoulder and said: + +“Mary, I am going to say something personal. I hope you won’t +misunderstand me. I am not saying it to insult you because I know what +I am going to tell you is my fault and not yours.” + +“What is it?” asked Mary somewhat sharply. + +“It’s a pretty difficult and delicate thing to say,” he replied, “but I +couldn’t help noticing as you stood there how much you are in need of +some new clothes. Your wardrobe must be nearly exhausted.” + +“Well, you can’t expect me to keep in the height of fashion on your +island, can you?” said Mary with asperity. “The stores here are not +exactly in the same class with those on Fifth Avenue.” + +“I didn’t mean to be rude, Mary,” said Levanter, “the fault is mine, I +know. What I wanted to tell you was that I am going out to get you some +new clothes. The airplane is in good repair again, and as soon as we +get this job done I will go out and get you something new.” + +Mary was now all attention. His remark had aroused all the feminine +interest and instincts within her. How did he propose to get new +clothes for her? She had been dissatisfied with her appearance but had +become reconciled to it, especially as there were no other women on the +island. His remark opened up a number of possibilities. Was he going to +take her with him, if so, where? This might offer a chance to escape +from him. Quickly she decided to press him on that point and find out +just exactly what his intentions were. + +“You don’t suppose that you can buy clothes that will suit me, do you?” +she asked. + +“Well, no,” he replied, “I didn’t intend to buy them. I was going to +get them from my next airship. I thought you could come along and pick +out what you wanted.” + +The answer was a distinct disappointment to Mary. + +“Do you think I want to wear some other woman’s clothes?” she exclaimed +indignantly. + +“Why not, Mary,” inquired Levanter. “There is no other way to get them. +We can’t take you to any store to buy you new ones, and even if we +could, the stores we could take you to are so inferior that you would +undoubtedly get better looking clothes from one of the airships than +you would from any of the stores in the Pacific Islands. Women who can +afford to travel on the airships can afford to have good and stylish +clothes, and you can have the best there is on the airship just for the +taking.” + +“Oh; if that’s the case I’m not interested,” said Mary with an air +of finality. “The clothes I have are good enough for me under those +circumstances.” + +“But, my dear girl, what you have will soon be in rags; you can’t +expect them to last forever. Besides I like to see you looking nice.” + +“Well I can sew them if they become ragged,” she replied, “I am not +going to put anybody in danger for the sake of new clothes.” + + * * * * * + +“I am going anyway, so you might as well have the best we can get for +you,” said Levanter. + +“You may do as you please, but I am not going with you.” + +Mary refused to discuss the matter any further, and Levanter did not +insist. She dismissed the subject from her mind. On the way back to the +harbor she became deeply engrossed again in the problem of obtaining +one of the bombs. Having decided upon what she thought was the best way +to do this, she tackled the next problem confronting her. How could she +arrange for its explosion after she had placed it under the schooner +and had herself reached a place of safety? + +She had no knowledge of mechanics, and she racked her brain for some +means of accomplishing her purpose without danger to herself. Finally, +after thinking over it for a long time, an idea occurred to her which +she thought might help her. + +She could employ a trick she had seen the boys use in snaring birds, +while she was a little girl. If she could get a heavy rock, poise it +above one of the contact studs of the bomb by means of a stick, and +then attach a string to it, she could pull the string and let the rock +fall on the contact. She felt sure that it would fall with sufficient +force to explode the bomb, blow up the schooner, and destroy all +evidence that the lifeboat was missing. It was the best solution of the +difficulty that she could think of. The problem now confronting her was +to obtain one of the bombs. + +As the airplane neared the harbor Mary’s mind reverted to the subject +of clothes that had just been broached by Levanter. After all he was +apparently determined to go out again and bring down another airship, +and nothing that she could do or say would prevent him from carrying +out his purpose, short of a direct promise to marry him, and she had +no intention of giving him that. Here indeed was a chance to put her +plan into effect while he was away. She felt sure that on the morning +of his departure he would ask her to accompany him. She decided to +feign illness as a pretext for not going. Then after he had left in the +airplane she would try to get one of the bombs from the workshop and +endeavor to complete her task before he returned. She figured that he +would be away fully six hours and probably longer. This would give her +ample time to do what she wanted, provided the Kanakas kept out of the +way. So far as she could see the latter was the only thing that would +stop her. + +When the airplane reached the harbor the crew got busy loading up the +remaining mines that were to be dropped on the western side of the +island. Mary went off the machine with Levanter and shortly after said +to him: + +“I don’t feel like going out with you again this afternoon. I think +I’ll remain here while you go out. I want to read.” + +“Alright,” he replied. + +In the afternoon Mary waited until Levanter and his men went down to +the airplane, then she strolled over to the beach and examined the Hilo +very carefully. She looked for the best place to put the bomb. Then +she searched for a rock heavy enough to fall with sufficient force to +explode the bomb. Having found one, she decided it would be a good idea +to save a lot of time by moving it into position right away. + +For the rest of the afternoon Mary worked feverishly and laboriously, +moving the rock over toward the schooner Hilo with the aid of a big +stick she used as a lever. With great patience and persistent effort +she succeeded in getting it alongside the wrecked schooner. Her task +completed, she paused, almost exhausted from the exertion. So violent +had been her struggle in moving the heavy rock that perspiration was +running freely down her face, and her breath was coming in deep heavy +gasps. Still panting, she straightened herself up and looked around. At +that moment she got the greatest shock of her life. + +Standing directly behind her, was Levanter with a sardonic smile upon +his face. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT + + +Upon the shattered decks of the cruiser Farragut order had scarcely +been established out of the chaos that followed the explosion when +the sun descended below the western horizon. Two minutes later +complete darkness enshrouded the torn bows of the cruiser in a pall of +obscurity, obliterating from view the effects of the violent explosion. + +Order reigned, but it was a tradition-enforced order that existed on +the surface of subdued but intense excitement. The men were at their +stations, all standing at attention, awaiting with ill-concealed +anxiety the next command that would move them into welcome action. +Through the mind of every one there passed disturbing thoughts. None +knew which comrade had perished in the catastrophe, and none dared +voice the fears which the darkness intensified. + +So close was the damaged cruiser to the shores of Patrocinio Island +that Captain Moore did not dare to show a light. He feared the terrific +report which followed the explosion had betrayed his presence, and +might seriously endanger him should the pirate come out at daybreak. +The darkness that now engulfed them made the task of ascertaining the +extent of the damage almost impossible. + +In the short time that intervened between the explosion and the sun’s +descent the cruiser’s bows had presented a picture of torn and twisted +steel, which in some places had been stripped into metal ribbons, and +in others had been torn into crumpled sheets. How far the crippled stem +of the warship had been rent asunder it was impossible to say owing +to the darkness. That it had been seriously damaged was emphasized by +the complete flooding of the forward compartment. The cruiser was also +badly down by the head, which gave a considerable slant to the decks. +That was the condition which confronted Captain Moore when the bo’s’n +came upon the bridge the second time to make his report. + +“How’s it look?” asked the captain curtly. + +“Number three is holding tight, sir,” replied the bo’s’n. “The pumps +are working on number two. I think she will hold up, sir. We’ve got her +under control now, sir, I think.” + +“Good!” exclaimed the captain. “Keep at your soundings and let me know +what they show.” + +“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the bo’s’n, as he went about his task. + +Then the captain turned to an officer beside him and issued a number of +commands calculated to take care of the desperate situation. He ordered +the crew away from their “abandon ship” stations and set them to work +at various tasks that were necessary under the circumstances. + +As soon as it had been ascertained that the ship was not in any +immediate danger of sinking, the surgeon obtained a detail of men and +superintended them while they carefully placed the unconscious form of +Arthur Ingleton on a stretcher and carried him below to the sick bay, +where he was placed on a cot. There the surgeon made a more thorough +examination of the injured man and took the necessary steps to restore +him to consciousness. Redmond, who had helped in removing the stricken +man from the bows of the ship to the sick bay, was waiting for the +surgeon to complete his examination. As soon as it was over he asked +anxiously: + +“How is he, doctor?” + +“Well, he is in a more serious condition than I thought at first,” was +the reply. + +“Then there’s no chance of his recovering in time to go ashore with me, +eh!” inquired Redmond. + +“Good God, no,” answered the surgeon, “it will probably be three weeks +or a month before he recovers under the most favorable circumstances. +If he has suffered internal injuries it will take much longer. +Everything depends upon that.” + +Redmond said nothing further, but in his heart he was glad that +Ingleton would not be able to go with him, although of course he was +deeply sorry that his injuries had proved to be so serious. As soon +as he had definitely assured himself that there was no chance of the +former secretary’s immediate recovery, Redmond went forward. + +Captain Moore was still on the bridge, receiving reports and giving +orders for the tasks that would help in keeping the damaged vessel +afloat. Redmond waited for his opportunity, then went up and asked: + +“How does it look, captain, is there any chance of my going ashore +tonight?” + +“Yes,” replied the commander, “we’ll take care of you pretty soon now. +We’ve got the situation under control, but I think we’re pretty badly +damaged. As soon as I have found out just where we stand I’ll make +arrangements to put you ashore. How is Mr. Ingleton?” + +“He’s in pretty bad shape. The doctor says there isn’t any possibility +of his getting out of bed for a few weeks. Under the circumstances I +think it will be the wisest thing for me to go ashore and look after +Miss Ingleton as soon as you can arrange to get me there. While you are +completing your emergency measures I’ll get my own stuff ready.” + +“Alright,” replied the captain. + +Redmond went down to his cabin in the after quarters of the cruiser +and packed up the few belongings he had gathered to take ashore with +him. For half an hour afterwards Captain Moore directed the work of +investigation and superintended the emergency measures taken to keep +the cruiser afloat until she could again reach port. This was a most +vital problem because the nearest port at which repairs could be made +was Honolulu, more than fifteen hundred miles away. It meant that any +temporary measures had to be relied upon to hold up the cruiser until +she was able to cover that vast distance at the snail’s pace of about +four knots an hour. It would be impossible for the war-vessel with its +damaged bows to go any faster than that. + +As soon as he had satisfied himself that everything possible had been +done under the circumstances, Captain Moore summoned Redmond to the +bridge again. + +“Everything’s ready for you now,” said the captain as Redmond came up +to the bridge, “we are going to put you ashore right away. Owing to +this confounded explosion we will not be able to stay here and stand +by you. I am going to advise Captain Smith at Honolulu by wireless and +ask him to send another cruiser here. It will take the other fellow +at least three days to get here, even if he is ready to start off +immediately after Captain Smith gets my wireless. I doubt, however, +whether there is a cruiser available, and even if there is it will +probably be a couple of days before he can get away. That would make it +four days before the other cruiser could get here under most favorable +circumstances.” + +“I’ll have to make the best I can of the situation,” said Redmond. + +While this conversation was going on, a detail of the crew had launched +one of the steam pinnaces and had attached one of the ship’s gigs to it +as a tow. As soon as this had been done, the officer who had been in +charge of the detail came on to the bridge and, saluting, said to the +Captain: + +“All’s ready, sir.” + +Captain Moore turned to Redmond and, seizing his hand in a hearty grip, +said: + +“Well, good bye, Redmond, and good luck. I’m sorry this mine has put me +out of business, because I wanted to be in at the finish, but I guess +I’m out o’ luck.” + +“Good bye, Captain,” replied Redmond. “Somehow I have an idea that you +will be in at the finish all right. You were there at the beginning and +I have a suspicion you will be here again.” + +“Well, I hope you’re right,” laughed the captain. + +Redmond then followed the officer to the accommodation ladder on the +side of the cruiser. The two men got into the steam launch, and the +officer gave the word to “shove off.” + +On the short run to the beach the officer said to Redmond: + +“When we get to the cove my men will give you a hand in putting the +boat ashore. I guess you don’t want it any further inshore than is +necessary. How do you propose to launch it from the beach in case of +necessity.” + +“Well, if you can spare the time,” said Redmond, “you can come ashore +with me and look the place over for the most suitable spot to hide the +boat. I never thought of any launching arrangement before. Have you by +any chance got any wooden rollers in the launch that I could use under +the keel of the boat?” + +“Yes, I thought of that,” replied the officer, “and I put a few of them +aboard the launch. You can have them, that’s what I brought them for, +but even so it will be a pretty stiff job for you to push the boat into +the sea anyway, especially if anybody is after you.” + +“If anybody were after me,” said Redmond, “I wouldn’t attempt to launch +it. I would take a chance of remaining on the island and fighting the +pirate from the bushes. I’m armed now and have got a better chance +against him. Under any circumstances Miss Ingleton will be able to give +me a hand. She is a pretty strong young woman.” + +The trip in the launch to the little bay was made very slowly because +of the intense darkness. With extreme care the officer in charge felt +his way, then maneuvred his craft under the direction of Redmond until +it pulled up alongside a ledge of rock that jutted out into the sea. +This made an ideal platform upon which to land, as its surface was just +above the gun’les of the launch. Redmond and the officer jumped out, +and the latter instructed three of his men to row the small gig to the +beach, pull it ashore and wait for them there. + +While the men were doing this, Redmond and his companion walked near +the beach where the boat could be hidden in the brush. The beach was +of a gravel nature which extended inshore for two or three hundred +yards in an irregular line. Back of this the tropical vegetation was +extremely thick and was interspersed with banana plants and cocoanut +palms. + +After a considerable search the two men succeeded in locating what they +thought was an excellent place to hide the boat. Then they went down +to the beach where the men had dragged the boat ashore and gave a hand +in pulling it over the ground to the place where they had selected its +hiding place. There they carefully placed it in the bushes, after which +they removed with care all traces of the boat’s passage over the beach. + +“Well, I guess we’ll go back now,” said the officer, “is there anything +else we can do to help you?” + +“No,” replied Redmond. + +“Alright, we’ll get along then. I wish you the best of luck, old man, +and I can tell you we are all sorry that we won’t be able to stand +by you. We were all set to have a go at that dirty son-of-a-gun the +pirate, but we’re out o’ luck, that’s all. Good bye--good luck!” + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE + + +For several moment after the naval crew had left him on the shores of +the little cove at the southern end of Patrocinio Island Redmond paused +deep in thought. He was confronted with a very confusing dilemma. +Should he remain where he was for the rest of the evening and take a +nap in the bushes surrounding the cove, or should he try to make his +way in the darkness to the cave where he had lived during his previous +stay on the island? + +If he went forward in the dark, he mused, there was always the +possibility that he might stumble over something and betray his +presence. On the other hand, with nothing but vegetation to hide in +where he was, he might easily be discovered in the morning, should any +of the pirate gang happen to come over to that side of the island. + +After weighing the matter carefully in his mind, he decided to stay +where he was. He figured this would entail the least risk, and +moreover, he was anxious to inspect the place where the boat was +hidden, during daylight, so that he would be more familiar with it, in +case of need. + +Having reached this decision, he searched around for a suitable spot to +sleep in, and having found it, threw himself down and slept soundly for +the rest of the night. + +As daylight burst in on the tropical sky the following morning, Redmond +awoke, bright and alert. He ran over to where a small brook was +trickling its way into the bay and took a hurried wash. Then, after a +meal of bananas plucked from the plants around him, he made a brief +examination of the hiding place where the row boat was stowed away. No +better place could have been chosen even in daylight. It lay alongside +a small bumpy piece of ground not more than a hundred yards from the +sea, and it was completely hidden from view by vegetation. There was +not a single mark on the beach to show where it had been pulled from +the water over to its hiding place. In the boat was the small compact +wireless set which would be a link between himself and the cruiser in +case of emergency. It was of the reflected wave type, operating on a +wavelength of half a meter. It could be conveniently held in the hand, +and yet it could easily carry his voice for a distance of twenty-five +miles in a straight line. This remarkable efficiency was due to the +fact that instead of radiating in every direction, the electro-magnetic +waves were reflected in the same manner that a beam of light is +reflected from a mirror. The set was so designed that it could be used +for transmission and reception, thus making it possible to conduct a +conversation with it. The power required was supplied by a single dry +cell, and a small high voltage battery. It was a development of the +system first produced by Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless, +and his assistants in 1922. Satisfied that the boat would escape +detection and yet be easily moved into the sea in case of need, he +started his journey into the interior of the island, where his old cave +was located. His progress was necessarily slow because of the density +of the tropical vegetation which covered the island in an almost solid +patch. After trudging for a little more than an hour, he finally +reached the cave that had been his home for so many nights. Everything +was practically as he had left it. + +Redmond had brought with him a few necessities, which he figured would +make his stay at the cave more endurable, and these he proceeded to +stow away carefully where they could not be seen in case any of the +outlaws should happen to pass that way. Among the things he brought +with him was an automatic pistol, a very small revolver, and a short +range rifle equipped with a silencer. After he had hidden his small +camp equipment, he threw himself down within the shade of the cave for +a brief nap during the heat of the midday sun. + +The afternoon was well advanced when he awoke again. Hurriedly he +gathered a meal from the growths around him and washed it down with +copious draughts from the brook that passed around the hill in which +the cave was located. This done, he set out on his journey to the rock +where he had been in the habit of meeting Mary Ingleton during his +previous stay on the island. With him he took the rifle for use in +any emergency that might arise. In his pocket he had placed the small +revolver. This he intended to give to Mary at the first opportunity as +a means of protection for herself. + +He moved forward cautiously. It was now a long time since he had last +trodden the path and he was not absolutely sure of himself, and the +trail he had broken was covered completely over with thick growth. +Another reason that impelled him to caution was the fact that he did +not know what changes might have taken place at the pirate’s end of +the island. As he went forward he realized that he was confronted +with the most hazardous part of his trip, and as he walked with +difficulty through the jungle two concurrent but unconnected thoughts +passed through his alert mind. Almost subconsciously one thought was +concentrated upon the task before him of getting to the rock safely +without detection. It was engendered by his fixity of purpose and +developed by the quick observation of his eyes and the keen perception +of his ears. + +Coincident with this thought was another and more intimate one which +proceeded from his reasoning faculties. It was caused by his anxiety +over the safety of the young woman he had come to assist, but its +continuation was due to an entirely different reason. + +It was several weeks since he had last seen Mary Ingleton, and many +things had happened to him during that period. Now that he was +approaching the critical part of his adventure he wondered how she had +fared while he had been in Honolulu and she was on the island at the +mercy of the pirate and his crew with no one to encourage or protect +her. + +As he thought his mind reverted back to the time when he had set out +from the island in the frail boat to reach civilization and bring aid +to Mary. At that time, he mused, he was actuated by purely altruistic +and chivalrous motives. The series of remarkable adventures he had +undergone and the suffering he had experienced, however, had caused him +many moments of serious introspection during that time, and now he knew +that an entirely different cause motivated his present efforts. + +There was no doubt about it. His former indifference toward the weaker +sex had entirely disappeared, and in its place a new feeling had been +engendered within him. With the calculating calmness that was one of +his chief characteristics he had analyzed carefully day by day the new +sensation, and after a long deliberation he had come to a conclusion as +unexpected as his cogitation had been lengthy. He realized and admitted +to himself that he was in love with the young woman he was now on his +way to aid. + +Strangely enough the realization brought him no feeling of happiness. +Instead his mind was sorely troubled. It was beclouded with depressing +thoughts concerning Mary and gloomy conjectures regarding her safety. +Under any other circumstances he would have pushed forward to assist +her with only the thought of getting to the scene of her involuntary +imprisonment at the earliest possible moment. Now, however, a series +of wild conjectures as to what might have happened to her during his +absence coursed through his mind in rapid succession to torture him. +He imagined all kinds of gruesome things, and even though he carefully +argued that all of them were impossible, nevertheless he could not +entirely cast the gloomy ideas from his mind. + +Thus, alternately rising to the heights of hope and then falling into +the depths of despair, he trudged slowly forward through the jungle +until he reached its edge. Then he looked out over the clearing where +the pirate had established his base. In the foreground was the rock +where he had met Mary so many times before. Not a sign could he see of +any of the outlaw gang upon the shores, or near the buildings where +they lived and worked, nor was Mary to be seen anywhere. + +He was disappointed. Having assured himself that no one was in sight, +he cautiously emerged from the shelter of the vegetation about him, +and then made his way slowly and carefully to the rock. It was his +intention to stay there as long as it was daylight, on the chance of +attracting Mary’s attention, should she come out of the building. If +unsuccessful in this he had decided to come back each day until he had +finally seen and spoken to her. He was anxious to complete the plans +for her escape as soon as possible, despite the fact that it would be a +few days before another cruiser could possibly arrive from Honolulu and +take the place of the damaged Farragut. + +He reached the rock in safety and then lay down beside it. He made +himself as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. In this +condition he was hidden in such a manner that he could look around the +base of the rock and get a clear view of the pirate’s base before him +without being visible himself. + +As he looked over the harbor he saw the remarkable airplane of the +pirate afloat near the rock to which it was moored. He concluded that +Levanter and his crew must be upon the island. His reasoning was +apparently confirmed by the small wisp of bluish smoke which was idly +rising out of the small stack in the workshop building where the liquid +oxygen fuel was made by Levanter’s men. + +It seemed as though he had been lying there for years before anything +happened. In reality a little more than an hour had elapsed from the +time he took his position behind the rock until he saw two figures +emerge from the larger building. As they moved about he recognized in +them Levanter and Mary. Instinctively he gripped his rifle. He brought +it to his shoulder as he lay, ready at a moment’s notice to aim and +fire. His natural caution however warned him against any hasty action +that might jeopardize the chances of rescuing Mary, especially as it +would be several days before he could get her off the island under any +conditions. + +Silently and intently he watched the two figures. They appeared to be +engaged in a very excited conversation, judging from their animated +gesticulations. As they spoke to one another they were gradually +walking to the landing place where the airplane lay at its moorings. +Occasionally Mary would stop, and Levanter would turn toward her and +apparently argue with a great show of eagerness before they began to +move on again. + +Suddenly Redmond set himself in tense but subdued alertness. His quick +eye had detected a decided change in the situation when Mary had +stopped once more. He distinctly saw her stamp her foot, apparently +in anger, turn completely around and then start back in the direction +whence she and Levanter had come. As she did so he saw the latter leap +forward and grasp Mary by the shoulder. He saw the pirate stop Mary +abruptly by the strength of his grip and shake her visibly. The scene +he witnessed completely severed the restraining grip of caution that +had held him motionless. He was inwardly boiling with an all consuming +rage engendered by the scene that was being enacted before him upon +the beach, and under the sour of its intensity he raised his rifle to +his shoulder and fired. The bullet sped silently and true. Redmond saw +Levanter’s grip loosen from Mary’s shoulder. He saw the pirate reel +unsteadily for a second, then fall in a huddled heap upon the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY + + +For three days after her crew had placed Redmond on the shores of +Patrocinio Island, the damaged cruiser “Farragut” limped steadily +forward at the rate of twelve knots an hour toward Honolulu. Hers was +probably one of the most forlorn voyages ever undertaken. When she left +Honolulu every man on board was keyed up to the pitch of expectation, +proud and eager to be in at the finish of the pirate whose depredations +had aroused the entire world. Now their ship was slinking back to port +in a crippled condition, rendered impotent by one of the defensive +weapons of the pirate they had hoped to capture. + +Immediately after Redmond had been placed ashore the crew of the +“Farragut” stretched a tarpaulin around the shattered bows of their +vessel to break the force of the water. Other temporary repairs were +also made. Fortunately, the bulkhead between the second and third hold, +which had not been damaged by the explosion, was still watertight and +sufficiently strong to enable the ship to proceed at the reduced speed. + +Realizing the desperate nature of the voyage before him, Captain Moore +took the shortest possible course to his destination, and although +it practically paralleled the regular trade route between Honolulu +and Midway Island, not a single object was sighted to relieve the +monotonous sameness of the vast sea throughout the dreary time that +had elapsed since the return trip began. Several times the war-vessel +had been very close to the various uninhabited rocks belonging to the +Hawaiian archipelago, but none had been sighted. In fact, no effort had +been made to approach them. + +Early on the fourth day of the voyage, when sun observations showed +the “Farragut” was approaching the elongated island of Niihau, Captain +Moore sent instructions forward to the men on duty to keep a sharp +watch for sight of land. This order had scarcely been issued when the +look-out man in the fighting top of the foremast sang out to the bridge: + +“There’s a ship about two points on the port bow, sir.” + +Captain Moore was in the navigating room at the time. He immediately +gave orders to the quartermaster, who promptly threw his helm over, so +that the “Farragut” would approach the other ship. Within half an hour +the two vessels were close enough to permit semaphore signalling to one +another. Before that time, however, it was clearly evident that the +stranger was a war-vessel of the fast light cruiser type. + +Having ascertained the nature of the stranger, Captain Moore naturally +surmised that she was on her way to take his place off Patrocinio +Island, in response to the emergency message he had sent shortly after +the explosion had damaged the bows of his ship. + +In her subsequent signals the approaching cruiser said she was the “New +Orleans”, under instructions to proceed to Patrocinio, and intercept +the “Farragut” on the way. Her commander then added that he had orders +for Captain Moore and asked the latter to come to in order that he +could deliver them. + +This was done immediately, and shortly afterwards a small launch was +lowered from the “New Orleans”, which then started over toward the +“Farragut.” When the launch came alongside the damaged cruiser Captain +Simmons of the “New Orleans” came aboard and went into the navigating +cabin. There, after customary greetings had been exchanged with Captain +Moore, Simmons said: + +“I have instructions for you from headquarters at Honolulu. Here they +are.” + +He then handed Captain Moore a sealed envelope and continued: + +“As I understand it, we are to change commands and you are to take +the “New Orleans” on to Patrocinio and carry out your original +instructions.” + +Captain Moore took the message and hurriedly read it. It confirmed, +in regulation navy form, what Captain Simmons had just said. The two +officers then went through the necessary formalities of transferring +their commands. As soon as this had been completed they engaged in +conversation for a few moments, during which Moore gave his colleague +an outline of the explosion and the events that followed it. + +“How is Mr. Ingleton now?” asked Captain Simmons. + +“He’s improving wonderfully,” replied Captain Moore. “At first the +doctor was afraid he had suffered internal injuries, but I understand +that such is not the case. He is still laid up, suffering from the +effects of the shock, but he is expected to recover pretty rapidly now, +I believe.” + +“Well, I’m glad to hear that. Was he disappointed at not being able to +go ashore with Redmond to aid his daughter?” + +“We haven’t discussed that situation with him at all. The doctor has +asked us not to do so, and I think it would be a wise idea not to +mention it to him. In fact, if I were you, I would not visit him at +all because if he saw there had been a change of commanders he might +suspect something and begin worrying. So far as I am aware, he is still +under the impression that we are lying off Patrocinio. He can’t feel +the ship’s vibration where he is lying. It will be best to let him +recover first and then explain the turn of events to him afterwards.” + +For the next few moments the conversation dwelt upon naval matters +generally, in the course of which Captain Moore asked: + +“What’s the latest in connection with operations against the pirate? +Have any new plans been decided upon?” + +“No! So far as I know, there is no change in the situation, except +that I heard the experts in Washington have cabled that they have been +successful in developing a new kind of bomb and shell that is to be +used against him when everything is ready for the final operations.” + +“What’s the nature of it?” inquired Moore. + +“I don’t know exactly. I understand that it is a chemical bomb +containing some liquid gas, probably something like those Levanter is +reported to be using.” + +“We haven’t heard a thing during the time we have been coming from +the island,” said Captain Moore, “so we have been wondering whether +anything unusual had happened, or whether the pirate had been out from +his base at all.” + +“There is nothing new,” replied Captain Simmons. “The pirate has been +inactive ever since you left Honolulu. I imagine that he is undergoing +periodical repairs. He is undoubtedly having great difficulty in +obtaining the supplies he needs for his engines. The private companies +are not taking any chances, and most schedules have been completely +abandoned until there is a greater measure of security against him. Of +course, I don’t know anything about the plans that are being made, but +I have an idea that it won’t be very long now before a concentrated +attack is made against the pirate. I know all kinds of pressure is +being brought to bear on the government to move against him, and +everybody is keyed up. You are a lucky dog. You’ll probably be right on +the job when things are moving.” + +“Well, I hope they move quickly,” said Moore, “it’s no cinch lying +around off that God-forsaken place waiting for something to happen and +not knowing anything. It can’t come too quick to suit me.” + +“Well, I wish you luck anyway,” said Simmons as Moore rose to leave. A +few minutes afterwards the latter was in the launch on his way to take +over his new command and proceed back to the pirate’s nest. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE + + +When Levanter fell with a bullet from Redmond’s silent rifle through +his leg, Mary Ingleton gained a respite from the most trying ordeal +of her life. As it happened, Redmond’s return to Patrocinio Island +occurred the evening before the pirate had taken Mary on the mine +laying trip, and the former officer of the Wilbur Wright was actually +making his way across the island from his cave to the old meeting place +when Levanter surprised Mary beside the schooner Hilo. A lifetime +of emotion had been concentrated for her in the brief hour which +intervened between the two incidents. + +At the moment when, flushed and worn out from the tremendous effort +she had made in rolling the rock alongside the wrecked schooner, Mary +looked up and saw her captor before her the surprise sent her heart +into violent palpitation. For several seconds--a seeming eternity--she +stood in open mouthed astonishment, speechless and helpless. The pirate +watched her unfeigned amazement while he endeavored to guess the reason +for her exertions. Finally he broke the tensity of the situation by +exclaiming: + +“What are you trying to do, Mary?” + +His question brought Mary out of her stupor, back to her normal self. + +“Good Heavens,” she gasped, “you startled me terribly. How did you get +here?” + +“I’m sorry,” replied Levanter, with a cynical smile. “I didn’t mean to +frighten you, dearest. I changed my mind at the last moment and didn’t +go out with the men. I sent Johnson out to superintend the mine laying +job and then I came back. I saw you come out here and I just naturally +followed you.” + +The term of endearment used for the first time by Levanter since her +imprisonment on the island brought a flush to Mary’s cheeks. It was not +caused by any feeling of embarrassment. In fact the mingled feelings +which had gripped her following his sudden appearance were completely +consumed now in the molten heat of her violent hatred for the man +before her. The flush was one of anger. The sky pirate on the other +hand misinterpreted it entirely. The appearance of the blush on Mary’s +face as he addressed her endearingly, caused him to forget momentarily +the suspicions her actions had engendered within his mind. + +Mary’s anger had now overcome her fear and to a certain extent +subjected her judgement. Turning to Levanter, she exclaimed with +considerable emphasis: + +“I think you are terribly mean to scare me like that. I didn’t think +you were prowling after me and spying on me.” + +The remark brought Levanter out of the realm of speculation back to +realities and his suspicions. + +“But I can’t understand what on earth you were doing pushing that big, +heavy rock about,” he said. + +“Oh, I was just exercising,” said Mary sarcastically, still angry. + +Levanter left her and went over to the wrecked schooner. He began to +examine it carefully, particularly where Mary had rolled the rock up +alongside it. Despite his careful search, he could find nothing wrong, +and the failure left him still further perplexed as to her motives. +What was her object in struggling so persistently with the rock, he +reflected? It certainly was not for the purpose of exercise, because +there were many more pleasant ways in which she could have done that. +No! There was some real reason for it, and he made up his mind to find +out what it was. + +After making a complete search around the schooner, he clambered aboard +the wreck and carried his investigation further. He went through the +battered hull, from stem to stern, picking his way slowly and carefully +through the piled up debris. Everything about the old schooner was as +natural and normal as could be under the circumstances, considering the +length of time it had lain upon the beach, subject to the constant +pounding of the heavy surf. Disappointed, Levanter came up on the deck +again and continued his survey there. + +Suddenly he stopped short, his eyes fell upon the empty boat davits in +the stern. He walked over and examined them carefully. The blocks and +tackle were close hauled to the top of the davits, and the slack of the +rope was coiled about the deck. The lifeboat was gone! + +Levanter thought deeply and intensely. In what condition was the +lifeboat when he and his men wrecked the schooner on the beach? To +the best of his recollection, the boat had been left on the davits. +In fact, he was almost sure of it, because he remembered ordering his +men to break in its sides. He looked over the side to make sure that +the boat was not lying waterlogged in the surf. There was no trace of +it. Having made sure of this, he scrambled back ashore and went over +to Mary. Throughout the time he had been on the schooner she had stood +waiting, deep in thought, puzzling her brain for some plausible excuse +to explain her actions. She realized she had been caught red-handed, +and she knew that whatever the outcome of the present situation, +Levanter would be suspicious and watch her every action. It certainly +meant the end of her plan to cripple his adventure by means of one of +his own bombs. Also, it was quite possible that he would considerably +restrict her liberty or movement about the island. + +“Where is the lifeboat?” he queried, somewhat irritably. + +“How should I know?” replied Mary. + +“Well it’s missing,” continued Levanter, “and you must know something +about it, otherwise I can’t understand what you are doing here.” + +“I don’t know anything about it,” Mary retorted with heat, unashamed at +the lie. Didn’t you break it up? That’s what you told me before.” + +“So I did, but I left it hanging on the davits, and it isn’t there now, +and what’s more, I find you doing a most unacountable thing around +here. That’s what I can’t understand. There must be some connection in +this thing, and you might as well tell me what it is. If you think you +can get away from me, you are very foolish.” + +“I am not so silly,” said Mary, “I know I can’t get away and I’m not +going to take any foolish chances. There’s nothing I can tell you about +your old boat.” + +For several minutes Levanter plied her with questions in a vain effort +to trap her into some admission that would give him a clue to the +mystery that confronted him. She answered readily enough at first, but +in a completely non-commital manner, and when he began to press her +more closely she became more reticent, and finally refused to answer +at all. This attitude set fire to the kindling ferocity in Levanter’s +temper and he stepped toward her. + +Realizing the change and really alarmed, Mary began to walk away toward +the huts. She had no idea what to do, except that she thought it wise +to get as far away from him as she could while he was in his present +threatening mood. He strode after her angrily. + +“Why don’t you answer me?” he demanded as he reached to grasp her. + +She evaded him readily enough, but for the first time in her life she +was really afraid. In fact she was almost terror-stricken. More than +ever the realization dawned upon her that she was completely within the +man’s power and at the present moment alone with him. + +“Don’t you dare to touch me!” she exclaimed. + +The pirate laughed at her. “Why, what would you do?” he asked. + +Then, as she did not answer, he continued, “My dear girl, there is +nothing that you can do. You will have to do as I tell you. You can’t +get away from me. I am determined to find out just what you were doing +up at the schooner, and you might as well tell me now as later.” + +While he was talking Mary was walking slowly forward, watching him +closely out of the corner of her eye. There had flashed through her +mind the memory of their last encounter when he had flared up and +tried to seize her--the time when Walter Johnston, the pirate’s chief +assistant, interrupted in her behalf. As far as she knew all the +members of the pirate crew were still out on the airplane, laying +mines along the coast, and consequently she was alone on the island +with Levanter, with the exception of course of the Kanakas. It was no +use looking to them for any assistance. + +Helpless as she apparently was, however, Mary still hoped that by some +fortunate chance the crew had already returned from the mine laying +trip, so she steadily walked along, hoping against hope that she would +attract the attention of Johnston. + +The momentary laugh which had escaped from Levanter tempered the +intensity of his wrath somewhat, but he was still in a highly inflamed +temper. He continued after Mary, trying hard to solve the mystery +surrounding the incident which had given rise to the present situation. +They continued in this manner for several minutes, to Mary’s great +relief, until finally they came up to the huts. + +The Kanakas were all busily engaged at the tasks which had become +routine to them. Mary felt a little easier because, while it was +extremely doubtful just what they would do in case the pirate molested +her, she felt that she was not as isolated as she had been at the +opposite side of the harbor where the wreck of the Hilo was lying. + +She gave a quick glance toward the airplane-mooring place, but her +hopes were quickly dashed, for there was no sign of the machine. She +realized now that it was a case of her wits against the temper of the +pirate. There was no use going any further, she figured, as that would +take her away from the Kanakas, and she realized bitterly that Levanter +would follow her wherever she went. She tried hard to think of some way +of getting out of the mess, but nothing occurred to her. + +Suddenly she turned around and faced Levanter. + +“Why do you keep following me?” she cried. “What do you want of me?” + +The violent anger which had possessed Levanter had cooled down +considerably. During the walk from the schooner he had been thinking +hard, going back over every possible detail and every incident that he +could think of that had taken place during Mary’s stay on the island. + +As a result of this recollection, three things stood out prominently in +his memory. + +First, the unexpected, unexplained and untraced disappearance of his +man, Harrison, which had long since passed out of his mind. + +Second, the decided change which had recently come over Mary in regard +to her attitude toward him and her sudden interest in all of his plans +and activities; and + +Third, the unusual task she was engaged in when he surprised her a +short time ago. + +Surely, he reflected, there must be some connection between these +things. But what that connection was he could not figure out. + +A new thought suddenly came into his mind: Had Harrison turned traitor +on him? + +The very idea caused his anger to flare up again. Had Harrison got away +in the Hilo’s lifeboat? No? he thought to himself, that would have been +impossible. He could not have repaired it and made it seaworthy in +such a short time, and besides his disappearance had been discovered +immediately. Moreover, the search he and his men had made with the +airplane the following day would have quickly disclosed the presence of +any boat on the sea, and he remembered that the search had been very +thorough indeed. Not only this, but the search on the island itself had +been very complete. Finally he dismissed the thought by deciding that +Harrison had been drowned after all. + +Having convinced himself on this point, he tried to reason out some +plausible explanation of the other incidents which were puzzling +him. His thoughts kept him so fully engrossed that he was completely +oblivious of his surroundings. The sudden exclamation of Mary brought +him back to actualities. He looked at her for a few moments before +replying, his temper mounting rapidly again. + +“By God!” he said finally, “I’m going to find out what you were doing +and what it was all about.” + +“Do you mean you are going to hurt me?” demanded Mary, with a show of +defiance. + +“Suppose I decide to,” he said with a sneer, “who do you think would +stop me?” + +“If you try to molest me, I shall call the Kanakas.” + +“A lot of good they would do you!” he jeered. “You needn’t get alarmed, +though. I’m not going to hurt you. At any rate, not now.” + +Then, as though to belie his words, he started over toward her, saying +as he went: + +“What do you know about that man of mine, Harrison, who disappeared?” + +As he spoke Levanter raised his hand and brought it down on Mary’s +shoulder. He had scarcely touched her when he uttered a cry of pain, +and then suddenly fell in a heap upon the ground. + +Mary was completely staggered at the sudden turn of affairs. For +several moments she stood in stupified silence, looking at the pirate +who was writhing in agony where he lay. Finally collecting her wits, +she said: + +“What’s the matter?” + +“Good Lord!” he gasped, “I’ve been shot.” + +“Shot!” exclaimed Mary incredulously. “Who could have shot you? I +didn’t hear anything.” + +“I don’t know,” he replied weakly. + +“Where are you hurt?” she asked. + +“In my right leg. I think the bone is shattered.” + +Suddenly a great light dawned on Mary. Surely it must have been Redmond +who had fired the shot. It was a long time since she had received the +welcome code letters over the wireless from the big government naval +radio station at Honolulu which told of his safe arrival there, and +she had been waiting anxiously day by day for his return. Many times +had she strolled expectantly to their old meeting place in the hope of +seeing him, only to be disappointed. Surely this must be Redmond now. +Who else could have fired the shot? + +Almost instinctively she turned and looked over to the rock. Suddenly +her heart leaped with joy; there at the side of the boulder she could +clearly make out his head peering out from behind it. Unthinkingly she +motioned him to get back. Then realizing that her gesture might have +been observed by the pirate, she turned in alarm at her foolish action. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO + + +Fortunately for Mary Ingleton the pirate was in such intense pain he +had not observed the motion she had made when signalling Redmond to +get back behind the rock. She realized that if he became aware of +the latter’s presence on the island their chance of escape would be +very slim indeed, but she felt sure that Levanter was in far too much +pain at the present moment to ask questions about the bullet that had +wounded him. Having assured herself that for the moment everything was +safe, she bent toward the wounded man and said: + +“I’m going over to get the Kanakas to come over and carry you into the +hut.” + +He murmured his assent between groans. + +Seizing the opportunity thus presented, Mary walked as far as the first +house between herself and Levanter, where she was in sight of the rock +behind which Redmond was hiding. She waved her arm until she saw his +head cautiously emerge from the rock. Then she gave him the signal to +remain there until she could come over. + +Having assured that Redmond had understood her, Mary went over to +the shop where the Kanakas were at work. Having found the chief, she +explained to him what had happened, and in a few moments the whole gang +walked over with her to the place where Levanter was lying. + +It took but a few moments to improvise a stretcher under Mary’s +direction, and the wounded man was carefully placed upon it by the +tribesmen. This completed, the Kanakas bandaged up the injured leg to +prevent further bleeding and carried Levanter over to the living hut +where they placed him on a bed. + +As they entered the room Mary, who was following in the rear, happened +to cast a quick glance toward the rough table on which the pirate +generally did his planning. A familiar looking paper was lying on it. +A closer but quick glance showed here it was the chart of the island, +marked with the position of every mine which the pirate had sown around +the island. Making use of her opportunity, Mary hurriedly snatched it +and thrust it in the neck of her dress. + +Immediately after Levanter had been laid upon the bed Mary went over +and asked him how he felt. He answered in a gruff manner. Then she said: + +“I don’t know whether I should but if there is anything I can do for +you I will.” + +“I don’t want anything,” he replied ungraciously. + +“Well, then,” she added, “I am going out to see if I can see the +airplane and if so get them to come to you immediately.” + +Without waiting any further she walked out of the hut. Once outside, +she looked quickly over the harbor and, convincing herself that there +was no sign of the pirate aircraft, hurried over to the rock were +Redmond was hiding. + +She went straight behind the rock where she was completely out of sight +of the settlement along the beach. As she was behind its sheltering +form she turned toward the former airship officer and with all the +fervor in her voice she exclaimed: + +“Oh! I’m so glad you are back, Mr. Redmond! I thought you would never +come.” + +As she said this Mary uttered a deep sigh. In it were concentrated all +the mingled emotions that had been pent up within her. It brought to +her a sense of security and contentment such as she had not felt since +she came to the island and it removed the terrific strain on her nerves +which had almost resulted in a swoon. + +For Redmond this was one of the epochal moments of his life. Through +his mind there rushed tumultuously a hundred thoughts in a pell-mell +fashion, but overshadowing all, there was the impelling desire to grasp +the girl before him in his arms and tell her how deeply he loved her. +For a few seconds there was a desperate struggle within him between +desire and wisdom, and throughout that time he remained tongue-tied. + +It had been a most trying hour for him indeed. Ever since he had fired +the shot which wounded the pirate his mind had been preyed upon by +the thought that perhaps his hasty action had ruined all chances of +rescuing the girl whose existence he was convinced meant his future +happiness. + +He shuffled uneasily and finally blurted out: + +“I couldn’t get here before, Miss Mary.” + +The spell at last broken, Redmond plunged into his narrative and told +his companion all that happened since the time he pushed off alone in +the dead of the night on his fateful trip in the frail lifeboat. + +“We are in a pretty bad mess,” he concluded, “because I don’t know how +long it will be before the relief ship is able to get here, and it will +be impossible to get you off the island until it does get here. That’s +the reason why I am afraid that I made a mistake in shooting Levanter. +From here it looked as though he was going to strike you, and I just +lost my head and shot him.” + +“Don’t worry about it,” said Mary with a soothing tone in her voice, +“perhaps it will all turn out for the best, after all. At least, let’s +hope so.” + +She then told him what had happened and the reason for the scene which +had led up to the shooting. At that point she added: + +“Oh! while I was in his room just now, I saw the chart he had with all +the places where he has put those dreadful mines. I picked it up. Do +you think it will be of any use to you?” + +“Will it?” said Redmond with glee. “Why, that’s the best thing we could +possibly get hold of. I’ll give it to the captain of the ship that is +coming in place of the Farragut.” + +Thus they talked for quite a while until Mary suddenly came back to +realities. + +“The airplane will be back any time now,” she said. “What do you think +I had best do?” + +Redmond thought a while before replying. It was indeed a serious +situation, and difficult to decide just what to do. There was no doubt +that both of them would have to be extremely careful, as the pirate’s +wound would have to be explained somehow. The crew would undoubtedly +suspect the presence of a stranger on the island. Having turned the +problem over in his mind thoroughly, Redmond finally said: + +“At first I was going to suggest that you come along with me and take +a chance of escaping at the first opportunity, but as we don’t know +just when the next cruiser will get here, it would mean that we would +both have to hide on the island until it arrived, and that would be +suicidal. I hate to send you back there, Miss Mary, but I think it +would be best under the circumstances, and it might allay to their +suspicions. Besides, it will make the whole affair more of a mystery to +them. You will have to deny all knowledge of how the shooting occurred.” + +“If you were to disappear at this time,” Redmond continued, “they would +begin to search the island. Maybe they will anyway. I’m going to be +as careful as I can. Much more so than I was before. I’m going to the +southern end of the island tonight and send out a call on the portable +wireless set I have there, in the hope of picking up whatever cruiser +is coming along to take the place of the Farragut. I’ll try to get back +to the rock here tomorrow if the conditions are right.” + +Then after a short pause he added: + +“I know it’s going to be very trying and very hard for you, Miss Mary, +but I think it’s the best thing to do under the circumstances. I’ll try +to keep within call of you in case of need. You know I’m armed now and +that makes a great difference to both of us.” + +Mary listened very attentively to all he said. As soon as he had +finished she replied without any hesitation: + +“I don’t mind it at all now that you are on the island again. Before +you came back I was really afraid at times. You see I was all alone +with these terrible men. Now I feel brave again. Don’t worry about +me. I’ll be able to take care of myself alright, but I really think I +should be going back now before the airplane comes in again.” + +Before Mary got up to go they both glanced cautiously around the +sheltering rock to make sure that everything was clear. There was still +no sign of the outlaw aircraft in the harbor. For several seconds they +both looked at each other in silence, then Mary put out her hand and +Redmond grasped it. + +“Au Revoir,” she said simply. + +That was all. A moment later she was already walking resolutely toward +the harbor. + +From behind the sheltering form of the rock he watched, his mind a prey +to a thousand fears over her safety and the disturbing thought that his +judgement in sending her back might eventually prove to have been wrong. + +Mary walked steadily forward. Not once did she turn back, although +she was strongly tempted to. She was wondering whether Redmond was +staying at the rock, or whether he had already left for the other side +of the island. She was in high spirits. The gravity of the situation +confronting her did not impress itself upon her mind in any way. +Somehow, subconsciously, the conviction that everything would turn out +alright had settled upon her, removing all fears that had beset her +a short time ago. Her spirits were as buoyant now as they had been +depressed a few hours ago. The pendulum of life had swung to the side +of hope at last. + +When she neared the beach she saw the airplane turn the headland on the +eastern side of the harbor as it moved along the surface of the sea. +She stopped abruptly, then watched a while, as it came slowly in toward +its mooring. As it got closer she commenced to walk slowly up and down +as though she had been doing nothing else at any time. + +It was not long before the crew had secured the machine to its mooring +and made their way ashore. Johnston was in the lead, and Mary went +over toward him. The unusual greeting surprised the pirate’s chief +lieutenant, and he exclaimed: + +“What’s the matter, Miss?” + +“Levanter had an accident,” she replied. “That’s what I came to tell +you. His leg is hurt. He’s in the hut. He says he was shot, but I don’t +know what’s the matter.” + +“Shot!” exclaimed Johnston incredulously. “Who could have shot him?” + +“That’s what I can’t say,” answered Mary truthfully enough. + +Johnston clearly showed his perplexity. + +“That sounds dam’ funny to me--Oh! excuse me, Miss,” he blurted +apologetically, “but I can’t get that at all. Well, anyway, let’s go +over and see what’s happened.” + +Mary went after him as he strode rapidly toward the hut where the +pirate was lying. He was already inside the room before she reached the +door. He went over to the cot and asked vigorously: + +“What in ’ell’s happened?” + +“I’ve been shot, Walter,” replied Levanter weakly. + +“Who the devil could shoot you?” + +“I don’t know. I was talking to Mary when it happened. I got it in the +leg.” + +Without further ado Johnston bent over and examined the injured leg. +The Kanakas had been bathing the wound under the feeble instructions +Levanter had been able to give them. + +By this time the rest of the crew had entered the room, and Mary was +standing by the door. + +“Is there anything I can do?” she inquired. + +“No,” replied Johnston gruffly. + +He turned to the others and ordered them to get a piece of wood to +act as a splint to bind the pirate’s leg up. He then went over to the +emergency medicine chest and made a dressing for the wound. + +All hands worked quickly, and it was not long before the injured leg +was bandaged up as well as could be done under the circumstances. There +was no doubt about the ease it brought Levanter. He expressed it in the +sigh that escaped his lips just before he fell into slumber. + +After administrating his aid Johnston ordered the rest of the crew out +of the room, and went over to Mary. + +“I want to talk to you, Miss,” he said as he led her out. + +Outside the hut he continued: + +“I’m a plain man, Miss, and I don’t stand for any monkey business--it’s +too risky in this job. Now tell me straight what happened.” + +“Why I’ve told you all I can already,” said Mary. “There’s nothing else +I can tell you.” + +“Well, he says he was talking to you when he was shot. Who shot him?” + +“That’s the funniest part about it,” replied Mary. “I was talking to +him. He was very angry over something. He was talking to me when all of +a sudden he fell over. I didn’t hear a sound and I didn’t see any one. +Even the Kanakas were all inside the workshop. It may sound funny, but +honestly that’s the truth.” + +“Well it’s dam’ funny to me,” he said with a perplexed air. “I can’t +understand it.” + +“If it’s funny to you, just think how mysterious it was to me, because +I was standing with him,” she said. + +A sudden thought entered Johnston’s mind. Looking straight at Mary, he +asked: + +“Say was he trying to interfere with you?” + +“Why do you ask that,” queried Mary in reply. + +“Because I think you shot him,” replied Johnston menacingly. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE + + +Redmond stayed behind the rock, watching the trend of events closely +when the pirate crew came off the airplane and walked over to Mary. He +saw her engage in conversation with Johnston and watched them as they +hurried to the hut where they all lived. + +Realizing that they would be inside for some considerable time and +that there was nothing further that he could do at present, he began +his journey across the island to the cove on the southern shore where +he had landed from the cruiser Farragut. He was anxious to get there +before darkness set in, as he was not sure that he could find the +hidden boat in the dark. + +Instinctively he looked at his watch. It was already four thirty in +the afternoon, consequently he had no time to lose, as it would be +completely dark within an hour and a half. As soon as he was out of +sight from the pirate’s settlement, he quickened his step as fast as +the tropical growths about him would permit. + +After a weary trudge he arrived at his destination, fortunately before +darkness set in. He readily located the hidden boat and took from +it the portable wireless set which had been included for emergency +purposes to communicate with the Farragut. + +It was a very remarkable piece of apparatus, so efficiently constructed +that it could be carried in the hand and yet it had an effective range +of twenty-five miles in daylight. Its basic principle rested upon the +discovery successfully developed by Marconi and his assistants in +the year 1922, by which the electro-magnetic waves were concentrated +and reflected in one direction only, just as a beam of light is +concentrated and reflected in a narrow band of brilliance by a mirror +reflector. + +Its portability was obtained by the fact that it radiated waves of only +a quarter of a meter in length. To get such radiation an alternating +current of 1,200,000,000 cycles per second had to be produced. This +terrifically high frequency was obtained from a wonderful development +of the vacuum tube--the Alladin’s lamp of radio--which had such an +efficient filament that it operated from a very small dry cell. + +The reflecting medium consisted of a parabolic frame arranged around +the transmitter, on which were strung a number of wires which acted as +the reflecting antennae. Each of these wires was one wavelength long, +in other words--a quarter of a meter. + +The apparatus which had been given to Redmond was designed for wireless +telephone transmission and reception. A small microphone and telephone +were included, both of which were arranged on a holder in such fashion +that when the ’phone was at the ear of the operator the microphone +naturally came before the mouth. A small push button in the center of +the handle switched the apparatus over from the transmitting to the +receiving condition and vice versa. + +The set could either be operated upon the ground where the direction +of communication was known, or from the operator’s shoulder in other +cases. For the latter purpose a leather sling was attached to the +framework supporting the small aerials, by which it could be suspended +from the neck, thus leaving the hands of the operator free. This was a +very necessary provision because the telephone-microphone had to be in +one hand, and the reflector worked with the other when searching for +another station whose direction was unknown. + +Since Redmond did not know the whereabouts of the cruiser, which he +hoped was on its way to replace the damaged Farragut, he picked up the +apparatus, slung it across his shoulder and walked down the shelving +rock which jutted out into the cove. + +He took a position where he could command the entire southern, eastern +and western approaches to the island. Although he did not know over +what course the new cruiser would come, he had an idea that it would be +pretty close to that which the Farragut followed when it brought him +from Honolulu back to Patrocinio. With the aid of his pocket compass he +figured out the bearing of this course, then turning on the current to +the filament of his vacuum tube, commenced to call: + +“Hello! Hello!” + +For four weary hours he kept up the incessant calling, breaking it +only at intervals in order to listen for a possible reply. Not a sound +came to him from the black expanse beyond. By midnight he had given up +all idea of getting in touch with any government vessel. After all, he +thought, this was only the day after the Farragut had placed him ashore +and the possibility of any relief ship being in the neighborhood so +soon was very slight. He had gone there on the bare possibility that +one of the other cruisers which were patrolling in the vicinity might +have been intercepted and ordered to Patrocinio. + +Having come to the conclusion that further calling was useless, Redmond +groped his way ashore in the darkness, placed his apparatus beneath +some foliage and lay down and slept. + +The following morning he set up his radio in the lifeboat and made his +way to his cave. During his previous stay he had discovered a narrow +ledge inside just above his head. Further investigation now showed +that it would make an ideal couch and, moreover, a good place to lay +in hiding in the event that he was closely pressed in any search that +might be made. + +After a brief rest during the noon-day heat he made his way cautiously +to the rock where he had always met Mary. He lay down alongside it and +watched, but though he stayed there practically until sundown, he did +not see a soul. + +It was with very downcast heart that he made his way back to his crude +habitation. He was very worried about the safety of Mary more so +because of his inability to do anything that would help her. If he had +only caught a glimpse of her even without being able to speak to her, +his mind would have been much easier. As it was, he was a prey to all +kinds of grave doubts. + +He decided earlier in the day that it was practically useless to go +back to the southern cove for at least three days, consequently he had +to make daily trips to the rendezvous instead, in order to keep as +close a watch over the pirate crew as possible and protect Mary, if +necessary. + +The next day passed as had the preceding one, without a sight of Mary, +although on this day Redmond had seen the crew of the pirate craft +moving about at various tasks around the hut and upon the airplane. +Again with heavy heart, and weary mind and body he gave up his +monotonous vigil and went back to his cave. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR + + +On the fourth day Redmond woke up uneasily. He was tortured by a mental +uneasiness such as oftentimes precedes events of great moment in life. +He had the feeling of impending disaster and a gloomy mood cast its +overshadowing mantle about him, penetrating not only his mind but also +his body until it seemed to sap all his strength. + +He tried vainly to cast it from him, but his efforts were of no avail. +Sluggishly and almost sullenly he forced himself forward and made his +way to the meeting place. Once there, he threw himself down behind the +rock and almost automatically peered out as cautiously as ever upon the +beach below. + +What he saw immediately dispelled the shadows of gloom and galvanized +him into alert attention. The entire piratical crew with Johnston in +the lead was walking down to the airplane. In the rear were some of the +Kanakas, carrying packages which he rightly guessed were supplies. + +He quickly surmised that they were about to make a flight, and he +watched them with the keenest interest. It did not take long to +transfer the load the Kanakas had carried into the airplane, and within +a short time afterwards the machine taxied over the surface of the +water and took off into the air. + +Redmond was well covered where he was, as the tropical vegetation was +quite thick about the rock. His previous stay upon the island had +proven that there was no prospect of his being seen from the air, even +when the machine flew low over the island, which it rarely did. On this +occasion it flew straight over sea, climbing rapidly as it went. + +Shortly after the Kanakas had returned to the hut Redmond’s heart leapt +with joy, as he saw Mary emerge from the living house. She looked +around a few moments and began to walk toward the rock. Redmond could +scarcely restrain his impulsive desire to jump up and meet her. Only +the realization of the utter folly of such a move restrained him. As +she came within hearing distance, he called out: + +“Good morning, Miss Mary! I’ve been very worried about you. You don’t +know how relieved I am.” + +She quickly took her place near him, but still in full view of the +beach, pretending to be reading a book which she had purposely brought +with her. + +“I am awfully glad to get here,” she said. + +Redmond paused a few moments, wondering what to say, but finally +blurted out: + +“I’ve been imagining all kinds of terrible things, Mary, and reviling +myself for having sent you back to that gang.” + +Suddenly he stopped short and reddened deeply, as he realized that he +had called her familiarly for the first time in his life. She turned +toward him as he spoke and noticed his evident embarrassment. She +immediately divined the cause, but with true feminine wisdom passed it +by pretending not to have noticed it. + +“I couldn’t get out before,” she said, “because they have been watching +me all the time. Levanter is very ill. He is quite feverish, and at +times has been a little delirious. He kept saying that the man Harrison +had betrayed him and that I had helped him to do it. The rest of them +couldn’t get any sense out of Levanter’s words but Johnston has become +very suspicious. He has been pestering me with questions all the time +he was not trying to get some sense out of Levanter. I’m sure that he +is really mad. Last night he threatened me and kept bullying me, trying +to find how Levanter was shot. At first he accused me of doing it but +he doesn’t any more. Last night he told me he was determined to find +out what was back of it all. He said he would go out in the airplane to +see if any of the government ships were ‘snooping around.’ Those were +the words he used. Really, I am afraid of him.” + +Redmond thought long and deeply. He was convinced that the time for +action had arrived, but precipitate action might spoil all chance +of safety. What should he do? If only the other cruiser were here +they could both seize this opportunity and leave the island. He hated +himself at the present thought of sending the girl he loved back to the +pirate gang. The situation had already passed into the critical stage, +and there was no telling what might happen when the crew arrived. +Nor was there any doubt that the pirate crew would soon discover the +cruiser which must be heading toward the island by this time, now that +the pirates were in the air. + +Suddenly he made up his mind. Turning to the girl beside him, he said +gravely: + +“Mary, I’m not going to let you go back there.” + +“But do you think that’s safe?” she inquired. “I’m not a bit afraid +as long as I know you are on the island, Mr. Redmond. They would come +after me surely, don’t you think, and you know your cruiser is not here +yet.” + +“It’s a risk whatever we do,” he said, “and I prefer taking the risk +which I can control best. You know I’m armed now, and we could fight +them from cover if they came after us and located us. When they get +back this time, there’s no telling what they’ll do. That gang of +cut-throats would abandon Levanter readily enough if they figured it +was necessary to save their own skins. They are just as likely to fly +away tomorrow for good as not, and if they did they would probably take +you along with them. I hate to think of it and I’m not going to take +the chance. That man Johnston probably suspects that the government +authorities know the island he is on now. I feel sure that’s why he +went off in the airplane this morning. + +“Do you really think it’s best then that I go with you?” asked Mary. + +“Indeed I do,” replied Redmond, “and I think it best to get started +right away.” + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE + + +It was late in the afternoon when Johnston, in a towering rage, brought +the airplane down upon the waters of the harbor. He was convinced now +that they had been betrayed in some way which he could not understand. +During the lengthy flight which had been made at a very high altitude +and which covered an enormous stretch of the Pacific, he had observed +the cruiser New Orleans headed apparently toward the island. He had +watched it carefully and noted that the course and speed of the ship +were far too fast and straight for patrol duty. Moreover, he was +confirmed in his suspicion that her present course would take her +straight to Patrocinio. + +It was until late in the day that he had first seen the ship. The +flight had first been in an easterly direction. In the course of it +several steamers had been observed but no particular attention was +paid to them. The New Orleans, however, was traversing such an unusual +course that she was distinctly conspicuous. + +As soon as the airplane had been made fast, Johnston ordered the crew +ashore. + +“You guys had better stick around here. You’ve got to do some mighty +snappy work pretty soon, I’m telling you,” he exclaimed. + +He strode over to the huts and rushed into Levanter’s room. Seeing that +the latter was awake and ignoring his condition, he asked roughly: + +“Where’s that woman?” + +Levanter was very weak with pain and very feverish. He turned wearily +on his pillow and replied: + +“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her today.” + +“You’ve got us in a hell of a mess!” exclaimed Johnston. “I told you it +was a damn fool trick to bring her here, but you would have your way. +Now look at us.” + +“What’s the matter?” inquired Levanter. + +“Matter, hell! I can tell you what’s the matter when you tell me who +shot you.” + +“I don’t know that either.” + +“That’s what you’ve told me. There’s something to be real worried +about. Looks as though we’ll have to make a quick getaway from here. +There’s one of them damn government boats coming right here, and take +it from me there’s someone on this blasted island besides us, and I’m +going to find out who it is right now, and what’s more, your little +lady friend is going along with me to find ’em. If I’m right and they +get gay with their guns, they can take a chance of hitting her too.” + +Without waiting for any further reply from his chief, Johnston went +over to Mary’s room, grasped the knob and pushed the door open, crying +out as he did so: + +“Hey! young lady, come out here, I want to talk to you.” + +Getting no response, he walked in. A quick but thorough search +convinced him that she was not inside. He then went out and, getting +the crew together, ordered them to make a search for her and bring her +to him as quickly as they could find her. + +They scattered about to different parts around the shore of the harbor +where Mary had been in the habit of going. While they were thus engaged +Johnston went into the workshop, grabbed hold of the chief Kanaka and +put him through a heavy fire of questions about the movements of Mary +while he had been away on his flight. + +The questioning was fruitless, and Johnston finally gave it up in +disgust. He went out and waited for his men to return. It was getting +close to sundown, and that fact added to his anger, as he realized that +he could do nothing after dark. + +After a while all of the men returned, each bringing the same report +they had found no trace of the girl. Johnston strode up and down for a +few moments, swearing viciously while the men stood meekly by. Finally +he turned to them and said: + +“Fix up everything on the ship. We’ve got to get out of here in a hell +of a hurry, and I want to have everything right. Get me?” + +They did his bidding without question. As he watched he tried to work +out some plan of escaping the unwelcome situation. The disappearance of +Mary did not perplex him at all. Although he had not expected it, the +fact that she wasn’t around confirmed the guess he had made during the +flight that some one else was on the island. Why he had come to that +conclusion, he did not know; but once it entered his mind, he accepted +it as the most logical means of explaining Levanter’s wound. + +How many strangers there were on the island, and how they got there, he +did not even bother to speculate upon. He just naturally accepted the +belief that Harrison in some way or other had betrayed them. + +As soon as the men had completed the work of putting fuel and +provisions aboard the airplane, he ordered them to place the most +valuable and most easily removable loot gathered from the three +airships shot down by the pirate in the airplane. This done, he said: + +“Beat it, and get something to eat quick. When you’re through bring +your guns out with you. We may need ’em. You’ve got a bunch of work to +do tonight.” + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX + + +No sooner had Redmond made up his mind to take Mary Ingleton with him +than they both set out for the other side of the island. It was the +first time she had been beyond the rock which had always been their +meeting place. When they came to the cave in the center of the island +they took a short rest, and Redmond showed her the place where he had +lived so long. They soon started out again, but the progress was very +slow, as Mary was not used to the rough going, and he had to assist her +quite frequently. + +She was quite tired out by the time they reached the southern cove. +Redmond got some blankets, which were stowed away in the boat, and laid +them out, so that she could lie down and rest awhile. He then went out +and plucked some of the tropical fruit and brought it to her, as well +as a beaker full of water from the nearby stream. She took the food +gratefully, and, after eating, fell into a light sleep. + +In the meantime Redmond brought out his portable wireless set and +carried it over to the rock where it would be in readiness for use +as soon as darkness set in. He also took out the spare gun he had +brought in the boat and laid it alongside Mary for her use in case of +emergency. His own gun he carried slung across his shoulder all the +time, and in addition had a revolver in the holster strapped to his +waist. + +These preparations served to keep his mind away from the worrying +thoughts regarding the wisdom of his present move. Once the tasks were +completed, however, they came back to torture him. He sat down beside +Mary, slipped the rifle from his shoulder and let it drop between his +hands where it would be ready for instant use. With every sense keenly +alert, his ears were strained for any unusual sound that might come +from the part of the island they had just left. + +Thus he watched and waited but nothing happened. + +As the sun began to race toward the Western horizon he gently awoke the +sleeping girl beside him. + +“It will be dark soon, Mary,” he said, “and we’ll have to be very +careful then. I’m going to start calling on the wireless as soon as the +sun goes down, and I want you to be on the watch for the gang while I +do it.” + +Mary was fully refreshed from her sleep and was in buoyant spirits. + +“It’s all awfully exciting,” she said, with a little laugh. “You would +scarcely believe it, but I feel really happy for the first time since +I have been on this wretched island.” + +Redmond’s heart beat rapidly and he turned quick toward her. What did +those fateful words really mean? With difficulty he restrained his +impulse to grasp her within his arms and tell her of the love which he +felt for her. His calmer judgement intervened before he could execute +the dictates of his heart. + +“I’m very glad,” was all he could say, and even that escaped his lips +in the most incoherent manner. + +He then went over to the rock where he had left his portable radio +set. Taking it up over his shoulders, he began to send out the general +call which had been agreed upon when the Farragut’s crew had passed +him ashore, listening now and then for a possible reply. Carefully and +slowly he searched in every direction with the reflectors as he worked. + +It was a monotonous task and one which required the utmost +concentration--a task to try the patience of even the most persistent +man. Redmond was made of the stuff that knows no defeat. He vigorously +quashed the desire which naturally sprang up within his mind to drop +his efforts because of their futility and applied himself still more +earnestly to the task before him. + +For two hours he kept it up, his low toned, oft repeated, “Hello. +Check” the code call agreed upon becoming more and more wearisome as +the time passed on. Ever and anon he would pause and peer through the +darkness toward the dimly outlined figure of the girl who was keeping +watch over the northern approaches to the little cove. + +She was sitting up alongside the rock, resting against it, but in such +position that he could clearly see her outlined figure. The night was +dark, in spite of the stars studding the heavens. + +Thus passed the early part of the evening, and lapsed into the second +watch of the night when suddenly there came an abrupt halt in the +monotonous call of Redmond’s oft repeated, “Hello. Check.” + +Rapidly he made a few delicate adjustments on the set about his +shoulders and, holding his mouth a little closer to the microphone in +his hand, said: + +“Hello! What ship is that?” + +This break in the monotony aroused Mary from the stupor which had been +enveloping her gradually, and she involuntarily straightened up, keenly +alert. Her first impulse was to inquire what had happened, but she +quickly suppressed it and waited patiently. + +“Where are you now?” was the next question Redmond asked over his +’phone. + +He had picked up the long expected relief ship and learned that it was +the “New Orleans,” and to his great joy had also been told that Captain +Moore of the “Farragut” was in command. + +“Wait a moment and I’ll find out,” came the response from the operator +on the war-vessel. + +Redmond took advantage of their brief respite to turn to Mary and tell +her the gladsome news. She was so excited that she made a few steps +toward him, but he cautioned her to remain and listen as attentively as +the wireless conversation would allow for any intruder. + +A few seconds later the voice came back in the receivers upon his ears: + +“The Captain says we are about fifty miles SSE of you right now.” + +“Fine!” replied Redmond. “Tell him I have got a chart of the mine +positions around the island, and he can come up within eight miles of +the cove, but no closer. A small launch can be used for the landing. +Tell him I’ve got Miss Ingleton here at the cove, and it is imperative +that she be taken off tonight. The pirates are hunting us now.” + +The operator acknowledged the message and after a pause came back on +his transmitter and said: + +“Captain says he is putting on full steam and will have a boat there in +two hours from now.” + +With a sigh of relief Redmond unstrapped the apparatus and laid it +carefully upon the rock, so that it was still pointing in the same +direction as it was when he had been conversing with the operator of +the “New Orleans.” + +He then went over to the place where his companion was sitting. + +“I’ve got some great news for you, Mary,” he said as he looked at +her intently in the darkness. While he could not see her features, he +could, by that inexplicable means which sometimes permits us to divine +another’s thoughts, tell what her feelings were. He continued before +she could speak. + +“I hope you won’t mind my calling you Mary. I’ve just picked up the +other cruiser. It will be here in two hours, and they are going to take +you right off the island tonight.” + +Mary’s heart was too full for words. The moment she had been praying +for and hoping for and looking forward to for months had at last +arrived. Soon she would be on her way back to her parents. The +possibility overwhelmed her and left her momentarily speechless. + +Redmond misinterpreted her silence and blurted out: + +“Really, Miss Mary, I’m sorry, but--er--” + +His floundering brought her back to realities and she rapidly +intervened. + +“Oh, dear, there’s nothing to apologize for. You are splendid. I don’t +know how I shall ever be able to thank you for all that you have done +for me. I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time, but it came so +suddenly that I did not know just what to say. Really I can’t believe +it even now. It all seems like a dream,--too good to be true.” + +“Then you are not angry with me?” asked Redmond with relief. + +“Of course not, Howard,--how could I be?” she replied with a +coquettish laugh. + +It was the first time she had ever used his name and it electrified him. + +“Mary,” he exclaimed impulsively and stopped abruptly. + +She waited for a few moments, then said simply: + +“Well, Howard?” + +“I was just going to say that it will seem like a long time before the +boat gets here,” he replied lamely. + +“Oh!” she ejaculated. + +There was something in that simple sound which so clearly expressed +disappointment, that it aroused all the conflicting emotions he had +been prey to ever since he realized his love for her. Again he felt +those alternate doubts and hopes which confounded his otherwise +decisive nature and robbed him of the power to speak his mind +unhesitatingly. He was too afraid of a refusal, and rather than risk +it, he chose to remain quiet. + +Mary intuitively had long since guessed his secret, and she fully +realized the cause of his embarrassment. Somehow the happiness she +experienced when the realization of her hope of escape from the pirate +came was not an altogether unalloyed feeling. There was a new and +strange element in it, and in her heart she knew what it was. For +several seconds both were lost in deep thought. + +Mary finally broke the silence by asking him: + +“What are you going to do when we get on the cruiser?” + +“I’m coming back here,” he replied. + +“But what for?” queried Mary in alarm. + +“Well,” he said slowly, “I’m going to stick around ’till we’ve settled +with this outfit. Besides, the government people have asked me to do +it, and I can’t refuse them. Anyway I don’t want to be a quitter, and +it will be a great pleasure to see the finish of this gang.” + +She did not reply. What he said however, instilled within her a fear +which she had never before experienced, a fear over another’s safety. +She wanted to urge him not to return to the island, but hesitation and +a certain delicate inhibition prevented her from doing that. + +Neither spoke for the next half hour each being far too engrossed with +his own thoughts to indulge in conversation. + +Redmond kept automatically sweeping the blackness of the night in all +directions seaward in continuous and trained observation. Suddenly he +exclaimed: + +“I can see a light. It must be the cruiser.” + +“Where?” she asked. + +“Look straight along my finger and you will see it,” he replied, +holding out his arm and pointing his finger toward the faint pin-point +of light in the distance. + +“Oh! yes, I see it,” she exclaimed joyfully. “Oh, dear! It’s just too +wonderful for words.” + +Redmond got up. “I’m going to speak to him,” he said. He then walked +over to the place where he had left his wireless apparatus. He let it +lay open upon the rock, merely picking up the microphone and switching +on the current. + +“Hello! ‘New Orleans,’” he called. + +The answer came immediately, then he continued: + +“We can see your lights now. When do you expect to send a boat?” + +There was a short pause, and the operator came back: + +“Captain says he will come to you in ten minutes and put out a launch +right away. He’s not going to take any chances of coming any closer +tonight.” + +“All right,” responded Redmond. “We’ll be waiting for you. I’m going to +turn this off now.” + +He then went back to his companion and told her the news. + +“You might as well come over to the rock now, Mary, so we’ll be ready +when the boat gets here.” + +She assented, and he assisted her over the difficult ground in the +darkness. Then they both sat down. + +Fifteen minutes later they heard the smooth toned exhaust of the +power launch as it plowed its way through the water toward them, and +shortly afterwards they were both outlined vividly in the rays of the +searchlight which was suddenly thrown on by the oncoming boat. + +“Thank God!” he said fervently. “You are safe at last, Mary.” + +It did not take long for the launch to pull up alongside the rock. +The maneuvre was greatly assisted by the illuminating rays of the +searchlight. A couple of sailors held it fast to the rock by means of +boat-hooks, and an officer sprang ashore. + +“Good evening,” he said, then added after bowing: “My name is Lockwood.” + +“This is Miss Ingleton,” replied Redmond, who then introduced himself +and continued: “I think we had better push off right away, Lieutenant. +There’s no telling how soon that pirate gang will be after us.” + +They both assisted Mary into the launch, and Lockwood gave the order to +let go. The words had scarcely left his mouth when a shot rang out from +the foliage fringing the cove. + +“Douse that light,” yelled Lockwood as he rang the engine bell for full +speed ahead. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN + + +The run to the cruiser was quickly made by the launch with no +casualties, despite the sudden appearance of the pirates at the cove. + +“By George! That was a close shave,” exclaimed Lockwood. “If we’d been +a few minutes later some one would have been hurt for sure. They would +certainly have hit one of us with that searchlight on.” + +As soon as they got aboard they went into Captain Moore’s cabin. The +captain greeted Mary effusively and congratulated her on her fortunate +rescue. Mary briefly acknowledged his solicitations and then asked +anxiously: + +“How was my mother when you left Honolulu, Captain?” + +Redmond was standing back of her, and he put up a warning finger to his +lips, which the captain fortunately saw in time. + +“I am afraid, Miss Ingleton,” he replied cautiously, “that she is not +so well.” + +While on the island she had often asked Redmond about her mother, but +he assured as best he could and always adroitly changed the subject +before she could question him further. + +On this occasion Mary tried to press the captain for more details, but +he told her that he had not been given any direct information. He also +studiously refrained from mentioning anything about her father. Seeing +that she could get no further information, Mary asked disappointedly: + +“How soon can we get back to Honolulu then, captain?” + +“Really I can’t hold out any hope for you there either, Miss Ingleton. +I’ve just got a code message from the Navy Department in Washington +with instructions to wait here until further orders are received. I +had planned to take you back right away, but this order came in just +a few minutes ago, and I will be compelled to obey it. I don’t know +just what’s going to happen, but I am going to drop out of sight of the +island for the remainder of the night and come back after sun-up. We’ve +got a cabin all fixed for you, Miss Ingleton, and I hope you will find +everything all right. We shall do everything we possibly can to make +you comfortable.” + +Mary felt keenly disappointed, but did not express it. After a short +conversation she retired to her room, tired out after the strenuous and +exciting day she had experienced. After she had gone Redmond said: + +“I’m glad you didn’t say anything, Captain, that would have indicated +she had lost her mother. She’s been through a terrible ordeal, and I’m +afraid the shock of the news would be too much for her. We’ll have to +break it to her gradually after she has had a long rest.” + +Then, changing the subject, he gave the captain an outline of what had +occurred since they had last seen each other. + +“You say the pirate is in very bad condition,” remarked Captain Moore. +“Well, that changes the situation completely. It seems to me this would +be a good time to land and go after him.” + +“Well, I don’t know,” replied Redmond. “I hadn’t thought of it.” + +“By George! It looks to me like the right thing to do, especially as we +know just what the situation around the island is now that we have his +mine chart. I’ll advise Honolulu by code through wireless and see what +they have to say about it.” + +Having made up his mind on this point, the captain worked out the +necessary code words and then sent the message in to the wireless +operator with instructions to dispatch it immediately. This done, he +turned to Redmond and said: + +“The chances are that Honolulu will refer the matter to Washington +before replying to me, but if they happen to agree with me on the +advisability of landing now, would you be willing to go along and guide +the landing party?” + +“Why of course, I would,” replied Redmond. + +“Well, that’s fine. I don’t know whether that gang is still hanging +around this side of the island or not, but we can cover your landing +with our light guns. That will hold them back until you get ashore and +under cover.” + +“I don’t think they’ll stick around here,” said Redmond. “They’re more +likely to go back and be ready to make a getaway in the airplane, take +a chance on landing somewhere without being seen, and then get back +to civilization without being caught. That’s the way I figure it out, +although, of course, you can’t tell just what they will do.” + +Captain Moore called in his executive officer, and for the next hour +all three went over every possible detail in the event that a landing +would be decided upon. Redmond produced the rough chart of the island +he had drawn during his first stay on it, and he pointed out to the two +officers the more important aspects of its topography. They had just +about completed their preliminary plans when an orderly entered the +room with a message for Captain Moore. The latter took it, tore it open +and hurriedly scanned its contents. + +“It’s in code!” he exclaimed. “Wait a moment ’till I decode it. It’s +the answer from Honolulu.” + +The others waited almost breathlessly while the captain performed the +task of translation. This done, he turned to them and read: + +“Concur in landing proposal. Important reinforcements will reach you at +daybreak.” + +He paused for a moment, then continued: + +“Well, we couldn’t wish for anything better than that. It looks like +the beginning of the end to me now.” + +“I wonder what the reinforcements will be?” said Redmond. + +“I haven’t the faintest idea,” answered Captain Moore. “We’ll see soon +enough in the morning. Is everything satisfactory as we have planned +it?” + +“Yes.” + +“All right then, I’ll steam up at daybreak and be ready to put you +ashore with a party and cover your landing if necessary.” + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT + + +On the following morning when the sun burst over the eastern horizon +with the sudden blaze of tropical brilliance the cruiser “New Orleans” +was already within a few miles of Patrocinio’s southern shore. The +landing party was standing by fully armed, ready to board the launches +which were already in the water alongside the cruiser. + +On the bridge Captain Moore and the navigating officer were scanning +the island through their marine glasses for any sign of the pirates. + +As soon as Redmond came up on the deck the order to move was given and +the men filed down the accommodation ladder into the boats. When this +task had been completed the boats cast off. + +Each of the launches was equipped with a one pounder quick fire gun in +its bows, each of these manned by a gunner. On the cruiser the guncrews +were standing by the six inch rifles ready to shell the island in case +an attack was made upon the boats during their passage to the landing +place. + +As the boats left the cruiser Lieutenant Lockwood, who had been placed +in command of the landing party, turned to Redmond and said: + +“Do you think that outfit is still on this side of the island?” + +“Well, of course I can’t say,” replied Redmond, “but my guess is that +they are not. I think they withdrew to the other side.” + +“Well, we’ll soon find out,” said Lockwood with a laugh. + +The run to the beach was quickly made, and a landing affected without +any untoward event. Lockwood got his men lined up and was about to +give the order to advance when a terrific explosion seaward halted him +abruptly. + +“My God what was that?” he exclaimed as he, in unison with the rest, +turned and looked south. One quick glance revealed the cause. + +Flying moderately low, the pirate airplane was sweeping around the +cruiser in rapid vicious circles in a maneuvre of attack. The “New +Orleans” was already under way, gathering headway very fast and +zigzaging on her course. + +As the men ashore watched with pent up excitement they saw a flash as +the cruiser opened up with its anti-aircraft guns a vigorous cannonade +upon the pirate. It was clear that the latter was maneuvring for the +best position to bomb the cruiser, and the explosion which had been +heard ashore was undoubtedly caused by the first bomb dropped to find +the range. It had not apparently come close enough to do any damage. + +The effect of the rapid fire from the “New Orleans” was quickly +evidenced by the higher altitude which the pirate climbed to. + +“Gee!” exclaimed Lockwood, “that’s great shooting. The higher they +force him the less chance he has to hit ’em. Go to it boys!” he cried +excitedly. + +For the moment all caution and discipline disappeared, and the men +crowded around their officer to watch the unusual skirmish, shouting +unheard words of encouragement to their distant shipmates. + +It was not long before the second bomb fell. It hit the water with +a resounding explosion, sending up a mountainous wave which blotted +out the cruiser from the watchers ashore who strained their utmost to +follow the effect. By this time the cruiser was close to the horizon, +and it was difficult indeed to see it. + +“Good God! That was close,” exclaimed Lockwood anxiously. A few seconds +later he sighed with relief as he saw the cruiser emerge from the +obscuring but diminishing wave. + +The whole thing had only occupied a few seconds but it seemed like an +eternity to those ashore. Throughout the suspense there had been a ray +of comfort for them in the continuous cracking reports which told them +that the aerial guns of the war-vessel were still going. + +Suddenly there was a lull in the sound of the firing. Instinctively +all ashore looked up, and in the sky above the distant horizon they +could dimly see a number of specks about the pirate aircraft which +by this time was barely visible. Pretty soon there came to them the +staccato roar of machine gun fire. + +“Hurrah!” shouted the men in glee, while Lockwood added joyously: +“There are the reinforcements. It’s a squadron of our airplanes. +Captain Moore’s quit firing because he doesn’t want to hit any of our +fellows. That’s it sure.” + +Redmond was not so jubilant. In fact he was greatly worried because in +his mind there surged the memory of the last aerial battle between the +pirate and the government aircraft. He immediately realized that unless +the latter were much better equipped now, they did not stand a chance, +despite their superior numbers. + +The battle was being fought at terrific speed, and Johnston was +evidently using every maneuvre he could execute in fighting the +squadron. The changing tactics brought the contending machine nearer to +the island. + +At this point Redmond observed that the government pilots were not +flying in squadron formation. Instead they were spread out widely and +were at different altitudes, with at least five hundred feet separating +any two of them. He rightly guessed that this tactic was being followed +as a result of the experience gained in the previous encounter with the +pirate. + +At every opportunity each of the government ships fired a burst of +tracer bullets at the pirate, who was maneuvring his plane with great +skill, but Redmond’s expert eye quickly saw that Johnston, good as he +undoubtedly was, could not compare with Levanter, and he realized that +in this equality alone lay the greatest opportunity for the government +craft. + +The pirate gunner was fighting back vigorously whenever a chance +occurred. He too was using his machine gun for all it was worth. By +this time the fight was directly over the beach on which the landing +party was standing. Every man had his neck craned, watching intently, +almost breathlessly. + +Suddenly the leading government plane shot straight across the nose of +the pirate machine, level with it, and released a burst of fire which +raked the pirate at short range and apparently damaged his starboard +propeller. + +Undaunted the pirate let loose with his three inch gun, loaded with +one of the deadly liquid oxygen shells. It caught the government ship +squarely. A violent flash of flame broke out momentarily like a jewel +in the daylight, and what was left of the government craft plunged like +a plummet into the ocean, a hundred yards from the beach. The first +blood was with the pirate. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE + + +The momentary victory of the pirate was dearly bought. He was no longer +maneuvring as easily as he had been doing. His craft had become very +sluggish on the turns and was making them only with great difficulty, +while the uneven whir of his propellers emphasized the trouble he was +experiencing. The government forces quickly observed this and began to +close in on it steadily, but somewhat cautiously. + +Johnston, realizing the turn in favor of his enemies, began to climb, +but his ship was no longer superior to the government craft in this +respect, and they easily maintained their advantage by keeping well +above him. + +Throughout these tactics the antagonists kept up a desultory fire with +their machine guns, but no material damage was effected on either side. +The latest maneuvre had taken both forces to a considerable altitude, +and the men ashore had some difficulty in following the progress of the +battle against the brilliant sky. + +For some time the fight continued in this manner without decisive +action. Redmond was feeling easier because he realized now that the +odds which were in favor of the pirate at the beginning of the battle +had been neutralized by the heroic action of the pilot who sacrificed +himself by deliberately running his ship across the pirate’s nose to +fire upon him at close range. + +Redmond looked seaward. The cruiser “New Orleans” had steamed in again +and was moving around at high speed on an uneven course. He turned his +gaze upward again, and as he did so an exclamation of surprise escaped +his lips. + +All of the aerial craft were lower, but one of the government ships was +directly above and very close to the pirate, traveling at the same rate +of speed while the others were concentrating a burst of fire upon the +outlaw plane. + +Suddenly a small black object fell from the particular government ship +which was in such excellent position above the pirate. A blinding flash +burst where the latter had been, followed by a thunderous crash which +shook even those upon the ground by the intensity of its concussion. + +A gasp of awe escaped them as they watched intently. Rapidly the flash +merged into the sunlight, and out of it there fell a few blackened +remnants of what had been the aerial scourge of the Pacific. Straight +into the sea the wreckage plunged. + +The pirate was conquered at last! + +The suddenness of the ending left them spell-bound. As they watched +they saw the ship which had struck the deathblow of the pirate +spiralling down unevenly like a wounded bird, evidently in serious +distress. The other machines were also descending. + +“Good God!” was all that Lockwood could say, but his expression clearly +indicated the relief he felt. + +For several seconds they stood in amazed silence until all of the +aircraft had descended upon the heaving surface of the ocean. By +remarkable skill the pilot of the injured ship had succeeded in +landing, pulling his craft out of its spin at the crucial moment, but +it was indeed the roughest kind of a landing. + +The other machines with their wings retracted taxied over to him as +rapidly as they could go. They were none too soon, for by the time they +reached him the damaged airplane, badly waterlogged, was being pounded +by the heavy swell which surged over it. With great difficulty they +succeeded in rescuing its crew just before the airplane disappeared +below the waves. + +While the rescue was being effected the cruiser steamed up to the +scene, and the rest of the squadron went alongside her. + +It was quite some time before Lieutenant Lockwood recovered from the +amazement which had left him enthralled during the thrilling encounter +in the skies. Moreover, he found it very difficult to realize that the +pirate machine had been completely destroyed and its crew annihilated. +After he had come back to realities he stood for a few minutes +irresolute, then turning toward Redmond, he ejaculated: + +“I wonder what we’d better do now?” + +Before the latter could reply one of the landing party cried out: + +“The cruiser’s signalling us, sir.” + +All hands watched the semaphore arms above the bridge of the war-vessel +as they moved up and down rapidly forming the words of the message. + +Lockwood who had read it said: + +“He’s instructing us to proceed across the island at once. The +cruiser’s going to steam around. Let’s go.” + + + + +CHAPTER FORTY + + +Upon the “New Orleans” a most distressing incident was being enacted as +the cruiser proceeded around the eastern side of Patrocinio Island. The +commander of the squadron which had downed the pirate was none other +than Kenneth Fitzgerald, and he it was who had dropped the chemical +bomb which destroyed the outlaw. He was now lying unconscious on a +hastily prepared cot aboard the warship in serious condition, with the +ship’s surgeon in attendance. + +So close had he been to the pirate when the fatal bomb was released +that the repercussion had damaged his ship and stricken him seriously +by the full force of the concussion. By a supreme effort of will he had +summoned sufficient strength to guide his gyrating craft to a landing +and had collapsed completely. + +His rescue under the existing conditions had been nothing short of +miraculous, and only through the quick work of the rest of the squadron +was it effected. They had performed the almost impossible in getting +him from the waterlogged machine through the heavy swell. + +Mary Ingleton was at his side doing what little she could to assist +the surgeon’s efforts to revive him. She was in a highly nervous +state, following the excitement of the recent battle, but the serious +condition of Fitzgerald alarmed her and had a steadying effect upon her. + +In the meantime Eric Brant, the second in command of the squadron, was +giving Captain Moore an account of the details which led up to the +aerial battle. + +“At the time Captain Simmons was leaving Honolulu with the ‘New +Orleans,’” he said, “we were undergoing special secret instructions +with a new type of bomb which had just arrived from Washington. + +“We were told that the experts in the Chemical Corps had succeeded in +duplicating the bombs manufactured by the pirate and, after further +work, had improved on them. Ours are fitted with a safety device which, +in the event of accident to one of our machines, automatically releases +the liquid gas without explosive effect. + +“They are mounted on a special rack which has a release trigger that +sets a detonating cap on the bomb as it falls, so that it will explode +on hitting. The instructors told us that these bombs would practically +wipe out anything they struck. + +“Mr. Fitzgerald was placed in command, and practically all of us had +been in the first fight with the pirate, so we knew just what we had to +expect from him. + +“We all talked it over and we devised a new plan of attack, which we +practiced every day in the air while we were awaiting instruction +to move against him. In the first we were not able to attack him +vigorously because we were in each other’s way to a great extent. Our +new plan was designed to overcome this, and we practiced so as to be +in a position where we could all attack simultaneously without fear of +hitting each other. + +“The most important part of our plan was to keep the pirate engaged +while one of the machines maneuvred to get directly over him, so that +the bomb could be dropped with a fair chance of hitting him squarely. + +“We realized that our only chance to put an end to him was with one +of these bombs. Our machine gun fire was therefore planned to keep +him engaged so as to permit the main attacking machine to get into +position, ready to drop the bomb at the first opportunity. + +“Our original instructions were to be ready to proceed on order, and +a supply ship was to follow up as rapidly as possible after we left. +We got the order sooner than we expected. It came hurriedly after +receipt of your wireless. We were told to proceed to the southern side +of the island and assist you. We were very surprised to see the pirate +attacking you, as we had not expected to encounter him so soon. + +“It put us in a very bad position as we were pretty nearly out of fuel +after our long flight. If the scrap had lasted much longer he would +have got us all for certain. + +“I imagine that’s the reason Mr. Fitzgerald took such a terrible +chance, so as not to miss his mark. He was too close when he dropped +the bomb, and the shock damaged his ship. We were mighty lucky in being +able to get him out of the water, and he did a fine piece of work in +landing his ship under the circumstances.” + + + + +CHAPTER FORTY-ONE + + +As soon as he had received the instructions to proceed across the +island from the cruiser Lieutenant Lockwood lined up his men and gave +the order to advance. He took a position ahead of them, Redmond walking +alongside him, leading the way through the jungle. By noon the party +had reached the cave in the center of the island, and a halt was made +to eat and rest during the heat of the day. + +At three o’clock in the afternoon a fresh start was made, and an hour’s +brisk march brought the party to the rock where Redmond had so often +met Mary Ingleton. + +The New Orleans was already lying off the entrance to the harbor +outside the mine belt which the pirate had laid down as a protection +for himself. Otherwise everything bore a normal appearance to Redmond. +The familiar wisp of blue smoke curling up idly from the workshop +chimney told him the Kanakas were busily engaged in their regular jobs. + +“Do you think we’ll have any trouble with them?” Lockwood asked Redmond. + +“I don’t think so,” replied the latter. + +At this moment one of the men exclaimed: + +“There’s a boat coming in from the ship, sir.” + +“Well, I guess we’ll go down and meet it,” said Lockwood. He gave an +order to the chief petty officer to remain with the landing party until +he returned. He then set off with Redmond for the beach. + +By the time they arrived there the boat was already tied up to the +old mooring ring of the pirate’s airplane, and two officers had come +ashore. One of them was the ship’s surgeon. + +“I came along,” he told Lockwood, as soon as they caught up with one +another, “to see what condition Levanter is in. If he can be moved, the +captain’s instructions are to bring him aboard immediately.” + +“Well! We might as well get over there right away,” remarked Lockwood +who then signalled to his men to join him. As soon as they came up he +instructed them to seize the workshop and bring the Kanakas out. + +While the landing party was engaged in this task the three officers and +Redmond entered Levanter’s room in the living hut. + +As they entered Redmond halted abruptly and an involuntary gasp of +astonishment escaped his lips. Levanter was lying on his cot, and the +Kanaka chief was alongside him. The pirate’s features had visibly +shrunk and his skin was tightly drawn across his hollowed cheeks. His +eyes stood out, uncanny and piercing, while the flush of fever which +suffused his cheeks gave him an unnatural appearance. + +He started in surprise as he saw the strangers enter his room. With an +effort he raised his weakened body upon his elbows and then exclaimed: + +“Who are you? How did you get here?” + +Redmond went over to his bedside. + +“I’m the man who shot you,” he said. “You have never seen me before, +but I’ve been on your island for weeks. We are here now because you +have come to the end of your rope.” + +The pirate sank back upon his pillow. For several moments he remained +motionless. Finally he asked: + +“Where is my ship?” + +“It’s lying on the bottom of the ocean,” replied Redmond. + +“What happened to Johnston and my crew, then?” + +“They are lying there with it. If it’s any satisfaction to you, they +died fighting.” + +Levanter raised himself again, his eyes flashing with hate. + +“Damn you!” he snapped. “If I’d been there you wouldn’t have had a +chance.” + +“That’s just where you are wrong,” said Redmond coolly. “The government +beat you at your own game.” + +At this moment the surgeon stepped forward and pushed Redmond back. He +saw how critical the pirate’s condition was, and was anxious to put +an end to the altercation which was rapidly causing the injured man’s +temperature to rise dangerously. + +“Lie down,” he commanded. + +“What are you going to do with me?” enquired Levanter as he obeyed. + +“I’m going to find out what’s the matter with you,” replied the surgeon +who, after taking the pirate’s temperature and pulse, examined the +injured leg. He then dressed the wound as carefully as he could with +the limited facilities at his disposal. As soon as this task was +completed he went over to his two companions. + +“We’ll have to get back to the ship as rapidly as possible and put him +in the sick bay. It’s a dangerous job. The shock will probably kill +him, but it’s our only chance to save him. He’ll die quick enough if +he’s left here.” + +“I didn’t know he was as badly as that,” said Redmond. + +“He’s in pretty bad shape,” added the surgeon. “We’ve got to amputate +that leg, and there’s no time to lose. In fact, I think it’s too late +now.” + +Without further ado Lockwood went out. The landing party had already +marshalled the Kanakas together outside the huts and was standing by +awaiting further instructions. + +Lockwood called two of his men over to him and ordered them to carry +the pirate on the stretcher into the launch. He then instructed the +others to wait with the Kanakas until a boat could be sent over from +the warship to transfer the wounded pirate. + +The two men quickly lifted the latter on the stretcher and then carried +him down to the landing place where the three officers assisted in +placing him aboard. + + + + +CHAPTER FORTY-TWO + + +As soon as the launch came up alongside the cruiser “New Orleans” it +was fastened to the block and tackle of its davit and hoisted up until +it was level with the main deck. When this had been done it was pulled +inboard, and from this position the wounded pirate was lifted out under +the supervision of the surgeon and carried down to the ship’s hospital. + +Redmond and the two officers had previously got off the launch and had +gone up the accommodation ladder. Captain Moore was on deck to meet +them. + +“Well, I guess our job’s done, captain,” said Redmond. + +“Yes,” replied the commander. “We were very lucky in many ways, +especially in the fortunate arrival of our airplane squadron. The +government owes you a great deal, though. If it hadn’t been for your +splendid work, the pirate would have still been operating.” + +Redmond flushed under the praise, stuttered a moment and changing the +embarrassing subject, said: + +“How is the pilot of the ship which we brought down?” + +“Ah! there’s where we were unlucky,” replied Captain Moore. “That pilot +was the commander of the squadron, and he’s in very bad shape suffering +from shock.” + +“I’m sorry to hear that indeed. He certainly had his nerve attacking +the way he did. Who is he?” + +“Commander Fitzgerald.” + +“What!” exclaimed Redmond in astonishment. + +The captain looked at him, surprised at the manner in which he spoke. +“Why, do you know him?” he asked. + +“Yes,” said Redmond sharply. + +“Well he’s on the quarterdeck now, resting easily the last time I saw +him. Miss Ingleton is nursing him. Do you want to see him?” + +Redmond pondered a moment before replying. The news imparted to him +innocently enough by Captain Moore had brought him back from the realm +of action and excitement into that of sentiment. For several seconds +his mind was prey to a score of bitter thoughts. Again he fought with +himself as he realized that another man stood between him and the +possibility of his future happiness. The knowledge enraged him, and for +the first time in his life he experienced the violence of hatred. + +He hated himself as well, and in his mind he railed at the fate which +had led him to the altar of love and then dashed happiness from his +grasp. He was more than ever convinced that Mary and Fitzgerald were +betrothed. The words uttered many weeks ago by the Base Commander at +Honolulu, which clearly indicated it, came back to taunt him as he +struggled with his conflicting emotions. + +Finally his better nature began to exert itself. At least, he argued +with himself, Mary would be happy now, and after all that was the most +important thing. He turned to Captain Moore and said: + +“I guess I’ll go over and see him.” + +The two started aft. As they reached the quarterdeck Mary Ingleton +happened to glance up from the cot on which Fitzgerald was lying. She +jumped to her feet and rushed over to him, holding her hands out to +Redmond. + +“Oh! I’m so glad to see you, Howard,” she exclaimed. “I was worried to +death about you while that dreadful fight was going on.” + +Redmond was completely overcome by the warmth of her greeting, which he +did not expect. He took her hands in his, but managed to hold himself +in check. + +“I’m so glad you’re glad, Mary,” he said. + +His quiet reply dampened her enthusiasm, and she looked at him somewhat +puzzled. Captain Moore had already gone ahead toward Fitzgerald, so +they were left standing together. Redmond was the first to speak again. + +“I was sorry to hear about Fitzgerald,” he said. + +“Yes,” replied Mary, “he is seriously hurt.” + +“It must have been a great blow to you, Mary. I hope he will soon get +well because you deserve happiness after all you have been through.” + +“Why, Howard!” she exclaimed. “How strangely you speak! I don’t know +what you are talking about.” + +“Aren’t you and he engaged?” queried Redmond. + +“Why no,” laughed Mary. “Whatever put that silly notion in your head?” + +“You’re not?” he exclaimed in surprise. + +She heartily laughed at his astonishment, then she replied. + +“No! I’m not engaged to anyone,” she said with a taunting air. + +“Oh! Mary,” he gasped haltingly. + +“Yes, Howard.” + +“Oh! What can I say? I love you with all my heart. I’ve been dying to +tell you for a long, long time, but I thought you were already engaged, +and I didn’t dare.” + +“Why you poor silly boy. I’ve known it for weeks,” she said gently. + +“Can you love me too?” he pleaded. + +She looked at him teasingly, with laughter in her eyes, watching his +evident anxiety. Then as the lines upon his face deepened she lowered +her glance and said: + +“I do.” + + + + +Transcriber’s Note: + + + Obvious errors in punctuation have been silently corrected in this + version. Typos in proper names have been silently corrected. Minor + inconsistencies and archaic forms have been retained as printed. + + In addition, the following changes have been made: + + On page 16: bells to belles -From the moment of her debut she had + been one of the reigning _belles_ in Washington society + + On page 21: too to to -Mary began _to_ eat + + On page 21: magicent to magnificent -They saw the magnificent rivers + + On page 25: persistant to persistent -In a subtle but persistent + manner + + On page 26: occassionally to occasionally + + On page 30: upfolded to unfolded -the scene unfolded below her + + On page 51: hyherically to hysterically -Mrs. Ingleton began to cry + hysterically. + + On page 52: reolver to revolver + + On page 53: gave to have -He must have got tangled up + + On page 61: may to my -Therefore my plan is this + + On page 65: quadron to squadron + + On page 68: recieved to received + + On page 78: absoutely to absolutely -that absolutely confirms + + On page 81: horiozn to horizon + + On page 86: navval to naval + + On page 94: obsolute to absolute -when they got an absolute sight on + + On page 94: desdescent to descent -The battle was continued + throughout the maneuvre of descent + + On page 95: possibe to possible + + On page 108: there to three -at a point approximately three hundred + miles + + On page 110: coversation to conversation + + On page 110: sqadron to squadron + + On page 114: occured to occurred + + On page 114: manufacurer to manufacturer + + On page 114: availabl to available + + On page 116: aparently to apparently + + On page 117: meteorogical to meteorological + + On page 127: an to any -would pass up any chance to protect himself + + On page 135: orginal to original + + On page 141: possibilties to possibilities + + On page 142: particuarly to particularly + + On page 153: pursuade to persuade -She tried to persuade him + + On page 155: unconscius to unconscious -How long I was unconscious + + On page 159: buring to burning -lights burning + + On page 162: vigilence to vigilance + + On page 166: it to is -It is this + + On page 175: us to use -it’s no use quarreling + + On page 180: vaccuum to vacuum -vacuum of the container + + On page 180: here to her -enable her to get away + + On page 183: sincerety to sincerity -show of sincerity + + On page 185: schoner to schooner + + On page 199: were to where -at the cove where we land + + On page 220: arange to arrange + + On page 222: accomodation to accommodation + + On page 226: waveleangth to wavelength + + On page 226: cary to carry -it could easily carry his voice + + On page 230: conjections to conjectures -depressing thoughts + concerning Mary and gloomy conjectures regarding her safety. + + On page 235: [double of removed] -to keep a sharp watch for sight of + land. + + On page 238: scurity to security + + On page 250: expectently to expectantly -she strolled expectantly to + + On page 253: contenntment to contentment + + On page 253: tumultously to tumultuously + + On page 259: would to wound -Without further ado Johnston bent over + and examined the injured leg. The Kanakas had been bathing the wound + under the feeble instructions Levanter had been able to give them. + + On page 263: visa versa to vice versa + + On page 263: [double to removed] had to be in one hand + + On page 265: preceeding to preceding -The next day passed as had the + preceding one + + On page 266: preceds to precedes -such as oftentimes precedes events + + On page 273: stoodly to stood -while the men stood meekly by + + On page 277: monotoonus to monotonous + + On page 277: persistant to persistent + + On page 292: too to to -higher altitude which the pirate climbed to + + On page 295: his to this -the fight continued in this manner + + On page 296: fllash to flash + + On page 296: thundrous to thunderous + + On page 296: suddeness to suddenness + + On page 297: incicated to indicated -his expression clearly indicated + the relief he felt. + + On page 300: devise to device -Ours are fitted with a safety device + + On page 304: oficer to officer + + On page 305: It to If -If it’s any satisfaction to you + + On page 305: cooly to coolly -said Redmond coolly + + On page 306: waiting to awaiting -standing by awaiting further + instructions. +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78892 *** |