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diff --git a/44394-0.txt b/44394-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2167680 --- /dev/null +++ b/44394-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6577 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44394 *** + +[Illustration: "Charley leveled his gun and sent sixteen shrieking +bullets just above the wheelman's head."] + + + + +The Boy Chums In the Gulf of Mexico + + OR + + On a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek + Spongers + + BY WILMER M. ELY + + Author of "The Boy Chums on Indian River," "The Boy + Chums on Haunted Island," "The Boy Chums in + the Forest," "The Boy Chums' Perilous Cruise." + +[Illustration] + + A. L. BURT COMPANY + NEW YORK + + + + + Copyright 1913 + + BY A. L. BURT COMPANY + + THE BOY CHUMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. 3 + II. MR. DRIVER. 11 + III. PREPARATIONS 19 + IV. THE START 27 + V. THE START 36 + VI. FIRST TROUBLE 45 + VII. SPONGING 53 + VIII. TROUBLE 61 + IX. MANUEL'S RELEASE 68 + X. A RASH RESOLVE 76 + XI. A MYSTERY 84 + XII. IN A DIVING SUIT 94 + XIII. A CLOSE CALL 100 + XIV. THE DISCUSSION 107 + XV. A DESPERATE PLAN 115 + XVI. TOO LATE 122 + XVII. OUTWITTED 129 + XVIII. IMPRISONED 136 + XIX. WRECKED 144 + XX. HUNTING HELP 152 + XXI. THE CASTAWAYS 159 + XXII. ANOTHER DANGER 167 + XXIII. THE RELAPSE 175 + XXIV. THE FLOOD 182 + XXV. THE FLOATING HATCH 189 + XXVI. WITH THE BOYS 197 + XXVII. THE JOURNEY 205 + XXVIII. JUDSON 212 + XXIX. THE FEUD 219 + XXX. BESIEGED 225 + XXXI. THE ENEMIES 233 + XXXII. THE CASTAWAYS AGAIN 240 + XXXIII. THE RESCUE 247 + XXXIV. CONCLUSION 255 + + + + +THE BOY CHUMS + +IN THE GULF OF MEXICO + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"IT'S just like stepping suddenly into a strange country. I am glad we +came even if we decide not to go into the business." + +The speaker, a sturdy, manly-looking boy of eighteen, was one of a +party of four persons who were strolling along a street in the Greek +section of Tarpon Springs, a small Florida town, located on the +Anclote River, a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. His companions +were a boy about his own age but of less robust appearance, a little +negro lad with a good-humored intelligent face, and a middle-aged, +heavily-bearded, blue-eyed man whose tattooed arms and rolling gait +told of a life spent on tossing seas and whose confident bearing and +air of authority stamped him as one above the rank of a common sailor. + +Those who have followed The Boy Chums through their many adventures +will recognize in the little party their old friends Charley West, +Walter Hazard, Captain Westfield and the Bahama lad, Chris, who lately +returned from a perilous trip along the Atlantic beach searching for +wreckage, and now seeking some promising venture in which to invest the +Fifteen Hundred Dollars they earned on that voyage. + +"You're right, Charley," agreed the other boy. "I didn't know before +that there was a sight like this in Florida. Here's a bench. Let's set +down and rest a bit. I am tired from walking." + +"Golly, I reckon dis nigger's tired some too," chimed in the little +darkey, "I'se dun had de toothache in mah legs for most an hour, but +I'se had to keep up wid you-alls. Don't dare let you white chillen +prognostracate 'round a queer place like dis alone." + +The seat selected was a long bench standing on the edge of the +sidewalk, its back to the sandy street. The four seated themselves at +one end and gazed around with eager interest at the strange scene, +unconscious of the curious glances bestowed upon them by a large, +deeply-tanned man, who, seated on the other end of the bench, was +languidly whittling on a piece of white pine with a large sheaf knife. + +The scene was one to arouse more than passing interest. Up and down +the sidewalk hurried swarthy-faced, powerfully-built men of all ages +and appearances, but all possessed of the same clear-cut features and +straight noses. Singly and in groups of two and three, they hurried +past, picturesque in their bright-colored clothing with gaudy sashes +knotted about their waists. About all clustered an air of energy and +bustle uncommon to sleepy Florida towns. + +Built up close to the inner edge of the sidewalk was a row of large +buildings startling in their coats of bright yellow, red, blue, and +green paint. Stretching away, close together in the distance, they +gave one the impression of a gigantic rainbow. Through their wide-open +doors and windows the interested onlookers could gain a plain view of +the interiors, from which came the confused jangle of foreign tongues. +To the right of where the little party sat was a busy grocery store, +its windows filled with strings of dried garlic, strange-looking +cheeses, queer nuts and fruits and a multitude of eatables strange to +American eyes. To the left of them was a tobacco factory, the whirling +machines shredding up the huge brown leaves into hair-like fibers and +binding them up into pound packages. Directly before them was a great +hall filled with little tables around which were seated groups of the +regular-featured men, playing cards, eating, or puffing at strange +pipes, with a small hose for a stem, the smoke passing through great +glass vessels partly filled with rose water before it reached the +smoker's lips. + +"That's the fifteenth place of that kind I've counted to-day," remarked +Charley West. "From their numbers, one would imagine that these people +did nothing but eat and play cards." + +"I'd like to try one of them pipes," said Captain Westfield, wistfully. +"I'll bet they give a good, cool smoke." + +"Let's go in and get dinner," Walter suggested. "I am hungry as a wolf +and that food smells mighty good. You can try a pipe after we eat, +Captain." + +The man at the end of the bench shifted his position closer to them. + +"Strangers here?" he enquired. + +"Just came in this morning. We're looking into the sponge business a +bit," replied the Captain. + +Charley eyed the tanned man closely. There was a sinister expression to +the fellow's face, and his eyes shifted uneasily away from the lad's +level glance. The keen-witted boy was not favorably impressed with the +stranger's appearance, but the man's cordiality drove away his faint +feeling of distrust. + +"I'll go in with you then," he offered. "Those fellows don't speak much +English and you would have a hard job making them understand what you +wanted. I know a little Greek and may be able to help you out a bit." + +"Much obliged to you," said the Captain, gratefully. "We don't +understand a word of their lingo. I'll stand treat to the dinner if +you'll eat with us." + +"It's a go," agreed the stranger, quickly. "Come on. My name's Robert, +Captain Roberts," he volunteered when the little party were seated +around one of the tables, "I'm a retired ship's master." + +Captain Westfield introduced himself and his companions. "As I said, we +are lookin' into this sponge business a bit, but it's hard to pick out +the proper course from these twisted-tongued furriners," he said. "Do +you happen to know anything about it?" + +"I used to be in the business myself," Captain Roberts replied +promptly. "I made enough money in it to quit the sea for good." + +"Then I reckon you're the very man to give us a few pointers. Is there +as much money in it as one hears tell of?" + +"More," declared the other. "These Greeks are getting rich off +sponging. It is not anything unusual for a schooner's crew to clear up +three or four thousand dollars from a single trip. It takes quite a bit +of money to make a start, though." + +"We have got a little change in our clothes," said the Captain, +modestly. "Do you reckon a person could get started good on a Thousand +dollars?" + +"That would do nicely," declared Captain Roberts, "and I can tell you +just how to lay it out to the best advantage, but let's order dinner +first. We can talk while we are eating." + +He beckoned to a dark-skinned, ill-favored waiter and gave an order in +low-pitched fluent Greek. + +The waiter was back almost instantly with a tray-load of steaming +dishes which he placed upon the table. The boys could not determine +the exact nature of the strange viands, but they were too hungry to be +critical, and attacked the food with hearty appetites. + +"This mutton stew is delicious," Charley declared as he took another +helping. "I don't know as I ever tasted anything better." + +Captain Roberts grinned. "You don't want to make any guesses about +Greek food," he declared. "That isn't mutton, but just tough old +Billy-goat, fattened on a diet of tin cans. These fellows have the +knack of fixing up such things so they can't recognize them themselves. +Just wait till the coffee is served. You'll say you never drank any +better. But let's get back to that sponging business now, Captain." + +He and Captain Westfield were soon plunged in a tangled maze of talk +about schooners, diving boats, sponges, and divers. + +The boys gave but little heed to the discussion for their attention was +partly diverted by the unusual scene around them. + +"It's just like being in another country," Walter whispered to his chum. + +"Yes, but I don't like the attention we seem to receive," Charley +replied. "Those fellows are staring at us as though there was something +wrong in our being here." + +The Greeks gathered around the other tables indeed seemed more than +casually interested in the little party. They stared frequently at them +and their new acquaintance, and exchanged significant glances and low +words with each other. + +"I guess we appear as odd to them as they do to us," Walter said, +carelessly. "There is a man who is not a Greek. That fellow leaning +against the end of the counter in the corner." + +The man indicated was unmistakably an American. He was short, +heavily-built and had a determined, aggressive face. He was engaged in +a heated discussion with the proprietor of the cafe and his heavy face +was flushed with anger. As the boys gazed curiously, he brought down +his clenched fist on the counter with a force that shattered some of +the dishes piled upon it. + +"You needn't smirk, grin, and make excuses," he thundered at the suave, +smiling Greek. "You've got to pay me that bill you owe me. It's been +standing for months and I happen to know that you are making money all +the time, hand over fist. It's no use pretending you don't understand +me," he shouted, as the smiling Greek shrugged his shoulders. "You know +what I say. If you don't come up with the money by to-morrow night I'll +close up this place and have you prosecuted for obtaining goods under +false pretences. And it will not be any use for you to try your nice +little Greek trick of a knife in my back in the dark. I go heeled and +I don't go to sleep when I walk this street. The fellow who tries that +trick on me will stop enough lead to start a cartridge factory." + +He turned and was walking towards the door when his glance rested for a +moment on the boys and their companions. His glance swept swiftly over +each member of the little party. He paused, hesitated a moment, then +turning, walked swiftly towards their table. + +Captain Roberts rose hastily at his approach. "There's a friend of mine +over there," he said hurriedly, "who I want to speak to. I'll be back +in a minute." + +The approaching stranger noted his departure with a grim smile. He +stopped beside the Captain and stood gazing down for one brief minute. + +"Are you fools or strangers?" he demanded, crisply. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. DRIVER. + + +THE stranger's smile robbed his words of their hardness. + +"Strangers, yes," Charley replied, "Fools, no." + +"No offense intended," said the man, quickly. "Strangers will sometimes +take advice but fools will not. My advice to you strangers is to keep +out of places like this and not to make friends with other strangers. I +don't suppose you know who that man is who just left you." + +"He's a retired sea captain," said Captain Westfield. "He was giving us +some pointers about the sponge business. Mighty pleasant an' obligin' +fellow. Mighty fair-spoken." + +"Bless your simple little souls," exclaimed the stranger. "He's no +captain, active or retired. He's the runner for this place. Lucky you +haven't any of you drank your coffee yet. You'd be waking up in some +alley bye-and-bye with your heads aching from knock-out drops and your +pockets turned inside out. My, but you were easy." + +"I don't reckon any one would dare do such a thing in broad daylight," +Captain Westfield declared. + +"It's been done in this place a dozen times. And the victim's kicks +never did any good after it happened, for there was always a dozen +Greeks ready to go on the stand and swear that it was only a case of +drunkenness on the victim's part. Better get out of here." + +The humbled little party arose and followed their conductor out to the +sidewalk. As they passed through the crowd they could not help but +notice the wrathful glances the sitters bestowed upon the one who had +cheated them of their victims. + +"I guess we have acted pretty green," Charley admitted, as they passed +outside, "but we were so eager to learn about the sponge business that +we forgot caution. Besides, one does not look for such tricks in a +little town like this. It's not like a big city where one has to be +always on his guard against strangers." + +The stranger favored the members of the little party with a closer +scrutiny than he had yet bestowed upon them. + +"So you are figuring on going into the sponge business, eh?" he asked. + +"We may try it a bit if we find out that it pays as well as we have +heard tell of," answered Captain Westfield, cautiously, "but it's +mighty hard to find out anything definite about it from these Greeks." + +"Oh, there's big money in it all right," said their new friend. "You +might make a go of it. You are a pretty husky, determined-looking lot +and would soon get on to the Greekish tricks. It's a risky business, +though. I don't advise anyone to take it up." + +"We've encountered a few risks in other lines," said Charlie, modestly. +"We are willing to take a few chances if there's money enough in it to +tempt us." + +The stranger pulled out his watch and looked at the time. "My name is +Driver," he remarked. "I own a store over on the next street in the +American section. Business is slack at this time of day and I will show +you around a bit, if you wish. My clerks can look out for the trade for +an hour or two." + +"No need of thanks," he said as the Captain accepted his offer +gratefully. "If you decide to go into the sponge business, you will +need lots of provisions and I hope to sell them to you. We Americans +do not get any of the Greek trade and we are always glad to secure a +new customer. Now I suppose you want to know about the profit side of +the business first. Well, I can not give you exact figures but I know +that all engaged in the business are making big money. All these big +buildings you see have been built out of sponging, and they do not +represent a hundredth part of the money made out of the business. +There is an enormous amount sent back to Greece every month through the +post-office and bank here. I know Greeks who landed here only a few +years ago with nothing but the clothes on their backs--and those were +mighty poor--that are wealthy men now and they made their fortunes out +of sponges. Oh, there's big money in it all right. But you can look +into that part of the business closer later on. Now, I want to show +you something of the sponges themselves. We will go down to the harbor +first." + +The interested little party followed him as he led the way along a soft +sand road flanked by scrub palmettos. + +Their guide paused beside one of the several large buildings standing +close to the road. "This is a clipping shed," he said. + +The building was open on one side and was filled with a crowd of old +men, women and young boys, all Greeks. Before each was a pile of rough +sponges from which they were clipping the spoilt parts with great +shearing shears. In one corner, a man worked over a big screw-press, +pressing the severed fragments of sponges into huge compact bales. + +"That part isn't important enough to waste much time looking at," Mr. +Driver said, as he turned away. "Come on and I'll show you something +worth seeing." + +As they followed along behind their guide, the boys became sensible +of a strong, pleasant, appetizing odor in the air, an odor which grew +stronger as they advanced. A turn in the road brought them suddenly +upon the source of the odor. On the shore of a quiet little land-locked +harbor, blazed dozens of small camp-fires over which sat great iron +kettles. On pieces of canvas laid upon the ground were piles of fresh +beef and mutton. Over each pile worked several Greeks cutting the meat +with the sheaf knives into tiny squares about an inch in size. Other +Greeks were dumping the little square pieces into the kettles, while +still others kept the contents stirred and the fires under the kettles +burning briskly. + +"They are putting down the meat for their next voyage," explained Mr. +Driver. "They roast it in its own fat, put it into stone jars, and pour +the fat over it. As soon as the fat cools and congeals it forms an +air-tight covering which keeps the meat from spoiling." + +"If it tastes half as good as it smells, it must be delicious," Charley +remarked. + +Chris viewed the cooking operation with professional jealousy. "Golly, +I bet dey can't cook like dis nigger," he declared, "I spect dem +kettles ain't none too clean noway." + +Captain Westfield gave but scant attention to the trying-out process. +His interest was centered on the big fleet of schooners anchored near +shore. They were over a hundred in number and were of all sizes and +designs. They made a pretty sight lying gracefully close together in +the little harbor. But the old sailor soon strolled on to where groups +of Greeks were building and repairing boats on the shore. He inspected +their work with a critical eye, but he was soon lost in admiration. + +"Lads," he exclaimed, "I never saw such workmen before. They are +turnin' out tight, neat seaworthy little crafts with no tools but a saw +and a hatchet. Ain't those queer lookin' crafts though." + +The boats were about thirty feet in length, sharp at both bow and +stern, and of enormous depth for their size. True to their love for +bright colors the Greeks had painted each plank a different hue and the +little vessels looked like floating rainbows. + +The captain viewed their single masts, which inclined aft at an angle +of forty-five degrees, with deep-sea scorn. + +"It's clean against Nature for a mast to be set that way," he declared. +"It ain't regular or ship-shape." + +"Those small crafts are used as diving boats," Mr. Driver explained. +"They carry a big square sail, but most of them are equipped with +engines also. They are great sea boats and will ride out a gale almost +as well as the schooners." + +His explanations were interrupted by loud talking close at hand and +the little party, full of curiosity, hastened to the spot from which +the uproar came. + +In the center of a circle of curious onlookers, a large man wearing a +marshal's badge was slipping a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of a +slender boyish-looking young fellow. + +"No need to put those things on me, Mr. Officer," the lad was +protesting, passionately. "I'll go along with you without any trouble. +I've only acted within my rights and all I want is a fair trial." + +"Anything you say can be used against you at your trial," cautioned the +marshal. + +"I don't care, I admit I shot two of those treacherous Greeks. It was +the only thing to do. When it came on to blow a gale, they refused to +cut the cable, and work the schooner. It was a case of making them obey +orders and get her off before the seas or lose my ship. I only wish I +had shot more of them. They have been laying for me ever since to slip +a knife into me and chuck me overboard. I haven't dared take a wink of +sleep for three days and two nights." + +"Poor fellow," said Mr. Driver, as the marshal led away his protesting +captive. "I expect it happened just as he says--an open mutiny, +compelling him to shoot--but every Greek in his crew will go on the +stand and swear that it was a case of cold-blooded murder. Fortunately, +the judge is wise to Greek methods and the law deals gently with +commanders." + +"He looked mighty young to be a captain," said Captain Westfield. + +"It's this way," Mr. Driver explained, "the law compels the Greeks to +have an American captain for each schooner and diving boat, and they +hire the youngest and, therefore, cheapest man that they can get. It's +a dog's life, out alone for months with a gang that doesn't speak +a word of English. As long as the captain is content to be a mere +figurehead he can get along without serious trouble, but the minute +he runs counter to their wishes there is a row. But time is flying, +and I must get back to the store. If you will come back with me I'll +introduce you to a man who knows more about sponging than another +American in the country." + +"Just a moment, lads," said the Captain, as they turned to go. "Which +of those schooners do you like the best?" + +The two chums unhesitatingly indicated a beautiful two-masted, +snow-white schooner that seemed to rest as loftily on the water as a +floating swan. The grace and beauty of exquisite lines marked her out +from the many shapely schooners surrounding her. In large gilt letters +on either side of her bow was her name "Beauty". + +"She's my choice too," declared the Captain. "I wish we owned her. I +ain't never seen a prettier model." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PREPARATIONS. + + +AS soon as they got back into town, Mr. Driver hunted up the man of +whom he had spoken, and, introducing him to each of the little party, +hurried back to his store. + +Mr. Williams was a young man still in his twenties. He was a stocky, +well-built young fellow with an intelligent face, determined manner, +and a short, crisp way of speaking. He sized up the little party with +one quick appraising glance as Captain Westfield stated their errand. + +"If you are not willing to stand hardships, dirt, discomfort, and +danger, you want nothing to do with sponging," he declared. + +"We can stand anything that it pays us to stand," Charley replied, +quickly. + +"Well, that's the right kind of spirit," approved the young man, "but, +of course you don't any of you realize what you will have to meet. I've +seen others start in with the same confidence and get cold feet before +the first trip was over. It isn't any nice, ladies' pink-tea business. +It's a game for real men, but if the men are the right kind, they +get their reward for what they endure, all right, all right. I landed +here with an empty pocket and emptier stomach, and now,--well, I am +not a John D. Rockefeller yet, but I've got enough laid by to keep the +wolf from the door for a good many years. Better men than I have done +better than I have. It's like everything else, the best man wins, and +wins something worth winning, but, as I have said, it's no business for +nice, tender, little Willie boys, it's a man's game." + +Charley grinned in sympathy with the reliant, independent spirit of the +young fellow which was close kin to his own traits. "We left off our +short pants last summer," he observed, gravely, "we are fast learning +to dress ourselves, and the Captain there can even comb his own hair." + +"Good," chuckled the other, "I guess _you_ will pass muster anyway, so +I will give you some idea of what you will have to expect. First, there +is the loneliness. For three months at a time you'll be at sea without +another soul to talk to, for there are very few of the Greeks who speak +English. With a party like yours it would not be so bad for you would +be company for each other, but for the American captains who go out +alone with a crew of Greeks, it's awful. I've known some to go crazy +for sheer loneliness, and few ever make a second trip,--I'll never +forget my first experience. Second, sponging is a dirty business, the +stench from dying sponges will upset any but the strongest stomachs. +Third, there are the dangers, storms, accidents, and troubles with the +crew. I have never had any serious trouble with my own men, but then I +understand their lingo and that counts for a good deal, and, besides +they all know me around here and know that I will shoot first and +explain afterwards--that counts for still more." + +"All that is interesting, but it ain't to the pint," said Captain +Westfield. "The question is what can one make off a trip. I reckon them +little things you're telling about is just details." + +"I'm afraid you'll find them pretty serious details," Mr. Williams +said with a laugh, "but you are right, the money point is the main +thing. That's the only thing that has kept me in the business. Well, I +had considerable _bad_ luck last trip but I cleaned up three thousand +dollars. I've been doing better than that." + +The chums looked at each other with expressive faces while Mr. +Williams' keen black eyes twinkled as he watched them. + +"I seed a schooner down at the harbor," observed Captain Westfield, +carelessly. "She was a pretty looking little craft and her name just +seemed to fit her--'The Beauty'. If she's good an' sound an' for sale, +I might be willing to give a thousand dollars for her." + +Mr. Williams laughed, "You are not the first sailor who has fallen +in love with the 'Beauty'. She is the finest ever. She has led the +sponging fleet for three seasons. Many have tried to buy her but +couldn't. You are in luck, however. Her owner died last week and I have +just received a letter from his widow asking me to find a purchaser for +her. You can have her as she lays for thirteen hundred dollars, and she +is dirt cheap at that." + +"Will you hold that offer open until ten o'clock to-night?" asked the +captain, "we will want to talk it all over a bit." + +Mr. Williams agreed to his request, and, after thanking him gratefully +for his information, the little party took their departure. + +"Back to the harbor," said the captain as soon as they were out of +hearing. "I want to take a good look at the 'Beauty'. If she is +anyway near as good as she looks from a distance she's worth at least +twenty-five hundred dollars. Why we could make a tidy sum by buying +her, sailing her around to Jacksonville, and selling her again." + +They soon arrived at the harbor again where for a quarter they hired a +young Greek to row them out to the schooner. + +They found the little vessel all that her name implied. She was about +sixty-five feet long and broad for her length. She looked more like a +gentleman's yacht than a sponging vessel and they were all delighted +with her appearance. But pleased as they were with her on deck, they +were even more pleased with her below. There, they found a large +main cabin with swinging lamps, hanging sideboard, easy chairs, and +comfortable furnishings. Opening into the main cabin were found roomy +staterooms, two on a side, furnished with large bunks containing +springy mattresses. Instead of the small portholes, common with crafts +of her size, each stateroom was provided with windows of heavy glass to +admit air and light. + +Up forward at the foremast was the forecastle, or crew's quarters. It +was large, comfortable and well equipped with bunks. Aft of it was +the cook's galley, containing a good stove and plenty of pots, pans +and kettles. Everything was exquisitely neat and clean. But Captain +Westfield was not content with a mere survey of cabin and furnishings. +He unfurled several of the sails and examined the canvas closely. He +tested the strength of rope after rope. He climbed aloft and looked +over blocks, stays, and running gear. Lastly, he descended into the +hold and examined all that was visible of the vessel's ribs and +planking. + +"She's as tidy a little craft as I ever saw," he declared, when he at +last rejoined the boys back by the wheel. "She ain't over six years old +an' her sails an' rigging are all new. She's worth twenty-five hundred +dollars of any man's money if she's worth a cent. All we have got to +do it to buy her and carry her around to some lively port an' we can +make twelve hundred dollars as easy as finding it." + +"What's the use of selling her right off if we buy her," Walter +suggested, "Surely a few months' use will not lessen her value to any +great extent. Why not make a couple of trips sponging in her. I am +anxious to have a try for some of that big money they all talk about. +We will never have a better chance than now. At the worst, we would +only lose the price of a few months' provisions, we would still have +our vessel worth far more than we paid for her." + +"You've hit the nail right on the head," the captain exclaimed, +delightedly. "That's just what I've been studying over, but I reckoned +I'd wait an' see if either of you boys proposed it." + +Charley hesitated before agreeing to his chum's proposal. "I confess, +I am not so anxious to try the sponge business as I was," he remarked. +"First, we know nothing about it ourselves, and would have to depend +entirely upon hired help--which is a bad thing to have to do in +any business. Second, I don't like the Greeks, I don't like their +appearances, I don't like the reputation they have, and I don't like +the idea of being with a gang that doesn't understand English." + +"Bosh," Walter replied, lightly, "we will get along all right with +them. It isn't like one lone man being out with them, there are four +of us and they wouldn't dare start trouble with so many. As for making +them understand, why we can hire a man as interpreter. I believe it's +the best chance to make money we've had yet." + +"And I too," Captain Westfield agreed. "I reckon we'd be foolish to +let such a chance slip by. That young fellow Williams says he's made +considerable." + +"But he made several trips and learned the business before he went into +it on his own hook," Charley objected. "However, I am not going to hold +back if the rest of you want to try it." + +"Good," exclaimed the captain, "we will go right back and settle the +deal with Williams. We'll make money off the schooner if we don't off +the sponging." + +They found Mr. Williams still in his office. The thirteen hundred +dollars was paid over and they received a bill of sale for the +'Beauty', one diving boat and everything the schooner contained. + +"You've got a good boat at a mighty low price," he said. "There is no +reason why you shouldn't make well with her, if you just use common +sense. Doubtless, you have heard lots of hard things about the Greeks, +but I don't believe they are half as bad as they are painted. Half of +the trouble captains have with them comes from their not understanding +each other. Get a reliable man to translate your orders, and you will +get along all right although you will find it a hard life. I wish I +could help you select your crew but I have to go to Tampa to-morrow, +and will not be back until the fleet sails. We will see each other +again on the sponging grounds, if not before. I wish you the best of +luck until we meet." + +The now tired little party bade the hustling young man good-bye and +repaired to the small hotel where they engaged rooms and meals. + +After supper Charley unpacked his valise and got out the silver-mounted +revolver presented to him by Mr. Weston. He noted its calibre and +sauntering down to the hardware store purchased several boxes of +cartridges of a size to fit. He gave a couple of boxes to Walter who +possessed the exact duplicate of his weapon. + +"That's my first preparation for our trip," he said laughing. + +But, although he spoke lightly, he was troubled by vague misgivings +that their new venture was not going to be the smooth sailing his +companions believed. For one thing, he doubted if rough, blunt, +quick-tempered Captain Westfield was just the man to successfully +handle the suave, oily, treacherous Greeks. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE START. + + +"WE have got to get a move on us," Captain Westfield said as the +four chums gathered together at the breakfast table. "I've been out +enquirin' around this mornin' an' I've larned that the sponging fleet +sails in two days. Of course we don't have to go with the fleet, but, +bein' as it's our first trip an' we're green at the business, I reckon, +we had better keep with the crowd an' learn all we can. I've been up +to see the United States Commissioner an' got charts of the sponging +grounds an' took out papers for the ship. We're all officers on the +papers, lads. He put me down as captain of the schooner, Chris is mate. +You, Charley, are captain of the diving boats, an' Walter's chief +engineer." + +"I don't want to be no mate," Chris protested. "I wants to be de cook. +Dat's schooner's got a powerful fine galley an' a sight ob pots an' +kettles. Golly! I reckon dis nigger can fix up de grub better dan any +of dem ignorant furriners. A mate ain't no manner ob count on board a +little ship. De captain's always blamin' him for somethin' or udder +an' de crew always hates him. He's always in trubble wid one or the +udder. Now de cook's always his own boss, he don't hab to stay out +nights in de cold an' de rain an' ebbery one is powerful perlite to +him, 'cause dey wants to keep on de bes' side ob de one dat handles de +grub. I'd rather be a cook dan an ole mate any day." + +"But you don't know how to rig up their queer furrin dishes, lad," the +captain explained. "They ain't used to eatin' grub fixed up good like +you fix it." + +"Golly! I reckon dat's so," agreed the little negro, pompously. "I +spect dey doan know much 'bout cookin'. Reckon dey wouldn't eat any +more ob der own if dey got a taste ob mine." + +"That's the trouble," the captain agreed craftily, "an' we don't want +to spoil them. Besides, I reckoned you'd like to be mate. Why, I was at +sea ten years before I got a mate's berth. I reckon your folks on Cat +Island would be mighty proud to hear that you were one an' was wearing +a blue suit with big brass buttons, an' a cap with Mate on it in big +gilt letters." + +"Golly! I nebber thought ob dat," exclaimed the little negro, +delightedly, rising hastily from the table. "I'se goin' to buy dem +clothes right now an' hab my picture took in 'em an' send 'bout twenty +ob dem to de folks on Cat Island." + +"You got around that pretty neatly, Captain," Charley said, as soon as +Chris was gone. "I expected him to insist upon being cook. He thinks no +one else can do it so well. But, seriously, don't you think we are all +rather young to be ship's officers. Men are quite apt to resent having +to take orders from mere boys." + +"The law requires that those four offices be filled by Americans an' +we can't afford to hire men to fill the places. Chris will be under my +orders all the time an' will be mate only in name. But you boys are +already smart sailors an' I expect you to be real officers on your +boats. If you weren't on the papers proper you might have trouble with +your men, but the fact that you are regular commissioned officers will +make smooth sailing for you. Any refusal to obey your orders would be +mutiny." + +"Very well, Captain," agreed Walter. "What do you want Captain West and +I to do next?" + +"Just lay around an' enjoy yourselves this mornin', I guess. The first +thing is to get a fellow who talks Greek an' to hire a crew. I want to +pick them out myself. As soon as we get them there will be plenty to +do stockin' up with grub an' water. Better spend the time lookin' over +your new command an' pickin' up what you can about the business." + +The advice was good, and, as soon as they had finished breakfast, the +boys hastened down to the harbor to inspect the diving boats they had +acquired with the purchase of the 'Beauty'. Upon a close inspection, +they were delighted with their new commands. The little vessel was +quite new and its model promised great seaworthiness. Besides the huge +square sail it carried, it was equipped with a ten-horse power gasoline +engine. Its rig was different from any the boys had ever seen, and they +spent several hours studying it, and making themselves acquainted with +the working of the engine. + +"I believe I can handle it by myself now, if I had to do it," Charley +declared, at last. "The engine may give us a little trouble at first, +but we will soon get on to it and it's likely there will be several +Greeks in the crew who know how to run it. Now, the next thing is to +settle on a name for our craft." + +"I thought of calling it 'Flora'," Walter said, with a little sheepish +smile. + +"And I was thinking of naming it 'Ola'," declared Charley promptly. + +After a spirited debate over the two names they held in such esteem, +the two lads at last came to a compromise by agreeing to call their +little ship "The Two Sisters". This decided, they rummaged around +in the lockers until they found paint and brushes with which they +proceeded to letter on the bow of their crafts the name chosen. + +As soon as this task was finished, they returned to the village and +made a round of the shops purchasing clothing for their trip, pricing +provisions, and learning all they could from the various merchants +about the Greeks and the sponge business. + +They were passing a little photo studio when Chris' voice hailed them +from inside. It was hard for them to refrain from laughter at the +figure the little negro presented. + +A common blue suit had been too tame a color for Chris' +brilliant-loving soul. He was clothed in a pair of baggish yellow +trousers, many sizes too large for him, a coat of vivid scarlet hue, +and a cap of deepest purple. But in spite of his brilliant attire, his +little ebony face expressed deepest satisfaction. On a chair beside +him was a great pile of finished tin-types and the Greek proprietor, +beaming at the unusual rush of business, was just adjusting his camera +to take another. + +"Why, what do you want with any more of them, Chris?" Walter exclaimed. +"You've got enough already to supply everyone on Cat Island." + +"Dey ain't no good," replied the little darkey, mournfully, "I 'spect +dis man doan know his business." + +Charley examined one of the despised tintypes. "Why, they look just +like you," he declared. + +"Dey's just black an' white," protested the little negro. "Dey doan +show de colors at all." + +The chums turned their heads aside to hide their grins. + +"That's a Greek camera, Chris," Charley said with a wink at Walter. +"You can't expect it to take American colors. I tell you what to do. +Just write at the bottom of each picture: Pants, yellow; coat, scarlet; +cap, purple." + +"Golly! I nebber thought ob dat," exclaimed the little darkey, +brightening. "But it hain't like habbing de colors show," he added, +mournfully. + +The three were making their way back to the hotel when their progress +was arrested by piercing screams coming from the rear of a large Greek +restaurant. + +The boys hesitated and looked at each other. + +"Sounds as though someone was hurt pretty bad," Charley commented, "but +I guess we had better go along about our business. We are likely to +get ourselves into trouble if we meddle with things in this section," +but as he spoke the screams rang out afresh. The chums looked at each +other; there was no need for words between them. + +"Well, it's foolish, but here goes," Charley exclaimed. + +A narrow alley led into the rear of the building and down it has +hastened followed by his two companions. + +A minute's walk brought them to the scene of the screams. + +In a little back yard stood a small Greek boy about thirteen years of +age. He was clad only in short trousers and his bare back and legs +were covered with angry welts. Above him towered a dark, scowling +Greek, who was swinging a heavy cowhide whip, while at each descent of +the cruel, stinging lash the lad's screams rose in piteous protests. +Clustered around was some dozen men and boys looking on with unconcern. + +Charley caught the Greek's arm as it rose for another blow. "Stop that, +you big brute," he cried, trembling with anger. "You have no right to +beat a little fellow like that, no matter what he has done. If you hit +him another blow, I'll have you arrested." + +"He won't understand you, Charley," Walter cautioned. + +But the Greek did understand. He turned a look of the deepest hate on +the plucky lad. For a second he seemed in the act of striking him with +the heavy whip, but Charley did not flinch. "Try it, if you dare," he +cried. + +The Greek lowered his upraised arm. "Why should I not strike him?" He +demanded savagely, but in perfect English. "He is mine, I pay his fare +all the way from Greece. All day he plays on the street and brings home +no money. I will beat him if I wish." + +"You will not," declared Charley, firmly. "If you do, you will be +arrested very quickly. Lad, if this man attempts to beat you again, +you come to us; you will find us on board the schooner 'Beauty'. If +she is not in the harbor you go to Mr. Driver who owns the store, I +will tell him about you and he will see that you are not abused. Do you +understand what I say?" + +"Yes sir, I speak English good," the little lad replied proudly. "He +teach me so I can beg the pennies." + +The Greek's manner had suddenly changed. His frown disappeared and he +wore a smile that he endeavored to make pleasant. + +"The noble young gentleman need not worry," he said, smoothly, "I love +the boy and already regret having whipped him--he is very bad. But it +shall happen no more." + +"It had better not," Charley replied shortly, as he turned away. "Come +on, Walt, I am going to speak to Mr. Driver about it now." + +Mr. Driver listened to the lad's story with a very grave face. "I'm +afraid you boys have made a dangerous enemy," he said. "That Greek is +Manuel George, and he is a very bad character. He was arrested once +for the murder of another Greek, but they could not prove the charge +against him although everyone believed that he had done it. You want to +be very careful as long as you are in Tarpon. I will gladly have him +arrested if the boy makes any complaint to me." + +The boys found the captain waiting for them at the hotel. "I've had +the best of luck," the old sailor declared. "I found the very Greek we +need to make our orders plain to the crew. He talks English as good +as you or I. I did not lose any time in gettin' his name on the ship's +papers. He promised to meet us here at the hotel this noon. There he +comes now." + +The chums exchanged a glance of dismay, for approaching their table, +bowing, smiling, and as suave as though they were his dearest friends +was Mr. Manuel George. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE START. + + +THE captain introduced the boys to the Greek who beamed upon them as +though nothing unpleasant had ever passed between them. The lads met +his smiling advances with a cold silence which the captain noticed with +puzzled concern. + +As soon as he could do so without attracting too much notice, Walter +drew the old sailor to one side. "We don't want anything to do with +that man," he declared, and he hurriedly told about the whipping and +repeated what Mr. Driver had said. + +Captain Westfield looked troubled. "I wish I'd known that two hours +ago," he said. "He's signed on with us now an' if I try to get rid of +him he can make a lot of trouble for us. We have got to take him along. +If we don't, he's liable to libel the schooner an' cost us no end of +money and delay." + +Walter's face showed his anxiety and concern. + +"He said he was going to bring a boy along with him to act as cabin +boy," said the old sailor after an uncomfortable pause. "Maybe it will +all work out for the best. He won't be able to abuse the lad on the +schooner, an' I don't see how he can make us any trouble. All he's to +do is to make our orders plain to the men, it ain't as though he was an +officer over them." + +"Well, if it can't be helped, we have just got to make the best of it," +Walter agreed, "I am going to keep a mighty close watch on him all the +time, though. We will talk more about it later on. He keeps glancing at +us as though he knew we were talking about him." + +As soon as he got the chance, Walter told his chum what the captain had +said. + +"I don't like the idea of that fellow going with us," Charley declared, +"but if it has got to be, we had better start in by treating him +friendly. It won't help matters any to quarrel with him." + +That was sound sense and the boys at once began to treat the Greek +pleasantly, in spite of the dislike they felt for him. + +There was no doubt but what the fellow understood his position +thoroughly. With his able assistance, the captain, in a short time, +secured a full crew of fifteen men, including four professional divers +who brought their queer looking suits with lead shoes and heavy helmets +along with them. The boys were pleased with the appearance of the men. +They were well-built, husky fellows and looked to be capable sailors. +They were much alike in looks, all being broad-shouldered and swarthy +with clean-cut features and straight noses. One alone seemed to differ +greatly from the rest. He was a tall, powerful, handsome fellow with +unusually small hands and feet. He seemed to be shunned by the others +and left very much to himself. He was evidently a good sailor and when +the captain set his new crew at work to getting the schooner ready for +sea he performed his part with a quickness and intelligence that won +the old sailor's approval. + +As soon as the work was well under way, Charley and Walter, taking the +interpreter with them, went back up town to purchase their stores. The +bulk of their purchases were made at Mr. Driver's store, but there were +many articles that he did not carry in stock which they had to buy at +the Greek stores. Manuel directed them as to the kind of food their +crew were accustomed to. The bulk of the stores consisted of ripe black +olives in small kegs; queer looking cheeses, rice, black flour and an +abundance of tea and coffee. The boys bought three whole beeves and +four lambs, directing that all their purchases should be sent down to +the schooner at once. + +"Whew," whistled Charley as he paid the last bill, "we have only got +five dollars left of our fifteen hundred." + +"Don't you care," Walter replied, confidently. "We will have a couple +of thousand dollars anyway coming to us when we get back, and still +have the 'Beauty' besides." + +The boys next visited the hotel and got their valises and belongings +which they carried down to their new floating home. + +They found that the Greeks already had the meat cut up and sizzling +merrily in the great iron kettles. + +The new crew were a quick and willing lot and before dark the last +article was stored aboard, and, with the diving boat towing along +behind, they dropped the schooner down the river to the mouth and +anchored for the night just outside amongst a great fleet of schooners +lying ready for an early morning start for the sponging ground. + +Long after they had eaten their supper and all of the crew but the +anchor watch had retired to the forecastle, the four chums sat on +deck admiring the beauty of the scene around them. A thousand lights +twinkled from the fleet and high in the air ahead of them the great +lantern of the Anclote lighthouse on its little island of barren rock. + +Captain Westfield awoke the boys early next morning, "Hurry up on deck +if you want to see the prettiest sight you ever saw," he said. The lads +hustled into their clothing and followed him up the ladder. As they +gained the deck they paused with exclamations of deepest admiration. + +It was blowing a stiff breeze and the blue water of the Gulf was +dancing and sparkling with white-crested waves. Around them was the +fleet all under sail, their snowy canvas towering high above their +shapely hulls. Some lay with sails slatting, still clinging to their +anchorage while their brightly attired crews worked over windlasses, +reeling in the dripping cables. Some already under way lay hove-to in +the open Gulf waiting for their fellows; while still others, anchors +tripped and sails drawing, heeling over to the brisk breeze, darted +away, sending the water tossing and foaming from their bows. + +The boys drew a long breath of pure delight at the beautiful picture. + +"It's grand," Charley cried. + +"Aye, lad," agreed the captain with satisfaction. "There's no place +like the sea for beautiful scenes. But thar ain't a ship in the whole +fleet as pretty as our own. Just watch her now." + +The old sailor gave a few short orders which the interpreter repeated +to the crew. A dozen of them sprang to the windlass, while others stood +by the halyards, ready to hoist the big jibs the second the anchor +broke ground. The "Beauty's" huge main and foresails were already +hoisted and her cable hove short. + +The men at the windlass shouted some words. + +"Anchor broke," translated Manuel. + +"Up helm," commanded the captain, "give her the jibs." + +The great sails mounted their stays, the "Beauty's" head played off, +and, careening over 'till her lee rail touched the water, she surged +through the waters like a thing alive. + +The chums watched the foam sweep past in transports of delight. + +"My, but she's fast," Walter cried. + +"Aye, lad," the captain agreed, joyfully. "I ain't never seen a faster, +except maybe Black Sam's schooner. We'll have to shorten sail in an +hour if we don't want to run away from the rest of the fleet." + +The boys watched with delight as the Beauty overhauled and passed +schooner after schooner. + +As she surged past a large black-hulled vessel with three diving boats +in tow, a man on the stranger's deck waved his cap and shouted, + +"Good luck to you. Better keep with the fleet." + +"That's Mr. Williams," Charley exclaimed. "I am glad that we are going +to be near somebody we know." + +"Yes, it is Mr. Williams," affirmed Manuel, who was standing near. "But +here is my little boy to say that your breakfast is ready." + +"What is your name?" Walter enquired of the little fellow as they all +followed him below. "I could never remember that," he said, when the +lad replied with a very long Greek name. "I guess we will have to call +you Ben for short." + +The band of chums were very hungry and they seated themselves around +the table before the steaming cups of coffee and waited impatiently +for the food to be brought on, but the little Greek lad took a position +behind their chairs and waited. + +"Hurry up, Ben, and bring the breakfast," the captain ordered. + +"Breakfast there," the lad replied. + +The old sailor repeated his order but Ben replied as before. + +"I reckon he don't understand," the captain remarked, "Go up and tell +your father, owner, or whoever he is, to come down." + +The lad was back in a minute with the smiling Greek. + +"We want our breakfast," the captain explained, "the boy don't seem to +understand." + +"He understands all right, but, I see the cook does not comprehend. It +is the custom to have coffee only in the morning on sponging ships." + +"Nothing but coffee for breakfast?" roared the old sailor. + +"We eat but one meal a day and that at night," the Greek explained. "If +the rest of the crew ate the divers would want to eat also, and that +would be fatal for them. The stomach must be empty when they descend to +the bottom in deep water, otherwise they die." + +"Well, they can't see us eat an' I want my three square meals a day," +said the hungry sailor. "Right saving plan for us though if they only +eat once a day." + +"They eat the whole three meals in one," the Greek said with a smile. +"I will speak to the cook at once and he will soon have something ready +for you." + +In a very short time they were served with a substantial meal to which +they all did full justice. As soon as it was finished, they returned to +the deck where they learned that the "Beauty" was already so far in the +lead of the fleet that sail had to be shortened. + +With Manuel's aid the boys picked out their crews for the diving boat. +They found that many of the Greeks were familiar with gasoline engines +and they selected one of the youngest and most intelligent-looking for +an engineer. The four divers were, of course, allotted to their boat, +but besides them they had to have two men to work the air pump and two +others to tend to the life-lines, which made a crew of nine, besides +the young officers, and would leave only Captain Westfield, Chris and +the cook and five men on board the schooner. + +The divers at once began preparations for their future dangerous work. +They examined pump and air hose very carefully, for a slight leak in +either one would mean death by suffocation beneath the surface. They +brought out their diving suits and went over them inch by inch for +possible rents or tears. Many of the suits were old and covered with +a multitude of rubber patches. The boys were amazed that their owners +would dare descend in such worn suits, but Manuel assured them that +the patches were so cunningly put on that not only would they exclude +water, but they would outlast the suit itself. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FIRST TROUBLE. + + +ONE of the sailors Charley had selected for his crew was the tall +handsome fellow whom the others seemed to shun. + +"I can't understand what the rest have against him," the young captain +remarked to his chum. "He seems very quiet and well behaved, and he is +every inch a sailor. I would ask Manuel about him but it is bad policy +to discuss one of the crew with another. It always makes trouble. +Likely, Manuel would lie about him anyway, he seems to hate him, look +at him glaring at him now." + +The Greek was leaning against the railing staring at the sailor who was +coiling down a rope near him. Suddenly the Greek addressed the man in a +low savage tone. The sailor's face grew red with anger, and he replied +shortly in a few hissing words. With a bound, the Greek cleared the +space between the two and struck the sailor full in the mouth. The man +reeled back against the main mast, but, recovering himself in a second, +sprang for his assailant. The Greek leaped to one side and whipped out +a long wicked knife. + +Before he could use it, Captain Westfield, belaying pin in hand, rushed +in between the two. + +"Put up that knife," he roared. "I'll do what fighting there is to be +done on this ship." + +The Greek shot one quick glance at him, venomous with hate, then he +glanced beyond him at the two lads who waited expectantly with hands on +their pistols. + +"He cursed me," he said sullenly, as he slowly replaced the knife in +his pocket. + +"When anyone curses you, report it to me an' don't take the law in +your own hands. I'm master of this schooner, an' you might as well +understand it right off. Tell that fellow just what I've told you." + +The sailor's face darkened as the Greek spoke to him rapidly, but he +turned slowly away and walked forward. + +"That's a bad beginning," Charley remarked to his chum. "I wish we had +never seen that Greek. I believe he insulted that sailor. The fellow +was behaving himself and tending to his own business." + +He repeated the remark to the captain a little later. + +"I reckon you're right, lad," agreed the old sailor, "that Greek seems +to be a trouble-maker but he'll find he's got the wrong man to deal +with. I've handled too many crews of tough roughnecks to be bested by +a dirty furriner." + +"I'll bet he will keep you busy with complaints," Walter said. "How +are you going to get at the truth of it if he does complain about the +others of the crew?" + +"You'll see, I reckon, he will try something like that but I'm ready +for him." + +Sure enough, in less than an hour the Greek approached the Captain. + +"I hate to trouble you, but I must complain as you have directed," he +said suavely. "The cook, he is very abusive, I tried to instruct him +about your meals but he answers me with vile names." + +"Bring the cook aft," Captain Westfield commanded. + +Manuel escorted the bewildered-looking cook aft with a look of sly +triumph on his face. + +The captain looked the man over appraisingly. He was a +broad-shouldered, well-muscled fellow. He spoke to him briefly but the +cook shook his head. He could not understand. + +The old sailor picked up a rope and spread it in a big circle on the +deck. + +"This insulting of you has got to be stopped right off," he declared, +addressing the interpreter. "Give me your knife." + +The Greek surrendered his weapon. + +"Now both of you get inside that ring and fight it out to a finish," +he ordered. "Lick him good for calling you names." + +Manuel's face fell, and, turning he spoke rapidly to the cook. "He has +apologized and my honor is satisfied," he declared. + +"All right," the captain said with a wink at the grinning boys. "Next +time any one insults you, I am going to make you give him a good +licking in a square fist fight. I'm not agoing to let any of the crew +swear at you and call you names--it ain't right." + +"I guess we won't have any more complaints from him right off," he +chuckled as the disappointed Greek retired forward. + +"I'm afraid we're going to have more or less trouble through not +understanding their language," Charley said, gravely. "I don't believe +he had a bit of trouble with the cook. He was just aiming to have you +punish the fellow and get you disliked by the crew." + +"I can handle him all right," the captain declared, confidently. "If he +gets troublesome I'll iron him and put him down in the hold. I reckon I +can make the rest understand what I want done by signs, though it would +be mighty awkward if a gale struck us." + +The old sailor soon left the boys in charge of the deck and went below +to write up the log and look over the charts. + +"If this wind holds we'll be on the edge of the sponging grounds by +night," he said when he returned. "I didn't realize before how big they +are. Why, they reach clear from Cedar Keys to Cape Sable, about seven +hundred miles." + +"One thing that has puzzled me is that all these schooners seem to come +from Key West," Charley remarked, '"Of Key West' is lettered on the +stern of every one of them." + +"Key West used to be the headquarters for the sponging business in +the old days," the captain explained. "They used to gather sponges +different from what they do now. A schooner would take out about +twenty small boats an' a crew of forty men. When she got to the sponge +grounds, the small boats would scatter out around her, two men in each +boat. One man would do the sculling and the other would lean over the +bow with a water glass in one hand--a pail with a pane of glass for +a bottom--and a long pole with a hook in the end in the other. When +he spied a sponge on the bottom through the glass he'd have the other +stop sculling and he would hook it up with his pole. It was slow, hard +work, but they made money at it until the Greeks came with their expert +divers. They could not compete with them so they either sold or leased +their schooners to the Greeks and went out of business." + +The old sailor's explanation was interrupted by a howl of "Oh, Golly!" +from the cook' galley forward and Chris, dripping with water, bounded +out of the open door of the little structure, and rushed aft. + +"I want you to put dat cook in irons, Massa Captain," he cried. "He's +done 'saulted his superior officer." + +"What did he do to you," the captain asked with a twinkle in his eye. + +"Throwed a hull pan of dirty, nasty dishwater obber me. I was jus' +tellin' him how he had outer do, an' tryin' to show de ignorant man how +to cook, when--slosh--he let fly dat big pan full all obber me." + +The dirty water was streaming from the little negro's brilliant +clothing and his face was streaked with purple from his cap. + +The captain checked his desire to laugh. + +"The cook did just right," he said, gravely. "You've got no business +in his galley. A cook is always boss there. Even the Captain seldom +interferes with him." + +Chris seemed inclined to protest indignantly, but the old sailor +continued. + +"How would you like to be cook an' have some one poking around an' +tellin' you what to do?" + +"Golly! I reckon you is right," the little darkey admitted, "I wouldn't +stand such doin's. 'Spect dough dat my good clothes is all spoiled. +Dat water was powerful greasy." + +"Better dry them out and lay them away," Walter suggested. "They are +too fine to wear at sea. You had ought to save them 'till we get in +port." + +Both boys were glad when Chris accepted the suggestion. They could see +that the crew regarded the little fellow in his gay apparel with a +contempt and ridicule that the plucky, loyal little lad did not deserve. + +Under her shortened canvas, the "Beauty" had dropped to the rear of the +fleet. Late in the afternoon the schooners ahead began to shorten sail. +Soon one rounded up into the wind, dropped anchor and lowered sail. +A mile further on another one anchored, a mile beyond another took +in sail, until at last the whole fleet was strung out in a long line +reaching many miles North and South. + +The captain held the "Beauty" on her course until the last schooner was +passed then anchored, lowered sails and made everything snug. + +"We are on the sponging grounds," he explained to the boys who had been +puzzled by the fleet's maneuvers. "To-morrow we make our first try as +spongers." + +As soon as their supper was finished the boys strolled forward to view +the crew at their meal. + +The Greeks ate in groups of four. Each group had a great tin pan filled +with some kind of stew. This they divided into four equal portions +with their big spoons, all eating from the same pan. + +The stew, black bread as hard as a rock, and ripe olives constituted +their meal, but the boys, hearty eaters themselves, were astounded at +the amount of food each Greek disposed of. + +"I never dreamed a man could stow away so much grub," Charley remarked. +"They are not eating three meals in one, but six." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SPONGING. + + +THE morning sun rose over a scene of bustle and activity. From the +hundred schooners strung out two or three hundred diving boats with +sails hoisted and engines chugging. + +The young officers were up and away with the earliest. + +"Go slow," Captain Westfield cautioned them as they stepped aboard +their craft. "Keep your eyes open an' learn all you can. Don't give any +orders unless they are absolutely needed. But if you have to give them +an order make them obey it, don't let them trifle with you. You can +take Manuel along if you want to, I reckon I can manage to get along +without him." + +But the boys declined the offer. They had both taken a great dislike to +the suave, smiling Greek. + +The Captain had given their crew general instructions before they left +the schooner and the young officers had but little to do but signify by +waves of their hands which direction they wished to go. + +All places looked alike to the inexperienced boys, and as soon as their +craft was a quarter of a mile from the schooner, Charley signed to his +crew to anchor and proceed with their work. + +The divers at once prepared for their descent to the bottom. The lead +was first hove to find out the depth of the water, which proved to +be about thirty-five feet. Before donning their waterproof suits, +the divers tested the air pump carefully and examined the air hose +minutely, for upon these two things their lives would depend when once +they sank beneath the surface. While they were putting on the strange +looking suits and heavy leaded shoes, the crew slung short ladders +over the sides. The divers put on their headpieces last of all, these +were large globe-shaped coverings of metal with two heavy glasses in +front through which to see. But two divers were to descend at a time. +Their places would be taken by two others at the end of two hours, +which is about as long as one can safely work at a time beneath the +surface. Those in reserve assisted their companions in adjusting the +heavy headpieces. As soon as the helmets were on they screwed in the +air hose, and connected the other ends to the pumps. A line by which to +lower and raise them was fastened around each diver's body and he was +then assisted onto the ladder, for it was almost impossible for them to +move in their cumbersome suits and lead shoes. As soon as they had been +helped to the lowest step on the ladder, each was given a large basket +to which a long line had been fastened, and they were slowly and gently +lowered to the bottom. + +The young officers watched their operations with eager interest. +What impressed them most was the vigilant care shown by the divers +remaining on board. One took charge of the tub in which the air hose +was coiled and paid it out carefully as the diver sank, the other held +the life-line instantly ready for the jerks which would signal to him +the wishes of the one below. Not once did either's eyes shift or his +attention waver from his task. + +"It's easy to see that this is a dangerous business," Walter remarked. + +"Yes," his chum agreed, "I am beginning to see that Mr. Williams was +right when he said sponging was a man's game. It certainly takes nerve +to descend like those divers have, knowing that there is nothing +between them and death but that little air hose. But have you noticed +how they are treating that strange handsome fellow? They all seem to be +afraid to have him near." + +The mysterious sailor had approached the men working the air pumps, +apparently with the purpose of helping with the pumping, but the +pumpers drove him away with menacing gestures and upraised fists. He +moved over near the coiled air hose but the diver in charge of that met +him with a torrent of fiercely-uttered words and he slunk dejectedly +forward, and, seating himself by the mast, buried his face in his +hands. + +"Poor chap," Walter remarked, "he seems to be hated by the whole crew. +I wonder what is the reason." + +"We will find out, I guess, when we meet up with Mr. Williams again," +his chum replied. "He will likely know, or be able to find out quickly +from some of his crew. But look, we are about to see our first sponges." + +There had been a couple of quick jerks on the life-line. The diver +holding it called to one of the crew who seized the line that had been +attached to the basket, and began hauling it carefully in hand over +hand. + +The boys leaned over the side, eager for the first glimpse of their +future cargo. When the basket came into view they both uttered an +exclamation of disgust and disappointment. + +Instead of bright, clean, yellow sponges with which they were familiar, +the basket was heaped with what looked like huge lumps of dirty mud. + +The man dumped the contents out on deck and lowered the basket down +again. + +"What greenies we are," Charley said as he glanced at his chum's +crestfallen face. "We might have known if we had stopped to think, that +sponges have to be cleaned and cured before they look like those we saw +on shore. I expect that pile is worth a lot of money in spite of its +unattractive appearance." + +Five times did the basket appear loaded to the brim before the divers' +two hour spell below expired. As soon as their time was up they were +hauled aboard, their suits removed and the other two took their places. + +"Whew, but I am getting hungry," Walter exclaimed as noon time drew +near, "and we came off from the schooner without bringing a lunch with +us." + +"I am glad we did," Charley said. "It's all right having our meals +regular when we are on board the schooner and out of sight of the crew, +but it would hardly seem right to eat now before these hungry fellows. +I guess we can stand it to go without dinner of they can stand it to go +without both dinner and breakfast. Besides, I don't believe I could eat +any lunch if we had it. Whew, but that smell is getting awful." + +The hot sun was getting in its work on the rapidly increasing pile of +sponges on deck. Adhering to them were multitudes of muscles and little +fish which were beginning to send forth a fearful stench. + +"I am beginning to realize that a sponger's life is anything but a bed +of roses," Walter laughed. "It's easy to understand now why they only +eat one meal a day." + +The novelty of the diving operations soon wore off and the boys, to +pass the time, busied themselves with an attempt to learn something of +the Greek language. They selected the engineer for their teacher. He +was a young fellow with an intelligent, good-humored face and seemed to +take great interest in their efforts. Touching different parts of the +boat and engine the boys repeated the English names for them. The young +fellow grasped the idea instantly and repeated the names in Greek, +laughing heartily over their attempts to pronounce the words after him. + +In this manner the time passed quickly and pleasantly and the lads were +delighted with the rapid progress they made. + +"At this rate we will be able to speak the language a little in a +week's time," Charley declared. "I'm--" but he never finished the +sentence. + +From around them rose cries that brought the lads springing to their +feet. + +The crew were all crowded against the rail staring as if fascinated +over the side, while the diver holding one of the life-lines was +hauling it in with feverish energy. + +As the boys sprang to the rail, the diver's headpiece appeared above +the surface One glance, and they understood the reason for the sudden +commotion--from the metal helmet dangled a short piece of severed air +hose. + +The luckless man was quickly dragged aboard, the head-piece quickly +removed, and his rubber clothing cut away, but his eyes were closed and +his face purple--he was dead. A long, weird, prolonged wailing came +from his shipmates which arose and fell strangely, like the strains of +the mournful death march. + +The two chums gazed at each other with pale, horror-stricken faces. + +"Poor fellow," Walter murmured, "His life went out like a candle in a +gale. Alive one minute, dead the next. What could have cut that hose?" + +"Chafed against a sharp branch of coral or bitten in two by a shark," +Charley replied, sadly. "Well, I guess it means the last of our +sponging, the other divers will hardly want to go down after such an +accident, and I don't blame them." + +But, to his amazement, as soon as the wailing chant ceased, one of the +remaining divers began coolly to prepare to take the dead man's place. + +"My, but those fellows have got nerve," he declared, admiringly, but +he stopped the man as he began to put on his diving suit and by signs +ordered the crew to get up anchor and return to the schooner. + +"It's only a couple of hours to dark and we have had enough for one day +anyway," he remarked to his chum. + +When the diving boat reached the schooner his shipmates prepared the +dead man for burial. The body was sewed up in stout canvas and a piece +of iron fastened to it. It was then gently lowered over the side and +sank slowly beneath the waves. + +With its disappearance all vestige of gloom disappeared from the crew. +The dead man's scanty belongings were brought forth and auctioned off +to the various bidders, and an hour after the crew were chatting and +laughing with each other as cheerfully as ever. + +"Mr. Williams was right, this is a man's game, and a game for rough, +fearless men only," Walter remarked thoughtfully, for a second time. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +TROUBLE. + + +AFTER the crew had eaten their supper and rested a bit, the captain +had them transfer the sponges from the diving boat to the deck of the +schooner. The sponges made quite an imposing pile which the old sailor +surveyed with satisfaction. "You've done well to-day," he remarked, +"if every day's work is as good we'll have a valuable cargo before our +three months are up. I reckon, thar's all of two hundred dollars' worth +of sponges in that heap." + +"Are you sure that you know how to clean and cure them right?" Charley +enquired. + +"I don't, but Chris knows that part of the business from A to Z. Where +he comes from the people live by sponging and pearl fishing." + +"Golly, dat's right," observed the little darkey. "I'se helped my daddy +fix sponges many a time. First off, you'se got to beat de mud out ob +dem wid sticks, den you got to let dem lay foah a day or two to die, +'cause dey's alive jus' like fishes. When dey's good an' dead, you puts +dem in nets an' hangs dem ober de side for de water to wash dem out +clean. Den you dry dem out on deck an' string dem out on strings 'bout +two yards long. Dat makes dem all ready for market 'cept for clipping +de bad parts off of dem, which is done on shore. Dar ain't nothin' +'bout fixin' up sponges dat dis nigger doan know." + +Just then a small boat came alongside the schooner and the boys +hastened to the side to welcome the two men it contained. They were +the captain and mate of the schooner anchored nearest to the "Beauty". +Both were young fellows hardly out of their teens. They introduced +themselves as Steve Ward, and Ray Lowe. + +"We thought we'd drop over and have a little chat with you," said Ward, +who was the captain. "You, of course, don't realize it yet, but an +American face looks mighty good amongst this army of Greeks, especially +after one has been out for a month or two. We all start out together +but before the season ends we get pretty widely scattered and to meet +up with another schooner with an American aboard is like coming across +a long-lost brother. This is my fifth trip and I am getting pretty +well hardened to the loneliness now, but the first time I was out I +nearly went crazy. After we parted from the rest of the fleet, it was +worse than being alone on a desert island, for I had the misery of +seeing others talk, laugh and enjoy themselves without being able to +understand a word. When, at last, we came across a ship with someone +aboard I could talk to I nearly cried for joy. It seemed so good to be +able to understand and make myself understood once more." His glance +fell upon Manuel George, who was leaning against the rail, and his gray +eyes narrowed. + +"What made you bring that fellow with you?" he asked. + +"We had to have someone along who could talk their lingo," Captain +Westfield replied. "Do you know him?" + +"I don't know anything good of him," said the other shortly. "I came +near killing him once and I've always half regretted that I didn't do +it. It was on my first trip," he explained. "It was just such another +case as that young fellow's who was arrested the other day. Although I +was captain, the Greeks owned the schooner, and, because I was young +and inexperienced, they got the idea they could run over me and do +as they pleased. Manuel was always stirring them up and encouraging +them to disobey orders. One day I had some words with him about it, +and,"--the young fellow's face darkened--"well, he carries a bullet +in his leg yet. The others set on me and I had to lock myself up in +the cabin. Likely, they would have got me in the end and thrown me +overboard to feed the sharks, but we happened to come across another +schooner and they had to let me go." + +"He don't want to try any tricks with me," Captain Westfield declared. +"I got him to talk their lingo but had him sign on as one of the +crew. If he tries to act up, I'll put him at the hardest work on the +schooner." + +"Well, keep your eye on him," advised the other. "He has never made a +trip yet without making trouble. He's a mighty bad egg and as sly and +cunning as he is mean." + +The two men remained for over two hours, and from them the little party +learned many new and interesting things about their new business and +about the Greeks. + +"We have no reason to complain of a dull trip so far," Charley said, +when the two Americans had left. "Only two days out and one of our crew +is dead, another is supposed to be on the watch to make us trouble, and +a third is a mystery worth solving, judging from the way the others +treat him. If things keep on as they have started, we will have a +voyage exciting enough to satisfy anyone." + +If the lad could have known of the exciting events soon to follow close +on each other's heels, he would have had even less reason to complain +of dullness. + +The next day's sponging was the same as the first. They seemed to have +happened upon a spot where the sponges were unusually plentiful. The +basket came frequently to the surface loaded with the big mud-covered +masses and by nightfall the diving boat's deck was well covered. All +day the two lads persisted in their attempt to learn the Greek names +for the things about them. By night Charley was able to direct the +operation of getting under way for the schooner. Of course, he was yet +unable to construct sentences in Greek, but he could call the Greek +names for sails, anchor, and different parts of the rigging and the +crew managed to guess the rest. Though it was a crude and imperfect way +of giving orders, it succeeded better than the slow, imperfect signs he +had been obliged to depend upon before. + +"If we keep on as fast, we will be able to make them understand us well +within two weeks," he declared gleefully. + +It was still light enough for them to see distinctly when they reached +the schooner, and they looked about them with regret as they climbed +aboard. Her snow-white decks were filthy from the pounding out of the +sponges, and bulwarks, sails and rigging were spattered with the foul +mud, while the strong, rank odor of dead fish hung heavy in the air. + +Chris and the captain had just knocked off work. Their faces, hands and +clothing were black as soot. The old sailor's face showed set and stern +through its coating of mud. He said little until all were washed up and +seated around the supper table. + +"Well, lads, I reckon our troubles have begun," he remarked, grimly. +"Manuel an' I had a row to-day." + +"What about? How did it come out?" the boys questioned, eagerly. + +"I told him to help us with the sponge cleaning and he refused to do +it. When I insisted he flew into a rage, cursed me, an' shook his fist +in my face. I couldn't stand for that an' he's down in the hold now +with the irons on him." + +"Well, I feel easier with him there than with him mixing in with the +crew," Charley declared. + +"My row with him ain't the worst of the matter," the old sailor said +gravely. "I called on the crew to help me iron him and they all +pretended they didn't understand my sign, but they knew what I wanted +all right. I had to handle him alone an' we had quite a struggle +before I got the best of him." He rolled up his sleeve and showed an +ugly-looking cut on his arm. "He came near getting me with his knife +an' I had to give him a couple of taps with a belaying pin. That cut +don't amount to anything, but what worries me is that the crew stood +around an' watched him try to kill me without interfering--it's a +mighty bad sign." + +"That does look bad," Charley agreed, anxiously. "I guess we had better +keep him a close prisoner and not let any of the crew go near him, he +might try to stir them up and make things hot for us." + +"But that means that someone will have to guard him an' carry his meals +to him. It wouldn't do to have one of the Greeks do it, I reckon." + +"No," Charley agreed, thoughtfully, "but I believe I've got the very +man for the job--that handsome fellow the others seem to hate so. +Manuel tried to kill him and he is not likely to be easy with him." + +The mysterious sailor was at once sent for by Ben. As soon as he came +the captain loaded a tray with food and a bottle of water and signed +for him to carry it and follow him. Charley and Walter accompanied the +two. + +As they passed along the deck on their way to the hold, they met angry +glances and frowns from the crew. + +The mysterious sailor was very intelligent and they soon made him +understand that he was to guard the prisoner. He grinned with enjoyment +and, seating himself a little way from the Greek, took out his long +keen sheath knife and laid it handy beside him. + +The prisoner's face grew black with rage at sight of his guard, but he +maintained a sulky silence. + +"I guess he's safe enough now," the captain said as they returned to +their cabin. "I believe that fellow will guard him faithfully. They +seem to hate each other like poison--I wish I knew the reason for it." + +"It would not seem so strange if the hatred was confined to him and +Manuel, but all the others seem to share in the feeling," Charley +remarked. "It seems very queer to me." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MANUEL'S RELEASE. + + +BEFORE the boys left the schooner next morning, the guard they had set +over Manuel approached the captain, and by signs and gestures intimated +that the prisoner wished to speak to him. + +Manuel's sullen demeanor had entirely disappeared and he looked humble +and penitent. + +"I wish to make my most humble apologies to you, noble captain," he +declared. "All night long I have thought over my hasty actions with +shame and regret. You were right and I wrong. I will work hard at +whatever you set me to do, and in the future you will have no cause to +complain if you will set me at liberty." + +There were tears in the fellow's eyes and his voice trembled as he +spoke. + +"Stop that blubbering," said the blunt old sailor, who detested tears +in men. "I reckon, if you are sure that you've learned your lesson an' +won't try to act smart again, I'll set you free; but the minute you try +to start any trouble again, I'll put you down here for keeps." + +As he removed the irons from the prisoner, the strange sailor burst +into a torrent of passionate speech. + +The captain paid no attention to him for he could not understand a +word of it, but Charley, who was watching closely, saw Manuel give the +fellow a quick glance of sly triumph. + +"I'm afraid you have made a mistake in setting that fellow free, +Captain," the lad said, as they returned to the deck. "I believe it +would have been wiser to have kept him in irons until we could touch +some port and put him ashore." + +"I never feel like being hard on a man when he's sorry for what he has +done," the old sailor replied. "I guess it will make the crew feel +better tempered to have him set free. I'm going to put him ashore at +the first port we touch. In the meanwhile we'll keep him hard at work +an' keep a eye on him all the time." + +"Perhaps we had better take him with us and put him to work at the +pump," Walter suggested. "That's good hard work." + +Charley approved the suggestion, for in spite of the Greek's seeming +repentance, the lad did not trust him in the least and thought it +wisest that he and the captain should be kept separated for awhile +after their quarrel. + +Manuel went at the hard labor at the air pump with a willingness and +cheerfulness which seemed to show the sincerity of his repentance. At +first, he seemed inclined to talk overmuch with the rest of the crew, +but Charley cut short his talkativeness with a curt command. + +"I believe that fellow is a regular Jonah," he confided to his chum +during the noon hour rest. "Yesterday and the day before we got lots of +sponges, but we haven't taken in enough this morning to pay expenses." + +"I guess this part of the ground is getting worked out, perhaps," +Walter replied. "I've noticed several schooners pulling up anchor and +getting under way." + +His surmise proved correct for during the afternoon many of the fleet +passed them headed North. Evidently others were finding the ground as +poor as they did. + +Late in the afternoon the captain recalled them to the schooner with a +signal previously agreed upon,--a flag hoisted to the foremast head. + +"I reckon we'd better be getting under way," the old sailor said when +they got aboard. "I want to keep with the fleet an' all the schooners +seem to be getting under sail. I've noted the course they are takin' +an' with this wind they'll be a long ways from us if we wait until +morning. I hailed one of the captains and he said they intended to sail +all night an' anchor an' get to work early in the morning." + +By the time the sails were all hoisted and the anchor tripped, it had +grown quite dark so the schooner's great side-lights of red and green +were filled, lit, and lashed to the foremast shrouds, for, with so many +boats around them every caution must be taken to avoid running one +down, or being run down themselves. The crew was divided into three +watches. Of which Walter was to have charge of the first, from eight to +twelve o'clock. Charley to have command of the second, or middle watch, +from twelve to four o'clock, while the captain would take the third, or +morning watch, from four to eight A. M. + +The breeze held steady and strong and the night passed away without any +exciting incident. + +The boys were up again at first peep of day, expecting to have to start +out with the diving boat as soon as the sun arose. But, when they +gained the deck, they found the "Beauty" still swinging along on her +course and the captain pacing the deck greatly perplexed. + +"It's mighty queer, but thar ain't one of the fleet in sight," he +exclaimed as he caught sight of the lads. "I don't understand it at +all. Go aloft, Charley, an' see if you can see any of them." + +The lad swung himself into the shrouds and made his way up to the +mainmast cross trees, but, although he gazed all around, his eyes met +nothing but the broad expanse of the blue sparkling waters. + +"Maybe we've run them all out of sight during the night," he suggested +when he regained the deck, but the old sailor shook his head. + +"The 'Beauty's' mighty fast, but she's not speedy enough to do that," +he declared. "Some of those schooners were ten miles ahead of us when +we started. Besides, I shortened sail as soon as I took my watch, +because I did not want to get in the lead." + +"Perhaps we have dropped away behind the rest," Walter said, but the +others knew that that was impossible. The "Beauty" was far too fast a +boat to be left so far behind. + +The Captain examined the log. "We have come a hundred and ten miles," +he said. "Do you reckon either of you boys could have made a mistake in +the course during your watch?" + +"We didn't vary a quarter of a point from the direction you gave during +my four hours," Charley declared. "I kept watch of the compass most of +the time and the needle held steady at North." + +"I was careful about that, also," Walter said. "We were headed exactly +North during my entire watch." + +"Well, that compass is true," the captain declared. "I tested it +carefully before we left port. I reckon thar's only one explanation; +the fleet must have changed their course during the night. We'd better +heave-to until noon when I can take the sun an' tell exactly where we +are at. It ain't no use trying to pick up the fleet again, now they +are out of sight--it would be like hunting for a needle in a hay stack." + +The crew were immediately set to taking in sail and in a few minutes +the little ship was lying head to the wind under reefed foresail sail. + +When the noon hour drew near, Captain Westfield brought his instruments +on deck and prepared to take an observation of the sun. As soon as he +secured it he went below to work out their position on the chart. + +When he reappeared his face wore a very puzzled expression. "Heave the +lead and find out how deep the water is an' what kind of bottom," he +said, briefly. + +Charley took the lead, a heavy cone-shaped piece of lead, slightly +hollowed at the bottom, and with a long line attached to the small +end. Filling the hollow end with soft soap, he dropped the lead over +the side and let it sink until it struck the bottom. Then he pulled it +aboard again, noting carefully the water mark on the line and examining +the soap to which some particles of the bottom had adhered. + +"Depth, six fathoms, (36 feet) bottom, soft gray mud," he announced. + +The captain strode back to the compass and stared at it with a puzzled +frown on his face. + +"We're forty miles from where we should be," he said as the boys +gathered around him, "Sure neither of you boys made a mistake in the +course last night?" + +"Sure," declared both lads positively. + +The four puzzled over the strange situation in silence for several +minutes. Then the captain with his knife loosened the screws and +removed the compass' face of glass. + +"I wonder how that got there," he suddenly exclaimed. + +Cunningly placed, so as to draw the magnetic needle West of North was a +small bright iron nail. + +"It couldn't have got there by itself," Charley declared, excitedly. +"It must have been put there by someone while we were all at supper +last night." + +"I guess there is no doubt as to who that someone was," with an +inclination of his head towards Manuel who, standing a little ways off +was watching them closely. The Greek, as soon as he saw the attention +he was receiving, turned and strolled carelessly forward. + +The captain pondered gravely, "I don't see what his object was," he +said, at last. "If we held on that course long it would only have +carried us further out into the Gulf, so he couldn't have been aiming +to get us wrecked." + +"He planned to get us separated from the fleet," Charley declared. "Do +you think we could find it again, captain?" + +The old sailor shook his head. "There's no telling where we are now," +he said, gloomily, "we might hunt for days without coming across them. +If that fellow did put that nail there to make us lose them, he's +succeeded all right." + +"What had we better do, captain?" Walter asked, anxiously. + +"Well, we aint got no real proof that the fellow put that nail thar so +we can't do anything with him. It might have been in thar all the time, +though I'm willing to take an oath that the compass was true when we +left port. Thar ain't much chance of picking up the fleet again an' I +don't reckon we'd better waste time trying it. The lead shows we are +still on the sponge banks an' I reckon we'd best just get to work, say +nothing, an' keep a close watch on that oil Greek chap." + +The "Beauty" was anchored accordingly, sails lowered and furled, and +everything made snug. As soon as that was done, the boys ordered their +crew into the diving boat and, running out a little ways from the +schooner, gave the signal to resume the diving operations. + +By sheer accident, they had chanced upon a spot rich in sponges and the +lads watched with satisfaction the steady reappearance of the lowered +basket. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A RASH RESOLVE. + + +THE boys watched Manuel closely throughout the entire afternoon, but +they could detect nothing amiss in his manner or actions. He did +his work willingly and cheerfully, humming a tune most of the time, +apparently he was at peace with himself and the world. + +They were not the only ones who watched the Greek closely. Whenever the +lads glanced at the handsome sailor, they found him gazing intently at +the suspected man, much as a cat watches a mouse, ready to spring at +its slightest movement. + +The boys kept well apart from the crew, watchful for any threatened +outbreak on their part. But the men seemed so cheerful, willing and +contented that they soon grew ashamed of their distrust. + +Once the handsome sailor approached them respectfully, hat in hand, +and, halting before them, spoke rapidly in a low voice. The lads shook +their heads to show that they did not understand, and, with a look of +helpless resignation on his face, the fellow returned to his work. + +"I wish we could understand what he says," Charley said, wistfully. +"He, evidently, has something important he wishes to tell us." + +"We will be able to make out what he says before long," Walter said, +cheerfully. "We are learning lots of new words every day." + +"Yes, we are getting along pretty well," his chum agreed, "but we +are not picking up the language near as well as Chris. It's really +wonderful how fast he is learning." + +The little negro and the Greek boy had become great friends and Chris, +naturally quick witted, was learning with astonishing rapidity to talk +to his new chum. + +"It's the best day we've had yet," Charley declared as they returned +to the schooner in the evening. "We have got as many sponges this +afternoon as we have during any entire day." + +Captain Westfield was elated over their success. "It's turned out all +right after all," he said. "We've stumbled upon a mighty rich part of +the banks, an' I reckon, we ain't lost the fleet either, as we feared, +thar's some twenty sails coming up from the South'ard." + +The vessels, which the boys had not noticed before, were approaching +rapidly, coming before the stiff breeze. Before dark settled down, they +were plainly visible but the eager watchers could not recognize any +of them, they seemed larger schooners than any they had seen in the +fleet. The strangers anchored for the night near the "Beauty" and the +captain got out his night glass and studied them carefully. + +"They ain't any of the fleet," he declared with keen disappointment. +"They're Spanish smacks from Cuba. They fish around this coast +regularly every season." + +"Well, they'll be some company, anyway, as long as they stay near us," +Charley said, cheerfully. "I can speak Spanish if I can't Greek, we can +go over and call on them in the morning. I'd like to go to-night, but I +feel too tired out to move." + +Soon after supper, Manuel approached Captain Westfield, respectfully. + +"We would like to go aboard the schooners, if you will permit," he +requested. "We are nearly out of tobacco and the Cubans always carry a +lot for which we can trade." + +The old sailor thought for a few minutes. "You can go," he said, +shortly, "you an' one man. Take the dingy. I don't want the diving boat +used. An' be sure you're back aboard early." + +The Greek thanked him effusively for the permission, and, calling one +of his shipmates, the two got the schooner's little boat over the side +and sculled away for the nearest smack. + +"They have got plenty of tobacco," growled the captain, as soon as the +two were out of hearing. "Thar was enough sent aboard at Tarpon to last +them for months. I reckon he's figuring on deserting, that's why I let +him go. I'd be willing to lose the boat and the other man to be well +rid of him." + +It seemed that the old sailor was correct for when eight o'clock came +Manuel had not returned. + +"After what happened last night, I don't reckon it's wise to leave the +deck alone," the captain said as the boys prepared to retire to their +bunks. "One of us had ought to keep watch to see that no one monkeys +with the wheel or compass." + +Walter offered to take the first watch from eight to twelve, and, +leaving him pacing back and forth aft of the mainmast, the others +retired to rest. + +Charley was awakened by a vigorous shaking and his chum's voice calling +to him to get up. + +"My watch so soon," grumbled the lad sleepily, "Seems like I just got +to sleep." + +"It's only eleven o'clock," said Walter in excited tones, "but Manuel +came aboard an hour ago very drunk. He must have brought liquor with +him for they are all raising merry Ned in the forecastle now. The +captain and Chris are on deck. Hurry up, there's likely to be trouble +any minute." + +Charley slipped hastily into his clothing and securing his revolver +ran on deck. His three companions with revolvers in their hands were +ranged across the deck just aft of the mainmast. From the forecastle, +forward, came an uproar of shouting, cursing, and fighting. + +The old sailor was blaming himself, bitterly. "I'd ought to have +thought of it," he exclaimed, "Auguident is cheap as water in Cuba an' +those smacks always carry a lot of it to trade off for other things. +What an old fool I was." + +"What shall we do?" Charley asked. + +"Nothing, but let 'em fight it out amongst themselves an' keep 'em +from crowding aft on us. Our lives wouldn't be worth a pinch of snuff +if we went down to quiet them. If any of 'em tries to come aft of the +mainmast, shoot him." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when a figure burst out of the +forecastle and came running aft followed by several others staggering, +shouting and cursing. + +The captain raised his pistol and took deliberate aim as the flying man +drew near. + +"Stop, or I'll shoot," he commanded. + +Charley knocked aside his upraised arm. "Let him pass," he cried, "it's +the strange sailor, they have been trying to kill him." + +The handsome fellow was bleeding from a dozen knife wounds, and was +breathing short and heavily. As he reached the little party of chums, +he turned about and faced his pursuers. It was evident that he did not +lack courage. + +The pursuing Greeks stopped short at sight of the little band stretched +across the deck with leveled revolvers. For a minute they seemed about +to dash forward regardless of consequences, but, after a moment's +hesitation, with a volley of curses they turned and slunk back to the +forecastle. They were yet sober enough to realize the danger of open +mutiny. + +"I don't think they'll try to bother us," said the captain with a sigh +of relief. "They ain't drunk enough for that yet, an' I reckon they've +about drank up all their liquor by now. It wouldn't last long amongst +so many of them." + +The strange sailor had sunk to the deck in a dead faint, and, leaving +the boys to guard the deck, the Captain and Chris carried him below, +and, laying him in one of the bunks, hurried back to their companions. + +"He ain't going to die," the old sailor informed them. "He's just weak +from loss of blood. I didn't take time to look him over close, but I +counted nineteen knife cuts on his body an' likely thar's some I didn't +notice." + +"We will have to keep him back aft with us. They would likely kill +him if we sent him back to the forecastle, for he is unable to defend +himself now," Charley said, and his chums agreed with him. + +The uproar in the forecastle continued for a long time then gradually +subsided. Evidently, the crew had disposed of the last of the liquor +and its effects were slowly wearing off. + +Not until four o'clock, however, did the last noise cease, and the +little party of chums remained on deck until the sun rose, ready for +any violence from the drunken Greeks. Daylight found them pale and +tired from their long, anxious vigil. + +"Better go below, lads, and have a good nap," the captain advised. +"They have all quieted down and there is no danger of trouble for the +present. They are going to feel mighty sick and weak from the drink." + +"I'm not going to give them a chance to sleep off their bad feelings," +declared Charley, grimly. "My crew have got to turn to and work as +usual. I'm going to turn them out as soon as Ben awakes." + +When the little Greek lad appeared, looking pale and frightened, +Charley sent him below to rouse Manuel. + +The lad, apparently, did not relish the task but he went, and, after a +long time, reappeared accompanied by the Greek. + +Manuel plainly showed the effects of the liquor. He looked sick and +haggard and one eye was much discolored from a blow he had received. He +was ready, however, with an excuse for the night's disorder. "I did my +best to stop the noise and trouble, and it was thus I received a blow +in the eye." + +"You were drunk when you came aboard," accused Walter. + +"I took a drink on the schooner," admitted Manuel, "only one little +drink. It was foolish, for I am unused to liquor and it went to my +legs, but my head was clear. I regret the disorder of the others." + +There was no doubt in the minds of the captain and the boys that he was +really the author of all the trouble, but they could not prove it and +Charley dismissed him with a curt command to call the crew. + +They were a sick-looking crowd when they were at last collected on +deck. All showed the effect of the liquor and many were the black +eyes and bruised faces. Their fighting humor seemed to have departed, +however, and they went about their tasks quietly, sullenly, and +listlessly. + +After they had finished their morning coffee, Charley ordered his crew +into the diving boat and set out for the spot where they had found so +many sponges. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A MYSTERY. + + +THE two boys kept well apart from the crew, and watched closely for +any signs of threatened trouble, but, although the men looked sullen +and ugly enough for any kind of act, they seemed much subdued and went +about their tasks quietly saying little, even to each other. + +"I guess we are giving ourselves a lot of worry without cause," Walter +remarked, softly. "Those fellows seem quiet enough now. It was the +liquor that made them act as they did last night, but they have drank +it all up now and I do not believe we will have any more trouble with +them." + +"I wish I could agree with you," his chum said, gravely, "but I can't. +I believe in the old Latin proverb--'in vino veritas'--there is +truth in wine. I've always noticed that when a man gets intoxicated, +he reveals just the kind of man he really is. If he is naturally +quarrelsome when sober he is sure to want to fight when drinking. If he +is good-hearted and kind when sober, he is generally good-humored when +drunk. Liquor seems to destroy a man's caution and make him reveal his +real character. Now these fellows showed plainly their feelings towards +us last night when they were drinking. To-day they are sober and more +cautious, but I believe they feel just the same towards us. It only +needs some real or fancied wrong to bring their hatred to the surface +again. I believe if we had a clash with one of them now we would have a +first-class mutiny on our hands; but, I guess, we had not better do any +more whimpering. They will suspect that we are discussing them and it +will not improve matters any." + +For awhile the sponges came up from below every half hour, but towards +noon a full hour went by without the basket making its appearance. The +lads, at last, became somewhat alarmed at the delay. + +"Do you suppose they are in any trouble down below?" Charley enquired +of Manuel. + +The Greek shook his head. "They would have signaled if anything had +been wrong. There, they are signaling now." + +There came several jerks on the life-lines and the Greeks in charge of +them pulled the divers up and into the boat. The men had been below +for only an hour and the boys were puzzled to account for their coming +up before their time had expired. When their head-pieces were removed +the lads could see that the divers were greatly excited. They spoke +rapidly to those around them, and a hum of excited conversation arose +from the before listless crew. + +"What's the matter?" Charley demanded of Manuel, who seemed to be the +most excited of all. + +"It is nothing," was the quick reply. "The men grew faint for a minute +but they will be all right soon. That often happens to one when diving." + +The Greek's excitement was too great for such a trivial cause and +Charley decided promptly that he was lying. + +In a few minutes the divers resumed their head-pieces and prepared to +descend again. As they stood on the ladders one of the crew handed one +of them a coil of light rope to the end of which was attached a piece +of light wood. + +"What does he want with that buoy?" Charley demanded, sharply. + +"There's a bad hole in the bottom which he wishes to mark so that there +will be no danger of his blundering into it," replied Manuel promptly, +but, again, Charley decided that the fellow was lying. + +"There's something in the wind," he remarked to Walter. "The crew seem +greatly excited, and Manuel, I am sure, is lying." + +A strange change had suddenly taken place in the crew's manner. Before, +they had been silent, sullen and listless, now, they were animated, +their eyes glittered with excitement, and they chattered back and forth +like so many magpies. + +Manuel evidently noticed that the boys were watching them closely, +for he addressed them in a low tone and their chattering ceased. They +resumed their work with something like a return of their former manner, +but it was easy to see that their sullenness was now assumed. + +The lads turned their attention to the course the diver was taking, and +watched for the appearance of the buoy which would show the whereabouts +of the bad place on the bottom. The bit of wood soon floated into view +not a hundred feet from the boat. + +Apparently, the divers were still suffering from their faintness, for +it was a long time after they descended before the first basket load of +sponges appeared, and it was nearly an hour before the second one was +hoisted aboard. + +"We are not getting many to-day," Walter grumbled. "If we don't do +better pretty soon, we had better move and try another place." + +"There is something queer doing," Charley declared. "Just watch those +life-lines and see what you make of it." + +The ropes which were fastened to the divers showed plainly the +direction taken by the men below. The lines were kept faintly taut +to permit of the signals being clearly felt, and their slant gave an +accurate idea of just where the divers were working. + +Walter watched for awhile, a puzzled frown gathering on his face. + +"Why," he exclaimed, "they are right on that bad part of bottom, and +they haven't stirred for the last fifteen minutes." + +The lads continued to watch the tell-tale lines. For another fifteen +minutes the ropes remained motionless, then from their twitching it +became evident that the divers were once more moving around. In a short +time thereafter, the usual signal was given and two baskets of sponges +were hoisted up. + +"That's got me puzzled," said Charley, as the peculiar performance was +repeated. "I guess we had better appear not to have noticed it. The +crew is not looking at us in a very friendly way." + +The attitude of the Greeks seemed to be growing hostile. Many were the +unfriendly glances they cast at the two lads and the boys could hear +their names repeated in the low-toned conversation going on. + +The two lads retired to the bow where, though they effected to be +taking their ease, they kept on the alert for the first signs of +trouble. + +Though nothing happened to further arouse their fears, it was a trying +situation and both were glad when the time came to return to the +schooner. + +They found the captain and Chris both tired from a hard day's labor +cleaning sponges. The wounded sailor was sitting back by the wheel, +looking somewhat pale and haggard, but not a great deal the worse for +his many wounds. + +"His troubles' been sorter praying on his mind all day," said the +captain. "He got a hold of my pad and pencil this morning an' he's been +drawing pictures of the fight and other things--here's one of them." + +The old sailor produced a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. + +Walter examined the sketch closely. It was not without a certain +cleverness and was better than one would expect of a humble sailor +before the mast. It depicted a struggle between two groups of men. In +one of the groups, the lad could recognize some of the faces of the +Greeks, who, armed with knives and clubs, were assailing the other +party. As the lad bent over to examine the other group more closely, he +uttered an exclamation of surprise. At first glance there was nothing +startling about those whom the Greeks were fighting, but a second +glance showed something familiar about the figures composing it. He +passed the sketch to Charley. + +"What do you make of it?" he asked. + +"Why, that little group is intended to represent us," his chum +exclaimed. "See they are just four in number. That big one with the +beard is meant for the captain and the little one for Chris, the other +two are you and I. Why, the likeness to us is quite striking when you +look at it closely." + +"I believe he intended this for a warning to us," Walter declared. +"Where are the rest of the things he drew, Captain?" + +"I threw them all away, I didn't reckon they meant anything," the old +sailor replied, regretfully. + +"Well, never mind," said Charley cheerfully, "we will get him to draw +them over again. He seems a very intelligent fellow. I wish he could +talk so as to tell us what the crew are saying now. Just look at him." + +The strange sailor was leaning forward listening eagerly to the buzz of +conversation going on between the Greeks. The diving boat's crew seemed +to have conveyed the excitement under which they had been laboring all +day to their shipmates who had remained aboard the schooner. Groups of +two or three were gathered here and there, talking eagerly together. + +Walter called the little Greek lad to him. + +"What are the men talking about, Ben?" + +The little fellow hesitated before replying. It was plain that he was +greatly troubled and frightened. "They talk about nothing much," he +stammered. + +Walter was pressing him with further questions when his chum interfered. + +"It's hardly fair to make him tell," he said. "It might cause him a lot +of trouble. His uncle is glaring at him now, as though he would like to +kill him." + +There was nothing to be learned by watching the crew's actions, so, +signing to the wounded sailor to follow them, the four chums descended +to the cabin where the Greek cook had supper waiting for them. + +Charley was unusually quiet during the meal, but when the Greek cook +and Ben had at last retired carrying the dishes with them, he arose and +closed the cabin door. + +"Captain," he said as he returned to his companions, "I am going down +in a diving suit to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +IN A DIVING SUIT. + + +THE old sailor stared at Charley as though he feared the lad had taken +leave of his senses. + +"Why, you must be crazy," he exclaimed. "You don't know anything about +that kind of diving." + +"I fancy there is not much to learn about it," Charley replied. "I've +been watching the divers closely and it appears very simple. The main +thing seems to be to keep the air hose clear. I've been wanting to go +down ever since the first day, and the strange way the crew have acted +to-day has decided me to try it. I want to see what it is that has so +excited them." + +"It's a fool notion and I ain't going to let you do it," the captain +stormed, but Charley only grinned, cheerfully. + +"It's no use scolding, Captain, I've quite made up my mind to try it. +I've been thinking it over the whole day." + +"I say you sha'n't do it," roared the old sailor. "I'll put you in +irons first, I'm captain of this schooner." + +"But I'm captain of the diving boat," Charley reminded him with a grin, +"If anyone interferes with my doings on my own ship it's mutiny, you +know." + +"Walt, say something to get him out of that fool notion," pleaded the +old sailor, helplessly. + +Walter turned to his chum with a twinkle in his eye, "If you go down, +I'm going too," he said, decidedly. + +"You're two young lunatics," the captain declared, wrathfully. "You're +bound to always run yourselves into danger whenever you get a show. +Neither one of you will ever live to see twenty." + +But, although he fumed and threatened for a long time, the matter +ended, as was always the case when the boys had determined upon a +thing, in his, at last, giving a grudging consent to their plan. + +Chris had followed his little friend Ben on deck as soon as he finished +his supper, but soon after the discussion was ended he returned below +grumbling. + +"Dat white child ain't no fitten company to-night," he declared. "He +acts plum scart to death an' won't talk none tall." + +"You go up and stay around the wheel, 'till we come up," the captain +ordered. "I thought you were there all the time or I'd been up myself, +I don't want none of those fellows fooling around the compass." + +When Chris had retired, still grumbling, Walter brought out a pad and +pencil and handed them to the sailor who had been watching their faces +closely during their animated debate. + +The man seized them eagerly and bending over the pad began to draw +slowly with awkward, clumsy fingers. When the sketch was finished he +tore off the sheet of paper and handed it to Charley whom he seemed to +recognize as the real leader of the little party. + +The lad examined the sketch with eager interest. "He must be a very +cheerful sort of fellow," he remarked, as he passed it to his chum. +"First, he prophesies a fight with the crew, and, now, he has got us +all shipwrecked. Can't say much for his skill with the pencil though; +that hulk does not look much like our pretty 'Beauty'." + +The rude sketch pictured a forlorn, dismasted wreck, covered with +seaweed and with one side badly stove in. + +The sailor had immediately commenced upon another picture which he soon +passed over. + +The boys looked it over but could not decide what it was intended to +represent. + +"It looks like a box full of crackers," Charley said with a grin. +"Well, if he's decided to have us shipwrecked, it's thoughtful of him +to provide us with something to eat." + +But the sailor did not seem to regard it as any laughing matter. He +watched their expressions with a face full of concern, and, when +Walter shook his head to show that he did not understand the sketch, he +laid aside the pad with a heavy sigh. + +"He has given it up," Charley said. "We had better go to bed, I guess +we have a hard day ahead of us to-morrow." + +Chris was recalled from the deck and Walter took his place while the +others turned into their bunks and were soon fast asleep. At midnight +he awakened Charley and at four o'clock Charley was relieved by the +captain. The watches passed away without any alarm, but one thing +struck both of the lads as being curious. All during their watches +three or four of the Greeks remained on deck instead of seeking their +bunks as they usually did right after eating supper. They sat around +up by the forecastle smoking and talking quietly together and the boys +came to the conclusion that they were merely wakeful from the effects +of the liquor they had drank the night before. + +The boys looked longingly at the tempting breakfast served by the Greek +cook, but as they had decided to make the descent to the bottom that +morning they were obliged to be content with a cup of coffee. + +The captain and Chris followed them aboard the diving boat. "We're +going with you," the old sailor explained. "It's a risky thing you're +planning to do an' I'd be too nervous and anxious about you to stay on +the schooner. She will be all right without us for a little while." + +Manuel seemed to note the presence of the captain and Chris with +satisfaction. Before the boat was shoved off from the schooner, he +called the cook to the rail and conversed with him a few minutes in low +tones. + +But his satisfaction changed to frowning anger when the boys began to +don the diving suits. + +"You are foolish to attempt to go down, young sirs," he said, angrily. +"It is dangerous, very dangerous." + +"We are the only ones at all likely to suffer," Charley replied +shortly. "Tend strictly to your pumping, when we think we need advice, +we will ask you for it." + +Before his head-piece was adjusted, he found opportunity to whisper to +Walter. "We won't be able to talk when we get below, so I want you to +follow me and do just what you see me do." + +"I will," promised his chum. "My, don't these things feel queer. I can +hardly lift my feet, they are so heavy. They make me feel helpless as a +little baby." + +The divers adjusted the helmets to the lads' heads and, assisting them +to the rail, helped them down the ladder, and lowered them gently to +the bottom. + +Charley laughed to himself as he caught sight of Walter in the clear +water. His chum looked like some strange monster in the grotesque +diving suit. He waved his hand to him and Walter placed one great paw +over his helmet where his mouth was supposed to be, to show that he was +endeavoring politely to stifle a laugh. + +But the boys' merriment at each other's grotesque appearance was +quickly lost in admiration of the strange scene about them. + +It was as though they were standing in the midst of a beautiful garden. +Here and there were patches of soft white bottom, like winding paths +amongst the marine growth. On every side of the bare places rose +lace-like sea fans of purple, yellow, and red, and feather-like sea +plumes swaying gently to and fro to the motion of the water caused by +the lads' descent. At their bases lay scattered multitudes of shells of +every conceivable shape, size, and hue, while, towering far above the +riot of color, rose mighty trees of snow-white coral among the branches +of which hovered golden, silver, crimson, and every shade of fish, +great and small, their fins flashing gracefully as they darted to and +fro. + +For some moments, the lads stood motionless drinking in the beauty of +the wonderful garden, but they had not descended merely to admire and +Charley, after a long look around, hauled gently on the life-line until +he had some hundred feet coiled neatly at his feet. Walter, though not +comprehending his chum's plan, followed his example. The ruse was to +serve a two-fold purpose, first to lead those on the diving boat to +think that the two were a considerable distance from the boat, and, +second, to deceive them as to the real direction taken by those below. + +As soon as Walter had got his life-line neatly coiled down, Charley +turned at right angles from the spot and moved slowly forward for the +place where he calculated lay the supposed bad place in the Gulf's +bottom. + +He was surprised to find that he could walk with perfect ease and +comfort. The suit, which had been so heavy and cumbersome above the +surface, now rested on him lightly as a feather. He could have walked +with considerable speed had it not been for the care he had to take to +keep his life-line free and clear from the numerous branches of coral. +He watched Walter anxiously to see that he used the same care with the +rope upon which their very lives depended and he was relieved to see +that his chum used every possible precaution. + +Although the water was clear as crystal, neither lad could see far +ahead at that depth below the surface for it was too far for the sun's +light to penetrate brightly. Charley was almost upon the rope with its +floating buoy above before he perceived it. He moved forward now with +the greatest caution for, if Manuel's statement was true, a hasty step +might plunge him suddenly into a nasty hole or a dangerous patch of +quicksand. But the bottom did not seem any different from that over +which they had passed. The rope was fastened to a branch of coral where +there was no indication of a hole or quicksand, but, a little beyond +where the rope was fastened, the lad could see dimly a large black mass +rising up from the bottom. Towards it he slowly made his way, followed +by his chum. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CLOSE CALL. + + +CHARLEY'S eyes were becoming accustomed to the semi-gloom and a few +steps forward gave him a clear view of the dark object. One glance, and +he turned to his chum with a cry which was lost in his muffling helmet. + +Before the two lads lay the wreck of a once stately ship, her masts +broken short off and a great gaping hole in her side. She had evidently +lain long in her bed amongst the coral and sponges for long tendrils of +sea moss streamed out from her barnacle-covered sides. + +Someone had been there before them for the moss and marine growth had +been scraped from the vessel's stern revealing the name, "Golden Hope". + +Charley turned from the spelling out of the indistinct letters to see +his chum beckoning to him wildly and he hurried to his side. + +Walter was stooping over an opened box partly filled with what had +once been shining gold pieces but which were now tarnished and almost +unrecognizable in their coat of gray slime. The box had been recently +torn open as was evident from the freshly-splintered wood. + +Charley sat down on the box's edge and did some rapid thinking. The +crew's excitement was now accounted for. They had not come upon a +rich bed of sponges as he had suspected but had discovered a treasure +such as men for ages have fought, struggled, and died to attain. The +half emptied box showed that the divers had already begun to remove +the gold. For a moment, the lad was puzzled to know how they had been +able to bring up what was missing without its being seen. There were +no pockets to the diving suits and they could have carried but a few +pieces at a time in their closed hands. A moment's reflection, however, +brought him to the only possible explanation; the gold must have been +sent up in the sponge basket hidden amongst the lumps of mud from which +it could have been removed by the crew without much risk of discovery. +But it was not the removal of the gold which gave the quick-witted +lad the most concern. The amount taken by the Greeks was likely but a +mere trifle when compared with that which remained. It was the effects +the discovery of such a treasure would have upon an already unruly +crew that he feared. As he had said to Walter but the day before, he +believed it needed but a trifle to fan the Greeks' growing discontent +into open mutiny. Here was riches enough to tempt the most steady band +of sailors and it was but reasonable to suppose that it would tempt +the lawless Greeks to deeds of violence and bloodshed. These thoughts +surged through the lad's mind in far less time than it has taken to +tell of them. He would have liked to have talked the matter over with +his chum and settled upon the wisest plan to follow, but that was +impossible below the surface and signs were useless to convey exact +ideas. He must decide alone upon their immediate course of action and +trust to Walter's quick wit to fall in with what he decided upon. + +Arising he turned to his chum and laid one finger across his lips. +Walter nodded his ponderous head-piece to show that he understood the +sign for silence regarding their discovery. + +Taking up his sponge basket, Charley retraced his steps to the spot +where they had descended followed by his observant chum. Here the +sponges grew in abundance and he at once began to fill his basket, an +example which Walter immediately followed. + +As he bent over to tear up an unusually large sponge he became suddenly +sensible of an agitation of the water near him. Straightening up, he +stood frozen to his tracks with fear and horror. Not ten feet from +where he stood lay a gigantic shark, its belly gleaming white through +the clear water. Its little green eyes were fixed upon him with a +wicked unblinking stare. He let the basket drop from his grasp and +flung up his arms with an unreasoning instinct to protect his head from +the impending attack. At his sudden movement the great fish darted +away. Evidently, it was equally as frightened of the strange unknown +monster it had encountered. + +The shock had left the frightened lad weak and trembling and he had to +rest a few minutes before he could resume the filling of his basket. + +As he placed the last sponge in the basket he turned to signal to his +chum to ascend, but Walter was already gone, his figure, grotesque in +the diving suit, was already well up from the bottom and shooting up +with astonishing swiftness. At the same moment Charley became aware of +a strange sickening sensation. He was choking and gasping for breath. +Before he could realize what had happened the frightful sensation had +passed and he was able to breathe fully and freely, and he felt himself +being pulled swiftly to the surface. + +In a moment he was hoisted above the surface, hauled aboard the boat +and his helmet removed. The captain, white-faced and shaken was leaning +against the mast his revolver in his hand. Chris, ashen-hued, and a +sailor, was still pumping faintly. Close beside the air pump lay Manuel +in apparent unconsciousness. + +"What's happened?" Charley cried. + +"Manuel keeled over in a fit or something," said the captain, brokenly. +"I thought you would both be dead before we could get you to the +surface. It seemed ages before I could get Chris to the pump and the +fellows to hauling you up. They seemed to move mighty slow 'till I +threatened to shoot. They maybe didn't understand what I said but the +sight of the gun made 'em more lively," he concluded, grimly. + +Charley walked over to the prostrate Greek and stood gazing down at his +upturned face. + +"He has no business to faint when he's working the air pump," he said +savagely. "I guess I'll kick him a good hard one in the face for +punishment." + +The manly lad had no such intention of carrying out such a brutal +threat but he wanted to test whether the treacherous Greek was, as he +suspected, really shamming. + +The prostrate man's features twitched, he sighed heavily and rolled +over on his side, Charley's suspicions were confirmed. + +"Captain," said the lad distinctly, "if anything happens to Walter and +I when we are below the surface, I want you to shoot this man without +the slightest hesitation. He is the only one who can understand your +orders and he must be made responsible for our safety." + +"I'll shoot him the first time anything goes wrong," the captain +declared wrathfully, as he caught the wink of Charley's eye. "I feel +like killing him now, for the fright he gave me." + +The shamming Greek did not seem to relish this threatening talk. He +showed signs of surprisingly rapid recovery. In a few minutes he was +able to sit up and look around. + +"I am overjoyed to find you both alive," he said faintly to the two +boys. "Everything grew suddenly black before me when I was pumping and +I knew no more. It is my heart, it troubles me at times. You young +gentlemen must go down no more, it is too risky." + +"We have had enough of it for to-day, but we may try it again +to-morrow," Charley replied, cheerfully. "It is very beautiful and +interesting down below." + +"I hope you avoided the bad place on the bottom," said the Greek, +anxiously. "The divers say it is a dangerous hole." + +"You must think we are fools to venture near such a place," said +Charley, indignantly, and the man looked greatly relieved. + +Above all, the prudent lad wished to keep the crew from thinking that +he and Walter had come upon the treasure. As long as they believed +them ignorant of its existence they would likely continue the work of +secretly removing it without open violence. + +He could not talk over the matter with his chums without danger of +being overheard, and he was forced to appear unconcerned and look on +with indifference while the divers sent up basket after basket of +sponges, in every load of which he was convinced was hidden several +hundred dollars of the gold coins. + +He greatly admired Walter's manner. The lad chattered over the +beautiful gardens they had seen below without a hint in his voice or +manner of the secret they had stumbled upon. + +From time to time the crew shot glances of scowling suspicion at +the little group, but they were evidently reassured by the boys' +cheerfulness and apparent unconcern. + +It was like sitting beside a powder mine with a lighted fuse in it, and +both lads were greatly relieved when the long day dragged away to its +close and the diving boat was headed back for the schooner. + +They were met at the schooner's rail by the cook who seemed greatly +excited and who greeted them with a torrent of rapidly spoken words. + +Manuel listened with a look of sadness, real or assumed, on his face. + +"He says," he interpreted swiftly, "that the wounded man went suddenly +crazy this morning and flung himself into the sea." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DISCUSSION. + + +THE chums looked at each other in silent comprehension. There was not +a doubt in the mind of either that the sailor had been made away with +during their absence from the ship. They recalled Manuel's talk with +the cook before they left the schooner and the look of satisfaction in +his face when he learned that they were all going on the diving boat. +Even the captain was not slow to grasp the horrible truth. + +"It's a terrible business, but don't let on that you suspect them," he +whispered. "We've got to have a long talk and decide what it's best +to do." To Manuel, he said, curtly, "I reckon, it's the fellow's own +business if he wanted to drown himself, so you ain't got no cause to +grieve. Better divide his things up amongst the crew." + +Although they were eager for a talk alone, the four lounged carelessly +about the deck, striving to appear unconcerned, until the Greek boy +summoned them to supper below. They talked cheerfully until the cook +had retired bearing the empty dishes with him. Then Charley arose and +noiselessly closed the cabin windows and door so that their words would +not reach the deck. Returning to his seat, he called the pale-faced +little Greek lad to him, and, resting his hand on his head, said kindly, + +"Ben, we are not going to repeat anything you say to us, and we want +you to tell us just what has been troubling you the last few days." + +The little lad burst into tears, "They'll kill me," he sobbed, "they'll +kill me." + +"They will never know you told us," Charley assured him. "We will never +let anyone know you told us." + +"They are going to kill you all," faltered the boy as soon as he could +control his sobs. + +"Why do they want to kill us," Charley questioned. + +"My uncle makes them mad. When you give orders he adds lots of bad +names and swear words to them. He tells the crew that you always take +that sailor's part. He tells them you're going to have them all put in +jail when you get back to Tarpon. He tells them you love that sailor +and hate Greeks." + +"But why did they hate that sailor so?" Walter questioned. + +"He Turk," explained the lad. "Greeks hate Turks." + +The chums glanced at each other in swift comprehension. They knew of +the deadly hatred that existed between the two races. A hatred that +had led to the bitter war in which the Greeks had been badly beaten. +They understood now why the handsome sailor had been shunned by all +his shipmates. They could see, too, how the wily Manuel had used their +defense of the man to arouse the crew's resentment against them. The +cunning Greek had woven about them a net of lies which it would be +impossible to explain away. + +"Then they find gold," Ben continued, "that makes them crazy. Manuel +tells them to leave you alone if you don't find out about the money, +but kill you if you do." + +"The infernal rascal," exploded the captain. "He goes in irons and down +in the hold to stay 'till we get to port." + +"Don't do that!" cried the alarmed Greek lad. "They kill you right off +if you do." + +"One thing more," said Charley, as the little fellow's tears began to +flow afresh. "Who killed that sailor?" + +But Ben did not know although it was evident that he did not doubt that +the man had been killed. + +Charley waited until the lad had dried his tears, then let him go with +the caution to tell none of the crew that he had told them. + +"We are in the tightest fix of our lives," he declared, when Ben had +gone. "It seems, from what he says, that we are safe so long as they +do not suspect that we know anything about the gold but I fancy that +Manuel suspects that we have found it and I do not believe we can count +on their being willing to let us reach port alive. The question is, +what had we better do." + +"I don't understand all this talk about gold," said the captain. + +The boys hurriedly told of the discovery they had made while the old +sailor listened with sparkling eyes. + +"Boys," he exclaimed, when their tale was concluded, "you've found what +will make rich men of us all. I remember the excitement caused by the +loss of that ship. It happened twelve years ago. For months tugs and +steamers were scouring the Gulf searching for her. She had cleared from +New Orleans for New York with two million dollars in gold aboard." + +"She might as well contain two million toothpicks so far as we are +concerned," said Charley, impatiently. "I'd give up every cent of it +willingly to be safe in port this minute." + +The captain, brought abruptly back to a realization of their desperate +situation, thought deeply for several moments before he spoke. "We had +ought to be able to hold our own against them fellows," he, at last, +observed. "We are well armed and I don't believe they have got any +weapons except their sheaf knives which ain't no good except at close +quarters." + +"It is not open violence but treachery that I fear," Charley explained. +"We have had two samples already of the way they work. First in that +stoppage of the air hose and, second, in the making away of that +sailor. No, that Manuel is too cunning a rascal to risk open rebellion +when he can accomplish his ends without any personal risk." + +"Why not let them continue to get up the gold and hide it as they have +been doing?" Walter suggested. "We can pretend that we do not know what +is going on. Then when we get to port we can turn them over to the +authorities and recover the money without any trouble." + +Charley shook his head doubtfully. "That will not do," he said. "I am +as convinced as I am that I am living, that we would never reach port +alive. Manuel is too wise to take any chances and he knows that they +could not remove such a large amount of gold from the schooner without +arousing suspicion. I believe he has entrusted the crew to spare us for +the present only because he thinks that some of the fleet might happen +along and grow curious if we were all missing. Besides, it is doubtful +if any of them know enough about navigation to sail the 'Beauty' home. +Us boys, he probably will not hesitate to remove at any time if he can +give the act the appearance of accident, like what occurred to-day. +The captain, he will likely permit to remain alive until near port. He +will have a long story made up to account for our disappearance and the +gold will likely be well hidden amongst the ballast from where he can +remove it without exciting comment so long as we are not on board." + +The lad spoke confidently for he was putting himself in the place +of the cunning Greek and reasoning just what he would do in a like +position. + +"I've got it," exclaimed the captain in triumph. "When they are asleep +we'll batten down the forecastle hatch on them and keep them there +until we get to port. We four can work the schooner in, I guess." + +"I tell you, you don't realize what a cunning rascal that fellow is," +Charley declared in reluctant admiration. "He has provided against just +such an attempt. I did not understand the reason for it last night, but +I noticed that all during my watch on deck there were three or four men +hanging around the deck up forward. It's a great stake they are playing +for and they are not taking the slightest chances." + +"I noticed the men hanging around," admitted the captain, "but I didn't +think much of it at the time. Let's have your plan, if you've got one, +lad." + +"I'm afraid we can't get out of this hole without some violence and +danger," Charley replied. "I have been thinking over it all day and +this is the only thing I can think of that seems to offer any hope +of success. First thing in the morning Walter and I must descend to +the wreck again and bring up enough gold to pay off the men when we +get to port. It's a risky thing to do, but it is necessary to carry +out my plan. You see," he paused to explain, "the men were shipped for +three months and they could demand pay for that time. We haven't got +the money and we have not gathered up enough sponges yet to make up so +large an amount. They could tie the schooner up for their wages and +make us a lot of trouble and expense, a thing Manuel would be sure to +do." + +"But they have got a lot of gold which belongs to us, already," Walter +suggested. + +"We would have hard work to prove that it is ours, and it would mean a +lot of delay," replied his chum quickly. + +"Go on with your plan, lad," said the captain, who perceived that +Charley had thought over all sides of the question with his usual +clearness. + +"After we have brought up the money. We will use their own plan for +bringing it up without its being noticed--we will hang around and let +them go on with the work as usual all day, for it would not do to fight +it out on the diving boat. When we get back to the schooner at night, +we will bring matters to a head. We will make them get up anchor and +sails and head back for Tarpon. There's bound to be trouble and plenty +of it but we'll be prepared for it and Tarpon is only two days' sail. +What do you think of the plan?" + +He did not have to wait long for a chorus of objections. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A DESPERATE PLAN. + + +"I DON'T see that your plan is any better than mine," Walter objected. + +"To tarry along while they remove the gold would give them time enough +to remove us one by one," Charley replied, "While by doing as I have +suggested they will have but little chance for treachery, and, although +we will be sure to have trouble with them as soon as we order them to +get up anchor, I think we can manage to keep the upper hand of them for +the short time it will take to reach Tarpon." + +"Golly, dis nigger plum hates to run off an' lebe all dat gole," Chris +observed. + +"We'll come back for it," Charley declared. "As soon as we have paid +off the Greeks and got rid of them, we'll pick a crew of Americans and +hurry back." + +"And while we are wasting time in getting a new crew, the Greeks will +have spread the news and a dozen boats will be here before we can get +back." + +"You forget that the captain is the only one who knows where we are +by the latitude and longitude. Without knowing that, fifty boats might +hunt for a month without seeing that little buoy. It would be like +looking for a needle in a haystack." + +"Hang that pesky Greek," exclaimed the captain. "He asked me this +morning for the schooner's position, an' I gave it to him." + +Charley's face fell, "That fellow seems to think of everything," +he sighed. "But it's hard to get an exact position by latitude and +longitude alone, isn't it, Captain?" + +"A navigator is lucky if he hits within four or five miles of the place +he's aiming for. Of course it can be done if one is extra careful, but +I could not swear to our exact position on the chart now, 'though I +reckon I could come within a couple of miles of it." + +"Good," Charley exclaimed, "I guess, we can make it impossible for them +to find the wreck again, if they should manage to get back before us. +It will mean a little change in my plan, though. Instead of getting +off to-morrow night, we will have to wait until the next morning." He +hastily outlined his amended plan, which, after they had discussed it +carefully, his companions agreed was as promising as any they could +think of. + +They had hardly finished their discussion when there came a knock at +the cabin door and Manuel entered, smiling. + +"I wished to enquire if the young gentlemen intend to go down in the +suits again to-morrow?" he said, suavely. + +"We haven't decided yet," Charley said, carelessly, "Why do you wish to +know?" + +"Because, if you are, the air hose had better be greased. If it is left +dry for long the rubber sometimes cracks and makes leaks." + +"Then have it well greased," the captain ordered. + +"I guess he's afraid of being shot if anything happens, an' is taking +every precaution," chuckled the captain when the Greek had retired. + +"Perhaps," agreed Charley, doubtfully, "but, I confess, I am afraid of +that fellow. I'll certainly look over that hose carefully before I go +down to-morrow." + +When they ascended to the deck, which they had forgotten to have +watched in the excitement of their discussion, they found Manuel and +two of the divers busily engaged in greasing the rubber air hose with +bacon slush from the cook's galley. + +Charley's was the first watch on deck and, long after his companions +had retired to their bunks, he paced back and forth aft of the main +mast pondering thoughtfully over the plan he had suggested. It was +the best he could conceive under the circumstances but he realized +that its execution would be attended with the gravest dangers. Most +of all, he dreaded the proposed descent to the bottom for the gold. +He was convinced that Manuel had hit upon some scheme to get rid of +him and Walter without danger to himself. Again and again the lad's +thoughts came back to the greasing of the hose. If the operation was +so important, why had the divers not done it before--They were not the +kind of men to take any unnecessary risks in their dangerous work below +the surface. He had often noted the care with which they had examined +hose and pump before each descent. + +But, while the lad puzzled over the matter, he did not neglect to +keep a watchful eye upon the three or four Greeks who lingered on the +forward deck. If he had needed any reminder of the peril of their +situation, it would have been found in the sight of those watchful, +restless figures. + +Near the end of his watch, he gave vent to a low exclamation--He had +discovered the reason for the greasing of the hose. For a few minutes +he was appalled by the cunning fiendishness which had prompted the +act. The two hoses lay coiled close together in great heaps on deck. +Sauntering over to them, the lad stooped over each pile for a second, +then, straightening up, he resumed his slow steady pacing. + +At midnight he awoke Walter to take his place. "I've solved it," he +told him. + +"Solved what?" asked Walter, sleepily. + +"Their reason for greasing the hose." + +"What is it?" + +"To attract sharks and lead them to bite it in two." + +"The fiends!" Walter cried as the devilish ingenuity of the plot dawned +upon him. "What are you going to do about it?" + +"Nothing, until we are ready to descend," his chum replied, "then it +will be too late for them to practice another surprise for us." + +"Are you sure you are right," asked Walter, doubtfully. "They are not +sure that we are going to descend, you know." + +"I think Manuel feels pretty confident that we will. If we fail to do +so, he likely will find some excuse for replacing the greased hose with +new ones. You can bet, he's got it all figured out. He is the brainiest +villain I ever met up with. Better hurry on deck now, and keep a close +watch out. There's no telling what other scheme he's got hatched up." + +Although he retired to his bunk at once, Charley lay long awake. The +morrow would be filled with danger and his nerves were already growing +tense for the struggle which he foresaw. The Captain had relieved +Walter on deck before he at last fell into a troubled slumber from +which he awoke just as day was beginning to break. + +By the time it was light enough to see, he was up and dressed and +making preparations for the carrying out of his hazardous plan. From +the lazerette, he procured a long coil of light rope which he placed +in one corner of his cabin. He next opened up his valise and got out +the ammunition he had purchased in Tarpon and a small, but excellent +pocket compass. These he placed in his bunk where they would be handy +if needed quickly. + +When breakfast was over, the diving boat was brought alongside and all +got on board except the cook and four men left to take care of the +schooner and clean the sponges gathered the previous day. + +"We have decided to go down and have one more look at those sea +gardens," Charley told Manuel when the sponging ground was reached. +"They are beautiful enough to invite another visit." + +The Greeks' face expressed satisfaction. "They are beautiful," he +agreed, "but the young gentlemen are rash to go down. Let the divers +take the risks--they are paid to do it." + +"We will be very careful," Charley said, cheerfully. "Walt, we had +better look over the hose before we go down, the divers always do." + +The greased hose had been recoiled in the tubs and the boys proceeded +to overhaul them, foot by foot, searching them closely for cracks or +punctures. + +Walter was puzzled to comprehend his chum's plan. After what he had +discovered, surely he did not intend to risk using the dangerous +things, but he was well enough acquainted with Charley's shrewdness +to hold his tongue and keep his face from betraying his uneasiness. +He felt sure that there was a good reason for his chum's actions. He +had but just reached this decision when he came upon a gapping hole in +the hose. It looked much as though it had been cut in two with a sharp +knife. + +"Here's a bad place," he announced. "It's lucky I found it. Air can't +be pumped through this thing." + +"And here's a hole in mine, too," Charley declared in accents so +surprised that no one would have dreamed that he had made both slits +the night before to serve as an excuse for the rejection of the +dangerous hose. "We can't use either one of them, we'll have to get out +the new hose." + +Manuel's face for a second was a picture of bewilderment and baffled +rage, but in a moment he was again suave and smiling. "I don't see what +can have made those cuts," he declared. "They can be patched in a few +minutes, however. It would be a pity to throw away such hose, it is as +good as new except for those two little places which can be speedily +fixed." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +TOO LATE. + + +"NO patched hose for me," Charley said, decidedly. "If the divers want +to risk using it, they can." + +It was not just the reply the wily Greek had expected and he hastened +to answer. + +"You are right, it does not pay to take risks. I will get the new hose +and put it on." + +But Charley was ahead of him. He did not intend to give the wily Greek +any chance to play tricks with the new hose. He brought it out from +the lockers in which it was kept and, after examining it carefully +connected it to the air pumps and helmets. Before putting on his +head-piece, he tried the air pump also. It proved to be in perfect +working order and sent the air gushing through the hose. Manuel +fastened the life-line below his arms, but Charley called the captain +to adjust the heavy helmet over his head. + +As soon as his feet touched the bottom, Charley moved forward for +the wreck, Walter at his side. Neither lad wished to remain below a +second longer than was necessary for they fully realized that they were +running a terrible risk in descending at all. They found the box they +had discovered the day before entirely empty, the divers had brought +another out from the wreck's hold and broken it open. The gold was in +twenty dollar pieces and in a few minutes the lads had transferred +several hundred dollars from the box to the baskets. It was hard to +resist taking more but the risks were too great to permit it. Quickly +hastening back to the patch of sponges, they tore up several baskets +full of the mud and covered fungus and, making a slit in each with +their sheaf knives, stuffed in the coins. It was the very plan the +divers had followed but Charley had decided that they would not be +looking for the adopting of their own trick. As soon as the last coin +was hidden and the loaded sponges placed in the basket with others on +top of them to complete the load, Charley signed to Walter to ascend +and stood watching him until he had been drawn to the surface, then he +gave the signal to be drawn up himself. He was raised a few feet up +from the bottom then he sank quickly back to the place from which he +had risen and he saw the end of the life-line dangling in the water +twenty feet above his head. _It had been pulled loose from his body._ + +Charley stood for a moment looking at it in terrified dismay while his +quick brain took in the awful significance of his position. Frightened +as he was, he could not but admire the quickness with which Manuel had +hit upon another scheme for his undoing after that of the greased hose, +had failed, for he had not a doubt that the Greek had fastened the +life-line to him in such a manner that it would pull loose with a hard +jerk. He was in no immediate danger of death for the air hose still +connected him with the surface and the fresh air still came gushing in +a welcome stream into his helmet, but a moment's reflection convinced +him that this was not all of Manuel's scheme, for the Greek would know +that the captain and Walter would soon become uneasy over his delay +and would start an investigation which would quickly reveal that the +life-line was no longer attached to him. Clearly, the Greek had another +card up his sleeve which he would soon play and Charley waited for it +with every nerve strained to keenest tension. He felt longingly of +the air hose, wondering if the frail tube would hold for him to pull +himself up to the surface by it, but he quickly decided that it would +not stand the heavy strain and to break it would mean his instant +death. Keeping one eye on the life-line so tantalizingly out of his +reach he moved slowly forward until he stood beneath the diving boat +which showed like a dim shadow above him. Suddenly a thrill of horror +went through him, the diving boat was slowly drifting away--Manuel had +played his trump card. In a flash the terror-stricken lad comprehended +the situation. Some one of the Greeks, under Manuel's instructions, had +stealthily severed the cable, relying on the boat's slow drift being +unnoticed by the captain and Walter until it had dragged apart the +frail air hose. But, just as Charley had given up all hope and waited +for the parting of the hose which would mean his death, the dangling +life-line was jerked up out of sight,--his companions had discovered a +part at least of his plight--upon their next actions depended his life +or death. + +The next few seconds seemed like hours to the helpless lad, then a dark +speck appeared in the water above him quickly growing in size until he +could see that it was Chris fighting his way downward with long steady +strokes and following the air hose in his descent. The little negro +was nearly exhausted when he reached the bottom. Thrusting the end of +the line he had brought into Charley's hand, he turned upward and shot +to the surface like a rocket. Charley whipped the line about his waist +and gave the signal to pull up. He was swiftly pulled to the surface, +hauled aboard the boat, and his helmet removed. Chris, breathing +heavily, was standing by the mast, the water dripping from him. Walter +and the captain, pale with fear, stood close beside him. + +"Thank God, you're safe, lad," cried the old sailor, tears in his +eyes. "We feared the air hose would part before Chris could get to you. +We had just pulled on the life-line and found it had come loose from +you when we discovered the boat had gone adrift. I reckon, she must +have chafed her cable in two against a sharp piece of coral. Queer how +everything happens all at once that way, sometimes." + +It was clear the simple old sailor did not suspect that the trouble was +anything but an accident, and Charley hastened to reply, + +"All is well that ends well, but I've nearly had the life scart out of +me. I don't think I'll ever want to go down again." + +He was watching Manuel closely as he spoke and he noted with +satisfaction the expression of relief on the Greek's swarthy face. +If he could only keep him from thinking that he knew anything about +the gold and had not discovered his treachery, he hoped to be able to +avoid open violence until they were prepared and ready for it. He was +convinced that the Greek was too cowardly to risk the danger of being +shot in open mutiny so long as he thought himself unsuspected and free +to scheme their removal without danger to himself. + +The diving boat was worked back to her old position, another anchor +dropped, and donning their suits the divers resumed operations below. +When they came to the surface at the end of their two hour trick below +they seemed strangely excited and conversed eagerly with Manuel and the +rest of the crew. Charley was for awhile puzzled to account for their +excitement, but 'ere long the solution came to him. Like all plans +intended to deceive, his had contained a fatal defect. + +"Walt," he whispered to his chum, "those chaps have noticed that some +of the gold has been removed from that box. We are in for trouble, now, +I fear." The Captain and Chris were warned to be on their guard but +it seemed that the warning was unnecessary, the excited talk amongst +the crew soon ceased and the fresh divers quietly prepared for their +descent. + +But in spite of the quietness, there was a tension and earnestness +in the crew's manner which made the anxious little party of chums +feel that they were standing at the edge of a powder mine which might +explode at any minute. + +"I would rather have open fighting than this awful waiting," Walter +whispered. + +"We will have that soon enough," said his chum, grimly. "It will come +as soon as we try to make them get the schooner under way." + +The long anxious day at last drew to its close, anchor was got up on +the diving boat, and she was headed back for the schooner. + +As they passed a large piece of driftwood covered with large black +birds with very long necks, Manuel pointed at them, "Those are fine +eating," he said wistfully. "If the young gentlemen could kill a few it +would give us all a great feast." + +Walter looked at Charley who nodded assent, for he was not loath that +the Greek should witness their skill with the revolver. + +Both boys had practiced often with their revolvers and were better than +average marksmen. Their pistols were automatics, a style of weapon with +which even the unskillful can shoot fairly accurately. Walter fired six +shots in as many seconds, killing four birds and wounding one. Charley +fired four shots at the same time, killing two birds and crippling a +third. The rest of the birds took flight before the boys could shoot +more. The captain and Chris emptied their pistols at the flying flock +without success. + +The diving boat was run alongside the dead birds and they were picked +up by the crew. Manuel seemed delighted, "The young gentlemen are +wonderful shots," he declared. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +OUTWITTED. + + +THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were +eager to talk over the next move to be made. + +"Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the +captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's +foul play. "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more +chances to work out their devilish tricks. It's better to have trouble +with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have +them take us unawares." + +"Thank goodness the time for action is close at hand," Charley agreed, +"I could not stand this anxiety and suspense much longer. Let's go over +our plan once more and make sure that we each know our parts so that +there will be no hitch when we come to carry them out. Now as soon as +we have supper Chris and I will get into the dingy and pretend that we +are going to row around for fun. We will pull back and forth until it +gets good and dark, then we'll gradually work out to that buoy. We +will cut it adrift, take it aboard, pull due East from the schooner for +a mile and anchor it again. That will throw them way off the scent if +they should manage to get back here again before us, while it will tell +us just where to look for the wreck. That part is easy, the trouble +will come when we get back to the boat. First thing we had better do is +to stretch several ropes across the deck from rail to rail just forward +of the mainmast. That will delay and bother them if they should try to +rush us in a body. The next move will be to get Manuel aft and get the +irons on him. We had better get him down here in the cabin to attempt +that. As soon as we get him helpless, we will carry him up and make him +give our orders to get up anchor and get sail on the schooner. He's too +great a coward to encourage his shipmates to make a rush for us so long +as he is in our power. They may try it in spite of him, however, when +they realize that the gold is going to be lost to them. If they do we +will have to fight them off while Chris tends to the wheel. We don't +want any bloodshed if we can help it but we mustn't let them get aft of +the mainmast, they would make short work of us if it ever came to close +quarters. Do you all understand now what we have to do?" + +His companions nodded. + +"Then we had better reload our pistols, fill up our cartridge belts, +and get ready," he continued. "I'll get the ammunition." + +But in a moment he was back from his cabin, his face pale and grave. + +"How many shells have you got left in your pistol?" he demanded. + +"One," Walter replied, while Chris and the captain broke open their +weapons to show only empty chambers. + +"I have got three shots left, that makes four altogether," Charley +said, hopelessly. "All the rest of our ammunition has been stolen out +of my bunk." + +His companions grew as grave and pale as himself at the announcement. +With only four shots left they were practically helpless in the hands +of the Greeks. + +"There is just one chance left," Charley declared, desperately. "We +have got to get Manuel in our power and try to control the crew through +him. It may work and it may not, but it's our only hope. Chris, go tell +him we want to see him here in the cabin." + +As soon as the little negro had gone, Charley brought out a pair of +handcuffs from his grip and placed them in his pocket. "When I give +the signal, get them on him," he said. "I'll lock the door so that he +cannot get out or the crew come to help him. He'll likely put up a +fight and we'll have to watch out for his knife, but the three of us +had ought to be able to handle him. But hush, here they come now." + +Footsteps sounded on the companionway stairs, the cabin door opened, +and Chris appeared, closely followed by the Greek. The little negro +stepped inside but Manuel paused on the threshold and swept a keen +glance over the assembled party. Perhaps some instinct warned him of +his danger, perhaps he decided that the time had come for his last +treacherous move. With a quick leap, he sprang back through the open +doorway, slammed the door to, and bolted it outside, and the little +band of chums were prisoners in the cabin of their own ship. + +Charley leaped from his chair, but he was too late. + +"Outwitted," he cried as he sank back into his seat. "Beaten at every +point of the game. What fools, what bunglers we are." There was as much +chagrin as fear in his exclamations. To be so badly beaten after all +his vigilance and careful planning was hard to bear. + +His companions sat silent with despair. So suddenly had it all happened +they had not yet had time to realize that they were completely in the +hands of the Greeks who could do with them as they pleased. + +Charley flipped open his pistol and handed one of his remaining +cartridges to his chum, "That gives us two apiece," he observed, +"although I doubt if we will either of us need them." He retired to +his cabin and reappeared with a blanket and a book. He spread out the +blanket on the floor and stretching himself out on it prepared to read. +"Might as well get what enjoyment we can," he said. "There's nothing we +can do, so we might as well take it easy while we may." + +"How can you be so careless?" his chum exclaimed, "any minute they may +come down upon us." + +"Little danger of that," the other replied, coolly. "They know we've +got four shots left yet. What would be the use of their taking chances +when they have got everything in their own hands." + +But his companions could not view their position with the same hopeless +resignation. While he read on apparently unconcerned, they discussed +plan after plan for escape from their prison and perilous situation, +only to reject one after the other as wildly impracticable. At last +they abandoned the discussion in despair. + +"Better turn in and try to get a good night's rest," Charley advised +them calmly. "I will keep watch for the first four hours, although I +don't believe there's the slightest use of it." + +"I'm too hungry to sleep," Walter declared. "I wonder why they do not +send us down our supper." + +"Bless your simple little soul," his chum exclaimed, "They do not +intend us to have anything to eat. I thought you understood that." + +His companions looked at each other in dismay. This, the greatest of +all their perils, had not before occurred to them. They understood now +the awfulness of their position. All the food and water were stored +forward. The Greeks had only to let them alone and they would slowly +die of hunger and thirst. + +"They will not get us that way," declared Walter, desperately. "Before +I'll die of hunger and thirst I'll set the schooner on fire." + +Charley nodded approval. "I've been thinking of that myself," he said. +"A quick death is better than a slow torturing one. But there is plenty +of time to talk of that. While there is life there is hope and I have +a feeling that something is going to turn up to help us out of this +scrape. I've just happened to think of one thing that's in our favor." + +He was prevented from explaining the new hope which had occurred to him +by a knock on the cabin door and Manuel's sneering voice enquiring, + +"Are the gentlemen quite comfortable?" + +"Quite," Charley assured him, calmly. "Much more comfortable than you +and your mates will be when the law reckons with you." + +"There is no law at sea but the law of the strongest and most cunning," +the Greek said, smoothly. "But I bear a proposal from my shipmates for +your distinguished consideration." + +"State it," replied the lad, briefly. + +"You are all in a bad position," stated the Greek with oily +maliciousness. "You were cunning but not cunning enough or our +positions would now be reversed. We have only to do nothing now and you +will all die. It would sadden our hearts to lose such loving friends +but we would strive to bear up bravely under the blow. But why should +you all die when we are willing to spare one. All that one would have +to do would be to take an oath to be faithful and true to us and do as +we bid him. Not only would his life be spared, but he would receive a +share of the great wealth we have discovered." + +"Why are you so very generous in your offers?" Walter demanded, +sarcastically. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +IMPRISONED. + + +"WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness. +"Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take +chances. There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see +that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws. She may come +upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we +continued to work without American officers. It would very likely get +us into trouble. But if one of you takes the part of the captain and +shows the papers and explains that the rest have died from fever, all +will go smoothly." + +"I suppose you have decided which one of us you want?" Charley asked, +curiously. + +"Any one of you will do, but we prefer you. You have brains enough to +realize where your own interests lie. It is easier to handle a smart +man than a fool. Consider the chance we are giving you, on the one hand +slow, painful, certain death; on the other, an honored position, great +wealth and safety--we are generous indeed." + +"But how do you know that I will play fair?" + +"The moment you joined us you would be as liable to the law as the rest +of us," Manuel said calmly, "We would live or hang together. You would +not dare to trifle with us, and I should watch you closely all the +time." + +"Here is my answer," declared Charley, whose indignation had been +steadily rising at the cold-blooded proposal. "If you would all keep +your part of the agreement,--which I am convinced you would not do, I'd +die rather than join such a pack of dirty murderers." + +"You are a bigger fool than I thought," replied the Greek calmly. +"I will leave you to consider the matter better. Hunger is a great +persuader, and I am in hopes that you will soon see where your best +interests lie. Good-night, gentlemen, good-night, may your dreams be of +the pleasantest." + +"He's evidently somewhat worried," said Charley, hopefully, when the +Greek's mocking voice had ceased. "He believes, I guess, that there is +a good chance of the cutter coming upon him or he would not make such +a proposal, although he would not keep his part of it any longer than +the danger lasted. Our only hope is to keep up our strength and spirits +as long as possible. There is a chance that the cutter may come along +before it is too late. Better all turn in and get some rest while you +are still not too hungry to sleep. I will call one of you to take my +place as soon as my four hours are up, although I do not believe that +they will trouble us." + +The lad was right in his belief. The night passed away without any +alarm and they were able by turns to get some little sleep. With the +coming of daylight, they crowded to the windows and searched the dreary +waste of waters for sign of smoke or sail, but found none. The crew +were going about their work in cheerful unconcern. Leaving a half dozen +men on the schooner, the balance got aboard the diving boat and sailed +out to the sponge ground where they could be seen working steadily all +day bringing up the gold from the bottom. The prisoners suffered much +during the long day from their increasing hunger and thirst. + +At night the diving boat returned to the schooner and the dispirited +watchers could see that the crew had not wasted their day by any means. +Both sponge baskets were nearly full of the gold coins. + +"We've got to do something, I don't care how desperate it is," declared +Captain Westfield. "Anything is better than this keeping still and +suffering. By to-morrow this time we'll be too weak to do much and thar +ain't no certainty that the cutter will come along this way at all. I'm +in for doing something, no matter what." + +Charley turned from his gazing out of the window, "Look here, +Captain," he called, softly. "Speak low," he cautioned as the old +sailor crept to his side, "we don't want them to hear us on deck." + +"Geewhilikens!" whispered the old seaman in swift comprehension, +"they've left the diving boat fastened right under our windows." + +"God grant that they may not think to move it," the lad replied, +trembling with excitement. "We can do nothing until it gets dark and +they retire to the forecastle." + +Walter and Chris were quickly made acquainted with the suddenly-offered +chance of escape and their joy knew no bounds. + +Then followed hours which seemed like days to the breathless, anxious +watchers. The Greeks ate their supper and lounged around the deck +talking and laughing. It seemed as though they would never retire to +their bunks. But at last their voices gradually ceased and silence +settled down upon the schooner. Charley cautiously opened one of the +big windows and swung it outward, then climbing softly toward the +opening, lowered himself to the diving boat's deck. The Captain, +Walter, and Chris followed. Not a word was spoken for each realized +the terrible risk they were running. As soon as all were crouched +motionless aboard, Charley, with his knife, severed the rope which +bound them to the schooner and the boat drifted slowly away from the +ship's side. + +No one moved until the schooner was at last lost in the darkness. + +"Start up the engine," said Charley, as he took the helm, and Walter +slipped down amongst the machinery. After a few minutes' fumbling in +the darkness, he crept back. + +"There's no gasoline in the tank," he announced. + +"Everything seems against us," Charley sighed. "Well, get sail on her. +We will have to do the best we can." + +In a few minutes the great square sail was spread, and, leaning over, +the little craft sent a line of foam rippling from her bow. + +"They'll have hard work finding us in this darkness," exulted the +captain as he took the helm from Charley. "I reckon, we'd better shape +a course for the nearest port,--that's Judson. As soon as we get thar, +we can telegraph to all the ports along the coast to watch out for +the schooner. We've got 'em now, I reckon, lads, they'll have to put +in somewhere sooner or later, an' they'll be nabbed. I feel just like +yelling for joy." + +The rising spirits of the little party were helped by Chris' discovery +of a couple of loaves of stale black bread, and part of a bottle of +ripe olives in one of the lockers. They made a meagre but very welcome +repast upon the uninviting food. + +But their joy over their lucky escape was soon dampened by the +threatening appearance of the Western sky. A heavy bank of clouds was +slowly rising there from which came flashes of lightning and the rumble +of distant thunder. + +"I reckon, it ain't nothin' but a thunder squall," the captain assured +them. "Thar ain't no call to be uneasy, this is a mighty seaworthy +little craft. I reckon, we could ride out a right smart gale in her if +we had it to do." + +Before they ran much further the captain gave the order to lower and +reef the great sail. When hoisted again, it was only a tiny patch of +canvas, as compared with its former size. + +"Thar's only one thing for us to do when that squall strikes us an' +that's to scud before it," the old captain declared. "We can't heave +her to under that sail. Luckily, the way it's coming won't blow us out +of our course much." + +They had not long to wait for the storm to burst. The wind soon +descended with a violence that threatened to bury the diving boat in +the seas it brought with it. But the little craft had been built to +stand just such weather, and, quickly gathering headway, she darted +away before the gale. With the wind came the rain in great driving, +blinding sheets. The boys hailed its appearance with joy. They spread +out their jackets, bits of sail, and even their hats to catch the +precious drops. In a short while they had secured enough to quench +their intense thirst. This done, they gathered around the captain at +the helm ready to render any assistance in their power. There was +little they could do for the old sailor would trust no one but himself +to steer in the heavy sea-way. As the hours passed by without showing +any abatement of the storm, it became evident to his companions that he +was growing anxious. + +"I don't like the way it's hanging on," he declared. "We must be making +at least twelve miles an hour and, at that rate, we will have the land +close aboard before daylight. Crawl forward, Charley, an' keep a sharp +look-out, the sky is clearing some an', I reckon, you can see a few +hundred feet ahead." + +The lad obediently worked his way up into the bow, and bracing himself +against the anchor bitts, peered ahead into the darkness. He could make +out nothing at first but the heavy foam-flecked, tossing water. He sat +watching intently till, at last, Walter crawled forward to take his +place. He had only got part way back to the stern when there came a cry +from his chum, + +"Hard down! hard down!" + +With true seaman's quickness, the Captain jammed the long tiller over +and the little craft, escaping broaching in the trough of the seas by a +miracle, shot up into the wind--a second too late. + +"Hang on for your lives!" the old sailor cried. + +Black masses loomed out of the darkness to leeward. A great wave picked +up the helpless boat and flung it with crashing, breaking timbers, upon +the rocks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +WRECKED. + + +THE boys had obeyed the old sailor's order, and, though greatly shaken +by the shock, they retained their hold on the boat. + +"Quick, get on the rocks," shouted the Captain. "She'll pound to pieces +in a jiffy." + +Fortunately, the boat's bow had been driven up on the ledge nearly +out of the water. The boys dropped over the side followed by the +old sailor, and, though beaten and bruised against the sharp rocks +succeeded in struggling out upon the one which reared itself above +the water. They glanced back to where the boat had struck, but, short +as had been their struggle out, it had witnessed the destruction +of the staunch craft. Only that portion of her bow lodged upon the +reef remained intact, the balance of her hull was a mass of twisted, +splintered, broken planks. + +Great as was the danger from which they had escaped, their present +position was still far from safe. The slippery rock afforded but +insecure footing and it was frequently swept by the larger seas. At +such times, they had all they could do to keep from being swept off its +slimy surface. + +"I reckon, we've struck on a reef," the Captain said, anxiously. "It +all depends upon the tide whether we are safe or not. If it's low tide, +now, high tide will cover this rock so deep that we'll not be able to +hang on to it." + +It soon became evident that the tide was still rising, though slowly. +The waves began sweeping over the flat rock with such violence that +the tired, wretched, anxious, little party could hardly maintain their +footing. To the right and left of them, rose other higher masses of +rock, but they did not dare to attempt to reach them through the +darkness and the boiling surf. Wet, cold, hungry, and wretched; they +clung to their insecure refuge until day began to break in the East. +With the coming of light they strained their brine-smarting eyes to +discover what manner of place it was upon which they had been thrown. +The outlook was not reassuring. They were, as the Captain had surmised, +on a point of low-lying reef, most of which was constantly wave-swept +by the monstrous surges. To the East of them, lay a low, marshy shore +dotted here and there with small islands covered with cedar hammocks, +but between them and the islands was at least two miles of foaming +water. The boys gazed wistfully at the longed-for land. + +"We can't make it," Charley said, sadly. "Chris might, perhaps, be +able to swim it, but it would be a long swim for the rest of us at any +time, and, tired and weak as we are now, it would be impossible. We +will have to stick it out here until the storm goes down a bit, then, +try to fashion some kind of a raft out of the planks of the diving +boat." + +"We can't be far from Judson," said the Captain, with an attempt at +cheerfulness. "A boat may come by an' pick us up any minute." + +But the boys were not cheered by any such prospect. They knew that the +chance of any boat being out in such weather was very small indeed. +One fact, however, gave them a little hope; the tide was undoubtedly +falling. It had evidently been almost at its height when they had +landed on the rock. + +"I wish we had something to eat," Walter sighed, "we have had nothing +but a little bread in two days. I begin to feel weak all over." + +Chris gazed thoughtfully at the water on the shore-side of the rock. "I +reckon, I might find somethin' down dar," he observed. "I'se goin' to +try it anyway. You white chilluns has sho' got to hab somethin' to eat." + +Although the water was somewhat smoother to the lee of the rocks, +it boiled and foamed there threateningly and the boys endeavored to +dissuade the plucky little negro from the attempt, but their objections +only made him the more determined. + +"Golly! you chilluns doan know what a diver dis nigger is," he said, +proudly. "You jes' stay still an' watch him now." He removed his +clothes, handing them to Charley to hold, slipped over the side of the +rock, and sank down beneath the surface. He was gone so long that the +watchers had begun to grow anxious when he reappeared, blowing like a +porpoise. In one hand, he held tightly clenched, a big stone crab and a +large conch. + +"Take 'em," he exclaimed, "I'se goin' down again. Dar's heaps more of +dem on de bottom." + +He continued diving until he had brought up six more conchs and two +more crabs, then he crawled out on the rock completely exhausted, and +held up one foot for their inspection. There was a tiny puncture in the +sole of it from which the blood was slowly trickling. + +"I reckon, I'se goin' to hab some trubble wid dat foot," he observed, +gravely. "Ole Mister Stingaree gib me a dig dar. He warn't much bigger +dan a plate, but der horns are powerful poison." + +His announcement sent a chill of fear to the hearts of his companions, +for they all well-knew the dangerous character of the flat, horn-tailed +fish which lurks on the bottom in Florida waters. The Captain did not +lose a second in whipping out his sheath knife and cutting open the +puncture which he washed out thoroughly with sea water. He then made +Chris sit on the edge of the rock and hang his foot over in the water. + +The plucky little negro bore the operation with unflinching +cheerfulness. "I sho' wish you'd open up one ob dem conch for me, Massa +Charley," he observed. "If dis ting's goin' to make me sick, I wants to +be dat much ahead." + +Charley quickly broke open one of the conchs and gave him the meat,--a +big lump of tough flesh, almost sufficient for an entire meal. He also +opened several others for the Captain, Walter, and himself, upon which +they made a hearty and strengthening, if somewhat tasteless, meal. +Chris ate but little of the tough meat, he soon pushed it away from him +with a weary little sigh. + +"I doan want no moah," he said, quietly. "I'ze gettin' berry sick. +Reckon ole Mister Stingaree dun got dis nigger for sho'." + +His little ebony face soon took on a dull-ashen hue and he began to +vomit violently; passing from these spells into a heavy stupor, the +mysterious subtle poison from the stingaree was getting in its work. +His grieving companions watched him in helpless suspense, there was +nothing they could do to relieve his sufferings. + +"We can't let him die like this," Charley cried, as the little sufferer +twitched in spasms of pain. "I am going to try to reach shore and find +help. He has taken bigger risks for us many a time." + +Neither Walter or the Captain tried to stop him. They would have gladly +offered to make the attempt in his place but he was the strongest and +best swimmer of the three. + +He removed his jacket and shoes and with a last good-bye, plunged off +of the rock and headed for the distant shore. He had not gone more than +twenty yards when he stopped with a cry of joy. + +"Come on," he called back, "the water isn't more than three feet deep +here. There's only a deep place near the rocks and you can get across +that easily." + +But he had to return to help them get Chris across the deep narrow +channel, for the little negro's struggles in his spasms threatened +to drown his helpers. At last, the dangerous stretch of water was +safely crossed, and, leaving Walter and the Captain to half float and +half carry Chris between them, the lad waded ahead, picking out the +shoalest and smoothest path to the shore. They arrived there spent and +panting and sank down for a moment to recover their breath. It was not +an inviting-looking place where they had landed. A low rock-strewn +marsh, covered with tall, rank grass stretched away before them for +two or three miles before it met the higher, heavily-wooded mainland. +Here and there the marsh was dotted with small, island-like clumps of +dark green cedar trees, and, picking up the light, little negro in his +strong, young arms, Charley headed for the nearest of these, followed +by his exhausted companions. The passage was made with difficulty; low +needle-pointed rocks strewed the way, and here and there lay pools +of soft, boggy mud, tenanted by repulsive, swollen looking moccasins. +It needed care to avoid the one without stepping on the other, but, +at last, the patch of high ground was reached and, laying his burden +beneath a wide-spreading cedar, Charley turned to his companions. + +"We have got to work quick if we are to stand a chance even of saving +him," he said, crisply. "Walter, get in to the mainland as quick as +you can and bring me all the palmetto berries you can find,--hurry. +Captain, let me take your flint and steel and then get me a lot of soft +mud from the marsh." + +Tired though they were, the two hastened away to execute his orders, +while Charley worked swiftly to carry out the plan he had formed while +coming ashore. It was a heroic one, but rough measures were the only +ones it was in his power to apply. Hastily gathering together a pile +of dead cedar limbs, he lit a fire with the flint and steel. While it +was blazing up, he stripped off his belt and, tying it above Chris' +knee, with a stick twisted it tight until it was embedded in the flesh, +shutting off the flow of blood from below to the heart. He next heated +a small stone in the now blazing fire and applied it while hot to the +swollen wound. The smell of the crisping flesh sickened him, but he +doggedly stuck to his task until he judged the wound was sufficiently +cauterized. Chris lay mercifully lost to the pain in a deep stupor. The +lad had just finished burning the wound when the Captain returned with +his jacket full of soft mud, and, emptying it out, hastened back for +another load. Charley heaped a lot of rocks upon the fire, and, as soon +as they were hot, ranged them close on each side of the wounded limb, +heaping the soft mud on top of them until he had formed an air-tight +mound over the leg. He now had a great poultice of hot mud of great +drawing power, the danger was that Chris might be attacked by other +spasms and succeed in working his leg out from the hot covering. To +prevent this, the lad tore his shirt up into strips and, binding the +little negro tightly, piled stones around the encased leg so that it +could not be easily moved. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +HUNTING HELP. + + +CHARLEY next cut off small branches of cedar and placed them under +the unconscious little fellow's head and back so that he might rest +as comfortably as possible. This done, he sat back breathless and +exhausted and waited impatiently for Walter's return. + +Captain Westfield surveyed the young physician's work with hopeful +admiration. "If Chris lives, it will be you as has saved his life," he +declared. + +"He has saved mine more than once," Charley replied, "but I am afraid +he is not going to live. I don't like this deep stupor he has fallen +into. I wish Walter would hurry." + +Walter had been hurrying as fast as he could, and he soon appeared +bearing a hatful of ripe palmetto berries. His riddled shoes and +bleeding feet told of reckless running over the sharp rocks. + +Charley smashed the ripe berries between two stones, catching the juice +in his cap. Chris' teeth were tightly set, but he managed to pry them +apart with his knife blade and forced some of the sticky liquid down +his throat. + +"I don't know whether it will help him or not, but I am in hopes it +will," he said, as, tired out, he sat down by the little fellow's side. +"Those berries make a powerful tonic and stimulant, and I believe that +is what is needed. The poison seems to have deadened the heart's action +and brought on that stupor. A few minutes will tell whether it is going +to do any good." + +It soon became evident that the rude remedies were performing their +mission well, the sufferer's pulse, which had grown slow and feeble, +quickened, and his little face began to lose some of its ashen hue. + +As soon as he became sure that a change for the better was taking +place, Charley arose from his brief rest. + +"I am going to find help," he declared. "We must get him to some place +where he can have proper attention. How far do you think we are from +Judson, Captain?" + +"Not more than twenty miles to the north of it, I judge. Maybe not more +than ten miles. But you must not dream of starting yet awhile, lad. You +must rest for a bit, an' have something to eat first." + +"And I am going with you when you start," Walter declared. "Something +might happen to you amongst those slippery rocks and awful bog holes. +The Captain can do all that can be done for Chris while you are gone." + +There was no disputing the wisdom of both suggestions and they busied +themselves with the first proposition, the finding of something to eat. +This demanded more time and trouble. Another trip had to be made down +to the water and considerable searching was necessary before they could +collect enough of crabs and shell fish to make the full meal that their +hunger craved. Their rest they gained while their dinner was roasting +in the coals. + +Their rest, meal, and Chris' steadily improving condition, put them all +in better strength and spirits, and the boys were cheerful when they +bid the old sailor good-bye and made their start in search of help. + +"We'll be back as soon as we can get back, Captain," Charley said, "but +you don't want to worry if we take longer than you expect." + +"I reckon, I'll keep too busy to have much time for worryin'," the old +sailor replied. "Jes' be careful, lads, an' get back as soon as you +can." + +He watched until the rank marsh grass hid the two lads from sight, +then busied himself with making the camp a little more comfortable for +himself and his sick companion. Chris' welfare was the first thing to +claim his attention. With his sheath knife he cut armful after armful +of marsh grass and added it to the rough couch Charley had fashioned +for the little negro, converting it into a soft, comfortable bed. +The low-hanging cedar boughs formed a kind of rude shelter over the +little lad, but the captain was not entirely satisfied with it. The +rainy season was near at hand and heavy showers might be expected at +any time. A thick layer of marsh grass placed over the lowest cedar +limbs quickly made the covering more to his satisfaction. This done, +he paused for a brief rest and to decide what should be his next task. +Although, he knew that the port of Judson could not be more than twenty +miles away, he realized that, owing to the necessarily slow traveling +amongst the sharp rocks and bog holes, it might be at least three days +before the boys could succeed in getting back with help. His duties, +then, would be the care of Chris, the providing of food for them both, +and the gathering of firewood. Water was luckily plentiful, there was +an abundance of it in a cup-like depression near the center of the +island. + +In a Northern country with no weapons but his sheath knife, these tasks +would have seemed almost impossible of accomplishment, but the captain +was not discouraged. The first thing, of course, was to see that the +little negro's marked improvement was not checked. Heating more stones +in the fire, the old sailor piled them around the mound of mud covering +the wounded leg. Then, as the berries Walter had brought were nearly +exhausted, he decided that the next thing of importance was to lay in +a fresh supply. He found the trip to the mainland slow and dangerous. +Where the way was not strewn with sharp-pointed rocks, it was dotted +with forbidding-looking sink holes of soft, slimy mud. Rank-growing +marsh grass covered the whole, making it extremely difficult to pick +out a safe passage through the dangers. At last, however, he gained +the mainland where he found the oily black berries growing in greatest +profusion. He gathered his jacket full of them and then sat down on a +fallen log to rest a minute and look around. It was an inviting spot in +which he found himself. The land rose up from the marsh to form a high, +sloping bluff through which trickled a stream of clear, reddish water. + +The bluff was covered with a dense growth of palms, satinwoods, bays, +rubber trees, and low-ground palmettos. It was an ideal place for a +camp, and the captain eyed it regretfully, wishing that it was possible +to bring Chris there from the little marsh-surrounded island. But +that was impossible until the little fellow was able to walk and he +dismissed the idea with a sigh. He was just gathering up his jacket of +berries to leave when a noise in the undergrowth close at hand made +him sink back to his seat on the log. The brushes before him parted +suddenly and a large deer stepped out into an open place not twenty +feet from where he sat. For a full two minutes, he and the timid animal +remained motionless, looking directly into each other's eyes, then the +old sailor pulled out his sheath knife and sprang for it with some +wild notion of securing it for food, but the deer leaped lightly away +a few steps and stopped again as if in deepest wonder and curiosity. +The captain sheathed his knife with a sigh. "I reckon, you don't know +how wicked men are," he addressed the graceful animal. "Guess you ain't +ever seed many men or you wouldn't be so powerful tame. Some steaks +from you would taste right good, but you ain't aiming to let me get +close enough for that. Well, good-bye, old fellow, I hope I'll meet you +again sometime when I've got a good gun." + +Saying which, the old sailor picked up his burden and headed back for +the island, the deer gazing after him in innocent-eyed wonder. + +He had nearly reached the little camp when a scream from Chris sent him +forward at a run, regardless of rocks and sink holes. + +The scene that met his gaze as he burst into the little clearing +chilled him with horror and dismay. + +Attracted, no doubt, by its warmth, two huge, swollen-looking moccasins +had crawled up on the little heap of mud and now lay with their flat, +ugly heads within a few inches of the little negro's trembling body. + +"Don't move an inch, Chris," he shouted, as he broke off a dead limb +from a cedar tree. + +The caution was useless, for, bound as he was, hand and foot, Chris +could only lay and stare in horror and helplessness. + +A couple of well-aimed blows from the stick killed the two poisonous, +sluggish serpents, and, dragging them to the edge of the island, the +captain pitched them out into the marsh. + +"They ain't very pleasant visitors," he remarked as he returned to his +helpless companion, "but I reckon, they've done you a heap of good. You +was laying like a dead man when I went ashore and now you look right +pert and lively." + +"Dey's too sudden an' powerful medicine," grumbled Chris. "Dis nigger +might jes' as well die as be scart to death. Golly! how my leg does +burn and smart. Please take dat stuff off ob hit, Massa Captain, an' +unloose my han's." + +But the old sailor feared to remove the mud poultice, dreading another +relapse. However, he untied the little negro's hands, upon his promise +that he would lie still and not move. He was delighted with the change +in the little lad. Whether the shock from the snakes, or, what was much +more probable, the continued effects of the palmetto juice had done the +work, the stupor which had frightened them all was entirely gone, and +the patient soon declared himself decidedly hungry. + +Cutting a stick and laying it within Chris' reach so that he would +have the means of protecting himself from other possible visitors, the +Captain departed in search of food. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE CASTAWAYS. + + +IT was lucky for the captain that he was wise to the resources of the +Florida coast. A stranger to the country would not have known where to +look for food and would likely have soon perished of hunger. Although +he had no other weapon than his sheath knife, he went about his task +with the air of a man who was confident of success. Before leaving the +island, he cut a long, straight cypress pole and sharpened one end to +a keen point. With this in his hand, he made his way down to the Gulf. +The tide was high again but there was a mass of rock some two hundred +feet from shore which protruded a couple of feet above the water. +Removing his shoes, he waded cautiously out, prodding the bottom before +him with his pole and picking his way carefully to avoid stepping on a +stingaree. + +The rock reached, he perched himself on its edge and sat peeping down +into the water which was clear as crystal. He had not long to wait. In +a few minutes a fish swam slowly past close to the rock, and, taking +careful aim, the old sailor dove his rude spear down with all his +force. Its point struck just behind the fish's head, passing entirely +through its body. It died without a struggle, and the captain lifted it +out upon the rock with a shout of triumph. It was a beautifully-specked +sea trout about three feet in length and weighed at least twelve +pounds. Although there was plenty of other fish within sight, the +trout was enough for their present needs and, scaling and washing it +carefully, the captain waded ashore with his prize. But he was not yet +quite satisfied. Laying his fish down upon a bunch of clean sea moss, +he examined carefully the muddy beach near the water's edge. Here and +there, tiny jets of water squirted up from the mud, and, where they +seemed to be most numerous, he began to dig. In a few minutes he had +unearthed a couple of dozen large clams. With these and the fish, and a +huge armful of moist sea moss in his arms, he made his way back to camp +where Chris was eagerly awaiting his return. + +"I sho' wish I could get up from hyah," mourned the little negro. +"Golly! I reckon, I'd show you how to cook dat fish so dat you nebber +could eat nuff ob hit." + +"You jes' lie still thar," commanded the captain. "I'm a Cape Cod man, +an' thar ain't any cook living that can show a Cape Cod man how to cook +this kind of grub. You just watch and learn somethin'." + +Chris watched him with professional jealousy and interest. He +firmly believed that no one on earth could cook as good as he but +he reluctantly admitted to himself that the old sailor made his +preparations with considerable promise of success. + +First, he scooped out a hole in the ground about three feet deep and +two feet square and kindled a small fire in the bottom upon which he +placed a layer of small rocks, as soon as it was going good, then, he +paused to remark regretfully, + +"I wish we had some potatoes. I never heard of a clam bake yet without +potatoes." + +"Dar's something jes' as good as 'taters," declared Chris, pointing to +a low-growing plant. "Jes' you dig up some ob dem roots an' try 'em. +Hit's wild cassava, an' hit taste jes' like Irish 'taters." + +The captain dug down with his sheath knife and unearthed several tubers +a couple of feet in length and about three inches in circumference. He +regarded them dubiously, but, on Chris' repeated assurances that they +were good and wholesome, he cut off several pieces and washed them +carefully. By the time this was done, the fire in the pit had burned +low, and the stones were smoking hot. Cutting several broad, green, +palmetto leaves, he laid them on the stones and spread over them a thin +layer of the moist sea moss. Upon the moss he laid the fish and over it +spread another layer of moss upon which he placed the clams, covering +them with more moss, upon which he placed the cassava, and, piling a +thick layer of sea grass over the whole, built a small fire on top of +it. Then he sat down and watched the fire while he and Chris waited +hungrily the slow cooking of their meal. At last, the captain declared +that it must be done. The fire on top was raked away, the contents of +the pit were taken out and placed upon green, clean palmetto leaves, +and the two castaways fell-to with appetites sharpened by their long +wait. And what a feast it was,--the clams cooked to perfection in their +own juice, the fish juicy and delicious, the cassava snow-white and +mealy and all rendered doubly delicious by the salt spicy taste of the +seaweed in which they had been cooked. And what a joy it was to feel +that the worst of their troubles were over. Chris getting better, the +boys soon to be back with help, all the worry and anxiety they had +suffered past, the next few days to see them all safely back in Tarpon, +where they would all wait in comfort and safety, ready to claim their +ship when the Greeks brought her in, and, after that, they would return +for the gold and with it they would secure the many things they had +longed for all their lives. + +Surely the prospect was bright enough to make the two lonely castaways +chatter brightly, cheerfully, and hopefully over their evening meal. +They could not see the dangers, worries, and misfortunes yet to befall +them, and it was well they could not for it would have robbed the two +of the happiest hour they had had in many days. + +At last, the feast was over and Chris had paid the cook the highest +compliment of which he could conceive. + +"Golly! Massa Capt., you cooked dem tings might nigh as good as I could +have done." + +Although there were many things which the captain wished to do, +darkness was fast coming on and he had to complete his final +preparations for the night. First, he cut a lot of small boughs which +he piled up under the shelter close to Chris to serve as his own bed. +This done, he gathered piles of wood which he spread in a circle around +the big cedar and set on fire to protect them both from chance visits +of snakes during the night. By the time this was finished, it was dark +and he crept in under the shelter close to his dusky little companion +in misfortune, and, after a short, simple prayer full of thankfulness +for their deliverance from the dangers that had threatened them, he +quickly fell into the deep sleep of total exhaustion. But sleep did not +come so readily to Chris. He had slept, or been unconscious, much of +the time since his accident and the stimulating effect of the palmetto +medicine helped to drive slumber away from him. He lay very quiet to +avoid disturbing the old sailor's rest, but, try as he would, he could +not get to sleep. At last he gave up the attempt and lay with eyes +wide open looking out at the stars and the twinkling camp-fires. From +the marsh about came strange noises of the night, the croaking of +multitudes of frogs, the cackle of marsh hens, the squawking of cranes, +and the rustling of the marsh grass in the wind. Slowly the circle of +fire died down, smouldered and went out. Only the big main camp-fire +was left a glowing mass of embers. + +Suddenly the wakeful little negro's ears caught another sound mingled +with the voices of the night,--a slow, heavy, creeping noise. For a +time he lay quiet listening, his hearing strained to the utmost to +catch the new strange sound. He waited until there was no doubt that it +was close at hand and steadily drawing nearer, then, he reached over +and shook his snoring companion. + +"Wake up, Massa Captain," he cried, "dar's some wild beast a creepin' +into de camp." + +"I hear it," agreed the captain, instantly wide awake. "Jes' lay still, +lad, an' don't be frightened. I'll stir up the fire a bit, that will +run it off." + +He arose from his couch and strode boldly for the smouldering fire. + +"Look out!" Chris yelled, suddenly, "Foah de Lawd's sake, look out!" +His keen eyes had caught a glimpse of a black shape passing between the +old sailor and the mass of glowing embers, but his warning came too +late,--the captain was upon the moving shape before he saw it. + +A swishing noise rent the air, a loud thud, the old sailor was knocked +backward several feet flat on the ground, and, with a loud, sharp +bellowing, the mysterious visitor glided away into the darkness. + +"Is you hurt? Is you hurt, Massa Cap?" cried the terror-stricken lad. + +"A little bit, a little bit," called back the old sailor, his voice +hoarse with pain. + +He came creeping back into the shelter on hands and knees. + +"It was a big bull alligator," he explained, painfully. "Must have been +twelve feet long. It caught me a fearful blow on the legs with its +tail. I hope thar ain't no bones broken but it feels as though thar +was." + +A close examination proved his fears groundless, but the terrible blow +had done all but break the bones. In spite of the pain, however, he +crawled forth again and replenished the fire, but he was faint and +giddy with pain before he succeeded in getting back into the shelter +and stretched out on his couch once more. + +"I reckon, I'll be all right by morning," he said, hopefully, "but I +don't calculate I'll be able to sleep any more to-night, my legs hurt +too bad for that. Don't make any difference though, I 'low I've had +enough sleep for one night--it can't be more than a couple of hours +'till daylight." + +It proved to be even less and with the coming of light he removed his +trousers and examined his limbs anxiously. He had indeed received a +terrible blow from the prowling monster, both legs were bruised and +swollen where the tail had struck it and it seemed a miracle that the +bones had not been broken. It caused him exquisite pain to rise upon +his feet, but there was work which had to be done, and, in spite of his +suffering, he must do it. So, hiding his pain as well as he could, he +prepared to sally forth to secure food for the day. + +But in spite of all his efforts he could not entirely hide his intense +suffering. + +"You jes' lay down an' let me go out an' find grub, Massa Cap," Chris +pleaded. "I feels jes' as well as can be again now." + +But the sturdy old sailor would not listen to his pleadings. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ANOTHER DANGER. + + +"DAR'S one thing I want you to do 'fore you go projectin' off," said +the little negro. "I wants you to cut me some ob dem palmetto buds. +I'se goin' to braid you a hat. Hit's a plum wonder dat you ain't got +sun struck goin' bareheaded like you is." + +"I ain't had time to remember that I lost my hat when we were wrecked. +I'se been so worried an' busy," said the captain. "Now you speak of it, +my head does feel sort of dull an' heavy. I hope the boys will think to +cover their heads with something--this sun does beat down right hot." + +"Mass Charley will sho' rig up some kind ob hat," Chris declared, +confidently. "'Sides dey's both young an' can stand a heap more sun den +what you kin. You jes' be mighty careful dis mornin' an' by noon dis +nigger will hab a fine hat fixed for you. I'se done made lots ob dem on +Cat Island." + +There was a few young cabbage palms scattered over the island and +the captain cut out several of the buds with his sheath knife and +placed them beside the little negro, then, knotting up the ends of his +bandanna handkerchief to form a turban, he took his spear and started +for the shore. + +Chris watched his slow, faltering, painful steps until he was out of +sight then began on his proposed task. The buds were really young fresh +leaves yet unfolded, soft and pliable, yet very strong. He shredded +them into strips about half an inch in width until he had accumulated +quite a pile; then, taking four of the pieces at a time, with deft, +skillful fingers, he wove them into a braid about an inch in width. + +In a couple of hours, he had a string of braid several yards long. + +The fashioning of the braid into a hat, without needle and thread and +while lying flat on his back was a more difficult task, but he attacked +it with cheerful energy, using the point of his knife for a needle and +small strips of palmetto for thread. At last, his task was completed, +and, although the hat was grotesque in shape and appearance, it was +soft, strong, and light, and would prove an effective protection from +the fierce rays of the tropic sun. The little worker was not yet +satisfied but at once set about the manufacture of a basket from the +same material realizing how useful it would be for the carrying of +clams, fish, and other things. + +He was still engaged upon it when the captain came stumbling into +camp bearing a large fish and several dozen more of the clams. The +old sailor's face was red, his movement weak and uncertain, and his +breathing heavy and labored, while he was trembling violently from head +to foot. He sank down in the cedar's shade and wiped his flaming face. + +"I reckon, I've got a touch of the sun," he said, feebly. "I feel weak +and dizzy. I'll lie down in the shade for a bit an' it will pass off. +Don't be worried, lad, it will pass off in a jiffy." + +But pass off it did not. By the end of half an hour the sturdy old +seaman was lying unconscious, his breath coming in short, wheezy gasps. + +Chris watched him for a while in anxiety and fear. He knew that it +might be dangerous for him to move his wounded leg but all thought +of his own danger was lost in the fear that the stricken old sailor +was dying before his eyes. He attempted to pull his leg out from the +mound but could not move it. The heat of the stones had baked the mud +hard. With great effort he raised himself into a sitting position, +and, with his sheath knife cut and dug away frantically at the baked +mud until he had the leg uncovered, then, severing the bandage above +his knee, he attempted to rise but could not move the injured limb. He +fell back and viewed it with frightened dismay. It was not a pretty +sight for it was a mass of blisters where the hot mud had clung, and a +large bluish swelling marked the place where the stingaree's horn had +entered. The tight bandage, shutting off the blood supply for so long, +had rendered it paralyzed and useless. Although the breaking blisters +caused him exquisite pain, he fell to rubbing the numbed limb briskly +with both hands until the blood crept slowly back into the veins. At +last, he was able to gain his feet and by resting most of his weight +on his uninjured leg managed to limp over to the unconscious sailor. +Luckily, he had been raised in a torrid country where sunstrokes were +of frequent occurrence. He knew just what to do and he did it quickly +and surely. His first act was to raise the unconscious man's head and +place a high pillow of twigs beneath it. Then, stirring the smouldering +fire, he placed several large stones in the glowing coals. While they +were heating he removed the captain's shoes and bathed his hot head +and flushed face with cool water, and tearing his shirt to pieces, wet +it and bound it around the sufferer's head. By the time this was done, +the stones were hot, and, rolling a couple up in his jacket, he placed +them at the captain's feet, then, seated by his side, he awaited the +result with fear and trembling. A terrible dread gripped his heart that +the remedies had been applied too late, for the old sailor had all the +appearance of a dying man. Thirty minutes dragged slowly away without +apparent change, then, slowly, the old sailor's breathing grew less +labored and his face began to lose some of its fiery hue. Chris hailed +these favorable signs with joy as indicated that the crisis had been +safely passed, but his joy was somewhat dampened when the hours passed +by without the stricken man showing signs of consciousness. He seemed +to pass from his stupor to a deep sleep from which the little negro +dreaded awakening him. It was evident that the old seaman was in for a +long spell of weakness from the heat stroke he had suffered. There was +nothing more his little companion could do to relieve his sufferings +and he remained seated by his side watching him anxiously until the +waning of the afternoon warned him that it was time to partake of food +and make preparations for the night. He had eaten nothing since the +night before and he was conscious of a sense of growing weakness. The +fish the captain had caught was already tainted from the heat and the +little negro felt too weak as yet to venture forth to secure more, so +he dug up a few of the cassava roots which he roasted in the coals. +These, together with a handful of palmetto berries, constituted his +supper. As soon as it was finished he began his preparations for the +night. Slowly and painfully, he gathered together broken limbs to keep +the circles of fire going until daylight came again. By the time this +was accomplished and the fires lit he was weak and trembling from pain +and exhaustion and was glad to crawl onto his couch by the captain's +side. The old sailor roused into momentary wakefulness at the noise of +the snapping twigs. + +"How you is, Massa Capt.?" demanded the little negro, eagerly. + +"Weak, mighty weak. Feel as though I couldn't lift my hand to my head, +but I will be all right by morning, I reckon. I guess, we have got no +cause to worry now. The boys will be back to-night or early in the +morning at the latest. How do you feel, lad?" + +"Fine," lied the little negro, cheerfully. "Jes' you go back to sleep +again. I'll keep de fires up all right." + +With a sigh of satisfaction, the captain closed his eyes and was +soon sound asleep again, but there was no such rest for his little +companion. Twice Chris hobbled out and renewed the fires. The third +time he had to crawl forth on hands and knees. His wound was again +swelling rapidly and he could no longer bear his weight on the injured +limb. He tried vainly to sleep. The wounded leg throbbed with intense +pain which gradually crept over his whole body, making him feel sick +and faint all over. He understood the reason for his sufferings. Some +of the poison still left in his wound had, with the removal of the +tight bandages from his leg, found its way back into the blood and was +coursing through his little body poisoning as it went. + +"Golly!" he remarked, grimly, to himself, "if dem white chillens doan +get back wid help an' medicine by mornin', I reckon dis nigger ain't +agoin' to see Cat Island and his old mammy no moah. An' if Chris gits +plum helpless what's goin' to become ob Massa Captain wid no one to +tend to him. He tinks he'll be all right in de mornin' but hits goin' +to take a powerful long time for him to get real peart again." + +The long night dragged slowly away. Occasionally the little negro crept +forth and replenished the fires, the balance of the time he lay quiet +listening for cry or sound that would tell of the boys' return, but +nothing fell upon his strained hearing but the croak of frogs, the +bellowing of alligators and the strange night noises of the marsh. + +At daylight the captain awoke and attempted to rise, but, although he +was greatly improved, he was yet too weak to stand erect. + +"You jes' lie still," Chris counseled him, "dar ain't no call for you +to go projectin' around none. I'se goin' out an' git somethin' for us +to eat." + +Although it cost him intense pain, the little negro managed to walk +erect until he was out of the old sailor's sight, then he dropped down +on hands and knees and crawled painfully down to the shore. + +The touch of the cool salt water helped the throbbing pain in his leg +and he succeeded in wading out to the rocks where he was not long in +spearing a large, fat mackerel. With this, he returned to the camp, +for he did not dare in his growing weakness to search for clams or +other food. He found the old sailor asleep again, and, cleaning the +fish he broiled it over the coals. As soon as it was done he awakened +the sleeper. + +"Hyah is youah breakfas' all nice an' hot," he announced. "You want to +eat a plenty ob hit. I'se agoin' to lay down a spell. I didn't sleep +berry good last night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE RELAPSE. + + +CAPTAIN WESTFIELD ate heartily of the delicious fish. Much to his +delight, he found that, except for the extreme weakness following his +heat prostration, he felt unusually well. He wisely decided not to +invite a relapse by getting up at once, and, as soon as he had finished +eating, he lay back upon his couch and quietly fell asleep again. It +was midday when he awoke feeling much better and stronger. The first +thing that met his gaze as he gained a sitting position was Chris lying +in the same position in which he had first flung himself. He called +to him several times but the little negro lay still and motionless. +Thoroughly alarmed, he crawled over and surveyed the unconscious lad. +The sight of the enormously swollen leg and a few minutes' fingering +of the dark little wrist told him what was the matter. The slow pulse +beats showed that the subtile poison, released from its confinement by +the removal of the bandage, had found its way to the plucky, loyal, +little heart. + +The captain sat down by the little fellow's side and dashed the +stinging tears from his eyes. + +"He's killed himself for me," he moaned. "If he had laid still just as +he was he would have been all right. But, God bless him, he risked his +life for a poor, old, worthless hulk like me. An' thar ain't nothing I +can do to save him now." + +Although he had but small faith that it would do any good in such a +desperate case, he hastily crushed out a cupful of juice from the +palmetto berries and forced it down Chris' throat, then, resuming his +seat by his side, he watched to see if the powerful stimulant would +have any effect. + +As the hours dragged slowly away he rejoiced to see that the lad's +condition apparently grew no worse. Encouraged, he crushed out more of +the juice and administered it at regular intervals. "I believe he's got +a good fighting chance to pull through. If the boys would only get back +with some whiskey an' drugs, now, I reckon, we could save him. I wonder +what can be keepin' them so long. They've had plenty of time to make +Judson and back." + +But the afternoon wore away without sign of the rescuers, and a new +fear crept into the old sailor's worries. Something must have happened +to the two boys. Late in the afternoon, he left Chris long enough +to hurry down to the shore in quest of fish or clams for supper. He +found the rock from which he had fished completely submerged and a +heavy surf thundering far up into the marsh. Under such conditions +it was impossible to secure fish or clams, and he returned to camp +hungry, disappointed, and with further cause for worry. The heavy surf +indicated another storm in the Gulf which might reach where they were. +If it did, it would render their position still more uncomfortable and +dangerous. A heavy blow would continue to cut off their supply of fish +and clams and would likely flood the low-lying marsh shutting them in +on their little island. If Chris had been well enough to walk, the +captain would have at once moved camp to the mainland, but that was +impossible now. By sunset his fears were in a fair way to be realized. +The wind was steadily increasing in force, and, blowing out of a clear +sky, gave promise of still greater violence. Supperless and worried, +the old sailor watched the night fall with but one thing to cheer his +drooping spirits--Chris was evidently slowly improving. Likely much of +the poison had been drawn out from his wound by the hot mud and the +balance remaining had been overcome in its paralyzing effects by the +powerful stimulant. The lad's pulse was slowly growing stronger and it +was clear that the crisis had been safely passed. + +The old sailor was too worried about the absent lads to compose himself +to sleep. Already, the surf was sending up small wavelets far into the +marsh. If the boys were returning the way they went, their journey +would be fraught with perils. + +The sky was covered with fleecy clouds but they disappeared with the +rising of the moon and by its bright light he could see far out on the +water where the huge waves broke foaming white on the outer bar. + +Suddenly he gave a shout that made Chris stir in his stupor; "The boys! +The boys!" he cried in delight. + +In the broad path of moonlight, a small schooner appeared feeling her +way through a passage in the reef under close-reefed sails. + +"They must have someone aboard that knows the reef," he mused as he +watched the little ship cautiously weaving her way in between the +dangerous rocks. + +She held steadily for the shore until she was scarce two cable lengths +from it, then, she shot up into the wind, her anchor was dropped, and +her sails lowered. + +The captain was down on the shore, heedless of the flying spray, when +the anchor hit the bottom. + +"Walt! Charley!" he roared at the top of his voice. + +There was no answer and he hailed again. + +"Ahoy! Shore!" came an answering hail from the schooner. "Who air yo' +and what do yo' want?" + +The captain was silent for a moment with disappointment. It was not the +boys after all, but any help was welcome at such a time and he made +haste to reply. + +"We're two shipwrecks in bad shape an' need help. Who are you?" + +"The Hattie Roberts, sponger, from Key West. Stan' by, an' we'll send a +boat." + +While the strangers were launching a boat, the captain had time to +observe that the schooner's decks were piled full of small boats and +that, small as she was, she carried a crew of at least thirty men. + +"An old style, pole an' hook sponger," he decided. "I didn't reckon +there was any of them left. I 'lowed the Greeks had run 'em all out of +business." + +Manned by half a dozen men, the little boat came tearing through the +waves towards the shore. Flung up by a huge roller, she grounded almost +at the captain's feet. The instant she touched bottom, her crew sprang +over the side and drew her up safely beyond the reach of the next +roller. Even by the dimmed light of the moon, the old sailor could see +that the new-comers were dark-skinned men with heavy coarse features. +He recognized them without the aid of the peculiar accent as Conchs,--a +kind of mixed race belonging to the Florida Keys. + +"Whar's yo's companion?" demanded one, who from his air of authority +was evidently the captain. + +"He's on a little island just a little ways from here. I'll have to get +one of your men to help me down with him." + +"All right, Sam here will go with yo'. Step lively, we have got to pull +out from hyar quick. There ain't as good anchorage as I 'lowed to find +behind the reef. We'll have to make foah a better harbor." + +The captain, with the sailor detailed to help him, was hurrying off on +their mission when the Conch's skippers curiosity caused him to stop +him in spite of the preciousness of time. + +"How did yo's git hyah in such a fix," he demanded. + +"Been sponging with a Greek crew. Crew mutinied. We escaped in a diving +boat. Got wrecked in the night on the reef out thar," replied Captain +Westfield, briefly. + +"Sponging with the Greeks!" snarled the Conch with an oath. "Then the +Greeks can help yo' out of yo'r fix, by all that's Holy, I won't. Hyah, +Sam, jump aboard with yo'." + +"You are not agoin' to desert us?" cried the captain in bewildered +consternation. "For the love of humanity, man, what do you mean?" + +"I mean that I won't raise a finger to help any mons who deals with +the Greeks--blast 'em," cried the Conch, fiercely. "They've ruined +us an' our people. We used to be a happy an' prosperous race a'fore +they came with their diving suits an' tramped all over the bottom of +the Gulf. Killing the little baby sponges with their iron shoes, an' +stripping the bottom clean as a Conch's floor. We've been run out of +the business, an' they did it. We've lost our homes, an' they caused +it. Our families don't have enough to eat an' wear any more, an' they +are the reason--curse 'em, curse 'em, curse 'em." + +"But you are leaving us to certain death, man!" pleaded Captain +Westfield, "The water is rising over the marsh, already." + +"An' it will be flooded inside of ten hours," declared the Conch with +cruel satisfaction. "All aboard mons an' shove off." + +Captain Westfield grasped the gunwale of the boat and tried to hold +it while he reasoned and argued with the fanatical Conch, but the +infuriated man rapped his knuckles with an oar and gave him a shove +with the blade that sent him struggling backwards. By the time the old +sailor recovered his balance, the boat had been shoved off and was out +of his reach. He shook his clenched fist at the Conch's receding figure. + +"You'll pay for this," he shouted. "No good will come to you after such +a trick." But it is doubtful if the Conch even heard his voice above +the roar of the wind. + +The captain stood watching grimly until the boat reached the +schooner's side, and her close-reefed sails were hoisted, her anchor +broke and she headed to the South inside the line of reef. When she +had faded away into the night, he turned back for the camp filled with +disappointment and dismay. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE FLOOD. + + +AS the old sailor made his way back to the island, he was alarmed +to see how rapidly the water was rising over the marsh. He splashed +knee-deep in the water at every step and it was easy to see that it +still continued to rise with astonishing rapidity. + +His first act on reaching the island was to move the camp to the +highest knoll of ground, already the lowest lying portions of the +island were submerged. Chris had regained consciousness though he was +still too weak to move without assistance. He watched the old sailor's +preparations with evident interest and looked at the rapidly rising +water with evident anxiety. + +"If dat water doan stop comin' up, we is sho' goin' to hab a hard time +gettin' anythin' to eat," he observed. "Can't get ober dem rock no +way when dey is covered wid water, sho' to break a leg in one ob dem +holes." + +"The Lord will watch out for us, lad," encouraged the captain. "Look +at all that He has brought us through. He has never deserted us in our +hour of need." + +"Golly! I reckon dat's so," agreed the little darkey, thoughtfully. +He remained quiet for a few minutes then said quaintly, "'Spect's we +oughter ask him to look out foah Massa Charley an' Massa Walt. I'ze +getting plum anxious 'bout dem two white chillins. Dey had oughter been +back long 'fore dis. Massa Charley's mighty clever, but I 'spect dat +it wouldn't do no harm to ax de Lawd to help him out a bit if he's in +trouble." + +"No one can do without the Lord's help, Chris," the captain said, +gravely, "an', I reckon, them lads need it powerful bad. Something +pretty serious has happened, I 'low, to keep them from coming back. +We'll ask the Good Lord to watch out for them an' protect them." + +The old sailor knelt by the little negro's side and in simple seafaring +language prayed that the Heavenly Father would watch over and protect +the missing ones. + +The simple steadfast faith of the old seaman and the trusting little +negro filled them with a sense of security and peace. They doubted not +that their humble petition would be answered and that now a Heavenly +Eye was watching over them and their absent companions and that a +Divine Hand would guide them through their trials and danger. They +stretched out on their leafy couches and went fast to sleep, while the +storm raged and howled around them and the rising water crept slowly up +on their little island. + +It was broad daylight when they awoke and looked about them. It was +a wild and terrifying scene that met their eyes. The marsh between +them and the sea was completely submerged and covered with rolling +white-caps. Far out on the reef they could see the mighty rollers +flinging their spray forty feet in the air when they struck the sunken +rocks. Of the island, none remained except the high sands and knoll +upon which was their camp. Between the island and the mainland was two +miles of swirling, foaming water. + +"Can't get to shore, no ways, now, Massa Captain," Chris observed. +"You had oughter gone in las' night when you had a chance an' left dis +nigger behind." + +"The Lord will look out for us, lad," said the old sailor cheerfully. +"I don't calculate that the water's going to rise high enough to cover +this knoll we are on an' as soon as the wind drops a bit, the boys will +be back for us with a boat. It's just a matter of being patient for a +little while. We may get a little bit hungry, but, I reckon, we can +stand that without grumbling." + +"Sho' we can," agreed Chris, bravely. "Tho' hit do seem like I was +gettin' powerful hungry already. Ain't dar none of dem cassava roots +dat we can get at?" + +A close search revealed that most of the patch of tubers was covered by +the rising water. A few plants however still showed on the little knoll +and these the captain dug at once. There was only a scant half peck of +the roots but that was better than nothing. + +The old sailor kindled a little fire and roasted all the roots in the +coals. + +"We might as well have one good full meal," he observed, "I never did +take much stock in this idea of going on short rations when grub is +scarce. I always 'lowed that one good feed would carry a man further +than a dozen pesky little ones that only tantalize the stomach." + +But the roots shrank greatly in the cooking, by the time the skins were +removed, there was but little left for the hungry castaways. They still +felt empty after their meal was finished. + +The day dragged wearily away with no sign of abatement of the storm. +The water continued to rise slowly, but so slowly that the two anxious +watchers were not without hope that the little knoll on which they +were would escape the overflow. Their position was by no means +uncomfortable. There was no rain and the weather was so warm that the +wind did not cause them to suffer any from cold. Aside from their +growing hunger and their anxiety about their missing companions, they +were quite comfortable. Chris, in fact, was in better shape than at any +time since they had been cast on shore. + +"I don' reckon dis storm can las' berry much longer," he observed, +cheerfully, when the sun went down in a perfectly clear sky. "Dar ain't +no clouds to back up de wind an' hit's bound to play out 'fore long." + +"That's just where you're wrong, lad," said the captain. "A gale from a +clear sky is the worst of all. I ain't ever seen many of them but what +I have seen were all hummers." + +The two sat looking out on the gloomy waste of waters until the moon, +now at its full, rose and lit up the wild scene about them almost as +brightly as day. At last they tired of the wild, gloomy, disheartening +scene, and, after a short prayer together, stretched out on their +couches. Chris was almost instantly asleep but the captain lay long +awake, his mind full of their helpless situation, and, of anxious +conjectures as to the fate of the two absent lads. His own position +and that of his little companion was such as to awaken his deepest +fears. So long as the storm continued, their rescue by land or Gulf +was impossible. No boat could live amongst the rocks and raging waters +which now surrounded them. His long experience told him that the storm +was likely to continue at least two days longer.--He had seen similar +gales blow for an entire week without a let up. Even after the gale +was over, it would take some little time for the waves and water to +subside. At the best, they would suffer greatly from hunger before +their rescue would be possible. But, to do the old sailor justice, his +thoughts were not so much of their own situation as of the absent lads. +He could only hope and pray that they had not started to return by +water before the breaking of the storm. + +As he lay motionless musing, his ear caught a low grating sound as of +heavy objects drawn on coarse sand. He quickly sat up on his couch and +looked around. In the bright moonlight he could see large dark objects +moving over the white sand. + +"'Gators, an' a regular drove of them," he exclaimed. "Wake up, Chris! +Wake up!" + +The little negro struggled up into a sitting position, still half +asleep. + +"What's de matter, Massa Cap?" he inquired. + +"Look at them 'gators, thar's dozens of them. We've got to have a fire +mighty quick an' stick close to it." + +Chris greeted the sight of the dark objects with a cry of joy. + +"Oh, Golly! De Good Lord's dun answered our prayers. Dem's turtles." + +The old sailor sprang to his feet and would have dashed for the nearest +object if the little negro had not restrained him. + +"You sho' scare dem all away if you do dat way," he cautioned. "Jus' +wait till dey gets to layin' an' you can walk right up on 'em." + +The huge creatures crept steadily on up the shelving knoll. Their +progress was slow and clumsy, and their lower shells dragging over the +sand had made the grinding noise the captain had heard. They crept up +to within ten feet of where the two watchers lay, then, they halted, +and, with their hind flippers began to dig deep holes in the soft sand. + +"Dey lays der eggs in dem holes an' covers dem up wid sand," Chris +explained in a whisper. "Dey each lays mighty nigh two hundred eggs. De +warm sand hatches out de little turtles." + +The two castaways waited until the great sea hens had begun to lay, +then Chris arose and walked directly for them without any attempt at +concealment. The turtles did not pay the slightest attention to his +approach. + +"We'll take dese two smallest ones," he announced. "Dey will be de +tenderest. Jus' grab de shell wid me, Massa Cap, back by de hind +flippers an' we'll flop 'em over on his back. Keep youah eyes an' mouth +shut." + +But the old sailor was too excited to heed the advice. He grabbed the +turtle's shell and heaved, then staggered back spitting and coughing +with mouth, eyes, and ears full of sand, which the creature with it's +flippers sent flying in a cloud about it. + +Chris waited until he had relieved himself of the stinging sand and +this time the captain, following his advice, kept mouth and eyes +tightly closed. A few seconds sufficed to turn the two turtles on their +backs where they lay helpless. + +There must have been at least thirty turtles in the bunch but the +castaways contented themselves with only turning the two, any more +would have been useless slaughter. Those unmolested quickly completed +their laying, covered the eggs and retreated to the water. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE FLOATING HATCH. + + +THE castaways lost no time in rejoicing over their good fortune. The +Captain hastily kindled a fire while Chris, with his sheath knife, +proceeded to butcher the smallest of the two turtles. Much experience +had made the little negro expert at the work and in a few minutes he +had severed the two shells and cut off several thick steaks from one +of the hind flippers. Then, squatting before the fire, each impaled a +steak on the end of a pointed stick and toasted it over the coals. + +How good the steaming juicy meat tasted to the two hungry ones. Steak +after steak was broiled and eaten before their ravenous appetites were +satisfied and they could eat no more. + +"Midnight is a sorter unusual hour for a feed," Captain Westfield +observed, "but, I reckon, we will sleep none the worse for it. I 'low, +we ain't got to lay awake none worryin' about food now. Thar's meat +enough to last us for two weeks at least." + +"An' maybe, Ole Mister Gale will blow hisself out," said Chris, +hopefully, as, yawning sleepily he stretched himself again on his couch. + +It was broad day when the castaways awoke from the heavy slumber which +had followed their hearty midnight supper. They found the gale still +blowing with undiminished violence and the sky still brightly blue. One +thing, however, gave them great satisfaction, the water had ceased to +encroach upon their little knoll. It had evidently reached its height. + +After a hearty breakfast of turtle steaks, the two proceeded at once +to dress and cure the turtles, for they well knew that under the sun's +heat the fresh meat would soon spoil. + +They had neither salt nor smoke house with which to cure it, but they +went at the task with sure confidence in the result. The meat was first +cut away from the shells and skinned, care being taken to remove every +particle of the greenish-colored fat. Then, cutting across the grain, +the meat was divided into thin strips and spread upon leaves to dry in +the hot sun. It only remained for them to protect it from the dews of +night and chance rains and a few days would see it thoroughly cured and +capable of keeping sweet and good so long as it was kept dry. + +With some hazy idea that they might be of some future use, the captain +cleaned and washed out the two, great, trough-like, upper shells of the +turtles. + +"Dat looks like a lump of wreckage out dar by de reef, Massa Cap," +Chris observed as he straightened up from his task of spreading out the +meat. "Pears like de tide is settin' hit in dis way." + +"It is a bit of wreckage or a clump of seaweed," the captain agreed +after a brief survey. "It's drifting in all right, but it's going to +miss the island by a good hundred yards." + +The two suspended work while they watched the drifting object slowly +near their island. + +"It looks like a hatch with something like a stack atop of it," he +observed to the captain as the object drew close. + +"Hit's a man or 'ooman atop ob hit," cried Chris, whose eyes were +keener than the old sailor's. "He's layin' plum still, jes' like he was +dead." + +Closer approach of the object convinced the captain that the little +negro was correct. There was beyond doubt a motionless body lying on +the low floating hatch. It was evident too that the hatch with its +burden would pass the island at a distance of at least one hundred and +fifty yards. To venture out and attempt to tow it in was to assume +a terrible risk. The water between it and the island was raging and +tossing over dozens of dangerous hidden rocks. Only the strongest +swimmer would have the slightest chance of success, and, even should he +succeed, it might be to find that he had risked his life to rescue a +corpse. But the ocean breeds in its followers a brotherhood that leads +them to deeds of quiet heroism. They never know when they may be in +need of a rescuing hand and it is seldom that one turns aside from the +rendering of service, no matter how dangerous it may be to himself. + +When the hatch with its burden was nearly abreast of the island Chris +began to strip off his clothes, but the Captain stopped him. + +"You're still too weak to attempt it, lad," he declared. "You couldn't +make it thar an' back, I reckon I can fight it out all right. I've +mighty nigh got back all my strength." + +Hastily stripping off the pants and shirt in which he was clothed, the +old sailor slipped off into the water and struck out for the wreckage +with long steady strokes, warily avoiding the foaming spots which +marked the positions of the larger rocks. The swim was not difficult +for so experienced a swimmer. The struggle would come when he attempted +to return with his burden. In a few minutes, he reached the wreckage +and, resting his hand upon the hatch gazed down at the burden it bore. +He saw a man, apparently about forty years of age, attired in rough +seaman's garb, his face bronzed and seamed from long years of exposure +to wind and weather. The stranger was lying flat on his back on the +hatch, his legs dangling over the end. A rope passed around his body +and under the wood work prevented the larger seas from washing him off +his frail support. He was unconscious and the captain reached over and +placed his ear close to his chest. He could detect a faint beating of +the heart. It was slow and feeble but still it was beating,--the man +was alive. + +Once satisfied of this fact, the old sailor quickly shifted to the end +of the hatch, and, resting one hand upon it, and striking out with the +other hand and both feet, strove to force it back to the island. He had +not accomplished half the distance with his burden when he saw that +he could not hope to succeed. The tide was slowly but surely sweeping +him in past the island direct for the mainland. Still, he battled +desperately on, swimming with all his strength. Suddenly the little +raft seemed to move forward with increased speed. + +"Take it easy, Massa Cap," sounded Chris' voice close to his elbow. "We +can make it togedder all right." The plucky little negro had been quick +to see the danger and equally quick to come to the rescue. + +Between the two, after half an hour of heartbreaking battling with +the current, they managed to shove the raft ashore, where they sank +exhausted and panting upon the sand. + +As soon as they were able to move, they unlashed the unconscious sailor +from the hatch, and, carrying him up, laid him upon the captain's +couch. The man seemed nearly dead, and for hours the two, wet, +exhausted castaways worked over him, struggling to coax the spark of +life into a flame. At last they were rewarded by seeing a tinge of +color creep into the bronzed face. At length the sailor sighed and +opened his eyes. + +"Water," he gasped, faintly. + +"Golly! I should reckon he's had 'bout enough water," Chris exclaimed. + +"Get some for him quick," Captain Westfield commanded. "The salt brine +he has swallowed has parched his throat and stomach." + +The sailor took only one mouthful of the proffered water, then spat it +out with his face twitching. + +"Salt, salt," he murmured. + +A horrible fear seized the captain. He snatched the shell from Chris' +hand and took a swallow of the water. His fear was confirmed, it was +salt. The Gulf had risen close enough to their little well to percolate +through the sand into it and render it as salt as itself. + +The little negro divined the situation from the captain's face. "Golly! +dat's bad," he cried. "Doin' widout water is a heap wurser den doin' +widout food." + +"Water, give me water," pleaded the rescued man. "My throat's parched, +parched." + +"You shall have some water as soon as we can get it," Captain Westfield +assured him. There was something vaguely familiar to the old sailor in +the man's queerly accented speech. It was more puzzling as he had no +recollection of ever having seen the man before. + +Considering his low condition the sailor recovered his full senses +and a measure of his strength with astonishing rapidity. It was plain +that he had not been deprived of either food or water for any great +length of time. He was soon able to sit up and take notice of his +surroundings. A curious look stole over his bronzed face as his gaze +took in the two castaways. + +"How did I get hyah?" he demanded. + +Captain Westfield related the story of the rescue briefly. + +The sailor's rough features worked with emotion. "I remember part," he +cried. "Our vessel struck on Needle Rocks in the darkness an' went down +like a stone. I had just time to throw myself on the hatch an' pass +a rope around my waist. The crew," he shuddered--"must have all been +dashed to pieces against the rocks. God knows how I escaped. An' yo' +risked yo'r lives to save mine, yo' an' that boy. Mon, how could yo' +forgive me enough to do such a deed?" + +"Forgive you?" echoed the captain, puzzled. "I had nothin' to forgive." + +"I am Rufus Sanders, the Key West sponger who refused yo'r appeals for +help an' left yo' to yo'r fate," cried the man, excitedly. + +"I did not know that, but it would have made no difference," said the +captain, gently. "You were a helpless, shipwrecked man." He checked the +flood of thanks on the sponger captain's lips. "You have nothing to +thank us for," he declared. "We have only saved you from one fate to +suffer a worse with us. We are hopelessly imprisoned on this island, +an' we have no water. All we can do is endure, pray an' hope." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +WITH THE BOYS. + + +CONSIDERING the misfortunes which had befallen them, the two chums +were in surprisingly good spirits, as they picked their way through +the marsh, headed South. It was a relief to be free from the dread and +apprehension under which they had labored for so many days. + +"I feel almost as though we were on a picnic, instead of being +shipwrecked sailors who have been robbed of their ship, and have lost +all except the clothes on their backs," Charley declared. + +"Everything is going to turn out all right after all," agreed Walter, +hopefully. "Chris is going to get over his wound all right. He and the +captain will have no trouble in getting plenty of food and water. We +had ought to reach Judson by dark, and we'll get a boat or wagon and +return for them at once. We can easily get from Judson to Tarpon, and +there we can get the United States Commissioner to take up our case, +and the minute the 'Beauty' enters port she will be seized and held +for us. At the worst it will only mean the loss of our diving boat and +a little patient waiting. And think of the store of gold which will be +ours for a little work." + +But his chum was not quite so optimistic. "I do not think that we had +better build too great hopes on recovering either our ship or the +gold," he observed. "That Manuel is a clever rascal. I fear he will +rise to the occasion. He may think that we are wrecked in the storm +but I am convinced he will take no chances. He will plan and scheme to +the last to secure the ship and money and save his own neck from the +halter. He may be caught at last but he will not sail boldly into any +port. He's too wary for that." + +His words did not dampen Walter's high spirits. "There is a revenue +cutter at Tarpon," reminded his chum. "As soon as we get to Judson, we +will telegraph to the Commissioner. He will not wait for the 'Beauty' +to touch a port if we can put our case strong enough. He will start the +cutter out in search of her at once." + +"I hope you are right. If we are going to make Judson before dark, +however, we are going to have to travel faster than we are going now. +It's slow going amongst this mud and rock. Let us make our way inshore +and see if it's any better traveling there." + +But as they approached close to the mainland they saw that there was +no hopes of easier traveling in that direction. The dense hammock +jungle extended down to the edge of the marsh. To make one's way +through it would be far slower than to continue over the marsh. They, +accordingly, retraced their steps to the water's edge. It was slightly +easier traveling close to the water. The waves had beat down the marsh +grass along the edge leaving a kind of beach of rock and mud. It was +hard and dangerous walking but safer than over the marsh itself, where +the rank growth hid the treacherous bog holes. + +The boys often paused in their march to examine the masses of stuff +that had been cast up by the waves. The squall of the night before had +robbed the bottom of great masses of seaweed and had taken heavy toll +of the life in the water. Every few minutes the lads would pass great +clumps of seaweed tangled together in beautiful rainbows of bright +scarlets, yellows, crimsons and purples. Curiously enough, the storm +had dealt very harshly with the finny tribe. Likely many of the fish +had been caught in shoal water and their lives beaten out against the +cruel rocks. They dotted the shore and the chums frequently halted to +admire one's curious shape or coloring. + +"I wonder what kind this one is?" said Walter, pointing to a long slim +fish of a beautiful brilliant green. + +"That is a parrot fish," his chum enlightened him. "I think they are +one of the most beautiful fishes that swim. They are of all colors, +some are violet, some of golden, some scarlet, and in fact, they are +found of every shade and hue. They get their names from their many +brilliant colors, I guess." + +"What a wonderful mysterious thing the sea is," Walter commented. "I +never realized before how much of strange life it contains." + +"What we see along the beach this morning is only a very small sample +of its population," his chum replied. "Sometimes, I think that all +life must have come first from the sea. There is hardly an animal on +land which has not a grotesque likeness in some creature of the sea. +Take that fish there with the peculiarly shaped head and horns. Its +resemblance to a cow is so striking that it has been named the cow +fish. There is another little fish with a head just like a horse. It is +called the sea horse. Then there is the toad fish, the frog fish, the +snake fish, and hundreds of others closely resembling the animals after +which they are named. But here," he concluded, "is, in my opinion, the +most wonderful fish I have ever heard of. I have seen many of them but +one always has a puzzling fascination to me." + +He had stopped before a flat round-shaped fish which lay stranded +in the edge of the water. It was still alive and struggling feebly +to get back into deeper water. It was of a light-tan color and was +covered with spots of darker hue. On its upper surface was a soft, +spongy-looking, circular spot It was not a pretty looking object and +Walter viewed it with disgust. + +"I don't see anything fascinating about it," he commented. + +"Just put your finger on that soft spongy place," Charley directed, +"that's where it's wonderful secret is concealed. It is not poisonous," +he added as his chum hesitated. + +Walter bent down and pressed his finger against the spongy mass. The +next instant he leaped back with a cry of alarm, shaking his arm madly. +"Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "What is it?" + +"Got a shock did you?" laughed his chum. "That's an electrical fish. +Their mystery to me lies in where they get the electricity with which +they are charged. Even a small one like that contains enough to give a +powerful shock." + +The morning had been advancing rapidly as they walked and talked and +the sun was shining down hot on their bare heads. Charley, justifying +Chris' confidence in him, was quick to recognize the danger from its +torrid rays. + +He cast a look up at the sun. "It is nearly noon," he declared. "We +must get something to cover our heads with and then find something to +eat. I am getting as hungry as a wolf." + +There was nothing along the rocky, muddy beach that would do for hats +and the two bent their steps in towards the mainland. There, they broke +off small leafy branches and thrust the stems down the backs of their +shirts so that the leaves would tower above, and shade their heads. +These made only a poor substitute for hats, but shed off the fiercest +rays of the sun. + +Close to where they broke off the boughs was a small running stream and +the boys drank thankfully of its cold sweet water. + +"We have no time to waste in cooking and I fear our bill-o-fare for +dinner will be rather scanty," Charley said. "Let's look around here +and see if we cannot find fruit of some kind." + +There were palmetto berries in plenty all along the high bank but the +lads had no desire to partake of them except in a case of necessity. +Seeing nothing promising along the edge of the jungle, they scrambled +up the bank and made their way slowly and cautiously into the hammock, +keeping a wary eye out for snakes. They found fruit of several kinds +in abundance, but most of it Charley rejected as being poisonous, or +not fit to eat. They gathered two kinds which he declared were both +palatable and nourishing. One was a golden-red fruit about the size of +a pear. It contained a large nut to which the meat clung closely. One +bite into it and the boys' hands and faces were smeared with sticky +juice. "I would recognize that smeary juice and strong turpentine +flavor, anywhere," laughed Walter, "these are mangoes, the fruit, they +say, you have got to get into a bath-tub to eat if you want to keep +clean." + +The second fruit was about the size of a large plum and snow white in +color with a blotch of red on the sides. Its meat was sweet, milky and +slightly puckering. + +"They are cocoa-plums," Charley explained. "They are considered quite +nutritious but I would be afraid to eat a great many of them at a time +on account of their puckerishness. We can eat all we want to of the +mangoes however, they will not hurt us." + +As soon as their repast was finished the boys filled their pockets with +mangoes and cocoa-plums and hastened back to the shore. + +They plodded steadily along while the afternoon wore away, but their +progress over the rocks and mud was slow and they realized that they +would not be able to reach Judson before darkness rendered further +traveling dangerous. + +They were passing a matted clump of seaweed on the shore when Charley, +stopping with a cry of delight, fished out from its midst a round piece +of wood about four feet in length, from which trailed a long, light +line badly frayed in places by the rock. + +"Do you recognize this?" he shouted. + +"No," replied his chum in wonder at his excitement. + +"It's the buoy that marked the place where the gold ship lay. The +Greeks will have a job to locate the gold now. That storm must have +chafed the rope in two against a ledge of coral. Hurrah, hurrah." + +"I don't see but that is as bad news for us as for the Greeks," Walter +said, dubiously. + +"It is, in a way," his chum replied. "Of course it will make it harder +for us to find the exact spot where the treasure lays, but the Greeks +will be delayed by it and that will give us a chance to get there with +the revenue cutter and catch them before they get all the gold removed +and get away." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE JOURNEY. + + +IT still lacked about an hour to sundown when Charley called a halt. +"We cannot possibly make Judson before night, and it would be sheer +foolishness to try to travel over these rocks after it gets dark," he +declared. "We would be sure to get some bad falls and very likely break +an arm or leg. The best thing we can do is to find a good place to camp +while it is still light and make ourselves as snug as possible for the +night." + +Walter, who was beginning to feel tired out from the long day's tramp, +was quick to agree with his proposal and the two lads headed in for the +mainland, for neither felt any desire to spend the night on the wet, +muddy marsh. + +Good fortune seemed to guide their footsteps for they struck the +mainland just where a little stream of clear water bubbled forth +amongst a clump of towering cedars. + +"The very place for our camp," Charley exclaimed. "You see what you can +fix up in the way of a shelter, Walt, while I look around and see what +I can find for our supper." + +Walter was fast becoming an adept at the science of woodcraft and he +went about his task with certainty and dispatch. First, he broke off +armsful of small boughs which he spread in two piles upon the ground +close to the trunks of two big cedar trees. These were to serve as +their couches and over them he proceeded to erect a rough lean-to to +protect them from the wind and dew. There were plenty of dead boughs +all around, and, selecting two of the longest and straightest, he +leaned them against the trunk of the two trees about six feet from the +ground, embedding their other ends firmly in the ground. Across these, +he laid other limbs a couple of feet apart and upon them piled palmetto +leaves and boughs to form a roof. Before the open front of the rude +structure, he built a roaring fire of dead cedar limbs. Close beside it +he piled up a huge heap of wood with which to keep the fire replenished +throughout the night. This completed his labors, and stretching himself +upon his springy, fragrant couch before the crackling fire, he waited +hungrily for his chum's return. He was becoming alarmed over his long +absence when there came a crackling of boughs and Charley strode into +the circle of firelight, bearing in one hand a snow-white heart, or +bud, of a cabbage palmetto and in the other, a chunk of fresh meat +several pounds in weight. + +"What have you got there?" he inquired, eagerly. + +Charley grinned, "I'm too hungry to stop and tell you now. Sharpen up a +couple of sticks and we'll broil some steaks, then, I'll give you three +guesses as to what it is, and bet that you don't guess right." + +Walter hastily cut two long green palmetto stems and sharpened them +to points at the ends. By the time he had them ready, Charley had cut +a couple of generous-sized steaks from the hunk of meat. The balance +of it he wrapped up in a couple of green palmetto leaves and buried +in the coals. While the steaks impaled upon the sticks were sizzling +appetizingly before the fire, he wrapped up the palmetto heart in green +leaves and buried it beside the roasting meat. + +So hungry was Walter that he cut bits from his steak before it was +fairly done and devoured them with eager appetite. + +"Like it?" inquired his chum with a twinkle in his eye. + +"Fine, it only needs a little salt to make it perfect," Walter +declared. "I can't quite place it though. It tastes like a cross +between pork and beefsteak. What is it anyway?" + +"Guess." + +"Pork?" + +"Nit." + +"Coon?" + +"Nit." + +"Opossum?" + +"Nit." + +"I give it up then. What kind of animal is it?" + +"I found it on the bank of a little creek not far from here," said +Charley, dreamily. "It was sound asleep and it did not look very pretty +or innocent even in its slumber, but beggars can't be choosers, so I +got me a good heavy club and crept up on it softly. When it woke up +I was near enough to give it a good rap over the head. It gave me a +couple of good licks in the shins with its tail, however, before I got +it killed." + +Walter rose in his indignation, "Why didn't you tell me at the start +that it was alligator meat," he demanded, "I would not have eaten a +mouthful of it." + +"And you'd gone hungry to bed," said his chum with a chuckle. "You'd +have let your prejudice cheat you out of a good meal. It tastes all +right, don't it." + +"Yes," Walter admitted, ruefully, "and, now that I've eaten some of it, +I might as well keep right on eating." + +"Wise lad," Charley approved. "Let me tell you there are lots worse +things than alligator steaks when one is hungry." + +The steaks disposed of, the boys attacked the roasted meat and +palmetto cabbage with such vigorous appetites that there was but little +left when their hunger was at last appeased. + +"Pretty slim show for breakfast," said Charley, ruefully, as he eyed +the scanty remains. "Let's see if we can't fix up some way to catch +something during the night." + +The plan which they finally decided upon to accomplish this was very +simple. With their sharp knives, they whittled out several sets of +figure-four setters, and, dragging several small logs just outside the +circle of firelight, they placed a figure-four setter under an end of +each and baited the triggers with bits of meat left from their supper. +An animal nosing around after the bait would be sure to spring the +setter and cause the log to descend upon it. + +"We will surely get a coon or opossum before morning," Charley +declared. "Animals have lots of curiosity and some of them are sure to +be attracted by the light of our camp-fire. The smell of the cooked +meat will attract them also." + +This last task completed, the boys stretched themselves on their soft +couches before the cheery fire whose rays danced and flickered amongst +the leafy greenness of their shelter. It was a cozy, cheery little +camp and the two lads lay long awake, talking hopefully with the +cheery optimism that waits upon a hearty supper and healthy vigorous +youth. When at last they fell asleep, it was with confident hope of a +successful morrow. + +It seemed to Walter that he had barely fallen asleep when he was +struggling in that nightmare state which lies halfway between slumber +and entire wakefulness. He struggled pantingly for breath, but every +breath he drew seemed to stifle him. Oppressed with black horror, he +fought his way back to consciousness. But wakefulness brought small +relief. The air was heavy with a stench that nauseated and sickened him. + +Charley, crouched beside the fire, was holding his nose with one hand, +his face expressing unutterable disgust. + +"What in the world is the matter?" Walter demanded. + +"One of our traps worked," announced his chum, grimly. "It's only a +little skunk, but my, what a big smell." + +"I should say so," Walter agreed. "We can't stay here. We'll have to +move camp." + +"I second the motion to adjourn," said his chum, solemnly. + +No time was lost in debating the question and the lads quickly took +their departure from their cozy camp. They made their way cautiously +along the edge of the hammock until the raucous odor was left behind, +then they halted and built another fire. + +"The measly little varmint," said Walter, wrathfully, as they crouched +beside the blaze. "He's gone and cheated us out of a good night's +sleep." + +"Oh, it isn't as bad as all that," said his chum, cheerfully. "It's +nearly morning now. See, there's the morning star in the East. +Besides," he added, whimsically, "That poor little fellow isn't to +blame. He didn't ask us to set a trap for him. I bet he regrets the +accident as much as we do." Then throwing back his head he sang in his +clear tenor voice, "Driven From Home." + +As the humor of the incident dawned upon Walter, he burst into laughter +in which he was joined by his fun-loving chum. + +It was too near morning to consider selecting another shelter so the +two sat beside the fire until day broke, then they made their way back +to the camp to examine their traps. All were sprung, but, outside of +the skunk, the only victims were an opossum and a coon which they bore +back to their new fire. The opossum they broiled and ate for breakfast +while the coon they roasted to carry along with them for dinner. + +Sunrise found them once more on the march headed South. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +JUDSON.[A] + + +BY noon the two lads estimated that they must have come at least twenty +miles from where they had left the captain and Chris, and, if the old +sailor had been right in his reckoning, they could not be far from +their objective point, the town of Judson. They began now to keep a +sharp watch ahead and ere long were rewarded by the sight of a low +black line projecting out from the marsh ahead. A closer approach +resolved the low black line into a long, shaky, decrepit wharf, its +piling rotting from age and neglect and its timbers and planking fast +falling into decay. On the mainland back of the marsh a few rude +cabins, each at least a half a mile distant from its nearest neighbor, +rose from the middles of wide neglected fields. One lone, aged sloop +rode at anchor near the wharf. The little port and the hamlet itself +seemed to wear an air of deadly decay, sadness and gloom. + +"Not a very cheerful or prosperous-looking place," Charley observed as +they clambered up on the wharf and made their way ashore over its shaky +timbers. + +"No," his chum agreed, "but I am thankful to reach it, poor as it is. +My feet are getting sore from tramping over these rocks, I can tell +you." + +At the shore end of the dock the two paused long enough to take a more +careful survey of the place. + +"I declare it looks as though it was deserted or all the inhabitants +dead," Walter said nervously, "See how the roads are all grown up with +weeds as though they were never used. There is no sign of anyone about +either." + +"Just notice those cabins," his chum exclaimed, "They look just +like the pictures I have seen of houses the first settlers used to +build during the Indian times. They are built of great logs and have +loopholes like the forts of those days. What a queer place!" + +"Well, there's smoke coming from the chimney of that nearest cabin, and +there seems to be someone working out in the field by it," said Walter +with a sigh of relief. "I was beginning to think it was an abandoned +village." + +The two bent their steps towards the cabin indicated. It was set in +a square clearing of about twenty acres, that was surrounded by a +strip of pine woods which separated it from its nearest neighbor. As +they drew nearer, they could see a man at work near the cabin. He was +ploughing up the ground with a rude plow hitched to a yoke of oxen. + +As the boys stepped out of the road into the clearing, they were +greeted by savage barks, and a pack of dogs lolling around the cabin +woke into sudden life and came tearing towards them. + +The man at the plough let go the handles and sprang into the cabin. The +next minute a rifle barrel protruded from one of the loopholes, "Halt +right where you-all is," called a voice from behind the rifle. + +"Call off your dogs," shouted Charley, as he and Walter, snatching up a +couple of sticks, endeavored to keep the growling, snapping curs at bay. + +"Who are you-alls an' what do you want?" demanded the holder of the +rifle. + +"We were shipwrecked twenty-five miles up the coast. We want supplies +and help to bring in two companions, one of whom is badly hurt," +answered Charley. + +"Come closer an' let me have a good look at you-all," commanded the +cabin's occupant, "Here yu Bet, yu Tige, yu Jim, be still thar," he +called to the snarling pack which slunk growling away at his harsh +commands. + +The boys drew near the cabin in obedience to his order. A brief survey +of them seemed to convince its owner that they were not what he feared. +The cabin door was flung open, and, rifle in hand, he appeared in the +doorway. + +"Come in you-alls an' have a cheer," he invited. "I'll jis' unhitch +them oxen an' then, while I'm rustling up a bit of supper, you-alls can +give me your story." + +The tired, hungry boys accepted his invitation with alacrity, and, +while he was busy unharnessing the yoke of steers, they seated +themselves in a couple of rude home-made chairs, and gazed curiously +about them. + +The cabin was about twenty feet square. Its rough log walls were +whitewashed, and its pine-slab floor spotlessly clean. At one end +was a big old-fashioned fireplace from the rafters above which hung +home-cured hams, slabs of bacon, and strings of sausages. A barrel +in a corner was heaped high with huge, sweet, sugary yams. Several +boxes beside it were heaped with onions, cabbages, carrots, pumpkins, +and other vegetables. In another corner stood a barrel of home-ground +corn meal and a big hogshead of water. Taken all in all, the little +cabin's interior was a sight to fill the two hungry lads with satisfied +anticipation. They had hardly completed their survey of it when their +strange host entered latching and bolting the heavy door behind him. + +He was a man about forty years of age, strongly built, but sallow +with the sallowness of the native Floridian. His face was kindly in +expression but stamped on its every line was a look of uneasiness and +apprehension. It was not an expression of fear but rather the look of +a brave man who was simply on his guard every moment against expected +dangers. + +"I sho' have got to ask you-all to excuse me fur the way I dun greeted +you," he apologized, "but, you see, strangers are mighty scarse around +hyar an' one has to be plum' careful. I'se powerful glad to see a new +face though--it's been mighty nigh two years since I had talk with a +stranger. I reckon, you-alls must be some hungry. I'll rustle up a +little supper while you-all gives me your tale." + +With a deftness that indicated long batching experience, he cut great +slices of ham and placed them to broil over the coals, mixed a pone +of corn bread and put it to bake in a Dutch oven, and buried a dozen +big yams to roast among the embers. While he was thus engaged, Charley +related the story of their voyage and shipwreck omitting only any +mention of the gold. His story was frequently interrupted by his host's +exclamations, "I swan, an' dew tell." When the lad had finished, the +stranger beamed upon him with evident pleasure. "I swan, hit's jis' +like a novel I read once," he declared, "hit was writ by a fellow +called Russell, Clark Russell, if I don't disremember his name. I don't +reckon his story was true though. I 'lows he just made it up outer his +head--but the vittals is ready now, you-alls jis' back up to the table +thar an' helps yourselves." + +The hungry boys needed no second invitation but fell to work on the +tender juicy ham and sugary yams with hearty appetites while their host +as he ate, watched them with evident pleasure at their enjoyment. When +all had finished, he put away the dishes, filled his corn-cob pipe, and +leaned back in his chair against the wall. + +"You-alls can't go back to whar yu left the captain an' the little +nigger to-night, noways," he observed. + +"No," Charley agreed, "but we would like to start back early in the +morning if we can get a wagon or a boat." + +"Thar ain't no fitten road for a wagon leading up the coast," observed +their host. "I owns that little sloop anchored down thar by the dock. I +reckon, you-alls could make out with her. I don't reckon them Wrights +would stop you-alls from going if they understood jis' how things +stood. I don't 'low they would be so pesky pisen mean as all that. +I'd like to go with you-alls an' see that ole captain an' that little +nigger, I sho' would." + +"We would like to have you go with us," said Walter, eagerly. "Why +can't you?" + +"'Cause I don't ever expect to leave this hyar cabin alive," said his +host, calmly. + +The boys stared at him in uneasy astonishment. + +"No, I ain't crazy," said the man quietly. "Hush, jis' lis'en' a bit." + +A long prolonged growl came from one of the dogs outside. The man arose +and taking up his rifle stepped over to the loophole beckoning to the +lads to follow. The moon lit up the little clearing almost as light as +day. The dogs were moving around outside, sniffing and uttering low +growls. + +The boys could see nothing unusual in the clearing but they felt a +sense of danger in the very air. Their host's eyes, more accustomed to +the surroundings than their own, evidently detected something ominous +in one of the shadows thrown out from the belt of pines. He thrust +the barrel of his rifle out through the loophole and the next instant +its sharp crack rent the stillness of the night. The lurking shadow +vanished amongst the pines with a whoop of defiance. + +Their host pulled in his rifle, "A plum' miss," he said, disgustedly, +"Wall, the war is on for fair now. Better outen that light an' draw +your cheers up by the fire an' I'll tell you'alls about hit." + +FOOTNOTE: + +[A] This account of Judson is the description of a little West Florida +town as it actually has been, and is to-day. Nineteen of its scanty +population have died by a fierce war. The author has only changed the +first letter of the town's real name. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE FEUD. + + +"THAR ain't no call to keep watch at the loopholes," said their host +as the alarmed lads' glances kept wandering towards the dark openings. +"The dogs will tell we-alls if anyone tries to come near the cabin." He +leaned back in his chair in silence for a few minutes gazing into the +heart of the fire whose flickering rays lit up his bronzed, thoughtful, +kindly face. + +"Hit all began years ago when I warn't but a little bit of a shaver," +he began, quietly. "Judson was a right-prosperous, happy, contented, +little place, then. Thar was mighty nigh a hundred people living in +the town, an' in the woods nigh about hyar. Each family had hit's own +little cabin an' farm an' raised all hit's own living of meat, corn, +taters, an' sugar cane, an' each family had hit's patch of cotton +with which they bought what things they needed that they didn't raise +themselves. We had a right tidy little schoolhouse. I went to hit two +terms when I was a little shaver," he said with evident pride, "an' +I learned how to read an' write pretty well--the reading's been a +heap of company to me during the years since then. Each family had a +plenty to eat an' wear, an' thar warn't none that you could call real +poor people like I hearn tell you-alls have in the North. We used to +have dances and barbecues, an' picnics an' a right sociable time. The +town was started by two families, the Turners an' the Wrights--I'm +a Turner,--an' all the people about was kin to one or the other +family, which made everybody friendly and sociable with each other. +Hit was jis' a little Eden on earth, this place, 'till the serpent +came twisting an' crawlin' in. The devil must have sho' had a hand in +making some of the men folks believe that the Good Lord intended the +honest corn they raised for anything but food for man an' beast. Yes, +I reckon, hit sho' must have been ole Satan that made a few of the +Turners an' Wrights get together an' start a little whiskey still over +thar in the woods yonder. The womin folks was again hit from the start, +as, bless their hearts, they've always been again the cursed stuff. Hit +was Christmas week that the still was started goin', an' Christmas Eve +the ones running hit gave a big barbecue at the still to celebrate it. +Most everyone went, as they always did to doin's in the neighborhood. +Even my daddy an' two brothers, Ben an' Abe, went to see the fun as +they called hit, but mammy she was a good, religious woman, she staid +at home an' kept me with her. She would have liked to keep the other +boys with her too, but they had grown out of her control as boys +sometimes do." His bronzed face grew sadly thoughtful, as he continued, +"I recollect, I cried because I couldn't go too, but mother sang to me +an' tole me stories--mother was a powerful hand at telling the kind of +stories boys like an' I soon quit cryin' an' went to sleep quiet an' +happy with mother singing to me. Hit was the last time I ever heard +mammy sing. I reckon hit was 'bout midnight when a noise woke me up. +The door had been flung open--hit was never locked in them days--an' +father an' Abe came rushin' in. Father's face was white as a sheet +an' I'll never forget the look on mammy's face. Hit seemed as if she +knowed without a word from daddy what had happened. Thar was a curious +tremble in her voice as she asked, 'Whar's Ben?' At the sound of her +voice father broke down an' sobbed like a child. 'He's dead,' he cried. +'They've killed my boy Ben. Those Wrights have killed my boy Ben.'" + +The man paused as the recollection of that terrible scene crowded his +mind, while the two lads looked at each other with sympathetic horror. + +"No one seemed to know just how the trouble started," went on their +host, quietly. "All hands had taken a little too much liquor, there had +been a few hot words, a blow, an' Ben had keeled over with a knife in +his side. Then the fightin' started between the kin of both families, +an' daddy an' Abe had run home to git their guns. Sore at heart as +mammy was, she begged 'em not to shed no more blood but to leave it +to the cotes, for mammy, as I have said, was a religious woman. But +both Wrights and Turners came first from the mountains of Kentucky +whar man don't go to law again' man but settles his quarrels with his +rifle, An' so the blood-feud began. Thar was more than Ben killed that +night,--Wrights as well as Turners. When all had sobered up from the +liquor thar came a kind of lull or truce, but war always bruk out again +when either families got to drinkin'. They got Abe the followin' year, +but not 'fore he had shot a couple of Wrights. Hit was three years +afore they got father. Mother, she pined away an' died soon after they +got him. I think she was kinder glad to go, such things are wearin' on +a woman. An' so the killin's been goin' on ever since by spells when +the liquor gets to flowin'. I am the only Turner alive, now, though +thar's a few of my kin still scattered around hyar. I've been shot at +a powerful lot of times, but, I reckon, I've been lucky. Then too, +they ain't none of them hunted me so powerful hard, for I ain't took +no part in any of the killin's. I've shot a couple of times to scare +them away but not to kill. My own kin 'lows that I'm poor-spirited, but +somehow or other, I can't forget the look on mammy's face the night +Ben was killed. I don't want to be the cause of puttin' no such look +on any woman's face. I've knowed all these years though that my time +must come sooner or later. I heard to-day that the Wrights have got in +a lot of liquor from Tarpon Springs an' they are sayin' that the last +Turner has got to be wiped out of Judson. So, I got me in a store of +water an' grub an' fixed to lay low for awhile. I may be able to hold +out until their liquor is gone an' the danger is past, but I reckon hit +doan' make so powerful much of difference. They air plum' sho' to get +me sooner or later. Wall, that's the story, young fellows, hit's been +a right smart relief to have someone sympathetic to tell hit to. Don't +you worry none though. As soon as comes mornin' I'll hist a flag of +truce an' arrange to have you fellows let out peaceful. You can take +my boat an' go after your captain an' that little nigger, but I sho' +advise you not to stop hyar on youah way back. Keep right on to Tarpon +Springs. Some of my kin folks kin bring the sloop back from thar." + +"You are very good," Charley exclaimed. "But tell me why you have never +left this awful place. There are hundreds of places where you could +have made as good a living and been free from dread and worry." + +"Mammy's grave is out thar among them pines," said the man, simply, +"an' daddy's, an' Ben's, an' Abe's, then, atter all, this place is +home, no other place could be that." + +"I see," said Charley, much abashed. + +"I am proud to have met you, Mr. Turner," declared Walter, warmly. "I +think you are a noble man." + +"No? I sho' reckon you is mistaken," said the man in surprise. "Me +noble? I reckon not. My own kin 'lows I'm mighty poor-spirited 'cause I +won't take no hand in the killin'." + +"I don't care a cent what your kin says," began Walter, hotly, but he +was interrupted by the crack of a rifle, the whistle of a bullet, and +the howl of a dog outside. + +His host winced as if the bullet had struck his own body. "They've +killed Bet," he cried. "Bet, what I raised from a little bit of puppy. +They hadn't ought to go an' shoot a poor defenceless, dumb animal, hit +ain't right. My God, be they goin' to kill all my poor faithful dawgs," +he cried, as another shot rang out followed by another pitiless howl. + +Rifle shot followed rifle shot while the man stood trembling with eyes +flashing as he listened to the whining of the animals outside. At last, +heedless of the bullets pattering against the logs, he flung the door +wide open and called to the hounds. They came crowding in, a whining, +mangy, ill-looking pack, but disreputable as they were, they had been +the man's only friends through his lonely years and the two lads +respected him for his act. + +As soon as he had bolted the door again, he rummaged in a corner and +brought out three rifles. He handed one to each of the boys. "I reckon, +we'll have to watch at the loopholes now the dawgs air inside," he said +quietly. "You-alls can take the ones at the ends, I'll tend to the +sides. Be right careful 'bout standin' in front of 'em, a bullet might +pass through. An' don't shoot to kill if you can help it." + +"An' his kin people call that man poor-spirited," whispered Walter in +wonder to his chum as they took up their positions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +BESIEGED. + + +THE boys had little opportunity for conversation in their new rôle as +guards, being separated from each other by the length of the cabin. +Strange as was the position in which they found themselves, they felt +but little fear. The massive logs of which the cabin was constructed +bid defiance to the entry of a bullet, and neither of them could +believe that the affair would amount to more than a few shots being +fired at the building while the attacking party was under the influence +of the liquor they had drank. They believed that with the coming of +day the feudalists would disband and retire to their homes, while they +would be free to return to the rescue of their friends on the island. +Nevertheless, they were not going to take any chances in the duties as +sentinels. They stood well to one side of their loopholes and peeped +out at the little clearing plainly visible in the bright moonlight. + +"I reckon they can't see to shot through the loopholes, but you-alls +want to keep youah bodies out of line with them," cautioned Mr. Turner. +"Hit mought be that a stray bullet would pass through one of them. An' +don't either of you young fellows fire 'less you jes' have to. You +doan't want to get mixed up in this hyar quarrel. If yu' jis' naturally +have to shoot, aim low an' give it to 'em in the laigs." + +"There seems to be several of them gathering together at the edge of +the woods," called Charley anxiously. "Here they come straight for the +house!" + +His host darted to his side. "They've got a long pole an' air aiming to +batter down the door," he announced. "Keep back, boys, an' let me do +the talking an' shootin', if thar's got to be any." + +But the boys crowded close to his side, eager to view the coming +attack. + +There were about a dozen men in the approaching party and they advanced +at a rapid trot, bearing between them a huge pine log. + +"Halt whar you air," commanded Turner when they had approached to +within sixty feet of the house. "If you-alls come any closer meanin' +trouble, someone is goin' to get hurt." + +There were enough of timid spirits in the party to cause a halt in the +advance. + +"We're goin' to get youah hide this time, Bill Turner," shouted +the foremost of the gang, a big, heavily-whiskered man. "Hit's a +disgrace on us Wrights to have one of youah name livin' still in this +settlement. You're goin' to be done for this time." + +"Now, I ain't done nothin' to you-alls in all these years," said Turner +quietly and argumentatively. "You ain't got no cause to come 'round +hectoring me." + +"More shame for you," shouted the big man. "We're goin' to do you, +first, 'cause you're a Turner, second, 'cause you've been too +poor-spirited all these years to put up a man's fight." + +"Pears lak hit needs a powerful lot of yu to do fo' one, lone, +mean-spirited critter," said Turner, mildly. + +The big man stamped his foot with rage. "Hit don't take none but me," +he roared. "Yu come out hyar an' we'll have it out, man to man." + +"I ain't a-doubting you're courage, Jim Wright," returned the other, +slowly, "but I ain't aimin' to hurt no man 'less I have to. Besides, if +I did get the best of yu, all the rest of youah gang would come down on +me. Jes' keep away from my cabin, that's all I've got to say." + +"Come on, boys," roared the leader. "He's too mean-spirited to hurt a +fly. He can't shoot all of us, anyway." + +There was some hesitation, but his fellows, evidently, believed that +the man inside would not fire. Under the urging of their leader they +picked up the log and started on a run for the door. + +But they quickly discovered their mistake. From the loophole shot +out quick jets of flame as the man inside worked the lever of his +Winchester. The log dropped unheeded to the ground as its bearers +broke for the cover of the woods. Some were not able to run but limped +away groaning with pain. After the fleeing ones strode the big leader, +cursing them for cowards and imploring them to return to the assault. + +"I don't reckon I've hurt any one of them very much," Turner remarked, +as he slipped more shells into his rifle. "I jes' aimed for their +laigs." + +"Thank God, it has all ended without loss of life," Charley said +earnestly, but his host shook his head. + +"Hit ain't ended, hit's jes' begun, Jim Wright ain't one to be scart +out by a little lead. He don't know what fear is. If he can't get none +of 'em to come back with him, he'll come back alone. I wish you young +fellows were safe outer hyar, but it won't do for you to try to leave +now. Crazy drunk, like them fellows is, hit wouldn't be safe for you. +Maybe by morning they'll be sobered up enough to listen to reason." + +In spite of his words, the boys were hopeful that the night would pass +off without further trouble, but they were soon undeceived. Half an +hour had not passed when the big leader emerged from the woods followed +by a half a dozen of his fellow feudalists. + +His followers halted by the fallen log but he advanced boldly direct +for the loophole. + +"Keep away, for Gawd's sake, keep away, Jim," Turner implored. "I don't +want to have to shoot you." + +"Hit's you or me this time!" shouted the other, "The sun don't rise on +no living Turner in this town." + +"Keep back," warned Turner, thrusting his rifle through the loophole, +but even in his desperate situation, the boys, crowded close beside +him, and could see that he aimed only at the legs of the advancing man. + +Ruffian though he was, the other was not without brute courage. He +never paused in his advance. "Shoot," he shouted as he whipped out a +pistol, "Shoot, that's what I want yu to do." + +The two reports came almost together, but the pistol shot was a +fraction of a second ahead of the other. Like a fire-swept weed Turner +crumpled to the floor, his rifle exploding as he fell. + +The big man clapped one hand to his side and fell to the ground. + +With the report of his rifle, his followers had grabbed up the log and +rushed for the door, but Charley had been quick to see the danger. +Snatching up the rifle from the fallen man, he fired at the moving +legs as fast as he could work the lever. The whistling lead was more +than the assaulters could stand. Three dropped their hold on the log +and limped hurriedly for cover while their fellows, deprived of their +aid, could no longer sustain the heavy timber, which sank again to the +ground while they hastened after their wounded companions. + +The boys watched them in silence until they entered the woods then +Charley set down the rifle. + +"I don't think they will be back right away again," he said. "Anyway, +we have got to risk a light. Perhaps Mr. Turner is not dead." + +With hands that trembled with excitement Walter struck a match and lit +the lamp, then, the two boys lifted the prostrate man and laid him upon +the bed. "Keep watch at the loophole while I see if anything can be +done for him," Charley commanded. + +The man's shirt was matted with blood and the lad did not attempt +to take it off, but cut it away with his sheath knife, exposing the +white chest in the center of which gapped a horrible hole. "He's badly +wounded," he announced after a careful examination of the wound. +"There's two holes, one in his chest and one in his side. I believe the +bullet struck a rib and glanced, coming out at his side. If so, he will +pull through if I can only stop the blood flowing. I'll have to keep +this lamp lit for awhile even it is risky. I'll be as quick as I can." + +There was little in the rude cabin with which to do in such a case, +but the resourceful lad made the best of the situation, working with +feverish speed so as to be able to extinguish the lamp as soon as +possible. First, he washed out the wash basin thoroughly and filling it +with clean water from the barrel added to the water a generous handful +of salt. With this he washed the ugly-looking wound, then tearing into +pieces a fresh sheet he found lying on a shelf, he made a little wad +of rags with which, after soaking them in salt water, he plugged up +the gaping hole. Over this he bound wet strips of the sheet to hold it +securely in place. He was rewarded for his labor by seeing that the +flow of blood was quickly checked and soon ceased entirely. As soon as +he made certain of this, he extinguished the light and crept to his +chum's side. + +"I think he will pull out all right," he announced. "He is unconscious +yet, and when he does come to he'll be very weak from loss of blood. +Have you seen any more of those fellows?" + +"They're still in the woods around the clearing. Listen and you'll hear +their voices every now and then." + +"Has the man who was shot moved any?" + +"No, he lays just as he fell. I guess he's dead." + +"It's a horrible affair," said Charley with a shudder. "I'll never +forget this night. It has put us in a bad fix. We can't leave here now, +and I don't like the way the wind is coming up. If there's a heavy +storm, the captain and Chris will be in danger, it wouldn't take a very +heavy sea to cover that marsh. Just listen how it's blowing." + +Walter seemed not to hear what his chum was saying. He stood staring +out at the still figure stretched on the ground. "He hasn't moved, but +maybe he isn't dead," he said at last. "Perhaps, he is bleeding to +death and a little attention might save his life." + +"You're right," Charley exclaimed. "We must bring him in." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE ENEMIES. + + +IT was a risky thing to attempt. To venture outside would be to expose +themselves in the bright moonlight to the bullets of the feudalists, +but the two plucky lads never hesitated. The body lay not a dozen steps +from the cabin and it would not do to let his fellows approach that +close to the little fort. Either they must save him themselves, if he +was not already dead, or leave him to die alone in the night. + +"We must be quick about it," Charley declared. "As soon as I unlatch +the door, we must run out, grab him by the shoulders, and drag him +in--he's too heavy to lift." + +In this bold move fortune seemed to favor the lads. They got their +heavy burden to the door before a shot was fired and, then, the bullets +whistled harmlessly above their heads. + +"We were lucky that time," Charley panted as he barred the door again. +"Now keep a sharp lookout. I'll have to light that lamp again." + +"This fellow is not so very badly hurt," he announced, as soon as he +had examined his new patient. "The bullet has gone right through the +fleshy part of his shoulder. He will come out of it all right if the +wound is kept clean." In a few minutes he had washed and dressed the +wound as he had the other man's, then, putting out the light once more, +he rejoined his companion at the loophole. "Anything stirring?" he +inquired. + +"No, I don't even hear their voices now. Perhaps they will not bother +us again to-night," Walter replied, hopefully. + +"I am not worrying about them as much as I am this wind," said his chum +gloomily. "We are safe enough here so long as the grub and water holds +out, but, God knows how it is faring with Chris and the captain." + +The gale was now howling and whistling around the little cabin with a +force to justify Charley's gloomy apprehension. The boys had to speak +loudly to make themselves heard above its uproar. They soon abandoned +all attempts at conversation and waited wearily and silently for +another assault from the feudalists and for the coming of day. + +Either the ruffians had at last become over-powered by the liquor they +had drank or else they had decided to wait the coming of day, for they +did not again show themselves in the clearing. Day, however, came at +last, after what seemed to the exhausted lads an age of waiting. + +As soon as it became light enough to see, Charley removed the bandages +from their stricken host and redressed his wound more carefully. "His +pulse is getting stronger and there is some color in his face," he +remarked to his chum. "I believe, I could bring him to, but I guess +it's best to let him lie unconscious as long as he can. He will suffer +enough when he does regain consciousness." + +As soon as he finished with Turner, Charley turned to his other +patient who was beginning to move uneasily and show signs of returning +consciousness. While he was yet bathing his wound the man opened his +eyes. + +"Gosh! how my shoulder hurts," he growled. "Be mighty careful how you +touch it, young fellow, or I'll skin you alive." + +Charley set aside the basin of water and rising to his feet looked down +on the fellow with a face full of scorn. + +"You great, big, drunken, cowardly murderer," he exclaimed. "It's a +pity that bullet didn't kill you. You are not fit to live on God's +green earth. You're shot when trying, with a crowd of your fellows, to +kill a lone, inoffensive man. Your friends don't think enough of you to +come back and get your carcass. We bring you in and care for you and +instead of thanks, your first words are a growl and a threat. You are a +cowardly, disgraceful cur,--that's what you are." + +Astonished rage filled the man's face. "No man ever said words like +that to Jim Wright and lived," he gasped. He attempted to rise but was +too weak to gain his feet, and sank back with a groan. + +"Oh, I guess you won't do any killing for a little while," sneered +Charley, whose anger was at white heat. "I've no doubt people have +been afraid to tell you the truth before, but you are going to hear +it for once in your life. I've no doubt with your strength and +disposition you've bullied everything until they are afraid to do +anything but flatter you, but, now you are going to take a dose of your +own medicine." Then, seating himself just out of reach of the man's +powerful arms, he proceeded to tell him what he thought of him in words +that stung with contempt and scorn. Then, as his anger subsided, he +repeated the story Turner had told him, contrasting Turner's quiet, +patient, peaceful heroism with the other's blood-thirstiness and +violence, with all the power of the earnestness he felt. + +At first the man kept interrupting him with curses and abuse, but as +he went calmly on ignoring the interruptions the fellow lay quiet, his +face turned to the wall. + +Once Charley stopped, thinking he might have fainted he lay so still, +but he spoke up gruffly. + +"Did I kill him?" + +"No, but it's not your fault that you didn't," the lad replied, curtly, +and went on with his arraignment. "I don't care a hang what you and +your cowardly fellows think," he concluded, "all decent people would +say that that poor fellow lying there is a brave hero while you are the +mean-spirited, cowardly one. And, now, if you'll lie quiet and keep +your mouth shut, I'll dress that wound. I hate to pollute my hands by +touching you, but it's got to be done." + +The man lay quiet while the lad washed and bound up his wound. Charley +could see that his features were working convulsively, but whether from +rage or pain he could not determine. + +As soon as his task was completed, Charley relieved his chum at the +loophole and Walter set about making coffee and cooking some breakfast. +They were both sadly in need of food and felt much better after they +had eaten. As soon as they had finished, Charley made his chum lie down +to take a nap, promising to call him, and lie down himself in a couple +of hours. + +While Walter was asleep Turner came out of the deep swoon which had +followed his wound. He was weak and in terrible pain but in full +possession of his senses. It was evident that he was greatly bewildered +at the sight of his enemy lying helpless on the floor, and Charley +explained the situation to him in a few words. + +"I sho' am glad I didn't kill him," said the sick man, thankfully. "I +jes' shot at his laigs, the gun must have gone off when I fell. I am +sho' sorry I hurt you so bad, Jim, I didn't aim for to do hit." + +But Wright kept his face turned to the wall and answered not a word. + +As the morning advanced Charley was much puzzled by the constant sound +of hammering coming from the woods near the clearing. It was evident +their enemies were preparing another surprise but he could not guess at +its nature. + +All the morning long the hammering continued, then shortly before noon +there emerged from the woods an object which caused him at first, to +stare in bewildered surprise, and, then, as it drew nearer the cabin to +send him to shaking Walter, whom he had let sleep on. + +"Wake up! Wake up!" he cried. "We have got to fight for our lives. +Those fellows have built a heavy breastwork on the front of a wagon and +are shoving it ahead of them up to the cabin." + +"Young fellows! help me up and help me to that loophole," gruffly +commanded the wounded man on the floor. "Don't hesitate," he cried as +the lad was about to refuse the surprising command, "them fellows have +got a couple of sticks of dynamite in that cart an' if they get near +enough to throw it thar won't be enough left of this cabin to make a +good toothpick. We was aiming to use it last night if we couldn't get +Turner no other way." + +Between them the two startled lads got the big fellow on his feet and +supported him to the loophole where he leaned against the logs, his +face twitching with the pain of his effort. + +It was just in time, for the wagon with its burden of death was scarce +a hundred feet away when he shouted: "Stop where yer are, boys. Thar +ain't no call to throw any of that stuff." + +"Is that you, Cap?" called one of the men. "Why, we 'lowed yer was +dead." + +"An' I might have been for all of yu fellows, leaving me to die on the +ground like a poisoned dog." + +He paused while a chorus of excuses came from the men behind the +breastwork. + +"Well, I ain't dead, but it ain't no thanks to yu fellows," he went on +slowly and painfully. "Now, yu fellows jes' roll that wagon back whar +hit came from an' go home and behave yerselves. Yu fellows know me +an' know I'll do what I say. Hit's jes' come to me, an' hit's come in +a powerful rough way, that I've been powerful mean, pisen an' onery. +My eyes am sho' opened at last, an' I'm powerful ashamed of how I've +been carryin' on. But hit's all over now. From now on Bill Turner is +my friend, an' the man that lifts a finger again' him lifts it again' +me, an' me an' my close kin will make this place too hot to hold him. +That's all I've got to say. Now, go home." + +Murmurs of astonishment arose from the men behind the wagon as they +slowly but obediently backed the wagon towards the woods. Over the face +of the wounded man on the bed stole a look of joy unspeakable. + +The bewildered but delighted boys helped Wright back to his place on +the floor. + +"I want to shake hands with you, Mr. Wright," said Charley, earnestly. +"I am afraid I talked pretty rough to you." + +"I needed hit," said the other as he took the proffered hand. "Hit's a +pity, young fellow, that thar ain't more like yu down in this neck of +thar woods." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE CASTAWAYS AGAIN. + + +LEAVING the boys safe from the danger that had threatened them, let us +return to the castaways whom we left confronted by that menace, the +most grewsome of all to shipwrecked sailors, the lack of water. + +The sponger captain needed no explanation but the captain's simple +words to realize the terrible tortures and awful death that awaited +them all if help in some shape did not soon come to their rescue. His +bronzed face grew white beneath it's coat of tan. + +"I am frightfully thirsty, already," he exclaimed, "Is there no way we +can reach the mainland. Thar's water in plenty thar." + +"If we were birds or fish, we might get thar, I reckon," replied +Captain Westfield, "but, being as we are only human beings, I calculate +it ain't no way possible." + +The Conch eyed the raging water that stretched between the little +island and the shore. + +"A strong swimmer might make it," he observed, musingly. "I've swum +farther many a time but it was when I was in a sight better shape than +I am now." + +"Yes, I reckon a right powerful swimmer might make it," assented the +captain, "but this little fellow and I are not equal to it, we'd never +reach the land." + +"I believe I could do it even now," said the sponger calculatingly, +"but I won't desert yo' two Yo' saved my life an' I'd be worse than a +Greek to leave yo' here." + +"If you can do it, go ahead, man," said the old sailor. "You can't do +us any good by staying. Better save your own life," but the Conch shook +his head sadly. + +"My life ain't worth much, now," he said sadly. "My little ship's +gone, all my brave comrades drowned, an' everything I had in the world +lost. I've not much to live for now." + +"Bosh, man," said the old sailor, "I reckon, thar's always something +for a man to live for as long as the Good Lord let him live. If thar +wasn't the Lord wouldn't let him live." + +But the Conch was not to be comforted, the full extent of his loss was +beginning to make itself felt as he regained his strength and the full +possession of his senses after his terrible ordeal. He soon moved a +little apart from the two castaways, and, seating himself on the sand +buried his face in his hands. The two watchers could see the tears +trickling between his fingers and they turned away greatly moved at +that most impressive of sights, the grief of a strong man, ashamed of +displaying his tears. When they looked again he was on his knees and +his bowed head showed that he was praying. When he rejoined them, his +manner was filled with the calm and quietness of one who has found +peace for his afflictions. + +"I see there is no wood here with which to build a raft," he observed. +"Things look pretty bad, but they say the darkest hour is just before +the dawn. We must take courage. Yo'r young friends may return with help +at any hour." + +The captain shook his head sadly. "Something has happened to them or +they would have been back long ago. They cannot return now until the +storm is over." + +"It cannot last much longer," declared the Conch, confidently. "It is +losing force now, I believe it will blow out by morning." + +"Maybe, but it will take a long time for the sea to go down so a boat +can live in it, and, in the meantime we have no water." + +"We must not give way to despair," said the Conch, who seemed like +another man after his devotions. "Let's dig another well right in the +midst of the island, perhaps we can get water fit to drink." + +With but little hope the three fell to work and by noon had dug a hole +to water, but they had only their labor for their pains, the water +was salt, bitter, and undrinkable. Indeed their labor was worse than +fruitless for their exertions had greatly increased their thirst. + +Chris kindled a fire and roasted some of the turtle meat and eggs, but +the castaways only partook of a few mouthfuls, as eating seemed but to +increase their thirst. + +The Conch had lost his hat when wrecked and Chris, observing his bare +head, set about braiding him another hat from the green palmetto leaves. + +The Sponger watched him with interest. "Do yo' think yo' could make a +water-tight mat of that stuff?" he enquired, eagerly. + +"Golly! I reckon, dis nigger could," declared the little darkey. "I'se +done made baskets ob hit dat would hold water like a bucket." + +"How long would it take yo' to make a mat four feet square?" + +The little negro considered, "I guess I could do hit in a day." + +"Then drop that hat business and get to work on hit. Work like yo' +never did before. There's a chance, jes' a chance, that it will be the +saving of us. Captain, there is work for us to do. Get the entrails out +of one of those turtle shells. Clean them out good, pack them full of +sand, and stretch them out in the sun to dry. I've got a plan in mind. +It may fail, but it's worth trying. Be careful not to break the skins." + +It was evident from the man's manner that he was intensely in earnest +and the old sailor lost no time in asking idle questions but went +quickly to work at the task assigned him. In a short time he had +cleaned and washed out the turtle entrails and filling them with dry +sand stretched them out to dry in the hot sun. When thus prepared they +formed a kind of small hose some thirty feet in length. + +While he was thus engaged, the Conch dragged the empty shell down to +the water and cleaned and washed it out thoroughly. Leaving it near +the water's edge, he collected and piled close beside it, a heap of +dry wood. Then he returned to where Chris was working and fell to +helping him by stripping and preparing the palmetto buds for the little +darkey's nimble fingers. + +Just before sundown he carefully removed the sand from the dried +entrails and was in possession of a long, tough waterproof hose without +hole or break in it. + +Night brought no cessation of the strange labor. A fire was kindled +beside the little darkey and he plaited on by its light while the +captain and the Conch kept him supplied with palmetto strips. + +About midnight Chris held up his work with a weary sigh; "Hit's done," +he announced. + +"Now for the test," cried the Conch, trembling with excitement. + +Taking the strong, flexible, green mat he hurried down to the turtle +shell which he had filled half full of sea water. Placing the mat +over the top of the shell, he bound it firmly in place with wisps of +palmetto leaves. Then, cutting a small hole in the center of the mat, +he inserted in it one end of the strange hose, packing wet sand around +it to make it air-tight. He next coiled down the hose in the edge of +the sea and placed the other end of it in the empty turtle shell. Then, +heaping wood around the mat-covered shell, he started a fire. + +The Captain and Chris at last understood his plan. With his rude +contrivance, he was going to try to distill fresh water from salt after +the manner they do on big steamships with costly and complicated +apparatus. The steam from the heated water was supposed to escape from +the shell through the hose. In passing through it it would become +chilled when the hose was coiled down in the cold sea water and, +condensing into water again, reach the other shell fresh and free from +salt. + +In theory the plan was perfect, but would the rude contrivance do the +work? + +The three thirsty watchers fairly held their breath as they kept the +fire roaring around the shell and awaited results. At last tiny wisps +of steam began to trickle through the closely-woven mat. Tiny drops of +moisture were dropping from the end of the hose. These grew larger and +larger until at last a tiny stream of water trickled forth. + +They danced and shouted for joy. "It works! It works!" they cried. + +But thirsty though they were they had to possess their souls in +patience and wait for the process worked very slowly. All night they +staid by the shells keeping the fire going. Just at day-break the Conch +gave the command to put out the fire. In the other shell was several +gallons of clear, pure water. As soon as it had cooled sufficiently +they dipped it up with shells and drank greedily. It was slightly +bitter and tasteless but never did drink taste better to parched +throats. With the satisfying of their thirst, came hunger and they all +made a hearty meal off the roasted meat and eggs left from dinner. +Just as the sun arose they lay down to sleep completely exhausted but +with thankfulness to God in their hearts. Their greatest danger was +past. They had water and food in abundance, and the storm was slowly +but surely subsiding. + +They slept through the long day, awakening only when the shades of +night began to fall. Then after satisfying their hunger and thirst, +they lay down and slept until morning came. + +They opened their eyes upon a clear, still day. The storm had gone and +the sea was growing calm. Far to the South there showed on the blue +water a tiny patch of white,--a sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE RESCUE. + + +THE castaways watched the distant sail with mingled feelings of joy and +suspense. Was it the boys, or was it merely a strange craft beating up +the coast? Would it pass near the island or would it go by too far out +for them to make their presence known? These were the questions they +debated as they strained their eyes on the distant patch of white. + +One thing soon became evident to the eager watchers, the sail was +steadily growing larger. Although the storm had passed and the sea +subsided there was still a brisk breeze blowing and each passing hour +brought the stranger craft visibly nearer. No thought of breakfast +entered the castaways' minds, all their attention was fixed on the +approaching sail. + +At last it became evident that the vessel was a small sloop, that it +was headed directly for the island and that it was rolling and pitching +frightfully in the still heavy seas. + +On it came, plunging and tossing like a frightened steed and sending +showers of spray from its cut water. At last it was close enough to +discover two figures on its decks, one at the wheel, the other forward, +tending the jib sheet. + +"Hit's Massa Charley and Massa Walter," shouted the sharp-eyed Chris. +"Praise de Lawd, Praise de Lawd," and his over-joyed companions shouted +a fervent "Amen." + +The sloop came steadily on, passing the island and rounding up under +its lee as near as its young captain dared to approach. Anchor was +dropped, sails lowered, and launching a small boat it carried on deck, +its crew of two came sculling for the shore. + +And what a demonstration of joy there was when it grounded on the sands +and the chums so long separated and so long beset with perils were +once more reunited. Such hand-wringings and congratulations, and eager +questions and chorused answers. All happy. All excited. All talking at +once, and no one making himself thoroughly understood in the general +clamor. + +But Charley soon interrupted the talk-feast. "We will be here all day +at this rate," he said, laughing. "We had better get on board and get +under way. That sloop is pretty old and cranky for these waters and +we'd better get back as soon as we can for fear another squall will +come up. We can tell our stories on the way." + +The suggestion was wise and as none cared to linger long on the +dreary little island which had been the scene of so much anxiety and +suffering, there was no delay in carrying it out. All climbed into the +little boat and were carried out to the sloop. Her sails were hoisted, +her anchor weighed, and her bowsprit headed South for Tarpon. Down in +the sloop's cabin the castaways found a hot meal of ham, eggs, potatoes +and coffee waiting for them, which Walter had prepared as a pleasant +surprise. In their excitement they had forgotten they were hungry, but +they remembered it now and fell upon the tasty food with appetites that +only left bare dishes when satisfied, at last. The boys had brought a +pile of clothing with them, and after a wash-down in cool sea water, +the castaways threw away their soiled, tattered garments, and, fed, +washed, and freshly clothed, felt like new men. + +The Captain's eyes danced with joy when Walter presented him with a +pipe and tobacco he had brought with him. + +Later all gathered around the wheel and stories and experiences were +exchanged, but the reader is already familiar with the most of them. + +"Even after the trouble was all over we couldn't get away at once," +Charley said, concluding his tale. "I can tell you we were worried to +have to lay around and wait for the storm to pass, knowing that you and +Chris must be in danger on the island. The people were awfully good to +us after the feud was ended. They could not do enough for us. They even +wanted to give us money, but of course we couldn't take that. As soon +as the wind went down we borrowed this boat of Mr. Turner and started +out. We are to leave her at Tarpon and he will get her from there." + +"Well, all's well that ends well, I reckon," said the captain, puffing +in supreme content. "We are safe an' well now an' while we ain't got +much money, we will have the 'Beauty' as soon as she comes into port, +an' she's jes' the same as two thousand dollars in the bank." + +"And we will have another try for that gold when we get her," Charley +declared. "I figure that those fellows had to cast loose during the +storm and scud before it. They could not ride it out at anchor. Now +that the buoy's gone, it will take them a long time to locate the gold +again. We, knowing the latitude and longitude can get back to the spot +before they can find it and get all the gold removed, if we can get a +revenue cutter at Tarpon, as I think we can." + +The Captain's face was filled with dismay. "I've clean forgot the +figures, boys," he exclaimed. "I put it down in the log all ship-shape, +the latitude and longitude, but I've clean forgot what it was. I ain't +got no memory for figures." + +It was a heavy blow for the golden-hopes of the two boys and a silence +of disappointment followed the old sailor's announcement. + +"It's no use crying over spilt milk," said Charley, at last, +cheerfully. "We have still got the schooner, and, with the money we get +from her, we can make a good start at something else." + +"You have still good cause for rejoicing," observed the sponger +captain. "You will still have your vessel, but I have lost my all." + +The two chums were not the boys to give way to repining and they were +soon again as bright and cheerful spirits as if their brightest hopes +had been realized. + +It was midnight when the little sloop at last crept into the harbor of +Tarpon. It was useless to go ashore at such an hour so the little party +made everything snug aboard and turned in on deck for a few hours' +sleep. + +They were up early next morning, and, after a hasty breakfast, hurried +ashore to notify the Commissioner of their arrival and get him to take +steps for the seizure of the "Beauty" as soon as she reached port. + +Mr. Driver was standing out in front of his store as they came up the +street. Amazement and incredulity filled his face when he sighted them. + +"You!" he cried, "Why, I thought you were all at the bottom of the +Gulf." + +"No, we are slightly disfigured but still in the ring," laughed Charley +as he shook hands. "Our schooner has not come in yet, has she?" + +Mr. Driver stared at him for a second. "There's a mystery here," he +declared. "Come on into the store, and let's hear your story." + +Seated in the store's little back room, Charley recounted their +adventures while Mr. Driver listened attentively. When he had +concluded, Mr. Driver remained silent for a moment. + +"I hate to be the teller of bad news," he said, at last, "but you must +learn it, and it had better come from a friend. Your schooner is lost +with all hands on board." + +"Lost!" cried all together. + +"Yes, she went down at anchor during the storm. The Greek sponger +'Zenephone' was passing when she went under. Not a man was saved. +Every one on the 'Zenephone' wondered why she did not scud before it +instead of hanging to her anchor. I understand now. They did not want +to leave the neighborhood of the gold." + +It was a heavy blow. At one sweep they were robbed of their all. The +little band of chums sat paralyzed with grief, looking helplessly at +each other. Mr. Driver arose quietly and closed the door softly behind +him, leaving them alone with their grief. + +For a few moments no one spoke. "It's hard, but it must be met," sighed +Walter at last. "What are we going to do? We have nothing left now, not +even the clothes we wear." + +"God knows," answered Charley, hopelessly, at a loss for once. "I +suppose we will have to hunt work at something or other." + +"And likely be scattered and separated for the first time in years," +exclaimed the captain. + +"That's the worst of it," agreed Walter, sadly. "I don't mind working +but I hate for us all to have to drift apart." + +"Me too," wailed Chris. "Golly! I don't want to be with no one but +you-alls." + +"I don't believe the 'Beauty' is lost," Charley declared. "I believe +this is just another of Manuel's tricks. He is as sharp a rascal as +ever lived. I'll bet she is safe and sound somewhere and that Manuel +just bought the Greeks on the 'Zenephone' to tell that story." + +"Maybe," admitted the captain, doubtfully. "The story rings true, +though. It would have been likely for them to hang to their anchor by +the gold." + +"And it would be just the kind of details Manuel would think of, +knowing we would be more likely to believe the story if we escaped +alive. He is an artist at rascality." + +"Even if you're right, I reckon it won't help us much," said the old +sailor. "The story's tied our hands all right. The Commissioner won't +do anything just on our suspicions, an' we ain't got any money to do +anything ourselves." + +"I feel that Charley is right," Walter declared, "but we've got only +one chance to prove it. Get to work, get some money and hire a Greek +detective to look into the matter for us. The first question is, what +can we do to earn money?" + +They were engaged in a fruitless discussion on this point when Mr. +Driver entered. He heard their discussion with sympathetic interest. + +"There is no work around here," he declared. "The Greeks work cheaper +than an American can. It's hard for an American to earn a bare living +here. I understand from what you say that you do not want to be +separated. I might find work for one of you, but I couldn't for all. +There is only one suggestion I can make in such a case." + +"Please give it to us," Walter requested. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +CONCLUSION. + + +"WELL," said Mr. Driver, "there is a large fish-house at Clearwater, +twenty miles below here. You probably could get a job fishing for it. +You could all work together then. It is hard, dirty work but there is +pretty good money in it if a man works hard." + +The chums exchanged glances. + +"I believe we will try it," Charley said. "Of course we will have to +talk it over before we decide, but there does not seem to be anything +else we can do." + +"Very well," said Mr. Driver, "I'll give you a letter to the fish boss, +I know him personally. And you'll need a little money to pay your fares +there. You can return it when you get to earning." + +The chums thanked the kind-hearted storekeeper for his advice and +assistance and adjourned to the sidewalk where they discussed the +matter earnestly. It did not take them long to decide to follow Mr. +Driver's suggestion. They bid good-bye to the sponger captain, who +decided to remain in Tarpon and try to get service on one of Mr. +Williams' schooners, and, accepting the loan of ten dollars, which Mr. +Driver pressed upon them, they boarded the first train going South and +soon landed in the little town of Clearwater. And there, we must leave +them for the present. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. The original text had no table of +contents. One was created to aid the reader. Chapter I is untitled. + +Page 3, "tatooed" changed to "tattooed" (tattooed arms and rolling) + +Page 10, two lines were transposed. The original read: + + shouted, as the smiling Greek shrugged his shoul- + up with the money by to-morrow night I'll close up + ders. "You know what I say. If you don't come + this place and have you prosecuted for obtaining + +Page 14, "hundreth" changed "hundredth" (a hundredth part of) + +Page 43, "alloted" changed to "allotted" (allotted to their boat) + +Page 62, "along" changed to "alone" (worse than being alone) + +Page 74, repeated word "see" removed from text Original read: (I don't +see see what his object) + +Page 78, "Manual" changed to "Manuel" (Manuel approached Captain) + +Page 85, "blow" changed to "below" (been below for only) + +Page 89, "exclaimation" changed to "exclamation" (an exclamation of +surprise) + +Page 93, "captian" changed to "captain" (the captain declared) + +Page 100, "gapping" changed to "gaping" (gaping hole in her) + +Page 101, "was" changed to "were" (There were no) + +Page 102, "that" changed to "than" (time than it has) + +Page 105, "aim" changed to "air" (working the air pump) + +Page 109, "baton" changed to "beaten" (Greeks had been badly beaten) + +Page 128, "averge" changed to "average" (better than average marksmen) + +Page 164, "squaking" changed "squawking" (marsh hens, the squawking) + +Page 190, "minues" changed to "minutes" (in a few minutes he) + +Page 203, "taveling" changed to "traveling" (further traveling +dangerous) + +Page 231, repeated word "is" removed from text. Original read: (awhile +even it is is risky) + +Page 231, "gapping" changed to "gaping" (up the gaping hole) + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico, by +Wilmer M. Ely + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44394 *** |