CHAPTER XII.

A DARING ATTEMPT.

There was much excitement on board the Valkyrie that night when the result of the day's work was made known to those who had remained on the boat. The next day four boats were sent out and over a hundred pearls, many of good size and but few small enough to be of little value, were brought back as a result of the day's efforts.

"Begorra an' we'll all be millionaires in a few days at this rate," Pat declared as he gazed at the pile of pearls as they formed a little heap on the cabin table.

"If there's only enough of them," Bob warned him.

"Well, the ocean's big enough ter hold a whole lot of 'em," the mate shot back.

The boys as well as the others, who had taken part in the work, were tired enough to go to bed almost as soon as supper was over and, before nine o'clock, all was quiet on board. But it was some time before the two boys went to sleep. The disappearance of the man, Josh Kelley, had given them matter for much thought and they realized that, fortunate as they had been in many respects, yet a grave danger threatened them. That Josh was in league with someone against them was almost a certainty and, then again, the creature, man or beast, that had made the attack on Pat, was another cause for anxiety.

"Something seems to tell me that we're going to hear from Josh before many moons," Bob said as he turned out the light.

"Oh, quit hanging crepe," Jack growled as he turned over.

But, a moment later he reopened the subject and, for nearly an hour, they talked in low tones. But, finally, they fell off to sleep and, it seemed to Bob, who was a light sleeper, that it was but a moment later when he awoke to hear the sound of voices just outside the door. He listened a moment and had no trouble in recognizing the deep tones of Captain Ole. Who he was talking with he could not tell as the other's voice was too low to carry distinctly.

"It's coming this way," he heard the captain say.

"He could not hear the reply to the statement but, a moment later the captain spoke again.

"It's probably he."

To Bob "he" could mean but one man and, getting quietly out of his bunk, he stole across the room and shook his brother gently.

"Huh?" Jack grunted.

"Get awake," Bob ordered.

"What's up?"

"You'd better be."

By this time Jack was wide awake and, in a low whisper, Bob told him what he had heard.

"Think we'd better butt in?" Jack asked when he had finished.

"Well, I suppose Captain Ole will call us if he wants us but I don't believe he'd care if we got dressed and went out."

"Let's make it snappy, then," Jack whispered as he began to pull on his clothes.

Evidently the men had moved to some other part of the boat for, although they listened while dressing, they heard nothing. But, in a very few minutes they were out on the deck. There was no one in sight and they hurried to the bridge where they found the captain and the new second mate talking earnestly together.

"What's the matter?" Captain Ole asked as Bob, who was in the lead, stepped onto the bridge.

"That's what we wanted to find out, sir," he replied.

"But what made you think anything was the matter?"

"Why, I heard you talking outside our door."

"You did? Then you must be a light sleeper."

"I believe I am," Bob acknowledged.

"Well, I didn't mean to wake you, that is not yet," the captain said, "but, seeing that you're awake, I suppose you might's well know. There's a boat of some kind coming this way, or at any rate, it was coming this way a few minutes ago."

"But I didn't see any light," Bob told him.

"No, they doused their glim just as we moved away from your door," the captain told them.

"You think it's Josh?" Jack asked.

"Well, of course I don't know that it is but who else would be sailing around here? It might be someone else but, if I were to bet on it, I reckon you can guess which way it would be."

"Hadn't we better put out our lights?" Jack asked.

"No use now," Captain Ole told him. "They know where we are without a doubt."

"How about using a searchlight?" Bob suggested.

"That's a good idea and one I was just thinking of putting into practice. It will prevent them getting within a mile or two of us without us seeing them."

The searchlight of the Valkyrie was a powerful one and soon its broad ray was sweeping the ocean but, for a long time it failed to disclose anything.

"Maybe it wasn't a boat at all," Jack suggested after they had been using the light for nearly a half hour.

"And maybe they gave it up," Bob added.

"Maybe, and then again, maybe," Captain Ole smiled.

"What's the idea?"

The question came from the foot of the stairway leading to the bridge, and was followed by Mr. Lakewood, who came up rubbing his eyes as though only half awake.

"Did the light wake you up?" Bob asked.

"No, I couldn't get to sleep it's so pesky hot in there so I came out to see if I could find a cooler place and the first thing I saw was that light dancing all over the water. Trying to advertise our location?"

"Captain Ole saw a light and thinks that Josh Kelley's coming with his crew or whatever he's got," Bob explained.

"Hum, I see. Picked him up?"

"Not yet," Captain Ole told him.

"No, you won't either now that he knows that we know he's coming," Mr. Lakewood said shaking his head.

"Just turn the light a bit more to the right, please," Jack said suddenly.

"See something?"

"I thought so," Jack returned as the beam of light swung slowly back again.

"There he is," Bob exclaimed a second later.

"I see it," Mr. Lakewood added. "What do you make of it, Cap'n?"

"It's a bigger boat than the Valkyrie," Captain Ole declared.

"Which isn't saying such an awful lot so far's size is concerned," Jack added.

"No, but size doesn't always count for so much when it comes to a scrap," Bob reminded him.

Captain Ole was all the time keeping the beam of light trained on the distant boat and they could see that it was coming toward them at a rapid rate and soon it was evident that Captain Ole's statement regarding her size was correct. She was nearly a quarter longer than the Valkyrie, and, judging from the speed with which she seemed to be approaching, was fully her equal, if not her superior in point of sailing quality.

"She's burning the water some," Jack declared.

"You've got your figure of speech twisted a bit," Bob laughed, "but if you mean that the boat approaching is making fair, not to say rapid, progress, I quite agree with you."

"I think it would be a good plan to call all hands," Mr. Lakewood suggested. "She'll be on us in less than fifteen minutes."

"You think they'll make trouble?" Captain Ole asked.

"That fellow Josh has no other object in life and if he's on that boat, believe me, he's out for trouble."

"Well, I reckon he's coming to a good place for it," Captain Ole smiled grimly as he gave the order to summon all hands on deck.

"Now boys," he began as soon as they were all before him except MacDonald who was below getting up steam in case they should want to get away; quickly, "don't start anything unless I give the word. They may be looking for trouble and then again they may not and we'll match them either way. But if I do give the word to mix it up let's go at in man fashion."

"I reckon we know what yer mane," one of the sailors grinned while the others nodded in agreement.

"How's your steam?" the captain called down the speaking tube.

"Be ready to start in ten minutes if you want to," MacDonald called back.

"Good! We probably won't want to run but it's fine to know that we can."

By this time the other boat was less than a hundred rods away and all could hear the order to reverse and, in another five minutes, the order to let go the anchor, followed. Bob noted that it was just three o'clock as he heard the splash of the anchor.

"They'll know that they aren't going to catch us napping," he said as he thrust the watch back in his pocket.

"It'll begin to get light in less than an hour and I reckon they'll wait till then before starting anything," Captain Ole told them.

He had switched off the searchlight but the boat was so near that it was visible to them as it was painted white and the darkness was relieved by the light of a new moon and the stars which thickly studded the sky. Of course it was too dark for them to tell what was going on on board the stranger but they trusted to their ears to tell them if a small boat were approaching. So they watched and listened until the first faint glow of light in the east told them that a new day was about to break, and there had been no sign of visitors. In fact it was not until they had eaten breakfast that a boat was lowered from the side of the ship and they knew that something was about to happen. They had watched closely every minute except when eating and, even then, a part of the crew was constantly on the lookout. They knew by this time that their visitor was well supplied with a crew and that a number of them were natives, although there were at least three white men on board.

Four men, two of them white, descended the rope ladder and got into the row boat and the two blacks pulled rapidly toward the Valkyrie.

"Neither one of them is Josh," Captain Ole declared when they were about half way to the Valkyrie.

"But that isn't saying that he isn't on board," Mr. Lakewood told him.

"Oh, I reckon he's not far away," Captain Ole agreed.

"Valkyrie, ahoy."

"On board the ship," Captain Ole answered the hail.

"May we come on board?"

The man who asked permission was a large well built man, his face nearly covered with a thick black beard.

"I reckon," Captain Ole replied not ungraciously.

The boat pulled up alongside and soon the two white men were on board.

"Well, what can we do for you?" Captain Ole asked as the two seemed to wait as though expecting him to speak.

"Do you know who we are?" asked the smaller of the two, a man about thirty years of age, dressed in white duck.

"Can't say I do," Captain Ole assured him.

"Then permit me to introduce myself and my friend here, I am Captain LeBlanc and this is Lieutenant Coua."

"And I am Captain Olsen and this is Mr. Lakewood, the owner of the Valkyrie and these are his nephews, Bob and Jack Lakewood," Captain Ole told them.

"I am sorry to inconvenience you, but I have orders to search your ship," Captain LeBlanc then informed them.

"Orders from whom?" Captain Ole demanded.

"From the French government."

"Let me see them."

"The orders, you mean?"

"Certainly."

"Did you bring those papers," the captain asked turning to the lieutenant.

The latter fumbled for a moment in his pockets and then declared that he must have left them behind.

"Then I reckon you'll have to go and get them," Captain Ole informed him.

"You mean you will insist on seeing the papers before you will permit us to make the search."

"You guessed it the first time."

"But--"

"There's no buts about it. How do I know that you are what you represent yourselves to be?"

"You have my word," the captain declared trying to throw into his voice a note of surprise.

"That's all right so far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough."

"You mean you doubt my word," the man bristled.

"Not necessarily. It means simply that I don't know you and that I refuse to allow you or any one else to search this boat without showing the proper papers."

There was decision in the captain's voice and the other, turning to his companion, said something to him in a strange language and in a tone too low for them to catch even had they understood it. The larger man nodded his head as though in agreement with what the other had said. Then the smaller man, turning back to Captain Ole, said:

"You will regret this."

"What's that?" Captain Ole snapped.

"I said you would regret your decision."

"Is that a threat?"

In reply the man merely shrugged his shoulders and Captain Ole, for the first time since the voyage had begun, nearly, if not quite, lost his temper.

"I allow no one to threaten me on board my own ship," he snapped, "and the sooner you get off her the better I'll like it."

"Very well, we go but we return," the man said with an ominous shake of his head.

He turned and, followed by the larger man, stepped toward the companionway.

"Just a minute."

Mr. Lakewood spoke for the first time, and the man, who had called himself a captain, turned with an expectant look on his face.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Do you know a man by the name of Josh Kelley?" Mr. Lakewood asked slowly.

"No."

The man snapped out the word as though he had had it all ready before the question was asked.

"Then he isn't on board your boat?"

"Naturally I would know him if he were."

"Hum, I suppose that's so," Mr. Lakewood said as he turned away.

"Of course he was lying," Captain Ole said as soon as the two men had left the boat.

"Of course," Mr. Lakewood agreed.

"What do you think they'll do?" Bob asked.

"Hard to tell," Captain Ole replied with a shake of his head which betrayed the fact that he was worried.

"I reckon it's their move," Jack suggested.

"Yes, all we can do is to wait till we see what that move is," his uncle agreed. "Of course we can't rake any oysters while they're around, that's sure."

"See that thing in the bow of their boat?" Bob asked Jack a little later as they were leaning on the rail watching the other boat.

"You mean that thing covered with canvas?"

"Yep."

"Sure, I see it. What do you think it is?"

"Just what you're thinking," Bob grinned.

"Well, if it's what I think it is it's no laughing matter."

"I wasn't laughing. But say what you think it is."

"It's a rapid fire gun."

"Go to the head of the class."

"Then you agree?"

"Absolutely."

"And if it comes to a fight you think they'd be too much for us?"

"With that gun? I sure do."

"Well, it does look kind of bad for us. I wish there was some way that we could get at the thing and put it out of commission," Jack returned wistfully.

"Which we could do in about one minute if we could only get at it, but, of course it would be impossible in broad daylight. If it was only in the night we might take a boat and get up on their anchor chains and get away with it."

"But if they're going to use it they'll probably do it before night."

"I guess there's little doubt about that," Bob agreed. "But where's the island?" he asked suddenly.

Jack turned to look. "Fog," he declared

"So it is and it's blotted it out all right. I'll bet you could cut it."

"And it'll be on us in a minute, and--"

"And what?"

"And if it's thick enough it'll give you a chance," Jack finished.

"You mean--?"

"That we've got to disable that gun."

"It'll be taking a big chance," Bob reminded him.

"Don't I know it?" Jack retorted. "But if we don't we're licked before we start, that is, if they mean business."

By this time the fog had shut down on the boat and it was, as Bob, had said, almost thick enough to cut. Although they were standing only three or four feet apart, they could hardly see each other in another five minutes.

"What do you say?" Jack whispered impatiently.

"I--I reckon it's up to us."

"Good! Come on then, there's no time to lose. No knowing how long it'll last."

"But we've got to be mighty careful about getting away. If Captain Ole or Uncle get wise they may not let us go."

"Well, they're both up in the wheel house and all the crew are below except Pat and he was fixing something or other out in the stern a few minutes ago, so I reckon, the coast is clear."

"What boat'll we take?"

"This one right here is as handy as any, I guess," Jack replied. "If only the ropes don't creak when we lower it."

"If it wasn't for the sharks we could swim it and not make a bit of noise."

"I know, but it would be sure death to try that so it's out of the question. It's the boat or nothing."

They worked carefully and, although the rope creaked at times loudly enough to make them expect the captain or their uncle would, at any moment, come down to see what was up, they finally felt the rope slacken and knew that they had succeeded so far at least. The fog was, if anything, thicker than ever as they quickly slid down the rope and, in another minute, they were off.

"Not a sound with those oars, now," Bob cautioned as he picked up a paddle.

"Maybe you'd better paddle," Jack suggested. "These oar locks have got the squeaks."

"Ship 'em then," Bob ordered. "I guess I can manage it."

The fog was now so dense that Bob had to rely entirely on his sense of direction but, fortunately, he was very good at keeping a straight line in the dark. Jack was in the bow straining his eyes for all he was worth in an effort to pierce the fog but, as he afterward confided to Bob, he might as well have kept them closed. He was unable to see a foot ahead of the boat.

"Don't you think we ought to be about there?" he whispered after Bob had been paddling for some moments.

"Listen," Bob ordered as he stopped paddling.

"She's off to the left," Jack declared almost immediately as the faint sound of voices reached his sharp ears.

"I hear them," Bob replied and, once more the paddle bit into the water.

"S-s-s-h," Jack cautioned, a moment later.

Bob again stopped paddling and, almost at once, Jack whispered: "I've got hold of the chain."

Before starting they had settled the question as to who was to make the attempt. Jack had insisted that he could do it with less noise than his brother, but Bob had reminded him that he was more careful and had finally flatly refused to go unless he would agree to let him make the try and Jack, knowing that he meant what he said, had reluctantly given in.

"Now remember," Bob reminded him, "if I get pinched you're to put back for the boat and tell them what's up."

"I understand, but you're not going to get pinched," Jack encouraged him.

Slowly foot by foot Bob worked his way up the chain, not making the slightest noise, and soon reached the side of the boat. And now came the crucial moment. Could he reach up far enough to grasp the rail and swing himself over? That was a question he had been asking himself ever since they left the Valkyrie. He had not noticed, before the fog came, how far from the deck were the anchor holes and he knew that were they too far down it would be impossible for him to get aboard in that way.

Fortunately the links of the chain were large and, with a prayer in his heart, he gripped it firmly with his feet and, inch by inch, began to raise himself up against the side of the ship. Higher and higher crept his fingers until he knew that he could reach but an inch or two farther. Then, to his unbounded joy, they closed over a rod. It was very fortunate that he was the athlete he was, else he never could have drawn himself up and, as it was, it required every ounce of strength he possessed. But finally he succeeded in getting one foot over and the rest was easy so far as getting aboard was concerned.

As he lay, close to the railing, to recover his wind, he could hear two men talking in low tones and tried his best to catch what they were saying. But they were too far away or were talking in too low a tone, he was not sure which, for him to catch so much as a single word. He had the location of the gun well in mind and knew that it was about a dozen feet from where he was lying and, as soon as he was breathing easily again, he began to hitch his body toward it. There was not a breath of air stirring and the silence was so intense that he knew the slightest sound might betray his presence. But, on the other hand, he realized that haste was important as the fog might lift at any time. Still, as long as it remained calm, he had but little apprehension on that score.

As he worked himself along the voices became more distinct and, by the time his hand touched the base of the gun, he could tell that they were not more than ten or twelve feet away. Fortunately he was familiar with most models of machine guns, having had much practice with them at The Fortress, so he knew just what he was after, provided it was one with which he was acquainted. Carefully he reached up under the canvas and his heart jumped as his fingers touched a familiar thumb screw. Quickly unscrewing it he drew out a bolt without which he knew the gun would be useless. Working quickly but noiselessly he unscrewed and transferred to his pocket several other small parts until, satisfied that the gun was permanently out of commission unless they had a full complement of extra parts, which he doubted, he began to edge his way back.

The thought as to whether he would be able to locate the anchor chain with his feet had been giving him considerable concern but, before he reached the railing, an interruption came with a suddenness that was, to say the least, disconcerting. He thought he must be nearly to the place where he had come over and was reaching out with his hand to feel for the rod when his fingers closed on an ankle.

"What the Sam Hill!"

The man jerked his foot away and Bob held his breath. How he had gotten past him without his knowledge was more than the boy could figure out, but he was there and that was enough for the time being. Should he be discovered and captured it would, he knew, be a most serious matter, not only for him, but for the others as well, as they would doubtless hold him as a hostage to accomplish their ends. All this ran through his mind like lightning as he waited to see what move the man would make. It seemed a long time, but in reality, was only a matter of seconds, before he reached down and his powerful hand grasped the boy by his right shoulder.

"What yer doin' creepin' down thar like a bloomin' snake?" he demanded.

Bob did not dare reply fearing that his accent would betray him but he realized that silence would be a no less sure cause for suspicion.

"Why don't yer answer?" the man boomed in a loud voice which must have been audible all over the boat.

And then Bob acted. Reaching with both hands he grabbed the man's ankle and with a sudden jerk pulled his feet from beneath him and he came down with a loud grunt of surprise. At the same instance another gruff voice boomed out only a few feet away.

"Wot's the matter, Jake?"

Hurrying feet warned Bob that to make a getaway he must act quickly but, as he sprang to his feet, the man, who had evidently managed to turn onto his side, grabbed one of his feet. A sudden hard tug freed the foot but at the same instant another hand, belonging to another man, caught hold of his arm and, for an instant, he almost gave up hope of escape. The fog was not quite so dense now and he could see that the man who had grabbed him was a large and powerful fellow.

"Hold him, Bill," cried the man from the floor.

"I got him."

But he was mistaken for, even as he spoke, Bob freed his arm with a strong jerk and, before the man could renew his hold, he reached the rail, only four or five feet away, and, without hesitating an instant, dove head first into the sea. No thought of sharks entered his mind until he struck the water, then the thought that he had escaped one danger only to fall into another even more menacing sent a chill through his heart. Every instant, as he struggled to the surface, he expected to feel the sharp teeth of a man-eater close on one of his legs. But he did not lose hope and, as his head bobbed out of the water, he gave a low call.

"Jack!"

There was no answer and his heart sank as he thought that probably, in accordance with their agreement, Jack had started back for the Valkyrie, having heard the noise of the struggle on deck and supposing that he was a prisoner. Had it not been for the sharks he would not have cared as he was a strong swimmer and the boat was not far away. And now he was undecided whether to strike out and risk the sharks or to climb up the anchor chain again. The latter would, he knew, be safer, for the time being at least, but the fog was now lifting perceptibly and it could be only a matter of a short time before he would be discovered. Having escaped from them by such a narrow margin he hated to deliver himself back into their hands and had about decided to risk the sharks when the faint sound of a paddle dipping into the water reached him and, almost at the same instant, through the thinning fog, he caught sight of the row boat about twenty feet away.

"This way, Jack," he cried, determined to make him hear even though it revealed his presence to those on board the ship.

Jack heard his call and in another moment he was climbing over the stern, wet but, for the moment, thankful that he had, at least, escaped the sharks.