Chapter VIII: The Journey Begins

"Well, boys," said the professor, "have you had enough breakfast?"

"I don't know whether I have had enough or not," responded Jo. "But I'm afraid I can't eat any more."

"That's bad," remarked the professor. "I'm afraid there is something wrong with you. Still, if you go on deck, perhaps you will be better by dinner time. But while we are down here you might pick out your staterooms. This is the captain's room, and this is mine. That is the engineer's room. But you can take any of the others you want."

Looking over the rooms about which there was really little choice, Jo and Tom selected one to their liking, and Juarez decided on the invitation of John Berwick to room with him as he was going to act as assistant engineer on the voyage. This left Jim with a cabin to himself.

The boys had but just settled the matter when they were startled by a series of loud and angry exclamations from the professor.

"Now, what do you think of that?" he cried, when the boys rushed into the saloon where he was standing holding up his handbag in which a long slit had been cut with a sharp knife.

"Their audacity passes all bounds!" he went on wrathfully. "They have got it at last."

"What is lost?" asked Jim.

"The chart, the map of the island," replied the professor. "I don't know as it will do any one else much good. Besides the points of the compass it has only mystifying figures on it, but it's a bad loss for all that."

"Are you sure it is gone?" asked Jim.

"Well, it isn't here," replied the professor. "Fortunately, I can remember the latitude and longitude, which is really the important thing."

"What was the paper like?" put in Tom.

"It was just a rude chart," answered the professor. "It was in a flat box. I put it in the box to keep it safe from getting wet or worn out. I got tired of carrying it with me so I put it in the bag last night, not intending the bag should get out of my sight. And I don't know when it did."

"Looks as if we had spies all around us," said Jim.

"It certainly does," agreed the professor. "But now that we are on the yacht we will be safe."

"Humph!" muttered Tom, who had just returned to the cabin after a moment's absence, "I'm not so sure about that, but," he continued, "was the box anything like this?" He held up to their gaze a thin oblong tin box.

"Why, it looked like that!" exclaimed the professor, taking the box Tom offered to him. "Why, it is it! What are you doing with it?"

"I found it in my bag this morning," explained Tom. "I thought that it belonged to Jo, and that he had dropped it in by mistake."

"I suspect that is just what I did in an absent-minded spell this morning," said the professor. "The joke is on me, boys. Perhaps it is a lucky thing that I did it, for I think now, seeing this slit in my bag that the best thing I can do is to have you take care of it for me."

"Don't you think you had better keep it?" protested Jim.

"Not after this experience," replied the professor, holding up the cut bag. "Besides, I think it will be decidedly safer with you."

"Very well, then," replied Jo. "We will do our best to take care of it."

"I know that," said the professor.

Jo and Tom spent the morning going over the yacht getting acquainted with its equipment and with the crew. The latter were mostly Hawaiians with one Irishman, an Englishman and the Mexican steward. Juarez was busy down in the engine room with Berwick, and Jim and the professor were in consultation in the cabin over their plans to outwit Broome.

"The Marjorie of Liverpool," remarked Tom. The speaker was standing on the after deck studying the vessels in the harbor. He read the name he spoke through a pair of binoculars. It was a small steamship anchored not far from the Storm King. They had passed it early in the morning on their way to the yacht, but he had not noticed it particularly until now.

"I wonder where she came from, and where she is going?" went on Tom.

"From Liverpool, I suppose," replied Jim, who had joined them, "and quite likely she is going back again."

"Wonder how she got way out here?" continued Tom.

"You are full of wonder to-day," laughed Jim. "Steamships go anywhere and everywhere. Here comes the captain. We can ask him."

"What is it you want to know?" inquired the captain, who had overheard Jim's remark.

"We were just talking about that steamship there, the Marjorie, and speculating as to what she is and what she's doing here."

"It's pretty hard to tell that," replied the captain, after taking a look through the glasses. "She's English built and rigged, that's certain, but I don't know what she's doing so far from her home port."

"She has good lines and looks as though she might have speed," criticized Jim.

"Ay, ay, lad, ye're right there," agreed the captain. "She looks like a cross between a yacht and a trader. I suspect that is what she is, a trader."

"She seems to have a big crew for a trader," said Jim, who had been studying the vessel while talking. "And she looks as though she might carry a pretty heavy armament, too."

"Have you noticed that?" observed the captain. "Ye have a good eye, lad, and a quick mind. I was just thinking the same thing myself. I wouldn't wonder if she was doing some contraband trade down the coast. I see she is going out, soon."

"How do you know?" asked Jo.

"She is getting steam up."

"So is the Sea Eagle," exclaimed Tom. "They have started their fires. She must be going out, too."

"Looks like it," put in Jo. "There is Broome now, with some of his men."

Pulling along close under the stern of the Marjorie, there was seen a small boat in which was Captain Broome with his chief subordinates.

"See anything of Manuel in their boat?" asked Jo.

"No," replied Tom. "He isn't in the boat. They must have left him behind."

"He must have been drowned," said Jo.

"I don't know about that," replied Tom, "but it is certain he isn't in the boat; there are four men besides the captain and on top of their other baggage is a big hamper."

"How's the engine, Mr. Berwick?" asked the professor of the engineer, calling down into the engine room.

"All right now, sir," replied the engineer. "We are just going to get up steam."

"Very good," said the professor. "Keep it up, for we may want to start any minute. Keep your eyes on the Sea Eagle, captain, and let us know if she shows signs of getting under way."

"Ay, ay, sir!" responded the captain.

"Feel any better now, Jo?" asked the professor, with a smile, "it is pretty near time to eat again."

"I'm all right again now, professor," responded Jo.

"Better get ready then, for I hear Pedro rattling the dishes down there."

"I think"--began Tom, when they were down in their staterooms taking a washup before the noon meal.

"That it is time for dinner," interrupted Jo.

"No, sonny," replied Tom. "My thoughts are not as your thoughts, always on the gross material, but--" Going to the door, he called Jim into the room. Then, after a look into the saloon, closed the door.

"Hist!" whispered Jo. "The plot thickens."

"What is it now, Tom?" asked Jim.

"I think"--began Tom, in a low tone.

"You said that before," interrupted Jo. "But I don't believe it."

"That it would be a good plan," continued Tom, "to hide the chart in some safe place."

"Not half a bad idea, don't you know," drawled Jo, "but where is that safe place?"

"I have an idea," went on Tom.

"Clutch it before it gets away," advised Jo.

"That we can make a secret closet where we can put it."

"That is a good scheme," agreed Jim, "if--"

"Hear! Hear!" broke in Jo.

"Here, as well as anywhere," replied Tom.

"What is your plan?" asked Jim.

"I was thinking of making a secret drawer or closet in this cabin."

"Do you think we could do it?" asked Jo.

"I don't know," replied Jim. "We can tell better after we try. The proof of the--"

"Eating is in the pudding," interrupted Jo.

"Let's go ahead and do it."

"Where do you think is a good place to make it?" asked Tom, looking around the room, which was paneled in mahogany. "We might take up a board in the floor."

"But some one might get at it from underneath," objected Jo.

"No danger of that," replied Tom. "Who is going to look for it?"

"Well, if there is no danger of anyone looking for it, what is the use of hiding it?" demanded Jo.

"That's right," agreed Jim. "If we are going to do it at all, let's do it thoroughly. If we can take out one of the panels, we can make a dandy place."

"That's the idea," chimed in Tom.

"I think we can take out one of these panels," continued Jim, examining the wainscoating carefully, "but we must first get the professor's permission."

"We will ask him the first thing after dinner," cried Tom.

"And there is dinner, now," said Jo, as the sound of a gong resounded through the air.

The professor was an interesting dinner companion, and even though all felt that serious business was ahead of them, no reference was made thereto. At the conclusion of the meal Jo said:

"Professor Feather--"

"Ingstone," broke in Jim.

"Haughleigh," added Tom.

"I'm all broke up," laughed the professor.

"Can we make a hiding place in one of our staterooms?" asked Jo.

"Why, I suppose so," replied the professor. "What do you want to do, play hide and go seek?"

"In a way," laughed Jim. "We want to make a secret place in which to keep the chart."

"Oh, I see," interrupted the professor quickly. "By all means."

"You see, we can--"

"That will do," returned the professor with another laugh. "If you are going to make a secret place the fewer who know of it the more it is of a secret. Keep it to yourselves."

"Even from you?"

"From every one," said the professor emphatically. "If you need any tools or anything get them quietly."

The brothers lost no time, but at once set about making a place of concealment. Jim, who, of the three had the more genius for mechanics, taking the initiative in the work, studying carefully the artistically constructed paneling to settle upon a plan.

"Do you think it can be done so that it won't be seen?" asked Tom.

"Yes," decided Jim. "I think so. By taking off this moulding, we can saw through the edge of the panel, put on leather hinges, and I can make a spring catch. Then replace the moulding and it will never show."

"That will be easy," asserted Jo.

"Glad you think so," retorted Jim. "It will have to be done as nicely as the original work."

"When are you going to begin?"

"Now," answered Jim. "Only one can work at a time, so you may as well go on deck. I will start the job. I will take one of the panels near the floor. After I have started, we can take turns at the work. When we begin, we want to finish as soon as possible."

"All right," returned Jo. "Let it go."

When the others had gone, Jim secured from the engineer such tools as he needed, and returning to his room, closed the door. He selected a panel, and was about to take off the molding when he heard some one moving in the cabin. Whistling carelessly he opened the door of his room, but there was no one near. The steward Pedro, was busily employed at the far end of the room, and the mate was just entering the cabin.

"Strange," mused Jim. "There doesn't seem to be anyone acting suspiciously. I was sure, though, that there was some one near the door just now." He then called to Jo, and arranged that he should stay in the cabin on guard.

Jim returned to his task, and with infinite care removed the molding from the panel. Then he called Tom below, and working alternately, in a short time they had made the secret opening to the compartment. As it was between the wall of the stateroom and the planking of the vessel, and being inaccessible from any other point, it seemed absolutely safe. The work under Jim's direction had been so deftly done that it could not be detected. It was opened by pressing a spring made of wire and placed in an adjoining panel.

Fastening the box containing the chart with a strong cord, it was lowered into the aperture and the cord fastened to a hook at one side of the opening.

"There," said Jo, when the box had been lowered, and the place closed. "It will take more than a wizard to find that."

"It looks that way," agreed Tom, "but--"

"Oh, you're a regular goat with your buts," cried Jo. "What is the matter with it?"

"Nothing," said Tom. "It is all right, but some people can see through a stone wall."

"Of course they can if it has holes in it, but there ain't any holes in this."

This task ended, they went on deck, where they found the professor and the captain intently watching the Sea Eagle, which had steam up and seemed to be about to get under way.

"I was just going to call you," said the professor. "I think that the next act is about to begin."

"Good!" cried Jim. "Let's hope they will find something doing that is not down on the program."

"Isn't it rather late to start?" asked Berwick, who had come out of the engine-room, leaving Juarez in charge.

"Not if you are ready," was the professor's answer.

"I suppose they think they can slip away from us in the dark," chuckled Jim.

"It will be something of a surprise if they find us at the Bay when they come," said Jo.

"Engine all right, Mr. Berwick?" asked the professor.

"Working splendidly," replied Berwick.

"Very well, then," replied the professor, "we will get off at once. I see that the Sea Eagle is going to start. Will you give the word, captain?"

The captain passed the order to the boatswain, and an instant later, the crew striking into a chant began to wind up the anchor chain, and in a few moments came the call:

"Anchor apeak, sir!"

"Anchor's fast!" called the boatswain.

"Ready at the wheel," directed the captain from the bridge, where he was standing with the professor. The captain rang the bell in the engine room, the propeller revolved, slowly at first, then more quickly, and the Storm King, gathering momentum, was headed through the channel's mouth for the open sea. The voyage had begun. Anticipations and hopes ran high. What would the outcome be?

"My, but it is good to get the smell of the salt again," cried Tom.

He and Jo were standing in the bow of the boat, taking in long breaths of the salt air which blew in their faces. The spray from the waves, as they curled away from the bow, dashed over them.

"And there is better still to come," added Jo.

"Why, here comes the Marjorie," cried Tom. "We are all moving out at once."

The party on board the Storm King had been so much interested in getting under way and in watching the Sea Eagle, that they had forgotten the other vessel until Tom had noticed it following in their wake about a mile behind. Gaining the open sea, much to the surprise of those on board the Storm King, the Sea Eagle was headed directly to the north under full speed, the heavy volume of smoke from her funnel trailing behind like a cloud.