Chapter THIRTEEN

Three hours after the dramatic scene had been enacted in Mid-Pacific, Commander Fitzgerald and his squadron landed at their base on Wake Island. After ordering the mechanics to examine the machines thoroughly, Fitzgerald went to the telegraph office where, with the aid of the operator, he resumed his conversation with Commodore Heathcote at Honolulu. It began with a detailed description of the remarkable encounter with the pirate over the vast expanse of the Pacific. It told of the receipt of the wireless challenge from the pirate with its sardonic conclusion and continued with Fitzgerald exclaiming:

“My God, Heathcote, it looks as though he were carrying Miss Ingleton with him as a shield wherever he goes. It certainly complicates the situation for us.”

“It’s a terrible dilemma,” agreed Heathcote, “but we’ve got a duty to perform. Don’t you think perhaps that the last part of his message is a bluff to scare us off and insure his immunity from attack?”

“It may be,” came back the answer, “but we can’t afford to take any chance on it.”

“That may be true,” replied Heathcote, “and there’s no doubt that if you attack him you will jeopardize the life of Miss Ingleton, but we must not allow the last circumstance to deter us from making the attack.

“The pirate may not be as careful of life in future attacks as he has been in the past if he gets the impression that he has secured immunity from attack by the presence of Miss Ingleton on board. It is a stern situation that faces us, but my judgement is that we have a duty confronting us, and that we must perform that duty irrespective of the consequences.”

“It may be just a blind to cover up his operations somewhere else,” said Fitzgerald.

“Well, if it’s a plant,” replied Heathcote, “we will have to take care of the situation to the best of our ability with the other squadrons. They have all been advised now and are on the alert. If he’s on the level about coming to the same position, it’s a good chance to have a go at him. You ought to be able to take his measure with your squadron, if he will stand the fight and not take advantage of his great speed.”

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Fitzgerald shot back, “I desire nothing better than to try conclusions with him, and I’m anxious to get back there. I was only discussing the possibilities of the situation so that we couldn’t get left anywhere. You don’t realize how serious the situation is with me, old man. I may as well tell you right now that I am desperately in love with Miss Ingleton and would willingly give my life for her, and now I am placed in a position where by doing my duty I may take her life. Oh, I know the dictates of duty allow but one decision, but I’m human. Besides, I have another duty to her parents. I promised them to take care of her under all circumstances. Don’t you see what a difficult position I am in?”

“Yes, I understand,” replied Heathcote, “and I certainly sympathize with you, but it seems to me the best thing to do under the circumstances will be for you to proceed to the position we located him in yesterday, with your squadron fully prepared to engage him. You ought to arrange to arrive there as nearly as possible at the same time as today. I’ll tell my wireless operator and the operators at Guam and Manila to keep a sharp lookout for him. If he starts sending by wireless we can check up on his position and let you know where he is. If he does show up I think that you ought to engage him and take a chance of disabling him if possible. If you could do that and compel him to alight on the surface of the ocean there might be a chance of saving Miss Ingleton. What do you think?”

“Alright then, I’ll go back to that position at the same time tomorrow,” replied Fitzgerald, “I’ll be ready to engage him if he shows up. I’ll also be on the lookout for any communication from you. I’ll do the best I can and instruct every pilot in my squadron to do likewise.”