Chapter THIRTEEN

The following day dawned fair and clear, and with everything prearranged Fitzgerald and his squadron set out again to the rendezvous with the pirate, but without the keen desire and light-heartedness that marked their departure on the previous day.

Fitzgerald’s heart was heavy with fear but he was now on his way determined to engage the pirate no matter what the consequences to his beloved might be. For the moment he was a man prompted in his actions solely by the strength of a single determination.

From the time his squadron left its base at Wake Island a hundred ears listened patiently but anxiously upon the various islands for the outcome, and the operators at the three big naval wireless stations were keenly alert on their jobs. Each minute that slowly passed by was almost a lifetime of concentrated effort for them. For two long weary hours this condition prevailed. Then came the break in the monotony, as all three simultaneously heard the signals of the pirate’s wireless voice.

Feverishly they worked with their Direction Finders. Each moment was precious, as there was no telling when the pirate operator would cease his voluntary effort, particularly as he must be fully aware by this time that his tell-tale signals were betraying his location to the alert ears of the government operators. Still he continued sending as though blissfully ignorant of the fact.

A few moments of intensive work on the part of the naval operators completed their important task, and a brief cable intercommunication gave the operator at Honolulu all three bearings. These the latter quickly worked out on the chart. The resulting position showed the pirate was practically in the same locality that he had been detected in the previous day. Shortly before this Commodore Heathcote had entered the wireless room to await the outcome of the situation, and he went over the position with the operator.

“Well, that’s alright,” said Heathcote; then as though thinking aloud, he continued, “It shows he has kept the first part of his challenge. Now if he’ll only stand a fight we may get him, but can we save Miss Ingleton, that’s the question? There’s another thing that I’m worried about too, and that’s his willingness to fight. He has already shown that he possesses superior speed to us and he may have another surprise up his sleeve as far as fighting is concerned. I can think of no other reason for his apparent willingness to accept a fight against greater odds. Still if he has such a surprise we might as well learn it by experience now as later. It may mean the safety of Miss Ingleton. Anyway once we know what it is we can take steps to meet it in the future. One thing I’m sure of and that is Fitzgerald will give him a good fight even if it means sacrificing Miss Ingleton. He puts duty above everything else.”

Then to the operator he said:

“Call up Fitzgerald and tell him by code we’ve located the pirate in the same position.”

This the operator did, and then for slightly more than an hour another weary wait ensued for the watchers ashore. Presently came the signal from Fitzgerald that he had sighted the pirate, and this was followed twenty minutes later by the three letter code indicating the battle had opened between the man who had outlawed himself and the organized forces of government.

It was the signal for anxious moments in the wireless station, where the full significance of the momentous battle was fully understood. Would the pirate stand his ground to the conclusion of the encounter and risk Miss Ingleton and himself, or would he again take advantage of his great speed and flee from the scene at the critical moment of the fight? Did he have Miss Ingleton aboard, as he intimated he would in his wireless challenge? Had he really some battle surprise to spring on his unwary but numerous opponents?

These questions were to be fully answered within a short time, but in the period of uncertain waiting that had to elapse before the outcome of the battle could be learned every possible angle of the tense dramatic situation revolved again and again within their minds.

For ten epochal minutes they waited and then came another three letter code signal from Fitzgerald. Air Commodore Heathcote quickly decoded it.

“It says the engagement is now general. That means the pirate is standing his ground and risking everything. Now we’ll soon know whether he has got any surprise in store for us or not.”

For another fifteen minutes the watchers at the wireless station waited with as much patience as they could command. Then suddenly the operator with almost imperceptible movement straightened up in his chair, picked up his pencil and began to write:

“R. C. G.”

“Good God!” exclaimed Heathcote, “that means the pirate has been vanquished. Get Fitzgerald back as quick as you can and ask him to give us a brief outline of the fight right away. Ask him if Miss Ingleton was saved. My God, get him quick! This suspense is killing.”

Without waiting to reply the operator grasped his key and sent out the call, while the air commodore leaned over his shoulder impatiently. In a few minutes the answer came back:

“I am flying direct to Honolulu, but will stop at Johnston Island for fuel. I will make a complete report. We have won the victory, but I have lost my soul. The pirate airplane was shot down and sank immediately with all hands, including Miss Ingleton.”

Heathcote read the message word by word mechanically as the operator wrote it down. Then in a brief flash its full significance sank deep within his mind, and he collapsed in his chair from the mental overstrain.

“Oh! my God!” he exclaimed weakly. “Have we done right. What shall I do.”