Chapter FORTY

Upon the “New Orleans” a most distressing incident was being enacted as the cruiser proceeded around the eastern side of Patrocinio Island. The commander of the squadron which had downed the pirate was none other than Kenneth Fitzgerald, and he it was who had dropped the chemical bomb which destroyed the outlaw. He was now lying unconscious on a hastily prepared cot aboard the warship in serious condition, with the ship’s surgeon in attendance.

So close had he been to the pirate when the fatal bomb was released that the repercussion had damaged his ship and stricken him seriously by the full force of the concussion. By a supreme effort of will he had summoned sufficient strength to guide his gyrating craft to a landing and had collapsed completely.

His rescue under the existing conditions had been nothing short of miraculous, and only through the quick work of the rest of the squadron was it effected. They had performed the almost impossible in getting him from the waterlogged machine through the heavy swell.

Mary Ingleton was at his side doing what little she could to assist the surgeon’s efforts to revive him. She was in a highly nervous state, following the excitement of the recent battle, but the serious condition of Fitzgerald alarmed her and had a steadying effect upon her.

In the meantime Eric Brant, the second in command of the squadron, was giving Captain Moore an account of the details which led up to the aerial battle.

“At the time Captain Simmons was leaving Honolulu with the ‘New Orleans,’” he said, “we were undergoing special secret instructions with a new type of bomb which had just arrived from Washington.

“We were told that the experts in the Chemical Corps had succeeded in duplicating the bombs manufactured by the pirate and, after further work, had improved on them. Ours are fitted with a safety device which, in the event of accident to one of our machines, automatically releases the liquid gas without explosive effect.

“They are mounted on a special rack which has a release trigger that sets a detonating cap on the bomb as it falls, so that it will explode on hitting. The instructors told us that these bombs would practically wipe out anything they struck.

“Mr. Fitzgerald was placed in command, and practically all of us had been in the first fight with the pirate, so we knew just what we had to expect from him.

“We all talked it over and we devised a new plan of attack, which we practiced every day in the air while we were awaiting instruction to move against him. In the first we were not able to attack him vigorously because we were in each other’s way to a great extent. Our new plan was designed to overcome this, and we practiced so as to be in a position where we could all attack simultaneously without fear of hitting each other.

“The most important part of our plan was to keep the pirate engaged while one of the machines maneuvred to get directly over him, so that the bomb could be dropped with a fair chance of hitting him squarely.

“We realized that our only chance to put an end to him was with one of these bombs. Our machine gun fire was therefore planned to keep him engaged so as to permit the main attacking machine to get into position, ready to drop the bomb at the first opportunity.

“Our original instructions were to be ready to proceed on order, and a supply ship was to follow up as rapidly as possible after we left. We got the order sooner than we expected. It came hurriedly after receipt of your wireless. We were told to proceed to the southern side of the island and assist you. We were very surprised to see the pirate attacking you, as we had not expected to encounter him so soon.

“It put us in a very bad position as we were pretty nearly out of fuel after our long flight. If the scrap had lasted much longer he would have got us all for certain.

“I imagine that’s the reason Mr. Fitzgerald took such a terrible chance, so as not to miss his mark. He was too close when he dropped the bomb, and the shock damaged his ship. We were mighty lucky in being able to get him out of the water, and he did a fine piece of work in landing his ship under the circumstances.”