Chapter XX: The End of the Cruise--Conclusion

In the morning the voyage was resumed, but they did not hurry, it being the purpose of Captain Shooks to let the _Dauntless_ have plenty of time to reach the Pacific and go on. If they should find her hovering around as though waiting for them, nothing could be more simple with regard to getting rid of the rival boat than for them to submerge, and keep moving under the water until night came on.

This time they were meaning to head further south. They had a pretty accurate account of an old-time buccaneer that had preyed upon the gold coast with impunity, until finally it ran upon a disguised British sloop of war, which proceeded to hammer it so well that in the end the pirate sank. The account also stated, on the authority of competent witnesses who had left a record behind them before they passed away, that the notorious commander of the buccaneer had all his wealth on board at the time, it being his intention to give up the nefarious business, and settle down under an assumed name in some Continental country, there to enjoy the ill-gotten fruits of his many sackings of towns and ships.

Of course, all that amazing treasure went down with the ship, though some of the crew, it appears, did manage to swim ashore and escape. Many unsuccessful attempts had been made to find the sunken piratical vessel, but then none of these were one-half so well fixed for exploring the bottom of the sea as the one Captain Shooks commanded.

So with ardent hopes they pointed the prow of their odd-looking boat toward the Peruvian coast, and in due time reached their destination. It proved to be by long odds the toughest job they had as yet undertaken, owing to the diverse ocean currents they struck after they had gone down to investigate.

For days they prowled around that region. When one clue failed the skipper seemed to have another at hand, upon which he depended to show them the object of their persistent hunt.

Jack was having the time of his life taking pictures of all the amazing things they discovered while prosecuting this search. He added several films to his already wonderful collection, and only feared his supply would run short before the subjects gave out, and wished he had waited at Panama for the new lot ordered shipped on from New York.

As time passed, and no reward came to their labors, even the confident Ballyhoo began to despair of meeting with success.

“I guess the Pacific is our hoodoo, fellows,” he was telling them on one occasion, as they sat on the edge of the lower bunk, or it might be a stool, for chairs were at a premium in those close quarters. “After all we’d better be cutting stick, and going back to the Caribbean Sea, where we did meet with our usual good luck.”

“Here’s the skipper coming to tell us something,” remarked Jack, “and from the look on his face I guess it’s good news in the bargain.”

“Three to one he’s decided to clear out of this mess, and get through the canal again to where we know our ground,” ventured Ballyhoo confidently.

However, Ballyhoo was wrong for once. Captain Shooks had information of an altogether different nature to communicate.

“We’ve stopped moving,” he started to say, “and in a cleared spot just ahead, where our illuminator makes every little object stand out like daylight, we’ve discovered something that tells us a vessel must have gone to pieces about here. The fragments look like an old-time anchor, for one thing, and some other metal parts.”

“Then you think, do you,” asked Oscar, sensing the meaning conveyed in these words of the skipper, “we’re about on the spot where that pirate sank; and that she’s been washed around in these currents until nothing’s left of her hulk?”

“That’s just what I’m afraid of, lad,” admitted the other; “and that we’ll have come down here on a fool’s errand. However, now that we’re on the spot we must try as hard as we can to learn the truth.”

Soon they had arisen again to the surface, and placed a buoy to mark the spot, so they could come again; for just then there was too much sea running to think of making use of a float.

After waiting there for two days the skipper could not stand any further delay; so it was arranged that one of the expert divers go down from the forward deck of the submersible, which, being low down near the water, might be made to answer the purpose temporarily. If he struck anything that promised good results they would linger still longer, waiting for the weather to change.

This plan was put into operation, though with much difficulty, and not a little added risk. But the diver knew no fear, and was soon down on the bottom, moving around, and looking for signs to tell the fate of the once notorious pirate ship.

While this was going on the boys, as well as the captain, remained there watching the men work the air pump, and wondering what luck would follow their venture in Western waters.

An hour passed. Then the long anticipated signal came to let them know the diver wished to be drawn up. One thing they soon learned, which was that his bag was empty, proving that at least he had not run across any more ingots such as rewarded their first search under the sea waves.

When his helmet had been removed, and he sucked in more or less of the fresh sea air, Hicks looked at Captain Shooks and grinned.

“In my hand pouch, sir, you’ll find just one lone gold piece,” he told the other. “That I found wedged in a crack in what I made out to be part of a door that was held down in the sand by the anchor. I guess, sir, that’s all the loot anybody will ever recover from the wreck of the old pirate ship. There are some queer currents racing about down there, that must get pretty fierce at times; and by degrees they’ve just pulled the hulk all to pieces, and scattered everything around for miles, I take it.”

Captain Shooks knew then that the game was up, so far as any hope of recovering pirate loot went. That lone gold piece, a Spanish one it turned out to be, he gave to Oscar, just as a memento of the occasion. And immediately afterwards orders went out to turn the prow of the submersible toward the north again.

They meant to abandon the Pacific for the time being. It seemed that Shooks believed he had enough results already aboard to justify him in turning back, and once more heading for Baltimore. Then, if all was well, he could make a start for the far distant Eastern seas, where many rich cargoes of treasure were known to have been located, but never recovered.

The three boys had been talking it all over among themselves, and come to a decision. This was to quit the expedition at Panama, and remain there for a week or so, until a steamer came along to pass through the canal bound east, on which they might engage passage.

To tell the honest truth all of them were heartily tired of their cramped quarters aboard the submarine, not to mention what they had to endure from bad air whenever the boat was below the surface. The novelty had long since worn off, and they frankly confessed they knew when they had had enough.

Besides, Jack wanted to get those precious submarine pictures of his ashore, and securely on the way home by some better carrier than a boat that spent most of the time diving under the water, with a consequent moisture, inside as well as out, that could not be very good for delicate film material.

They saw nothing more of the _Dauntless_, and hoped that Captain Badger, despairing of securing any profit from trying to spy upon his rival, had gone off on a hunt of his own, following some clues he may have picked up.

Fortune allowed them a chance to make this change of base before two days had elapsed, and it was not long before a steamer was starting for New York City, on which they took passage, with all their possessions.

So far as they knew they were returning after having accomplished their several missions in the most successful manner. This being the case it can easily be understood that they saw the shore of Panama disappear below the hazy horizon one morning, and then looked toward the North, where home and friends would await their coming, with the complete satisfaction that victory always brings.

THE END

* * * * *

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The Hilltop Boys; A Story of School Life

Jack Sheldon, a clean-minded and popular student in the academy, gains the enmity of several of the boys, but their efforts to injure him fail. A mystery, connected with Jack’s earlier life, is used against him, but he comes off with flying colors.

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The scene now shifts to the West Indies and Jack figures as the hero of a daring rescue. Their experiences in tropical waters form a most stirring narrative, and the young reader is assured of a tale of gripping interest from first to last.

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FATHER BROWN’S INDIAN TALE

Dad’s story is followed by an unexpected visitor who at first startles then interests all of the little party gathered around the fireside.

THE PICNIC AT MERRYVALE

Did you ever go to a picnic in a large farm wagon, filled with boys and girls? Then did you catch a fine lot of trout and broil them before a camp-fire? “Toad” and “Reddy” did these very things and had a day long to be remembered.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS IN MERRYVALE

Daddy Williams’ Toy Shop is the center of interest to “Toad” and his friends long before Christmas arrives. They plan a surprise that brings joy to a poor family. The boys erect snow forts and the two sides have a battle royal.

MERRYVALE BOYS ON THE FARM

“Toad’s” grandmother invites him and “Reddy” to spend a month in the country. Their experiences at Sunnyside farm, with its horses, cows, pigs and chickens, are most entertainingly told, and they have the time of their lives boating, swimming and fishing in the creek.

HALLOWE’EN AT MERRYVALE

For many days the boys had been looking forward to the party to be held at Toad Brown’s house, but the evening finally arrived and a number of new games were played, although a few things happened which were not on the program.

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Six delightful books for the smaller girls, each a complete story in itself, describing in simple language the interesting experiences of Beth, Mary and Jerry, three little maids of Merryvale.

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A Day at the County Fair

The girls are taken to the fair in a motor, but a slight delay occurs on the way. How they finally arrived at the fair ground and their amusing experiences are most entertainingly told.

Geraldine’s Birthday Surprise

Geraldine, whom we know better as Jerry, plays hostess to her many friends, although it must be admitted that her guests knew of the affair before she did. A jolly evening is spent by the girls which is shared in by our young Merryvale boy friends.

Mary Entertains the Sewing Club

Mary has the club at her home, and the efforts of the members cause many outbursts of merriment. The girls hold a “fair of all nations” for the benefit of the Merryvale Day Nursery, and their plans succeed beyond their expectations.

Merryvale Girls at the Seaside

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Merryvale Girls in the Country

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LIST OF TITLES

ETHEL MORTON AT CHAUTAUQUA
ETHEL MORTON AND THE CHRISTMAS SHIP
ETHEL MORTON’S HOLIDAYS
ETHEL MORTON AT ROSE HOUSE
ETHEL MORTON’S ENTERPRISE
ETHEL MORTON AT SWEET BRIER LODGE

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* * * * *

Transcriber’s Notes:

The two footnotes have been moved to the end of their chapter and relabeled consecutively.

Punctuation has been made consistent.

Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have been corrected.