A sound made them stop suddenly. A loud and prolonged yawn came from the deck of the boat. Then the radio was snapped off and silence came back to the night.
‘He may be going to sleep,’ hissed Jack. ‘Let’s wait.’
They waited in complete silence for about ten minutes. The man tossed a glowing cigarette-end overboard but did not light another. The boys heard him give several grunts as if he was settling down comfortably. Then he gave a loud yawn again.
Still the boys waited, shivering in the darkness of the jetty, keeping close to one another in order to get a little bit of warmth from each other’s bodies.
Then, on the night air, came very very welcome sounds. ‘He’s snoring,’ whispered Jack, pressing Philip’s arm in joy. ‘He’s asleep. I’m sure there’s only one guard, because otherwise they would have been talking together. Now’s our chance. Come on – but quietly, so as not to wake him!’
The two boys, shivering now with excitement as much as with cold, crept along the jetty to the boat. They climbed cautiously on board, their bare feet making no sound at all. On the deck lay the sleeping guard – if he was a guard!
Then another sound stopped them. This time it came from beneath their feet. Philip clutched Jack’s bare arm and made him jump violently. They stood and listened.
It was somebody talking, down below in the cabin. Who was it? Could it be Bill? And who was he with? Horace perhaps. But maybe after all it wasn’t Bill down there, maybe it was the enemy, playing cards, and perhaps the sleeping man wasn’t a guard. It would be very foolish to toss him overboard and open the cabin hatch to find the enemy down in the cabin.
‘We’d better listen and find out if it’s Bill,’ said Jack, right in Philip’s ear. The boys could see thin streaks of light where the hatch was fitted down into the deck, covering in the little cabin; so they knew exactly where it was. They crept forward and then knelt down by the closed hatch. They put their ears to the cracks and strained to listen to the voices talking.
They could not hear what was being said – but, when one of the talkers suddenly cleared his throat and gave a little cough, the boys knew who it was all right! It was one of Bill’s little ways. Bill was down there. It was Bill who was talking. Both boys felt a surge of tremendous relief. If only they could get Bill out, and let him take charge of things!
‘If we throw this fellow overboard, we may find he raises the alarm so quickly that we shan’t be able to get Bill out and explain things to him fast enough,’ said Jack, in Philip’s ear. ‘As he’s so fast asleep, what about unbolting the hatch and letting Bill see we’re here? Then he could help us with the guard, and take charge of the boat.’
‘You undo the hatch, and I’ll stand by the guard, so that if he wakes I can knock him overboard,’ said Philip. ‘Go on. Quick!’
Jack felt for the bolt. His fingers were trembling and he could hardly pull it. He was afraid it might make a grating noise, but it didn’t. It slid back easily and smoothly. Jack felt for the iron handle that raised the hatch, and then lifted up the hatch itself, so that a bright mass of light came up from the cabin below.
The men in the cabin heard the slight noise and looked up. One was Bill – and the other was Horace. When Bill saw Jack’s face peering down out of the darkness he leapt to his feet in amazement. Jack put his finger to his lips, and Bill bit back the exclamation on his tongue.
‘Come on out,’ whispered Jack. ‘Quick! We’ve got to deal with the guard here.’
But Horace spoilt everything. As soon as he saw Jack, the hated boy who had shut him into the hole on Puffin Island, he sprang up furiously. ‘There’s that villainous boy! Wait till I get him!’ he shouted.
27
Escape
‘Sh!’ said Jack fiercely, and pointed over his shoulder towards the guard. But it was too late. The man awoke with a jump, as the shouting penetrated into his dreams. He sat up blinking, and then, seeing the brilliant light streaming up from the open hatch, he leapt to his feet.
Bill had the sense to switch off the light. Now all was darkness. Bill began to climb up the hatchway, and the guard began to shout.
‘What’s all this? Hi, what are you doing? Who’s there?’
Philip sprang at him and tried to push him overboard, but the man was strong and began to struggle. In the end it was poor Philip who was thrown overboard, with a most terrific splash. Then Bill came up and, guided by the sound of the panting of the guard, hit out with his right fist. The surprised guard felt the sudden blow and reeled over. Bill put out a foot, hoping to trip him, and down he went to the deck. In a trice Bill was on top of him, and Jack came to help. ‘Who was that going overboard?’ panted Bill.
‘Philip,’ answered Jack, sitting firmly on the guard’s legs. ‘He’s all right. He can swim to the other boat.’
‘Get the guard down into the cabin,’ ordered Bill. ‘Where’s the other fellow – Tipperlong? The idiot spoilt the whole show.’
Horace was standing well out of the way, wondering what was happening. He could hear pants and groans and strugglings, and he was scared. Then there came another yell from the guard, and down the man went into the cabin, slithering sideways down the steps.
Bang! The hatch shut down on him and Bill slid the bolt across.
‘He’s safe for the moment,’ said Bill grimly. ‘Now let’s get the boat going, quick! We’ll be off before the enemy know what we’re up to!’
‘That’s what I planned we’d do!’ panted Jack, thrilled that his wildest hopes seemed to be coming true. ‘How do we start up the engine? Blow this darkness! I haven’t a torch on me.’
The guard below was kicking up a terrific row. He was yelling and banging for all he was worth. Bill made his way in the darkness to the wheel of the boat.
And then things began to happen. Lights sprang up on shore, and voices began to shout. There came the sound of running feet.
‘We shan’t have time to get her free from her moorings and start her up before they’re on us,’ groaned Bill. ‘Did you say you’ve got another boat here, Jack? Where is it? And what about Philip? Quick, answer me!’
‘Yes – there’s a boat off the end of the jetty there – with the girls in it – and Philip will probably be there by now, too,’ said Jack, his words falling over one another in his excitement. ‘We’d better swim for it!’
‘Overboard then!’ said Bill. ‘Tipperlong, where are you? You’d better come too.’
‘I c-c-c-can’t swim,’ stammered poor Horace.
‘Well, jump overboard and I’ll help you,’ commanded Bill. But the thought of leaping into the dark cold water in the middle of the night, with enemies all round, was too much for Horace. He crawled into a corner and refused to move.
‘Well, stay where you are, then,’ said Bill scornfully. ‘I’ll have to go with these kids – can’t let them down now!’
Overboard went Bill and Jack. Horace heard the splashes and shivered. Nothing would have induced him to do the same. He trembled in his corner, waiting for the enemy to come pounding down the jetty.
And come they did, with torches flashing, and voices that urgently demanded from the guard what all the noise was about. They swarmed on board the motor-boat, and found Horace at once, shivering in the corner. They dragged him out.
The guard was still hammering down in the cabin, getting hoarse with fury. The enemy, not really certain of what had happened, flung questions at poor Horace.
Bill and Jack, swimming swiftly through the dark water, heard the excited voices, and prayed that Horace would not give them away. The guard would soon tell them all they wanted to know, but perhaps the few minutes’ start they had would be all they needed.
Philip was already on board the boat, reassuring the two frightened girls. When he heard the splash of Bill and Jack jumping overboard from the other boat, he strained his eyes to watch for them. As he caught the sound of their swift armstrokes through the water, he cautiously held his torch down over the sea, and flicked it on onc
e or twice, to mark their way for them.
They saw the slight flashes of light and thankfully swam towards them. Jack had been afraid of missing the boat altogether in his excitement. Soon they were clambering up, and Lucy-Ann and Dinah caught hold of Bill’s wet, hairy arms, so strong and firm and comforting.
‘Come on – we must get going,’ said Bill, giving each girl a quick pat. ‘My, what a row there is on that boat! They’ve let the guard out now. Come on, before they know where we are.’
‘The engine will tell them, when we start it up,’ said Jack. ‘We’ve got oars. Shall we row?’
‘No,’ said Bill. ‘We must get away as quickly as possible. They’ll chase us, and we must get a good start. You girls lie flat on your tummies, and you boys lie on top of them. There’ll be bullets flying after me in a tick!’
Bill started up the engine. Lucy-Ann and Dinah lay down flat. The boys lay on top of them, almost squeezing the breath out of the girls. It was most uncomfortable.
Oddly enough not one of the children felt frightened. They all felt a terrific excitement, and Lucy-Ann had a mad feeling that she would like to yell and dance about. It was hard to have to keep flat on the deck, with Jack squashing her breath out of her.
As soon as the engine of the motor-boat started up, there came an astonished silence on board the other boat. Plainly the guard had not gathered that there was a second boat not far off, and had not told his friends about it. The enemy had thought that Bill and his rescuers were swimming somewhere about, and they were still quite in the dark about what had happened.
But when the engine of Bill’s (or rather Horace’s) boat purred out in the night, the enemy knew that they must stop it somehow. That boat could not be allowed to get away!
Crack! Somebody’s revolver went off, and a bullet sped over the sea, towards the boat.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Bill crouched as low as he could by the wheel, as he heard a bullet whizz much too near the boat for his liking.
‘Keep down, you kids!’ he ordered anxiously. ‘We’ll soon be out of reach.’
Crack! Another bullet went pinging by, and struck the water beyond the boat. Bill said several things under his breath, and wished the motor-boat would go a little faster.
R-r-r-r-r-r-r went the engine steadily, and the boat swung over the waves out to sea.
Crack! Crack!
There came a sudden squeal from Kiki, who was sitting on top of Jack, puzzled by all the noise and excitement. Then she screeched wildly.
‘Oh! Kiki’s hit!’ shouted Jack, and sat up in anxiety, feeling for his beloved parrot.
Kiki didn’t say a single word, but continued to screech as if she was in the most terrible pain. Jack was beside himself with grief.
‘Keep down, you idiot!’ roared Bill, sensing that Jack was not lying flat. ‘Do you hear what I say?’
‘But Kiki,’ began Jack, only to be drowned by an even more furious roar from Bill.
‘Kiki’s all right! She couldn’t screech like that if she was really hurt. Lie down flat, and do as you’re told!’
Jack obeyed orders. He lay down again, and listened with anxiety to Kiki’s screeching. The others, quite certain that the bird was wounded, were very anxious too.
Lucy-Ann wondered what had happened to Huffin and Puffin. She had not heard them say arrrrr for a long time. Perhaps they were shot too! Oh dear, when would they be out of reach of the enemy, and safe?
The shooting stopped – but another noise came, sounding faintly over the chugging of their own boat. Bill’s sharp ears heard it.
‘They’re after us!’ he called. ‘They’ve started up their own boat. Thank goodness it’s a dark night. We must just go on and on till our petrol gives out, and hope for the best.’
The motor-boat chasing them switched on a powerful searchlight. It swept the sea all round.
‘We’re just out of reach,’ said Bill thankfully. ‘This little boat can certainly get a move on. Kiki, shut up screeching! You’re NOT hurt!’
‘Bill, we might have enough petrol to get to the island we came from, over to the east there,’ said Jack suddenly. ‘The men would probably think we’d try and make for safety miles away, and if we do, we shall certainly be overtaken. Their boat is more powerful than ours, and as soon as we get within the range of their searchlight, we’ll be seen. Let’s swing off to the left.’
‘What island did you come from?’ demanded Bill. ‘And what’s been happening to you all since I was fool enough to let myself get captured? I’ve been worrying my head off about you!’
‘We were worried about you, too,’ said Jack. ‘Swing her to port, Bill – we’ll make for the lagoon-island, and hope that the men won’t guess we’re there.’
The boat set course for the other island, across the dark, heaving sea. Far behind them the searchlight was still sweeping the waters, but it was plain that the enemy’s motor-boat was now going off in the other direction. Another few minutes and they would be out of sight and hearing.
‘Arrrrrrr!’ said a guttural voice from just beyond Bill. He jumped. Then he laughed.
‘My goodness – have you still got Huffin and Puffin? Now don’t start screeching again, Kiki. I’m absolutely certain you’re not hurt.’
‘Can I sit up now and just feel if Kiki is hurt?’ begged Jack anxiously. ‘They’re not doing any more shooting.’
But before Bill could answer, the engine of the motor-boat gave a series of coughs and wheezes, and then, with a curious sound like a tired sigh, stopped altogether.
‘Petrol’s run out,’ said Bill bitterly. ‘It would, of course! Now we’ll have to row, and it won’t be long before the enemy catch us up!’
28
A night of talking
The children all sat up at once, and the girls thankfully stretched their arms and legs. ‘You are heavy, Philip,’ grumbled Dinah. ‘Oh Bill – what awful bad luck to have no petrol just as we must be so near shore!’
Jack reached out for Kiki. His hands felt over her body anxiously, and down her legs, and over her beak. Where was she hurt?
Kiki nestled close to him, murmuring funny little words that had no sense. ‘You’re not hurt, silly bird,’ said Jack thankfully. ‘You made a fuss for nothing. I’m ashamed of you.’
‘Poor Kiki, poor Kiki, send for the doctor,’ murmured Kiki, and put her head under her wing.
‘She’s not hurt, as far as I can make out,’ said Jack to the others, ‘but she must have had an awful scare. Perhaps a bullet zipped very near her.’
‘Oh, forget Kiki for a moment and let’s talk about ourselves,’ said Dinah. ‘Bill, what are we going to do?’
Bill sat lost in thought. What was the best thing to do? It was no joke to be in charge of four children, with such dangerous enemies so near. Would it be best to make for this lagoon-island, whatever it was? It should at least be within rowing distance. Or would it be best to row further on?
‘We’ll make for your lagoon-island,’ he said at last. ‘It’s the best idea.’
‘It can’t be far away,’ said Jack, straining his eyes in the darkness. ‘I think I can make out a dark shape over there. Can you, Philip?’
‘Yes,’ said Philip. ‘Look, over there, Bill! Can you see?’
‘Not a thing,’ said Bill. ‘But I’ll take your word for it. You youngsters have got such sharp eyes and ears. Now, where are the oars?’
They were soon found, and the slow splish-splash of rowing came to the ears of the girls, as they sat huddled together for warmth.
‘Yes – it is land of some sort,’ said Bill, after a while, with satisfaction. ‘We’ll be ashore soon. I only hope there are no rocks to run aground on.’
‘Oh no,’ said Jack. ‘We’ll be all right. There aren’t any rocks near the lagoon-island. At least, not the part where we should be coming to now.’
But hardly were the words out of his mouth before there came a horrid grinding noise, and the boat shivered from end to end. Everyone got a terrible shock
. Whatever was happening now?
‘On the rocks!’ said Bill grimly. ‘And I don’t somehow think we’ll get her off! She means to stay here all right!’
The boat could not be moved. Jack anxiously switched on a torch, and tried to see what had happened. It was only too plain!
‘There are rocks all round,’ he said dolefully. ‘We haven’t come to the right part of the island at all. Goodness knows where we are.’
‘Let’s see if we’re holed,’ said Bill, and took Jack’s torch. He examined the boat thoroughly, and gave a sigh of relief. ‘No. It looks as if we’re safe so far. She must have run right on to a shallow ledge of rock. It’s no use doing anything about it now. We’ll have to wait till it’s light and then see if we can shift her. If we mess about now and do get her off, we shall only get on to other rocks at once.’
‘Well, let’s snuggle down in rugs and have something to eat, and talk then,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘I should never, never be able to go to sleep.’
‘None of us could tonight,’ said Jack. ‘I’ve never felt so wide awake in my life. I’m going to get some clothes on first. I haven’t had time to put any on. Wasn’t I glad to get some rugs round me, though!’
‘I’m pretty wet through myself,’ said Bill. ‘I’ll have a few rugs too, I think.’
‘There’s some clothes of Horace’s in that locker,’ said Dinah. ‘The one behind you. We gave him all of his, as we thought, but I found some more yesterday, tucked away there. They won’t fit you, Bill, but at least they’ll keep you warm.’
‘Good,’ said Bill, and opened the locker. ‘I’ll put them on now, if I can feel what they are in the dark. You girls get some food, if you’ve got any. Pity we can’t boil a kettle and get something hot into us!’
Soon Bill and the boys had dry clothes on. Then all five of them sat close together for warmth, and ate biscuits and chocolate hungrily.
‘Now suppose we tell each other what’s happened since I so hurriedly departed from Puffin Island,’ said Bill.