The Treasure Hunt of the S-18

  CHAPTER TEN

  "Mr. Seven's" Secret

  Under the flickering firelight in the camp in the valley of the Cedar,Grenville Ford unfolded for Tim the story of the revolt in Guato, thelooting of the gold mines and the flight from Martee in the old trampsteamer.

  "I was covering the revolution in Guato at the time for the old _NewYork Globe_," said Ford, as he traced the events which had finallybrought him into contact with the flying reporter of the _News_.

  "The revolution was headed by Manuel Crespes, who was a professionaltrouble maker. He got together a band of desperadoes, all of theriff-raff in Central America, armed them with modern weapons, andpromised them all of the loot they could get. In less than a month hehad 3,000 of the toughest soldiers you ever saw with him."

  Ford puffed slowly on his pipe.

  "Three thousand men is quite an army for Central America," he went on,"and Crespes knew how to handle them. He kept them well fed and paidthem promptly. We never knew where the money came from but we had ahunch Russia was supplying him with funds.

  "The revolt started at Martee, the main seaport, and the rebels swepteverything before them and started inland for the capital, Blanco. Theylooted every village they went through and it looked like they weregoing to win in a walkaway. But Crespes didn't know that the foxy oldpresident of Guato had purchased a fleet of American bombing planes andhad secured a bunch of former war pilots to fly them. When the rebelsgot up in the narrow passes of the mountains just east of the capitalthe bombers dropped down out of the sky.

  "I was there that day. Those big eagles just came out of the blue,unloaded their 'eggs' and then soared away for another load. The rebelswere trapped. In ten minutes the backbone of the revolt was broken andthey were fleeing for the seaport and safety at Martee. I had a hardtime keeping up with them.

  "On the way to Martee, Crespes and the other ringleaders cleaned outthe gold mines in the foothills. I don't know exactly how much, but itwas at least a million. They managed to get the bullion to Martee andload it on the only ship in the harbor, the old Southern Queen.

  "They got away just before sunset and were well out to sea when thebombing planes swept down in search of them. The Southern Queen wasnever reported in any port and no member of its crew was ever heardfrom. There were all kinds of stories. Some said the old steamer hadbeen caught in a tropical gale and gone down with all hands, otherssaid that Crespes had managed to blow it up after getting away with alarge share of the gold while some stories said the Southern Queen wasbeached on the coast of Yucatan, the crew fleeing after dividing thegold.

  "It was a mystery that intrigued me. I wanted to know what had happenedto the ship and its crew and I wanted the gold it held. For years I randown one rumor after another. That story last year sent out from NewYork was written around one of the rumors, but my trip to see CrazyJohn was based on something more than rumor."

  Ford paused while Tim threw fresh fuel on the flames.

  "A month ago an old sailorman in New York told me he'd met a fellowyears ago who said he knew what had happened to the Southern Queen. Igot to checking up and the man he was talking about was John Boggs, theship's carpenter, the man we know as Crazy John. Again, through sheercoincidence, I learned from a pearl dealer in New York that heoccasionally bought fresh water pearls from a man named John Boggs outhere in the Cedar river valley. It didn't take me long to get on thejob."

  "Could Crazy John tell you about the Southern Queen?"

  The globe trotter smiled. "Crazy John told me the whole story and I'mso sure he's told the truth that I'm going into the Caribbean at once."

  "What happened to the Southern Queen?"

  "It struck a reef off an island on the coast of Yucatan. The accidenthappened shortly after midnight. Crazy John says they started to sinkat once and the crew and rebels were too drunk to get the boats off. Afew jumped overboard and tried to swim to the island. The sharks gotthem. Crazy John managed to get a skiff launched and he reached theisland. It was uninhabited and a gale wrecked his small boat. Hefinally made a raft but he drifted for days before he was able to getacross the channel to the mainland for the currents held him just awayfrom the shore. He thinks he went insane then and it wasn't until hegot away from the sea and settled down here that his mind cleared up.But the horror of those days on the raft is too much for him. He won'tgo back."

  "I don't blame him," said Tim. "It must have been horrible, driftingfor days with the shore in sight."

  "I've made an agreement with Crazy John that he is to have a fourth ofthe treasure if it is found," went on Ford. "In turn he has given me anexcellent description of the island and that section of the coast ofYucatan. I'm sure I'll be able to find the island without difficulty."

  "But will you be able to locate the remains of the Southern Queen andbring up the treasure if you do find her?"

  "That's something I've got to take a chance on. A good many peoplewould like to have the same information I obtained from Crazy John."

  "Including Jack Sladek?"

  "Right. Sladek would give a good many thousand."

  "Why is he so interested?"

  "Sladek was one of the soldiers of fortune with Crespes on theshort-lived revolution. He had a broken leg and they sailed away fromMartee and left him stranded there. It saved Sladek's life, but hedoesn't know that."

  "How could he have learned about Crazy John?" asked Tim.

  "Only through keeping close track of my movements and I've felt formonths that someone has been shadowing me. Sladek is a cool hand andwithout scruples but I know the only way he learned about Crazy Johnwas through tracing me."

  "Then it looks like he may vote himself a hand in hunting for thetreasure."

  "He may, but I think I'll be ready and capable of taking care of himwhen the time comes. Sladek is looked upon none too favorably inCentral America while I believe I can still claim a lot of friends."

  "Were you really serious about taking me on the expedition?" asked Tim.

  "Dead serious," replied the globe trotter. "You're resourceful andthat's exactly the type I need. Do you think you can arrange with youreditor to get away for about three months?"

  "If there'll be some good stories in connection with the trip, he won'tbe likely to object."

  "I guess I can promise him plenty of stories and some of them may bereal thrillers. We're going to make the trip in a submarine."

  Tim stared across the flames at Ford, wondering if he had heardcorrectly.