CHAPTER XII.
BOARDED!
In order to reach the arm of the river that led to Para the _Grampus_had to pass through a little strait known as South Channel, then onby Tucuria and around Cape Magoari. Dick, Carl, and Glennie remainedon deck, Dick using a pair of binoculars, and Matt attending to thesteering from the top of the tower. They were traversing the tortuouschannels without the chart to guide them, and most unexpectedly theyfound that what they supposed to be South Channel had emptied themout into the river close to the island where Matt had had his recentexciting experience.
"Well, wouldn't that put a kink in your hawser?" cried Dick. "Here weare back at our old stamping-grounds once more, after racing around foran hour and getting nowhere."
"Und dere iss der leedle cove!" cried Carl. "Vat a funnypitzness--gedding losdt on der Amazon."
"We couldn't have been in South Channel," said the chagrined Matt.
"This is new country to me," observed Glennie; "but I looked at thechart early this morning, marked the location of South Channel, andcould have sworn we started into it when we left this island."
"Come below, you fellows," called Matt disgustedly. "You can take thewheel, Dick, and steer by the periscope while I overhaul the charts.There's no sense wasting time and gasolene like this."
Matt dropped down the ladder and the rest followed him.
"We're mixed up, Gaines," Matt called through the motor-room tube, "anda pilot who knows the coast would be mighty handy about now. Quarterspeed while we study the maps. Dick," Matt added, "run circles off theisland while we get our bearings."
Matt opened the locker and dug up the chart. Laying it on one of thestools, he examined it, with Carl and Glennie looking over his shoulder.
"Here's where we are now," said Matt, sticking a pin in the chart, "andthere's the entrance to South Channel just below Mixiana Island."
"The passage we got into by mistake," remarked Glennie, "was thatcrooked little passage that runs into Mixiana Island, bends around inthe shape of a big 'O,' and then lets us out again at the same place wewent in."
"Exactly," agreed Matt.
"It was easy to make the mistake."
"Easy, yes; but I ought to have been sure. We should have had the charton deck with us, but I thought I had the thing firmly fixed in my mind."
"A chart is a hard thing to carry in your mind."
"I'm beginning to think so myself. Head south by east, Dick," Matt wenton to his chum. "You'll know the passage we took when you see it. Skipthat, and head into the one west of it."
"Sou' by east it is, matey," answered Dick.
"If you wanted to," suggested Glennie, "you could pass to the north ofMixiana Island and get to Cape Magoari by going around it. It looks tome as though that would be our shortest course."
"Short, yes; but it would take more time."
"How so?"
"Well, if we went to the north of Mixiana Island we would be in theopen bay, and that pesky Jap steamer may be standing off and on, hopingto get sight of us. In order to avoid that, we should have to runsubmerged, which would mean no more than half-speed, the best we coulddo. By going through South Channel we won't need to fear the steamer,and can run on the surface, and put every ounce of our motor's powerinto moving ahead."
"Correct," said Glennie. "I find that there are a good many thingsabout running a submarine that I have yet to learn."
Dick gave a grunt as he bent over the periscope table. His face washidden by the periscope hood, so the disgusted expression which he worecould not be seen.
Dick Ferral did not easily forgive a slight. From the first, Glenniehad struck him "on the wrong side," and it would take time before Dickgot over his dislike.
Carl, in this respect, was like Dick. Neither of the boys could everforget the lordly air assumed by the ensign when he hove to alongsidethe submarine in the launch. The "mister" which Glennie had imposedupon them still rankled in their bosoms.
Up to that moment off Port-of-Spain there had been no "misters" on the_Grampus_. The formality demanded by Glennie had been a strain on thefriendly relations of the crew--and perhaps on the crew's temper aswell.
Glennie heard Dick's grunt, even though he could not see the disgustedexpression on his face, and he whirled and stared sharply at Dick'sback.
"Tiscipline iss going to der togs on dis ship," mourned Carl in mockdejection. "Oof ve don'd haf more tiscipline dere iss going to be somedrouples, ain'd it? Fairst t'ing you know I vill haf to be calling myolt bard Misder Matt, und my odder olt bard Misder Tick, und den oofsomepody ton't call me misder I bet you I preak his head."
"That will do, Carl," said Matt, noting the flush that crossedGlennie's face.
"That's all right, Mr. King," spoke up the ensign. "I started that,and they're within their rights, I suppose, when they rub it in. All Ican say is that I didn't understand your method of running this boat.Now, in the navy, we have to have discipline; we have to have our guncrews, our watches, and all that; and we have to insist on a certainamount of respect from subordinates. The admirals require it from thecaptains, the captains from the commanders, the commanders from thelieutenants, and so on down through the various ranks of commissionedofficers. Even a passed midshipman," and he smiled a bit grimly, "hasthe pattern always before him, and he is taught to exact his due fromall the non-coms. But, as I say, I didn't understand how matters werewhen I boarded the _Grampus_. I--I am sorry I took the stand I did."
Just how much it cost Glennie to make that apology probably none of theboys, not even Matt, could realize. But he made it right manfully, andMatt stepped toward him and put out his hand.
"Say no more, old fellow," he cried heartily. "We all of us get outof our course a little, now and then. Before we get through with thiscruise the lot of us are going to understand each other a whole lotbetter. Carl----"
Matt turned with the intention of making his Dutch chum take the handhe released, but Carl had faded mysteriously out of the periscope room.Whether he expected what was coming, or not, and dodged away to avoidmeeting the issue, Matt could only guess.
"Dick," and Matt turned to his sailor chum, "I want you----"
"Here we are," cried Dick, "just taking the entrance to South Channel.And it's the right channel, too, old ship, because we slammed rightpast that other one where we go in and come out the same place."
Glennie could not fail to note how both Carl and Dick had avoidedMatt's attempt to put him on more friendly footing with them. Therewas a noticeable constraint in his manner, but he did not allow it tointerfere with his stating the desire he had in his head.
"When I came aboard," he went on, "I believed I was merely therepresentative of the United States Government, that I was to look on,keep hands off, and write up my own log. But I can see very plainlywhere I can be of service to you, Matt; and I can also see where, byhelping you, I can get a much better insight into the capabilities ofthe _Grampus_. I should like to have you let me do my part in runningthe boat. If you want me for quartermaster, I can spell you, or Mr.Ferral; with a little instruction, I could also run the motor, ordo the work in the tank room. If it would be any help, I might evenlearn to cook the meals. All I want is to be useful--and to learn the_Grampus_ from top to bottom, inside and out, as well as you know her."
Dick gave another grunt; but this time it was more subdued. The idea ofany one learning the _Grampus_ as well as the king of the motor boysknew her! In order to do that, a fellow would have to be born with aworking knowledge of explosive engines in his head--just as Matt hadbeen.
"Thank you for that, Glennie!" said Matt. "You can get busy right now,if you want to."
"Just tell me what I'm to do," Glennie answered.
"Go up on deck and keep a sharp lookout while we're passing through thechannel. We must be vigilant, even when we can see no reason for it.Wily enemies are after us, and eternal watchfulness is the price ofsuccess, fully as much as it is of liberty."
"Aye, aye, sir," said Glennie, and started fort
hwith up the ladder.
"He's too top-heavy, Matt," scowled Dick, pulling his head away fromthe periscope.
"He's a good fellow at heart, Dick," averred Matt. "We're all going tolike him a whole lot when we know him better."
Dick sniffed and jerked his chin over his left shoulder.
"If he takes hold on this boat he'll make a monkey's fist ofeverything. I don't like the cut of his jib, nor the soft-sawdering wayhe overhauls his jaw-tackle now that he sees his first bluff didn't go.If----"
There was a muffled shout and a bounding of feet on the deck. A widegrin parted Dick's face.
"There he goes--in hot water already."
Dick ducked back into the periscope hood. But the periscope did notshow the deck of the _Grampus_, nor the waters immediately adjacent,being constructed for reflecting objects at longer range.
Matt hurried up into the tower. The moment he was able to look over thehatch he was thrilled by what he saw.
A dugout canoe was alongside the steel hull--and it had evidentlybrought three natives from the neighboring shore. They were exactly thesame kind of savages Matt had encountered on the island--perhaps, even,they had formed part of the same crowd.
One of the savages had gained the deck forward. Glennie had caughthis spear, and the two were struggling for possession of the weapon.A second native was climbing up the rounded deck with the apparentintention of attacking Glennie in the rear. The third of the trio keptto the canoe, paddling, and keeping it alongside.
So intent were all three of the Indians on the struggle which Glenniewas carrying on that they did not notice Matt. Swiftly the youngmotorist got out of the conning tower.
"Look out behind you, Glennie!" shouted Motor Matt as he hurriedforward.