CHAPTER XV.
THE STRANGE FLAG.
After ten minutes of the most painful suspense that any of the boys hadever known, the three sailors returned with the report that while one ofthe forward plates was bent and was leaking slightly, there appeared tobe no danger.
Mr. Barr made no secret of his relief at receiving this bit ofinformation. The boys burst into a cheer, and Barton, crouching incowardly panic in the engine room, knew by this sound that all was well.
"Now we'll get to the surface quick and see what happened," declared theinventor.
The _Peacemaker_, which all this time had been slowly backing, was sentupward once more. As soon as they reached the surface Mr. Barr openedthe conning tower hatch, and they all hastened out on deck. To theiramazement the water all about was dyed crimson, and the cause was almostimmediately apparent. Not far off lay the carcass of a whale, almost cutin two. This was beyond question the obstacle that the submarine hadstruck. Probably the dead cetacean could not get out of the way of thesteel diving craft in time, or else deemed it another whale, and so wasrammed by the sharp steel prow.
"Suppose that had been a solid object, like a rock, or a submergedderelict?" asked Rob.
"We shouldn't be here now," rejoined Ensign Hargreaves calmly enough,but in his voice there was palpable evidence of the relief he felt attheir narrow escape.
"I guess we'll stay on the surface for a while now," decided theinventor. Accordingly, the craft was put about and headed for the islandat a good rate of speed. The return voyage was made without incident,except that Tubby caused much amusement by inquiring if whale flesh wasedible, and if it was, he should enjoy a broiled whale steak for dinner.
When the shed was reached the bow of the submarine was elevated by meansof powerful geared tackle provided for this purpose, and the job ofsubstituting a new plate for the damaged one was begun. It was finishedby sunset.
That afternoon Rob and Merritt took the shotguns and started for theother shore of the island to see if they could not bring down some shorebirds. They tramped along the beach and met with some success. Theirwalk brought them to the opposite shore of the island, as has been said,and they found themselves in a desolate stretch of country, nothing butsand and brush and coarse shore grass.
They were discussing the odd nature of their mission on the island, whenMerritt suddenly grasped his companion's arm and pointed seaward,toward another of the islands that have been mentioned as beingscattered pretty closely in the vicinity. Rob was just in time to catchsight of a motor boat, seemingly a fast one, slipping behind the spot ofland.
At the same instant a figure rose from the grass almost in front ofthem. It was Barton the machinist. He had apparently been concealed inthe grass, and had not calculated on the boys discovering him.
"Well, what are you after now? Spying on me again, eh?" he snarledangrily.
"I don't know why you should say we were spying on you," rejoined Rob,"unless you are up to something wrong."
"What do you mean?" asked Barton, stepping quickly toward him as if tostrike him.
The man's hand was upraised, but the determined way in which Rob met hisangry glare caused him to drop it.
ROB WAS JUST IN TIME TO CATCH SIGHT OF A MOTOR BOAT,SLIPPING BEHIND THE SPOT OF LAND.]
"I want you to quit followin' me around, that's all," he said.
"I guess this island's big enough to hold all of us," snapped Merritt,"and as for following you around, we have other and better occupationson our hands."
The machinist made an angry reply and set off across the island at arapid pace. As he did so an odd incident took place on the island behindwhich the motor boat had vanished.
On a staff which the boys had not previously noticed a red flag began toglide up and down. Sometimes it was hoisted quickly and then againslowly.
"What in the world are they doing over there?" wondered Merritt.
"I can't make out unless they are a party of crazy campers amusingthemselves," rejoined Rob; and then he suddenly burst out: "By Jove, Ihave it; they are signalling."
"But signalling what or who?"
"I haven't decided yet; but I wonder if the same thought has occurred toyou as to me?"
"Namely, what?"
"Why, that Barton was watching those signals."
"You mean that they were intended for him?"
"That's what."
"But what would they be signalling him for?"
"Only one thing that I can think of. You know what the ensign said aboutspies; well, if that fellow Barton isn't up to some crooked work, whyshould he sneak off like this and be so anxious to hide from us when wehappen along accidentally? Then, too, there's that paper covered withdrawings that I found in the engine room."
"By ginger, I see what you are driving at. You think that Barton is atraitor, and is in league with those spies?"
"It's a grave accusation to make, but I can hit on no other explanationof his actions. He is angry at us because he thinks we may see toomuch. Look, they are still signalling."
"I wish we could read what they are saying."
"I think I can," rejoined Rob quietly.
"You can?"
"Yes."
"How are you going to do it?"
"By bringing my knowledge of Morse into play. I think that when the flagis run up slowly it means a dash and a quick run is a dot. Let's try itanyway."
Luckily the spot where the two boys were was grown with high, coarsegrass, and the sand dunes rose high in places, affording protection forthem.
As the flag rose and fell they spelled out a word according to the Morsecode.
"That's 'Ready'," proclaimed Rob exultingly; "we have hit on their code,all right."
"They're still at it," exclaimed Merritt, as the flag continued itseccentric rises and falls; "what's next, I wonder?"
Dash--dash--dash--dash, spelled out the flag.
"That means 'to'," declared Rob.
"Yes, and there comes 'night'," exclaimed Merritt a moment later. "Andnow they've stopped. Let's see what message we've caught."
"Short and sweet," laughed Rob. "I guess we came in at the tail end oftheir confab. All we've got is 'Ready to-night'."
"Well, isn't that something?" demanded Merritt. "At all events it's acomplete sentence and tells us that somebody will be ready for somethingto-night."
"Right you are, and that 'somebody' is to be Barton, I'll bet adoughnut."
"But ready for what?"
"That remains to be seen. I've always thought Barton would bearwatching. I'm certain of it now, and if the submarine isn't mixed up inthis tangle somewhere, call me a Chinaman."
"Are you going to tell the ensign about this?"
"Not till we have something more tangible to go upon. After all, we haveproved nothing, but to-night we'll keep a close watch on Barton and inthat way find out if our suspicions are correct or not."
And so it was arranged. The boys hunted a bit more, but somehow thestrange signals and the peculiar behavior of Barton had got on theirminds, and they gave up their sport earlier than they had expected andtrudged back to camp to complete their arrangements for the night'swork.