CHAPTER XVIII
CAPTIVES
When "Captain Jack" admitted to Frank that he was a full-fledgedpirate, the lad's first thought was to draw his revolvers and openfire. That was why he dropped his hands to his guns following hisexclamation of "Pirates."
Timothy and Allen, the two sailors, taking their cue from Frank, alsoreached for their weapons. Captain Jack, though realizing on theinstant what these movements signified, simply smiled.
"I wouldn't, if I were you," he said quietly.
Frank thought better of his plan to fight and dropped his hands to hisside again. He, too, smiled.
"Guess you're right," he said quietly.
"Wouldn't do much good, would it?"
"Hardly, with all my men about you. You might get me, and you mightnot, but they would get you sure."
"I guess I could get you all right," said Frank.
"Maybe so, though I'm pretty handy with a gun. Suppose I can drawquicker and shoot straighter than you or anyone you have seen."
"There is room for argument on that point," said Frank dryly.
"An argument would soon convince you that I am right," was the reply."However, we will not argue the point now. Nor need we ever argue itif you are reasonable."
"What do you mean by reasonable?" Frank wanted to know.
"Well," said Captain Jack, "truth is I am somewhat short-handed. Ilost my first officer in my last battle. Lost half a dozen men alongwith him. Now you're an officer, though not a military officer.Therefore I can make use of you, if you're open to a proposition."
"Thanks," said Frank quietly, "but I'm not open to a proposition tobecome a murderer."
"Careful," said Captain Jack, taking a quick step forward. "That kindof talk won't go with me."
"Well, I don't know whether you're one now or not," said Frank, "butyou stand in a fair way of becoming one. I have no hankering forpiracy."
Captain Jack looked at the lad long and earnestly. Then he said:"Guess I'll make a pirate out of you anyhow. Grab him, men."
Two men leaped upon the lad. Frank's two revolvers flashed out like astreak of lightning and there were two sharp reports. Not for nothinghad Jack once declared that Frank was the quickest and best shot heever hoped to see.
The men who had sprung upon the lad tumbled over. Frank turned toconfront the others. As he did so there were two more sharp reportsand the lad's two revolvers clattered to the ground. Sharp pains shotthrough both his wrists and his hands seemed to have been numbed.
The lad turned to where Captain Jack, with two smoking revolvers in hishands, was smiling quietly.
"You reckoned without Captain Jack, you see," said the pirate chief."Don't worry. You're not hurt. I just felt called upon to shoot awayyour guns before you annihilated my men here. Now, if you have noobjections, I'll have you and your men tied tip and taken aboard theRoger, where you shall be kept until you are wiling to listen toreason."
Timothy and Allen had been deprived of their weapons and at commandfrom Captain Jack, the three prisoners were securely bound.
"Take them aboard the Roger," instructed the pirate chief with a waveof his hand.
The three captives were led away.
The submarine now had come against the half concealed dock that hadcaused the castaways such wonderment when they approached the shore.At command of their captors, they leaped to the deck of the submarineand then passed through the conning tower and descended below.
At sight of the interior Frank could not suppress an exclamation ofastonishment. The vessel was fitted with the handsomest ofappointments. The little cabin into which the three prisoners were ledeven showed signs of an artistic taste, undoubtedly that of CaptainJack, Frank thought.
"This young pirate certainly has an eye for the beautiful," Frank toldhimself.
The prisoners once inside the cabin, the captors withdrew and lockedthe door behind them.
"Well," said Frank, "here we are, men. What are we going to do aboutit?"
"Nothing we can do, sir," said Allen. "He will probably offer us achance to join his crew and if we refuse he'll heave us all overboard."
"I'm a f raid he'll have to heave away then," said, Frank, "for I don'tthink I would make a very good pirate."
"I'd make a better pirate than I would a corpse, sir," declaredTimothy, "and this fellow must have made quite a success. Here he isthe undisputed owner of a submarine fitted out like a palace; he's hisown boss and his prizes he probably distributes among members of thecrew. Why, sir, a year of this life and a man would be rich."
"Look here, Timothy," said Frank, "I don't like that kind of talk.Why, man, you talk like you would like to be a pirate."
"Maybe I would, sir. I've thought about it for years. Look at theexcitement a man could have."
"Timothy's right, sir," declared Allen. "I'm not hankering for thelife of a pirate, but I'm not hankering for a watery grave, either. Idon't, know but what I would join if given the chance."
"Look here, men," said Frank, "I'm free to confess that the life of apirate seems to have its sunny side. I've read a lot of pirate talesand I can remember when I thought I would like to be one. But I knowmyself and I know you better than you think. When it came to ashowdown, you'd balk."
"Well, I'm not sure about that, sir," said Allen..
"I am," declared Frank decisively. "You mark my words, you'll refusewhen the time comes."
"Then we'll walk the plank," said Timothy.
"Better to walk the plank with clean hands than to be hanged with thedeath of innocent persons on your conscience," said Frank.
"We'll see when the times comes," said Allen.
The three were talking of Jack, Captain Glenn and Williams some timelater when a hand fumbled with the key in the door. They whirled aboutquickly, forgetful for the moment that they were helpless in theirbonds. A moment later the door swung open and Captain Jack entered,smiling.
"Well, well," he said. "So we're all here, eh? Guess I'll unloosenyour hands. I feel that I can handle the whole bunch of you if it'snecessary."
He cut the cords that bound them and the three stretched their crampedmuscles.
"Now we'll have a little talk," said Captain Jack.
He motioned the three to seats and took a stool himself, near the door,to guard the exit. For the first time Frank took a good look at him.
The pirate chief was perhaps half an inch shorter than Jack Templeton.He was more fully developed, though, as became his years, and had theappearance of being of enormous strength. Frank decided that he was atrifle, though not much, stronger than his chum. He had a pleasantface and smiled continually. There was nothing about him that wouldlabel him "pirate."
Captain Jack addressed Frank.
"I've come to ask you to be my first lieutenant," he said.
Frank jumped to his feet.
"I'll see you hanged first," he cried.
Captain Jack smiled calmly.
"No, I don't think you will," he said pleasantly. "I've the whip handnow, you know. If you decline, I shall feel called upon to take sternmeasures."
"Take them, then," said Frank briefly.
Captain Jack hesitated.
"It seems a pity, too," he said. "You're rather handy with a gun. Youcould be of great use to me. Now, for example, I have word--pickedup by my wireless station inland--that a certain ship is about topass through these waters. It will be loaded with riches. I intend tocapture it. I would like to have you lend a hand."
"You've a lot of nerve," said Frank. "You talk about capturing anAmerican ship--or even a British or French, or of a country alliedwith the United States--as though it were nothing."
"Who said it was an American ship or a vessel of an allied nation?"demanded Captain Jack.
"What else could it be?" demanded Frank.
"In this case, it chances to be a German ship," said Captain Jack.
Frank looked incredulous.
"What? Didn't you know the
Germans had established a naval base far tothe north of this island?" asked Captain Jack. "It's there theirraiders put in supplies. There are also a dozen submarines. As amatter of fact though, the Kaiser is a submarine shy. That's the one I'cut out' about five months ago."
Frank listened to this tale with wide-open eyes.
"If you're fighting the Germans, I'm with you," he said.
Captain Jack shook his head.
"Just when necessary," he said quietly. "This time it chances to be aGerman I shall attack. I wouldn't hesitate if it were American orBritish. I am fighting for my own ends only. I am a pirate."