CHAPTER XXIV
AN "S. O. S." CALL
"By Jove, Jack," said Captain Glenn, as the lads and their prisonersappeared, "that's what I call quick action. How many more men do yousuppose there are here now?"
"I don't know," was the lad's reply. "I'll ask our friends here." Heshook the man nearest him, roughly. "How many more men in the fort?"he demanded.
This prisoner chanced to be the wireless operator, so he spokeEnglish.
"No more, sir, I am sure," he said fearfully.
"Don't you lie to me," said Jack sternly.
"I'm not lying," protested the operator. "Ask Pedro there, if you donot believe me."
Jack whirled on the second captive.
"How many?" he demanded of the South American.
"No more, senor," was the man's quaking response.
"Maybe not," said Jack, "but if I find you have not told me the truth,it will be the worse for you. Captain Glenn, will you have thesefellows tied up? Then the rest of you stand guard at the door. See ifyou can repair that outer door. Captain Jack and the others will beback some time and we don't want to be taken by surprise. I'll have alittle session with the wireless."
"How about your wounds?" asked Williams.
"Scratches," replied Jack briefly. "I don't have time to bother withthem now. I'll have 'em fixed up later. Now you fellows do as I tellyou."
The others recognized Jack's authority. The prisoners were bound andlocked in another room. Captain Glenn and Williams stood guard at thedoor, that they might not be surprised by the return of the pirates.
Frank started a tour of inspection with the an announcement that hewould gather whatever firearms he could find and make sure there wereno pirates in the fort. He also bound up the men who had been woundedin the fighting. The dead men he laid on cots until such time as theycould be given burial.
Jack took the operator's seat in the wireless room and adjusted thereceiver to his head. Then he began to experiment with the key.Directly sharp flashes of light from the aerial without showed that hewas flashing messages into space.
For perhaps an hour he endeavored in vain to pick up a ship or astation in any of the South American countries. The signature he putto each message was "J. T."--his own initials, but he could think ofnone better.
As he was about to give up his tests as a failure, he suddenly caught afaint clicking.
"J. T," came faintly to his ears.
He answered promptly.
"Who are you?" was the message he sent.
"U. S. cruiser Virginia," was the reply. "Who are you?"
"Survivors of merchant ship Albatross," Jack flashed back. "Castawayson uncharted island."
"What's your location?"
"Don't know. But there is a German submarine base on this island."
The wireless seemed nervous as the next message came in.
"What island?"
"Island called Kaiserland. There are also a nest of pirates here.We've just captured the wireless room."
"How long can you hold out?"
"Indefinitely."
"Good! I'll summon assistance and we'll search South American watersthoroughly. We'll find you sooner or later."
"Very well," Jack flashed back, "but be careful. These waters areinfested with the enemy and they'll sink you if possible."
"Don't worry about us," was the Virginia's reply. "We can take care ofourselves. Can't you give me an idea where you are?"
Jack thought rapidly. Then he sent this:
"We were aboard a pirate ship three nights ago and sank a German raider75 miles from this island. If you can pick up the wreck, we are duewest."
"Thanks. We'll find it if it is still afloat. What's the strength ofthis pirate crew?"
"About fifty men."
"And the strength of the German submarine base, together with officersand men; also equipment?"
"Don't know," was Jack's reply. "I've only the pirate chief's wordthat there is a German submarine base. He is using a submarine stolenfrom the German as his own."
"Maybe he is lying to you," said the Virginia's wireless.
"Don't you believe it," Jack flashed back. "They're on this island allright."
"They won't be long, thanks to you," was the answer. "I'll pick you uplater. I'm going to summon help."
The clicking of the wireless ceased. Jack waited impatiently for hiscall again, and at length it came.
"I've relayed your message to Washington," said the wireless. "I willhave a fleet down here before long, but we'll come for you alone ifnecessary."
"Thanks," said Jack, "I--"
The lad broke off as Frank appeared in the door with a cry.
"Pirates coming back, Jack!" he cried. "Come on."
Jack delayed long enough to send this message:
"Pirates coming. Have to quit talking and fight. More later."
Before he removed the instrument from his head he caught this reply:
"Lick 'em good! Good luck."
Jack smiled to himself as he hurried from the wireless room and joinedFrank and the others without.
"We may not lick 'em," he muttered, "but they'll know they've been in afight."
Through the single window in the room Jack saw the returning pirates,Captain Jack in the lead, returning slowly.
"The good captain will be rather surprised when he finds his fortresshas changed hands in his absence," said Jack to Frank.
"Rather," agreed Frank. "Now, what's the best plan? Step out and warnthem away, or let them come close and do it then?"
"Let 'em come close," advised Jack. "There's only one window here toguard and we can do that without trouble. They don't have anyartillery, so they can't batter down the door. Rifles won't do it.Let 'em come close and we'll give them a little scare."
Captain Jack led his pirate force toward the fort, unconscious of thedanger that lay within. Captain Glenn and Williams had repaired theouter door so that it was now as strong as it had ever been.
Inside the stockade itself, Captain Jack approached the door wearily.He had had a hard and unsuccessful day and he was in no pleasant frameof mind. The door refused to budge when he pushed on it. Captain Jackraised his voice in a shout.
"I say there, Lawrence, what do you mean by locking me out? Open thatdoor at once." For answer Jack opened the little window, and poking anautomatic out before him, he said softly:
"Lawrence is a good pirate now, captain. We have him safely tied up."
Captain Jack stepped back in consternation. Then he reached for hisgun.
"Hold on there!" shouted Jack. "I don't want to kill you, but I willif you make another move like that. Stand still now, like a real goodpirate, and listen to what I have to say."
Captain Jack glared at Jack malevolently and for a moment it seemedthat he might risk a shot for a chance to draw. Then his hands droppedto his side.
"All right," he said. "I'm listening."
"We're in command of this fort now," said Jack, "and we're going tostay in possession. You and the rest of your pirates will have to stayoutside. Also you will have to rustle your own grub. We need all wehave in here. Don't make the mistake of trying to catch us napping.We'll always be on guard, and you will find you are barking up thewrong tree. That's all. I'll give you five minutes to get out ofrange."
"So you've become pirates yourself, eh?" said Captain Jack, trying tokeep his temper. "You steal our grub, and--"
"That's enough," said Jack, flourishing his revolver. "Your fiveminutes are growing short."
Captain Jack shook a threatening fist at Jack Templeton.
"I'll go!" he shouted, "but I'll come back and when I do you are goingto be the sorriest Englishman I ever saw. You can lay to that. Youcan't make a fool of Captain Jack and live."
"I couldn't make a fool of you," said Jack. "That job was done beforeI ever saw you. Now go!"
A moment longer Captain Jack hesitated; then, as Jack raised
hisrevolver, he turned and strode away.
The remainder of the pirates followed their chief.