CHAPTER V
SENDING THE MESSAGE
The captain no longer interfered in any way with the actions of hisyoung guests. They were entirely free to do as they pleased on the ship,and apparently were under no surveillance. As they came on deck on thefourth morning at sea, the day was beautifully bright and clear. The skywas taking on that peculiar blue that is seen only in the lowerlatitudes. The atmosphere seemed to have thinned, and the horizon tohave moved away a mile or two. The sea was as smooth as glass and thesteamer was ploughing her way along at the rate of fifteen knots (miles)an hour. As usual, the decks were deserted, with the exception of theman at the wheel and the two lookouts who were always on post, day andnight, no matter how clear the day, or how unnecessary the double watchmight seem.
It was the custom of the boys in the morning to distribute themselvesaround the deck so that they could take in all the points of thecompass, and for a time each would study the horizon with carefulscrutiny, in the hope of sighting some vessel to which they mightsignal. Everything had been carefully arranged so that as soon as aship of any sort was seen, word was to be passed quietly from one toanother without attracting the attention of anyone on deck, and theneach knew his duty.
Hamilton was the custodian of the flags. On him rested theresponsibility of displaying the signal so that the passing ship mightread the message.
The boys had studied the compass and the maps that were each daydisplayed in the captain's cabin, and they knew that they were headedsouth. Although that gave them little or no clew to their ultimatedestination, they felt some comfort in the knowledge that the shore ofAmerica lay to the starboard, and away off somewhere beyond the drearyhorizon was the country they all loved, and where their anxious friendsand families were awaiting some word from them.
Bert's post was a little forward of the beam on the starboard side. Ashe took his place this morning, his heart was heavy. He was thoroughlytired of the monotony of the voyage, and the mystery that enveloped theship was beginning to wear upon him. For days now they had sailedwithout seeing anything but a dreary expanse of water on every side,unbroken by anything that was human. Porpoises played around the bowsof the steamer, and gulls shrieked as they swooped above her. Now andthen a fish leaped out of the water as the steamer ploughed through thewaves.
Bert leaned on the rail with his chin resting in his hands and his eyesfixed upon the blank before him. Suddenly he raised his head, and anexpression of surprise crept into his face. He turned and lookedstealthily around him. Harry was slowly walking up and down the maindeck just aft of the fo'c'sle where the lookouts were stolidly pacing.
Bert again turned his eyes toward the horizon. What appeared like athread in comparison with the vastness of space around them waveredabove a small black speck. Bert watched it with eager eyes. At thismoment Harry stopped in his walk as he approached the starboard side,and placing his arms on the rail looked out over the sea in thedirection of the black thread. Then the boys turned to one another and aquestioning glance passed between them. Little by little they moved intoward one another until they met.
Harry looked carefully around him before he whispered:
"Bert, I think it is a steamer."
"I'm sure of it, Hal. Have you got the signals ready?"
"I can get them in a minute, but she is too far away yet."
"You know passing vessels always study one another with a glass."
"But I do not believe she could make out our signals even with a glass,yet."
At this moment one of the men on lookout turned and looked up at thesecond mate, who silently paced the bridge.
"Steamer off the starboard bow, sir," he said, quietly.
"Keep closer watch. I've seen her," replied the mate, gruffly.
"Aye, aye, sir," came the usual response, without a change in tone.
Involuntarily the boys turned their eyes aft to the captain's cabin. Asthey did so the door opened gently and the natty, flannel-garbed figureof the commander moved out onto the deck and to the bridge. He carried aglass in his hand, which he raised to his eyes after he had spoken a fewwords to the mate.
"I thought so," said Bert, dolefully. "You can't lose him."
"Never mind," said Harry, "if she comes near enough I will get thesignals up before he can stop me, and we will have to take chances ontheir being read before he can get them down."
"But aren't you afraid of what he may do?" asked Bert, in some fear.
"What can he do?"
"He seems to be capable of doing a whole lot that might be unpleasant.For instance, he might put you in irons and chuck you down in the hold."
"I do not think he would dare do that. But anyway, I am going to takethe chance. We owe it to the folks at home."
"You are right there, Hal. I'm with you whatever comes of it."
"Oh, he's not a cannibal, or a pirate. He might be pretty mad andperhaps use us a bit rough at first, but I think he would laugh at itafterward, when he recovered his temper."
"Gee, but think of all the unpleasant things that might happen before hedecided that it was time to laugh."
Harry smiled at the mournful face of his chum, and turned again to lookat the speck in the distance. Seemingly, it had grown larger. Thecaptain, who had finished his scrutiny, looked down at them and smiledand waved his hand.
"Sleep well, lads?" he called to them pleasantly.
They nodded sheepishly in reply.
"I can't help liking him," replied Bert.
"There is something big and honest about him like a Newfoundland dog,"answered Harry. "I feel sort of mean about trying to trick him. He wouldbe a good friend and a mighty bad enemy."
The captain took another look at the approaching vessel, spoke in aconfidential tone to the mate, and again disappeared into his cabin.
"She's coming on," said Harry, with satisfaction. "Unless she changesher course, I will send up the signals in five minutes." He looked athis watch as he spoke. "Pshaw, I'm always forgetting that the salt waterhas somewhat interfered with the internal arrangements of this affair,"he continued, laughing.
By this time the strange steamer was pretty well hull up and the boyscould distinguish her masts and funnel as well as see what appeared tobe flags fluttering in the breeze.
"In order that we shall not cause any suspicion, Bert," said Harry,presently, "you go and get the Midget and stroll forward. I do not needyour help any more than to distract attention from me as much aspossible."
Bert turned, and walking around the deck, joined Mason who, while he hadheard the call of the lookout man and knew that there was a steamer insight, had not deserted his post, although he was keen with anxiety whenBert reached him.
"Where is she?" he asked, eagerly.
"She's off the starboard bow, but don't ask fool questions. Move upforward so that Hal can get a chance to have the flags up."
Although burning with a desire to watch the proceedings, the boys kepttheir faces steadfastly turned to the bow as Harry began in anunconcerned manner to work his way aft. He slowly climbed thecompanionway that led to the upper deck, and carelessly approached themast to which the signal halliards were attached.
He stood there for a moment as if watching the oncoming steamer, but hiseyes were scanning the decks and the bridge on which the second mateslowly paced to and fro. Then he turned his back to the mast and as hestood with his hands clasped behind him, he cast off the halliards fromthe cleat to which they were fastened. He was almost concealed from viewby the big mast.
When he had loosened the ropes, he turned quickly, and taking the end ofanother rope from under his coat tied the two together. After one finalpeep around the mast he threw his coat open boldly, made several quickturns and unwound from his body the rope to which the signal flags wereattached. Then with a strong pull he began to send them aloft rapidly.
As the colors sped upward and broke into the wind, his heart almoststopped beating from excitement.
Now they were half way up to the masthead
and no one had seen them. Thesecond mate still paced the bridge with his back to him. He glanced atthe captain's cabin. No one appeared from there.
"I shall get them up," he whispered to himself through his tightly shutteeth, "but will they be read?"
Now they were chock with the pulley block and he made the ends of thehalliards fast to the cleat and stood back to view his work. It seemedscarcely possible that they should not be seen and read by the passingsteamer which was now so close that he could almost make out her colorswith the naked eye.
With a feeling of triumph he looked aloft at the flags that, aided by afriendly breeze and the motion of the steamer, were fluttering outstraight from the masthead. As he dropped his eyes from aloft he startedback with a slight cry of fear and surprise.
The head of Suarez, the mate, appeared above an after companionway, hiseyes flashing with anger. He rushed at the boy like an enraged animal,but Harry, determined to protect his signal as long as possible, steppedto the mast and took a capstan bar from its place at the base and stooddefiantly awaiting the onslaught of the mate, who rushed upon himregardless of his threatening attitude. Before Harry knew what hadhappened the bar flew out of his hands, and he lay sprawling on the deckfrom a blow from the open hand of the mate.
Suarez paid no further attention to him, but seizing the halliardshauled down the signal. The scuffling of feet and the fall of the heavycapstan bar caused the second mate to turn quickly, and at the samemoment the captain's door opened and he stepped out on the deck. Hisface flushed with anger as he saw the signal-flags, and then he turnedquickly to the other vessel.
As he did so, Harry, whose eyes followed his, saw what he believed to bean answering signal, creep up the mast of the passing steamer. Suarezsaw it, too, for he turned to Harry with an ugly look in his eyes.
"The mischief is done, you young devil," he said.
"I hope so," answered Harry, quietly rubbing the arm on which he hadfallen. "Your hand is heavy, Suarez."
"I am sorry if I hurt you, Master Hamilton," said the man, somewhat morecalmly, "but you are guilty of insubordination and you have broken yourword to the captain."
"You are mistaken, Suarez," said a deep voice behind them, and they bothlooked quickly around to find Captain Dynamite beside them, his glassraised to his eyes as he scanned the passing steamer. "Master Hamiltonmade me no promise; in fact, he warned me that he would take the firstopportunity that presented itself to get ashore, or to communicate witha passing ship. He has been too sharp for us, that is all."
"Message received all right, captain?" asked Harry, eagerly.
Dynamite smiled at the boy's assurance.
"Yes, received and acknowledged," he answered; and then turning toSuarez he continued, in a low tone:
"I do not think it has done any harm. She does not apparently wish tolearn anything further of us."
"Captain Dynamite," said Harry, warmly, "there is a big load off mymind, and now we will stick to you through thick and thin. We owe ourlives to you, and we are not ungrateful. Whether you wish to take usinto your confidence or not, I do not believe, whatever may be themystery of your voyage, that there is anything dishonorable about it,and you can count on us as part and parcel of your crew. We havesucceeded in getting word to our friends at home as I told you I wouldtry to do; now we are yours to command."
The captain looked down into Harry's earnest face, his own quite seriousand solemn.
"You are a fine lot of lads," he said, "and if I was on a pleasurecruise I would not ask for better companions, but look you, this voyageof mystery, as you call it, is a very serious piece of business and Iwish you were all safe ashore and well out of it."
"But we don't want to be out of it, captain," asserted Harry,stubbornly. Bert and Mason had now joined the group on the after deck.
"No, captain," piped the Midget, "we are in it so far and we want tostick. You can't chuck us overboard very well, and as long as we havegot to be a part of your expedition, I think you better muster us in asa part of the crew."
"Well, youngsters, as much as I regret it, you may have to cast yourfortunes in with ours after all, but until that necessity arises we willgo along as we are, I your host and you my unwilling guests."
"No, not unwilling now, cap," replied Mason. "So long as the folks knowwe are safe and sound I think I had rather be aboard this queer craftwith you than any place I can think of just now. What do you say, Bert?"
"Right, as usual."
"Well, boys, while I have perfect confidence in your integrity and allnecessity for further secrecy is about past, still I think for your owngood, in view of possible happenings, it is best that I and my missionremain a mystery to you."
The captain turned toward his cabin as he spoke, as if to terminate theconversation.
"Perhaps it is not such a mystery after all, captain," said Harry,quietly. "We must be pretty near the coast of Cuba."
The man turned quickly, a glint of that fierce light in his eyes, andthen he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Pretty sharp youngsters, eh, Suarez?" he said. "We may be able to makesome use of them yet. I think they better dine with us to-night."