CHAPTER XXI
JACK VS. JACK
Diabolical anger showed upon the face of Captain Jack as he grappledwith the young Englishman. The pirate chief held the advantage whenthe two came together, for he had the impetus of his advance behindhim, while Jack was off his balance when they grappled. ThereforeCaptain Jack was uppermost when they struck the deck.
Three members of the pirate crew--all that were near at thatmoment--sprang forward to lend a hand to their leader. Then Frank tookcharge of the situation. He produced two revolvers with a singlemovement. Williams did likewise. Captain Glenn, always a sailor,sprang to the wheel and put the submarine back on an even keel--shehad been staggering when Frank released his hold. The sailors Timothyand Allen were in another part of the vessel at the moment.
"Stand back!" cried Frank, and the pirates halted in their tracks.
Frank covered them with his two revolvers.
"Get their guns," the lad instructed Williams.
The latter obeyed and soon the three pirates were helpless.
In the meantime, Jack and Captain Jack, closely locked, were strugglingfor mastery. Williams advanced to lend Jack a hand, but Frank motionedhim back. He had no fear of the outcome despite the fact that CaptainJack seemed to have all the advantage.
"Let 'em alone, Williams!" the lad cried. "A thrashing will do thepirate good; and he's about to get it."
Williams stood back, but he and Frank both held their automatics readyfor instant use, for they were determined to see fair play.
Jack was still underneath, but he had thrown both powerful arms aroundthe neck of the pirate captain and the latter, who had now got to hisknees, was struggling to break this hold. Jack held on grimly.
Suddenly Jack braced his feet against one side of the narrow corridor,and still lying on his back, heaved mightily. The pirate chief,powerful man though he was, went sailing in the air and his head struckthe opposite wall with a resounding crack.
Jack released his hold and sprang to his feet
The shock had momentarily stunned Captain Jack and Jack stood back,waiting for the pirate to regain his senses. The man staggered to hisfeet, brushed his hand across his face and then glared at Jack.
"A very pretty trick," he exclaimed, "but you won't catch me nappingagain."
He sprang toward Jack and aimed a vicious blow at the lad's face withhis right fist. Jack stepped nimbly aside and the blow went wide.Before the pirate could recover his balance, Jack struck him a heavyblow under the right ear. A less powerful man would have gone downunder the force of it, but Captain Jack simply shook his head angrilyand turned sharply to renew the attack. Nevertheless, this time headvanced with greater caution.
For several moments the two stood at arm's length and sparred. In thisstyle of fighting, however, the young Englishman had all the better ofit and after he had landed several blows upon the pirate's face andbody, the latter rushed into a clinch.
Captain Jack had lost his first pangs of anger and was fighting morecoolly and carefully now. He realized after a few minutes that he hadmet his match, and, he wasn't sure as yet, but, perhaps, his superior.
As the two struggled in each other's embrace, each seeking an advantagewithout presenting an opening, Jack Templeton smiled and spoke.
"I've got you, Captain Jack," he said, "but I am ready to cry quits anytime you give the word."
Captain Jack made no reply, but only tried the harder to encircleJack's neck with his right arm.
Suddenly Jack freed his right arm, which had been pressed close to hisbody by the pirate's left, and brought his fist up under Captain Jack'schin. It was a powerful short-arm blow and the pirate chief staggeredback. Jack gave him no time to li ft his guard, but bored in.
"Crack! Crack!"
Right and left, with all Jack's strength behind them, struck thepirate, the first between the eyes and the second on the chin. CaptainJack floundered back across the corridor.
Jack stopped in his tracks; then, pivoting on his heel, he shot out hisright with all his power. Captain Jack, struck again squarely upon thepoint of the chin, crumpled tip without a word and lay still.
Jack stepped back and surveyed his fallen foe.
"Easier than I thought it would be," he said quietly. "Had he knownanything of boxing there might have been a different story to tell."
Frank stepped forward and took his friend's hand.
"You're some scrapper, all right," he said, "but what are we going todo now?"
"Well," said Jack, "we seem to be in command of this submarine. I votethat we appropriate it for the British navy."
"Or the American navy," added Frank.
"Whichever you say," said Jack.
"In the meantime," said Williams dryly, "it might be well to tie up ourpirate commander."
"Right you are," said Jack. "Frank, you see to that, will you? I wantto go on deck and see whether my torpedo struck home."
Without waiting for a reply he mounted the ladder.
Frank turned to look about for strong cord with which to bind thepirate captain. As he did so he was startled by a cry from CaptainGlenn at the wheel. He had replaced his revolvers, but now his handsdropped to them. Before he could draw, however, strong hands drew himback. Williams also was suddenly attacked from behind.
Captain Glenn released the wheel, but before he could produce a weapon,he found himself looking down the barrel of a shining automatic held bya member of the pirate crew.
What had happened was this: While Jack had struggled with the piratechief, several members of the crew had watched the struggle from thesafety of the darkened corridor. They had made no effort to interferewhile Frank and Williams stood guard with their revolvers, but whenJack went on deck and Frank and Williams put away their weapons theycrept close and sprang when the moment was propitious.
Frank struggled desperately, but hands held him tight. So withWilliams. A moment later both were securely bound, and the piratesthen gave their attention to Captain Glenn, who also was safely tiedup.
While these proceedings were going on Captain Jack opened his eyes.He took in the situation clearly and got to his feet. He approachedFrank.
"It seems," he said quietly, "that we have resumed our former status.Once more I am the captor and you are my prisoners. Where'sTempleton?"
"On deck, Captain," said one of the pirates.
"Good!" said Captain Jack. "Four of you station yourselves at theladder there and grab him when he comes down."
The pirates followed instructions. To Frank Captain Jack said:
"I would advise you not to cry out when he descends. If you do it maybe necessary to shoot him."
Frank realized the value of this reasoning and promised to saynothing. Williams and Captain Glenn also signified their intention toremain quiet.
Meanwhile, Jack, on deck, scanned the sea through the blackness in aneffort to pick up the German raider if she still remained afloat. Ashis eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he saw what he believed wasa mass of wreckage some distance away. Gradually the shape in thewater became more distinct.
It was indeed the wreckage of the German raider that Jack beheld therein the darkness.
"Pretty good shooting, Jack, old boy," the lad told himself. "Can'ttell whether the crew went down or has made off in the boats. However,there is nothing we can do for them. Guess I'd better be getting backbelow."
He descended the ladder.
As he stepped from the bottom rung, many hands seized him from behindand he was carried to the deck. Jack struck out with both hands andkicked with both feet. Grunts told him that several of these blows hadfound their mark.
But the odds against him were too great. Gradually he was borne backand at last, it seemed to the lad, many men sat on his chest. He heardthe voice of Captain Jack:
"Bind him securely, men."
Jack quit struggling and lay still.
Two minutes later he was securely bound and permitted to stand
.Captain Jack grinned at him.
"He laughs best who laughs last," he quoted, with a smile.
"So he does," Jack agreed, "but I don't think this is the last laugh."
"Well," said Captain Jack, "you've been on deck, did your torpedo gohome?"
"It did," said Jack quietly.
"That means," said Captain Jack, "that I probably shall have troublewith the Germans on Kaiserland. They won't rest until they clear upthe mystery. I ought to have you shot."
"Suit yourself," said Jack briefly.
For a moment the pirate chief eyed the lad angrily. Then he said:
"I'll decide on your punishment later. Meanwhile, we'll get back tothe island."