CHAPTER XI.
BARTON THE MACHINIST.
An island, a sandy, scantily grown spot of land, shaped like a splash ofgravy on a plate, loomed up over the _Seneca's_ bow. On it stood a shed,two naked masts with wireless antennae strung between them, and sometents, and that was all, except that, removed from the shed mentionedabove, was a similar and larger structure. This second structure wasbuilt on piles right out over the sea, and as the coast of the islanddeclined abruptly at this point, there was considerable water under itscorrugated iron roof.
"So that's Barren Island?" asked Rob, who, with the boys and the twoofficers, was standing on the bridge of the _Seneca_ regarding with themost intense interest that desolate spot of land.
Beyond it lay other islands equally barren, so that applicability of thename was not quite clear, while in the dim distance a faint blue linebetokened the Carolina coast.
"Yes, that is Barren Island," nodded Lieutenant Murray; "and strange asit may seem, the hopes of the Naval Department are centered right atthis moment on that sandy patch yonder."
"Seems queer, doesn't it?" commented Merritt.
"Queer but safe," smiled Ensign Hargreaves.
"I'm aching to get ashore," exploded Donald eagerly. "Is that a powerfulwireless?"
"It is capable of sending up to three hundred miles on an average, andmore under favorable conditions," was the reply.
"What's in that big shed?" demanded someone.
"That houses the _Peacemaker_. The shore shelves off abruptly and thesubmarine is housed under that roof in more than forty feet of water."
"And the other building?"
"A combination cook house and dining room."
"Shall we have lots to eat?" asked Tubby, his eyes glistening as heheard.
"Plenty, I hope," rejoined the ensign smiling. "There is an ample stockof provisions, and they will be received from the mainland as occasionrequires."
"But how shall we reach the mainland?"
"In a powerful motor boat," was the reply.
"Say, this is going to be a regular picnic. I thought you chaps saidhard work lay ahead of us," complained Donald.
"Don't worry," laughed Rob; "I guess we'll find lots to do."
"Never fear," struck in the ensign. "Besides the inventor of the_Peacemaker_, Mr. Danbury Barr, and ourselves, there will be only threetrusted sailors, familiar with submarine work, to conduct the tests; soyou see that you boys will have your time well occupied."
"Are those tents for us?" asked Paul Perkins interestedly.
"Why, no. You brought your own camping outfits with you. I shall sleepin one, Mr. Barr in another, while the third will be occupied by thesailor assistants."
"And they are already there?" asked Rob.
"Watch," smiled Lieutenant Murray.
He seized the whistle cord and blew three resounding blasts.
Instantly, from the large shed referred to as housing the submarine,four figures appeared, three wore sailor garb and the fourth, it couldbe seen, was in overalls and shirt sleeves.
They waved and the boys cheered.
"I guess we'll drop anchor right here and take you ashore in a boat,"said Lieutenant Murray.
The necessary orders were given, the chain roared out, and the _Seneca_swung at anchor off Barren Island in twenty fathoms of water.
"Can we go down as deep as that in the _Peacemaker_?" inquired Rob.
"Deeper, much deeper," was the rejoinder; "we hope to go deeper than anysubmarine has ever been before."
"Whoof!" exclaimed Donald.
"What's the trouble?" inquired Merritt.
"Oh, nothing; only it makes a fellow feel kind of creepy, that's all,"was the rejoinder.
No sooner had the anchor been dropped, than a scene of great activityensued. The wireless operator of the _Seneca_ was flashing signals backand forth with the shore station, and sailors were piling Boy Scoutequipment into one of the boats while another was lowered for thepassengers. Donald had his own outfit, it having been on board the_Brigand_ when he transferred to the _Seneca_. Although he was the sonof one of the richest men in the world, it in no wise differed from theother lads' outfits, except that it had not seen such hard service astheirs had been through.
At last all was ready, good-byes were said, and not without some regretthe Boy Scouts left their kind friends of the _Seneca_ behind. Ashore awarm welcome greeted them. Mr. Danbury Barr proved to be a tall, leanindividual with a prominent, thin-bridged nose, and sharp, gray eyeswith all the keenness of a hawk in them. His skin was burned a deepgolden brown by his sojourn on the island while getting his craft inreadiness for the tests. Like most inventors he had not much to say, butseemed to be agreeable and glad to see the newcomers.
The three sailors, as became them in the presence of an officer, stoodrespectfully back without saying anything, only drawing up and saluting.But this was not the case with a man who has not yet been mentioned.This was an individual named Luke Barton. He was Mr. Barr's expertmachinist and mechanical superintendent. Rob took an instinctive disliketo the fellow. Not that there was anything actually repulsive about him.On the contrary, he was a well-set-up chap of about thirty-five, darkhaired and mustached; but it was something shifty in the fellow's eyesthat made Rob distrust him. This impression was not removed when heasked of Mr. Barr, in a voice by no means an undertone:
"What's this parcel of kids doing here? Looks like a Sunday schoolpicnic."
Mr. Barr explained.
"Oh, a bunch of kid tin soldiers," he sneered, and strode off swinging abig monkey wrench. Right then and there Rob's instinctive dislike of theman crystallized into a feeling of distrust. He felt sure that thefellow had some reason to resent the presence of the Boy Scouts.
Mr. Barr made no comment on his assistant's remarks, doubtless notthinking that they had been overheard. In fact, the rest of the party,except Rob, had been standing at some little distance when the fellowuttered his sneering jibes.