CHAPTER XXXI
A LUCKY FIND
"Land ahead!" sang out Captain Broadbeam's terrific voice in foghornbass.
"We'll never reach it," declared Bob Vilett.
"Begorra, this is the worst yet," observed Pat Stoodles.
"Steady; be ready to jump if the raft tips," said Dave Fearless.
Fog, blackness, rain, and tempest surrounded the crew of the _Swallow_.A critical moment, indeed, had arrived in their experiences.
The capture of the _Swallow_ early that morning had been effected bytheir enemies within an hour. The attack had been a vast surprise. Noone had anticipated it, no one was prepared to meet it.
Superior numbers, desperate men heavily armed, had simply overpoweredthose on board of the steamer two at a time.
The bound captives were put ashore. With sad hearts they saw the_Swallow_ sail out of the secret cove in the hands of their enemies.Dave's hardest trial was to listen to the triumphant taunts of BartHankers. The elder Hankers gloated over Amos Fearless.
Captain Nesik goaded Captain Broadbeam to the verge of madness with hismean sneers.
Then they steamed away, the captives got loose from their bonds, andthere they were, faced with the very worst fortune, it seemed, where afew hours previous good luck only had smiled on them.
"I've an idea," said Pat Stoodles at once.
"Well, what is it?" asked Broadbeam.
"Put afther the rascals."
"Of course we will do that," said the captain, "and mighty smart, too.Don't give up, lads," he cried encouragingly to those around him."We've the will, we'll find a way. Something tells me those thievingbuccaneers haven't the intelligence or grit to hold a good point whenthey make it."
"Captain," said Stoodles, with a sudden air of importance, "if you willall come to the native village with me, I'll bargain to have youconveyed where you like in all the royal canoes of the tribe."
"It would take too much time--it might complicate matters. The sight ofso many of us might change the ideas of the natives as to a friendlywelcome," said Broadbeam.
"Why not make a raft, then?" suggested Doctor Barrell.
"Where to go?" asked Bob Vilett, who was quite dejected over the badturn in affairs.
"In search of the threasure, shure," said Pat.
"We don't know where it is," said Bob. "We might search for forty yearsand not find a trace of the treasure."
"Not at all," put in Dave sharply. "Find an island full of caves, andwe have the location. I am sure of that from what the outcast nativeimparted to me."
"And I," announced Pat Stoodles suddenly. "Begorra, I'm the lad who canput my finger right on the one particular cave where the threasure isstored."
All hands looked at Stoodles in a sort of dubious amazement.
"Is that true, Mr. Stoodles?" asked Doctor Barrell.
"Shure it is."
"How can you know that?" inquired Dave.
"The outcast tould me."
"Told you. Why, he was dead when you saw him," said Dave.
"The outcast tould me," reiterated Pat solemnly. "Not another wurrednow. I am spaking from facts. Get afloat, make for the lasht of thethree western islands. Land me. I'll take you to the threasureblindfold."
They set to work at once to make a raft. This was not difficult, forplenty of excellent material was at hand. It was late afternoon whenthey got afloat. At ten o'clock that evening, caught in a terriblestorm, the appearance of breakers denoted the nearness of land.
"Jump for your lives!" suddenly rang out the voice of Captain Broadbeam.
The raft had struck an immense rock and was splintered to pieces by thecontact. Now it was a wild swim for shore in the boiling surf.
Captain Broadbeam anxiously and eagerly counted his men a few minuteslater as they ranged on the beach.
"None lost," he announced gladly. "Where are we, Stoodles?"
"I can't exactly tell, your honor, but I should say on the secondwestern island. I'll take a short trip and report, sir."
Stoodles strolled away in one direction; Dave, ever active, went inanother.
In half an hour Stoodles was back to the little group of refugees withthe statement that they were on the second west island, as he hadguessed before.
"Dave seems to be gone a long time," observed Amos Fearless, after anhour had passed by, during which they all busied themselves in securingsuch pieces of the wrecked raft as came ashore.
Suddenly Dave appeared. He was out of breath, he had been running fast.Something of suppressed excitement in his manner showed itself plainly.
"What are you saving all that wreckage for?" he asked Bob Vilett.
"Why, to make a new raft, of course."
"Don't waste your time," advised Dave, with a quick, glad laugh."Captain, father, men, follow me! I've found the _Swallow_."
"What!" shouted Captain Broadbeam, transfixed.
"She is anchored not a mile to the north. Six men left in charge of herare all stupid with drink on her deck. I crept aboard, bound them all,and the _Swallow_ is ours once more."