CHAPTER IX
A BOLD PROJECT
The _Swallow_ cleared her moorings in the creek on Minotaur Island, andsteamed out into the broad waters of the bay, a thing of life andbeauty.
"And what's that for now?" asked Pat Stoodles of Dave, who was watchingtheir progress and the coastline with great interest.
"I see," nodded Dave. "You mean the longboat from the governor?"
"That same, lad. Luk at 'em, now. Ever since we came into open watherthey've been tearing along for the town like mad. Aha, there goes oneof those measly marines overboard."
Dave ran for a telescope. He viewed the government boat with a gooddeal of curiosity.
The official, Silverado, stood up in the stern gesticulating withenergy, and evidently inciting his men to their best efforts at theoars.
"In a hurry to reach town, it seems," muttered Pat.
"In a tremendous hurry," said Dave. "So much so, that one of the menhas leaped overboard, waded ashore, and is making a lickety-switch runacross lots for the town."
Dave went at once to Captain Broadbeam and apprized him of the maneuversof their recent visitors.
"That's all right, lad," chuckled the old mariner. "Let 'em squirm.We're safe out of their clutches."
"Not so safe," spoke Dave to his father, half an hour later. "Lookthere."
The officer Silverado had seemingly got word to the governor of thedeparture of the _Swallow_. A few minutes after the longboat haddisappeared around a neck of land, the ironclad gunboat hove into view.
She was a saucy, spiteful little craft and a fast runner. She washeaded direct for the _Swallow_.
"Are they coming for us, captain?" inquired Amos Fearless, somewhatanxiously.
"I hope not, for their own sakes," muttered Broadbeam quickly. Then heshouted some orders down the tube and the _Swallow_ made a spurt.
"Running away?" said Pat Stoodles. "Shure, if I was in command I'dsthand and give her one or two good welts."
"Captain Broadbeam knows his business, Mr. Stoodles," declared Dave;"you can always count on that."
Far out in the bay were a group of sandbars and several small woodedislands. The _Swallow_ was headed for the largest of these islets. Thegunboat swung a challenge signal to which the _Swallow_ made no reply.
Then, just as the steamer, pursuant to her captain's orders, began toslow up, the ironclad fired a gun.
"Give them their walking papers, Mr. Drake," rang out Broadbeam to theboatswain.
The latter ran up a signal flag. This signified that the _Swallow_announced herself two-and-one-half miles from shore, and therefore outof the jurisdiction of Minotaur Island, claiming the freedom of neutralwaters.
"That'll hold her for a while," gloated Stoodles. "Aha! ye'll have totake back wather now."
The gunboat reminded Dave of some spiteful being cheated out of itsprey. She circled, spit steam, and went more slowly back to port.
Captain Broadbeam now ordered the _Swallow_ just without the shoal lineof a big sandy island they had neared. Here they came to anchor.
Bob Vilett came up on deck reeking with the steam and grease of theengine room.
"What's the programme, Bob?" asked Dave.
"Captain says we are going to stop here and take on ballast."
"For how long?"
"Till to-morrow, I reckon. I say, Dave, you've got your heart's desire,eh?"
"I am the happiest boy living," answered the young diver. "Somethingtells me we are going to get and enjoy that treasure after all mishapsand disappointments."
In order to repair the _Swallow_ in the creek, the ballast had beentaken out and the contents of the hold generally shifted about.
Now the captain set his men at work to take on new sand ballast from theisland and get things in the hold in regular order.
A pulley cable was run ashore. Dave and Bob were the first to take anaerial spin along this, dangling from the big iron kettle that ran downthe incline.
Dave had told Captain Broadbeam and the others of his agency in thematter of substituting the hornets for the opium. The recital had madethe captain good-natured, and he had given the boys permission to roveover the sand island at will for the day.
Dave and Bob put in a pleasant hour or two talking, fishing, anddiscussing the probable adventures that would greet them when they againvisited the Windjammers' Island.
At about five o'clock in the afternoon the work of securing ballast wascompleted. The captain then announced that there was some work still todo in the hold. They would make their real start with daylight.
Dave and Bob were taking a last swim in the cool of the day. A clearsky and a fine breeze made the exercise delightful. Finally they gotdaring one another. Dave swam to the little sand islet next to thelarge one. Bob beat him in a race to the third of the group.
"Come on, if you've got the nerve," hailed Dave, making a quarter-miledash for a sand mound still beyond them.
Bob started, but turned back. Dave made port and threw himself on thedry sand to rest. He got back his breath and sat up ready to take thehome course, when his eye was attracted to something on an island abouta furlong beyond the one he was on.
This was the nearest of the wooded islands. Dave had not noticed it muchbefore. What made him notice it now was that, half-hidden in a greatgrowth of bushes and vines, he noticed a small log hut.
In front of this a mast ran up into the air. At the moment that Davelooked he saw a man fumbling at the lines along this mast. It was toraise a blue bunting.
"Hello, hello," murmured Dave slowly, staring hard and thinkingdesperately fast. "Why, that's easy to guess. That man isSchmitt-Schmitt."
Dave could not precisely recognize the man at such a distance, but feltsure that it was Schmitt-Schmitt. He thought this the more positivelyas he saw that piece of blue bunting run up the mast.
"That was one of the signals I heard Schmitt-Schmitt tell the pilotabout," mused Dave. "Red for provisions, blue for sickness or helpwanted. Lantern at night, bunting by day. That's it, sure. He issignaling the pilot. That island is Schmitt-Schmitt's place of hiding.Say, here's something to think about."
Dave did not stay long to think about it. His eyes brightened and heseemed moved by some inspiriting idea as he jumped into the water andwas soon back in the company of his chum, Bob Vilett.
Dave was quite silent and meditative till they had reached the big sandyisland. Arrived there, he slowly dressed himself.
"Come on, I'm hungry as a bear--don't want to miss a good supper, Dave,"hailed Bob, starting for the _Swallow_.
"Hold on!" challenged Dave. "I want to tell you something before we goaboard."
"Fire away," directed Bob.
"Can you manage to get off duty about dusk?"
"There's nothing for me to do till we steam up again," replied Bob."Why?"
"Can we get one of the small boats for an hour or two, do you think?"
Bob shook his head negatively.
"Heard the captain shut down on the chance of anybody sneaking to townand making more trouble. No, it can't be done, unless the captain givesspecial orders. Why?" pressed Bob curiously.
"I don't want to tell the captain what I am up to till I accomplishsomething," explained Dave. "I'll tell you, though, for you've got tohelp me."
"All right, Dave," piped Bob readily.
"We must rig up some kind of a craft to reach the first wooded island."
"What for?"
"Schmitt-Schmitt is in hiding there."
"Aha, I see!" cried Bob excitedly.
"I propose," said Dave deliberately, "that we visit him, capture him,and bring on board the _Swallow_--as a prisoner--the only man probablywho can guide us straight to that stolen treasure."
"Famous!" cried Bob Vilett enthusiastically--"but can we do it?"
"Let's try it, anyhow," answered Dave Fearless.