CHAPTER IX
THE MUTINY
Mark was awakened that night by feeling some one trying to turn himover. At first he thought it was Jack, and sleepily muttered that hewanted to be let alone.
"Sorry I can't oblige ye, my hearty!" exclaimed a rough voice in hisear, "but I got particular orders t' tie you up!"
At that Mark tried to sit up, but he found he could not. He discoveredthat he was closely bound with many turns of a rope, while in front ofhis bunk stood one of the rescued sailors.
"There," said the man, with a final tightening of the ropes. "I guessyou're safe."
"What's the matter? What does it all mean?" asked Mark, much bewildered.
"It means that we have possession of the ship," the sailor answered,"and, if you're wise you'll not make a fuss. It wouldn't do any good,anyhow, as all your friends are in the same condition."
Then, picking Mark up, as if he was a baby, the man slung him over hisshoulder and carried him to the living room. There Mark saw Jack, theprofessor, Washington, and the others similarly bound.
"Do you realize what you are doing?" asked the professor angrily of hiscaptors. "You are mutinying, and are liable to severe punishment."
"If they ever get us," added one of the men. "We've got the ship now,and we mean to keep her. You'll have to run her or show us how."
"Never!" cried the professor.
"I guess he will when he feels this," said one of the men, as he draggedfrom a recess two wires. "I happen to know something of electricity, andwhen he feels these perhaps he'll change his mind. I'll start thedynamo."
The sailor showed that he was acquainted with machinery, for soon thehum of the electric apparatus was heard.
"Now to make him tell!" the man with the wires exclaimed, advancingtoward the professor, who turned pale.
"Stop! You must not torture the old man!" cried a voice, and the mate ofthe _Good Hope_ stepped in front of the sailor with the electrifiedwires.
"Who's going to stop me?" asked the man.
"I will. It's not necessary," the mate went on quickly. "If we make himweak we may kill him, and he can not tell us what we want to know. Oneof the boys can tell us how to run the ship."
The mate came quickly over to where Mark lay, and whispered:
"Consent to tell. It is the only way of saving his life. Tell 'em how toraise the craft. Then leave all to me. I will save you all and the ship,too, if I can. But consent."
Mark nodded his head, and the mate cried:
"I knew I could fetch 'em. I have hypnotic power. This boy will raisethe ship for us. Loosen his bonds, some of you."
Satisfied that they were now on the way to experiencing a new sensation,the sailors took the ropes off Mark's arms and legs, and he was allowedto rise. With a reassuring nod toward the professor he led the way tothe engine room, followed by half the men. He resolved to start the gasmachine slowly, so as to make the upward trip last longer, thinkingbefore it had gone far, some way of escape from the mutineers might befound.
While a crowd of the sailors stood near him, Mark operated the machineryin the engine room that started the gas generating, and set the negativegravity apparatus working.
"You'd better not try any tricks on us," said one of the men in an uglytone of voice.
"I'm not going to," replied Mark. "If you go out on deck you will soonsee the ship leaving the water and mounting into the air."
"Some of you go," ordered a man with a big bushy red beard. "See if theship rises. When she begins to go up sing out. I'm going to stay hereand see how the young cub does it so I can work it myself."
Obeying the red-bearded man, who seemed to be a leader, several of thesailors went out on the deck. It was quite dark, but there was aphosphorous glow to the water which made the rolling waves visible.
The gas was being generated, as could be told by the hissing sound. Markwatched the machinery anxiously, for he knew much depended on him, andthe professor was not at hand to guide and instruct him. He watched thedial of the gage which registered the gas pressure and saw it slowlymoving. In a little while it would be at the point at which the shipought to rise.
Presently a quiver seemed to run through the _Mermaid_. Now a shout camefrom the watchers on deck.
"She's going up!"
The ship was indeed rising. The red-bearded man, who was addressed asTony, ran from the engine room to the deck. He saw that the ship was nowten feet above the water. Back he came to where Mark stood by the gasmachine.
"Lucky for you that you didn't fool us, lad," he said with a leer. "Seethat you mind me hereafter. Now show me how the shebang works."
When the ship had risen as far as Tony desired he made Mark send itstraight ahead. The boy adjusted the air tube to carry the craft towardthe south, but Tony, seeing by a compass in which direction they wereheaded, ordered Mark to steer due east.
"Fix things so they will stay so, too," added Tony. "I don't want tostop until I get a thousand miles away. Then we'll come down, sail tosome sunny island, and enjoy life."
Mark locked the steering apparatus so as to keep the _Mermaid_ headeddue east.
"Now you can go back to your friends," Tony said. "When I want you I'llsend for you."
With a heavy heart Mark rejoined the professor and others. He found themwith their bonds removed. But to guard against their escape several menwere on watch outside the door.
"What are they doing?" asked the professor eagerly as Mark entered, andthe boy told him what had taken place.
"They will ruin my ship and spoil the whole trip," cried the oldscientist. "Oh, why did I ever go to the rescue of the scoundrels?"
"Never mind," said Jack. "Perhaps we may yet outwit them."
Morning came at last. The ship was still shooting forward at fast speed,in an easterly direction. The sailors had learned, in their short stayaboard, where the food and stores were kept, and they lost little timein getting breakfast. They sent some in to their captives, including abig pot of hot coffee, and, after partaking of this the professor andhis friends felt better.
The mate of the _Good Hope_ came in to help clear away the dishes. As hepassed Mark he slipped into the boy's hand a note.
"Don't read it until you are alone," he said in a low voice, as hehurried from the room.
As soon as the other sailors had left, Mark glanced at the slip ofpaper. It bore these words:
"Open when you hear three raps, then two, then three, and keep silent."
"What is it?" asked Mr. Henderson.
Mark showed him the paper.
"I wonder what it means," the boy said.
"Do you think he is a friend of ours?" the professor asked.
Mark told him of the mate's conversation the night previous.
"I think we can trust him," the scientist went on. "He must intend topay us a visit when the others are asleep. When we hear the knocks as hespecifies we must open the door and let him in."
All that day the captives were kept in the living room. Once or twiceMark was sent for to make some adjustment to the machinery, but theapparatus, for the most part, was automatic, and needed littleattention. The professor, as well as the others, were all impatience forthe promised visit of the mate. Still they felt he would not come untilnight.
In fact it was long past midnight before Mark, Jack and the professor,who were anxiously listening, heard the three raps, then two, then threemore. Mark quickly opened the door, and the mate stepped inside, holdinghis finger to his lips as a sign of caution. Old Andy, Washington, Billand Tom had fallen asleep.
"I have only time for a few words," the mate said. "I am closelywatched. Tony mistrusts me. I will save you if I can."
"Why have they repaid my kindness with such actions?" asked Mr.Henderson.
"Because they are desperate men," replied the mate. "They are nothingmore than pirates. They mutinied on the other ship, killed the captainand those of the crew who would not join them, and star
ted off to seektheir fortunes. I pretended to join them to save my life, but I haveonly been watching for a chance to escape.
"Because of lax discipline the ship was sent on fire. We tried to put itout but could not. The rest you know.
"I heard them plan to capture this airship, but could do nothing to stopthem. Then I resolved to pretend to act with them. They fear pursuit fortheir other mutiny, and are anxious to get as far away as possible."
"Do you think they will abandon the ship in a little while?" asked theprofessor hopefully.
"I'm afraid not," answered the mate. "I think they want to get rid ofall of you, so they can sail about as they please. Tony is a smart man.He could soon learn to run this ship, he thinks."
"I doubt it," Mr. Henderson answered. "But how are you going to helpus?"
"I have not fully made up my plans," the mate answered. "However Iwanted you to know I would do my best to save you. Now I must go. Be onthe watch and when I can I will let you know what I have decided on. Iwill hand Mark a note when I bring your meals, just as I did to-day. Ithink----"
"Hark! What was that?" asked the professor.
There was a noise outside the door, as if some one was listening.
"Put out the lights!" whispered the mate, and Jack switched off theelectric incandescents.
A knock sounded on the door and the voice of Tony called:
"Mark! Come here! I want you to look at the gas machine. It has stoppedworking, and we are falling!"