CHAPTER XXX
HOMEWARD BOUND
Trembling, blinking in the strong light, which must have hurt theireyes after spending so much time in the dimness of their cabins, thetwo old Germans were again summoned to the deck. Jerry gently explainedto them what had happened. The old men seemed greatly startled, andspoke rapidly together in their strange language. Then, at Jerry’srequest, they called in the direction of the island.
There was no response. A megaphone was made of some cardboard, and thatwas given to them. But though they shouted again and again the name ofthe unfortunate commander, adding what was assumed to be assurancesthat he would be well cared for, there was no answer.
“I guess he doesn’t want to come back,” remarked Jerry.
“But what are we to do?” asked Ned. “This is his boat and----”
“It’s going to be ours long enough for us to get back to Boston,”declared Jerry, firmly. “Then Dr. Klauss can claim it--if he likes.”
“I almost wish we could keep it,” sighed Ned. “I’m beginning to likethis under-water travel.”
“Do you mean to go off and leave him on the island?” asked Bob.
“What else can we do?” responded his tall chum. “He won’t come when wecall. And, as a matter of fact, it looks as though one could live onthat island for some time. There is plenty of fruit, and probably birdshe can snare. Besides, he can make some sort of a signal, and a passingship will take him off. We owe it to ourselves, and to our friends andfamilies, not to stay here any longer than we have to.”
“I think that is so,” assented Mr. Sheldon, after some thought.
They explained matters to the old Germans, who agreed that Dr. Klausswas not entitled to further consideration. On their part, they said,they had had enough of him, and wanted to go back to their Fatherland.They related briefly that they had been fellow scientific workers withDr. Klauss, who had asked them to make the submarine trip with him toget valuable data. But they had had enough.
“Then we’ll start for home!” decided Jerry.
They remained at the surface for some hours, to allow a few repairsto be made, to get rid of the last of the chlorine gas, and with thefaint hope that Dr. Klauss might consent to be rescued. But he did notshow himself. Everything was in readiness for the start.
Slowly the _Sonderbaar_, with her crazed commander absent, sank beneaththe waves.
“Homeward bound!” exclaimed Jerry with a sigh of relief.
“And I’m going to cook a dandy meal!” cried Bob, whereat the otherslaughed. It was really the first meal they expected to eat with calmminds, for even with Dr. Klauss in chains there was a constant worry.Now he was gone.
“I say, Uncle Nelson, can’t you tell us that secret now?” asked Bobthat evening, when they were speeding homeward a short distance belowthe surface. “What was it you were bringing from Germany?”
Mr. Sheldon opened a case that he took from his pocket. There was aflash of light, and he held up to view a magnificent diamond necklace.
“This!” exclaimed Bob’s uncle. “It is an heirloom that our family haslong been trying to get. It has been stolen several times, and therewas a legal tangle as to the real owner. Finally I came into possessionof facts that proved my right to it--or, rather the right of myself andyour mother, Bob, and I went to Germany to prosecute the case.
“The odd part of it was that a German family also claimed the necklace,and, had the case gone against me, Dr. Klauss would have had a share inthese jewels.”
“Dr. Klauss!” cried Jerry.
“Yes. And when I won the suit, and the necklace was awarded to me, thedoctor vowed to get it back. He did not know that I actually had it,being only told that it had gone to an American. That is why I did notwant to mention it while he was aboard. He would have had a doublereason for hating me--and all of us. But it is safe now, and I hopesoon to be at home with this fortune in diamonds.”
“Well, that’s one mystery cleared up,” remarked Bob, while, Grace, withshining eyes, tried on the gorgeous necklace.
“Yes, and if we could get back our _Comet_, and rescue the old sailoron the _Hassen_, we’d clear up the other two,” spoke Ned.
“Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to build another _Comet_,” came from Jerry.
I will not tire you with a description of the voyage home. Sufficientto say that it was made, without accident, though once, when in deepwater, a gigantic shark tried to ram the boat. But it was killed withthe electric bomb gun, as the whale had been.
The boys and the three machinists were able to run the submarine totheir entire satisfaction. After the first few days Jerry and his chumsran it alone, to get the experience. They also halted once, went to thebottom, and donned diving suits, for the professor wanted to get a fewmore specimens. He secured some rare ones.
“Oh, this has been a most fortunate trip for me!” he cried, withenthusiasm.
And finally the _Sonderbaar_ entered Boston Harbor, creating no end ofexcitement. Great crowds watched her, and when her story was known theexcitement increased. The boys were overwhelmed by reporters.
“But before we tell anything let them tell us if the old sailor wassaved, and whether our airship was picked up,” stipulated Jerry.
“I can tell you about that,” volunteered an old reporter. “I had thestory of both. Your airship was picked up, badly damaged, but in themain intact. Everyone supposed you were all drowned.”
“No wonder!” cried Bob. “We must send off telegrams at once to ourfolks.”
After this was done, and the safety of Mr. Sheldon and Grace told ofto Bob’s mother, the newspaper men again begged for particulars of theremarkable voyage.
“First tell us--was that old sailor saved?” asked Ned.
“You mean the one on the _Hassen_?” queried a reporter. “He was--a fewdays after you left him. He was picked up, the vessel towed to thisharbor, and he got big salvage money. Most of the passengers and crewwere also saved.”
“Good!” cried Jerry. “Now give ’em our yarn, boys.”
And that it was a “yarn” well worth telling may well be believed.Columns of it were printed.
“Oh! what a time we’ve had!” cried Jerry, when he and his chums finallyreached home, and were received by their tearful parents, who hadalmost given up hope.
“Yes, it was tough part of the time, but I’m not sorry we went throughit,” spoke Ned. “I only wish we could get that submarine--or one likeit--and make other trips.”
“Well, we’ll be sure to do something more--soon,” said Bob. “We’ve gotto keep active!”
“Indeed--you’ll do nothing more for a long while!” cried his mother.
But the boys were destined for other adventures, and what they werewill be related in the next volume of this series, to be called “TheMotor Boys on Road and River; Or, Racing to Save a Life.”
The two elderly Germans left the submarine as soon as it was docked inBoston Harbor. They said they were going back to their native land.They had had enough of under-water life, they declared.
The boys watched the papers eagerly for news of Dr. Klauss, nor wasit long in coming. A small steamer, passing near the lonely island,stopped for water. There they found the body of the unfortunate man.He had died from natural causes, it seemed--probably from some ailmentthat may have affected his mind. He was decently buried, and a stonecairn marked his grave.
“Poor Dr. Klauss,” murmured Jerry. “I wonder who will get his submarinenow?”
“Why can’t we make a bid for it?” asked Ned, eagerly. “Probably hisfamily--if he has one--will be glad to sell it. And it’s over here now.Let’s see if we can’t buy her.”
“Say, if we only could!” cried Bob, all enthusiasm now. “I never saw abetter place for cooking meals!”
“Or for having things happen!” added Jerry. And so, thus planning formore thrilling adventures, we will take leave of the Motor Boys.
THE END