CHAPTER VIII
The "Swift Arrow"
Jose Santos' boatyard was not large, but to Rick it seemed as though theFilipino boatman had a sample of every kind of craft from a rowboat to aChinese junk.
"We want a boat," Zircon stated. "Not a sailboat. That would be tooslow. We want something reasonably fast, and with enough room forcomfort. We may have to live aboard for some time."
Santos nodded. "You no care how big?"
"There are four of us to handle it."
"Plenty," Santos said. "No more help needed for my _Swift Arrow_. Seeover there?"
Rick's quick eyes caught the lines of the craft first. He exclaimed,"Well, I'll be a galloping grampus! It's a torpedo boat!"
"Yes," Santos confirmed, beaming. "Motor torpedo boat. I convert hermyself. Come see."
Chahda asked, "Rick, what is torpedo boat?"
"It's a very fast, light boat, designed to launch torpedoes at biggerships. It depends on speed for safety. This one must be left over fromWorld War Two."
"Plenty old," Chahda said doubtfully.
Scotty chuckled. "Age doesn't mean anything to a boat if it's well builtand well taken care of. The MTB's were light, but very well built.You'll see."
Zircon was well acquainted with boats and Rick and Scotty were notnovices. They went over the _Swift Arrow_ from stem to stern, missingnothing. The armament had been removed and the original gasoline engineswere gone. Instead, it was operated by a pair of marine diesels. Santosclaimed that the engines were in excellent shape and that the boat couldmake a speed of twenty knots even in rough water, with a top speed ofnearly thirty knots in calm seas.
Scotty checked the engines and confirmed the claim. They ran like Swisswatches. The boat was fully equipped, even to searchlight, horn, and abrass saluting cannon that fired blanks much like shotgun shells.
"We'll take it," Zircon announced. "Fill it with fuel and water, putcharts for the whole area aboard with navigation instruments, and we'llbe back in an hour and get under way." He hastily signed a traveler'scheck for the advance fee, then the four hiked back to the hotel and gotdown to business.
They made up a provision list, arranged to rent bed linens and towelsfrom the hotel, found out where ammunition could be purchased, packedtheir bags, and prepared to check out.
Chahda spoke up. "Where you go first? Jolo, maybe? Suppose I go ahead onPAL, and snoop round a little. Meet you there."
Zircon considered. "I suppose Jolo is the logical destination. It's thecapital of the Sulu Archipelago. We'll refuel there, probably bytomorrow morning."
Rick thought it was probably a good idea for Chahda to go ahead. Hecould use his Indian contacts to pick up any information that might beavailable. It would save them time. "I'm for it," he said.
Zircon made sure Chahda had ample funds, then the three bade him good-byfor the time being and started on their shopping tour.
Within the promised hour they had their luggage and provisions loadedaboard and were prepared to cast off. Santos had the boat ready, even toputting in a box of shells for the saluting cannon.
Scotty and Rick cast off while Zircon sent the MTB smoothly away fromthe dock, through the breakwater and into Basilan Strait. Then Scottytook over, while Zircon checked the first leg of their course. On thecharts Santos had given them the routes between principal ports wereclearly marked. Zircon found the route from Zamboanga to Jolo and gaveScotty the first compass setting.
Scotty opened the throttle wide. The _Swift Arrow_ responded instantly,planing along at a fast clip. Zircon took sightings with the pelorus,then calculated his readings.
Rick watched with interest, anxious to find out what speed they weremaking. Finally the big physicist looked up, grinning. "We've picked achampion. Twenty-eight knots!"
It was far below the original speed of the craft, but probably far abovethe speed of anything else in the Sulu Sea. Rick was satisfied. "I'mgoing below. I'll store the chow, then relieve Scotty."
In a short time, taking turns at the helm, the three had everythingstowed and bunks ready for occupancy. Zircon and Scotty had broken outthe newly purchased ammunition and loaded their weapons. Rick hungShannon's quiver on a hook near the bunks.
The _Swift Arrow_ sped steadily on. Basilan dropped astern as theynegotiated the countless islands of the Pilas Group. Two islands formeda narrow channel ahead, Rick saw, as he took the wheel from Scotty. Oncethrough the channel they would be in open water, nothing between themand Jolo but the Sulu Sea.
Scotty walked to the bow, to check on the readiness of the anchor. In amoment he returned and joined Rick. "Must be good fishing country. Lotsof vintas in the channel ahead."
Rick had noticed. "Must be two dozen." Between the islands, the channelwas dotted with red, purple, green, and brown sails. As the MTB drewnearer, Rick throttled down a little. He was already traveling atcruising speed, considerably less than top speed, but he didn't want totake a chance of ramming one of the Moro craft.
The distance closed rapidly, and Zircon pointed out that the vintasseemed to be spreading in a line across the channel, only a boat'slength between them. "Slow down more," he advised. "They may be haulinga net or something."
Rick did so, keeping a careful eye out for net floats. "Not much room togo through. I'll toot the horn."
He gave the horn a long blast. The Moros paid no attention. Apparentlyfishing boats had the right of way, and they didn't intend to move. The_Swift Arrow_ was close enough now, so he could see the triangular mastsand the booms of the lateen sails. He could make out the crews, too. Theboats seemed to be crowded with men.
"They're not going to make way!" Zircon exclaimed. The MTB was alreadywell within the channel.
"They're intercepting us front and rear!" Scotty yelled. "Look!"
The vintas on the ends of the line had moved rapidly, and the restfollowed. The MTB would soon be surrounded! Rick spun the wheel andturned the big boat nearly in its own length, heeling far over. In thesame instant a rifle slug splintered wood on the cabin roof overhead.
Scotty jumped for his rifle and started firing. Zircon hauled theautomatic from his belt and yelled, "Gun it, Rick!"
Rick didn't need the advice. He straightened the MTB out and rammed thethrottles to full speed. Slugs smacked into the hull or blossomed asstars on the glass of the pilothouse. He made the MTB dance through thewater at top speed. His evasive action made it hard for Scotty andZircon to fire accurately and they stopped.
In a few moments they were out of range of the vintas. Zircon called outa new course that would take them through another channel more to thewest. It was longer, but safer.
The three remained silent while Rick got on the new course. Attack byvintas in open water was about the last thing any of them had expected.
Finally Zircon slipped the clip from his pistol, ejected the shell inthe chamber, and reloaded. The scientist said severely, "Mr. Scott, on acertain occasion at Zamboanga yesterday, you were heard to make a remarkto the effect that piracy has been dead for a century. In view of ourrecent experience, I believe it is only fair to offer an opportunity tocorrect the record."
Scotty bowed ceremoniously. "You are most kind, Dr. Zircon. It wouldperhaps be more accurate to state that piracy has not been dead for acentury. My conclusion is entirely empirical, of course, but observationleads me to conclude that the vintas in the channel may indeed have beenmanned by pirates."
"Handsomely said, Mr. Scott. You have a comment, Mr. Brant?"
"I concur," Rick said gravely. "Would you care to hazard a surmise aboutthe identity of these putative pirates?"
Zircon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We had no opportunity to removeshirts and examine backs. Yet I must venture the opinion that the men inthe vintas carry the mark of the mountain."
"And why did they lay in wait for us?" Scotty asked.
"My surmise," Zircon boomed, "is that we are doing exactly the rightthing. They fear our ultimate success. Ergo, they try to remove us."
Rick ha
d to grin. "I've always wanted to hear someone say 'ergo.' Buthow did they know we were coming?"
Zircon shook his head. "The islands in the vicinity are too small tohave radio or telephone. However, we've not been too careful about ourplans. The waiter last night, or a houseboy outside our hotel door couldhave overheard us, and a vinta could have gotten here in time to lay atrap."
"We'll probably never be sure," Rick said. Suddenly he grinned widely.He had the feeling they were making progress.
"At least," he stated, "we've met the Pirates of Shan!"