CHAPTER XIV
THE UPPER HAND REGAINED
Jack was highly excited as he dashed into the main salon and made forthe door of the Temples' cabin. And with reason. He believed that now,if ever, they must attempt to seize the trawler.
The Chinese crew threatened to get out of hand and seize the shipthemselves, in order to make sure of their vengeance upon the boys forwhat they had done to Wong Ho. If the boys anticipated them, and got theupper hand, they could send a call for help by radio to the sub chaser.It would be a matter of only a very short time before that speedy craftcould swing about and come to their rescue. Moreover, they would therebycapture "Black George" Folwell. And Inspector Burton had said it wouldbe a feather in the cap of any man to accomplish that undertaking.
The main salon still was deserted, and the doors to the cabins of "BlackGeorge" and Matt Murphy still closed. Jack did not know, of course,whether Doctor Marley had returned to his patient. But he believed thatprobably the frightened little man had waited above deck to see whetherEngineer MacFinney found any signs of sabotage.
The Temples' door resisted. It was locked. But Bob's voice calledsharply:
"Who's there?"
"It's I, Jack. Open up quickly."
He heard Bob hit the floor, and grinned, even in the midst of hisexcitement. The big fellow evidently was sleeping late. By the time Bobhad opened the door Frank stood beside Jack, completing a sketchy toiletby tucking shirt into trousers.
"Bob, Mr. Temple. We have got to try and seize the trawler at once."
This was Jack's opening remark, as he and Frank closed the door to thesalon.
Father and son, pajama-clad, sleepy-eyed, looked at him in amazement.
"Are you crazy, Jack?" asked Bob.
The older man, however, regarded Jack keenly.
"You've heard something, Jack," he said. "What is it?"
Briefly and graphically Jack related his morning's adventurous prowlingand the result of his eavesdropping. Then he told what Frank hadoverheard by the use of the ring-radio.
"That decided me," he said. "When I heard there was a sub chaser near, Ifelt we just had to make an effort to capture the trawler's radio roomat least, and call for help. We can hold out until the sub chaser comesup."
Mr. Temple grew grave.
"But without weapons," he said, "what chance have we against theChinese?"
"Look here," said Bob, slowly, "I'll bet this fellow 'Black George' hasa revolver or two in his room. He's bound to keep a weapon handy. Well,he was helpless last night, and probably still is. What's to prevent ourgoing in there and taking it from him?"
"Good idea, Bob," said Frank. "And there's my friend, Matt Murphy, too.According to Jack, he isn't up yet. Probably put in a bad night and issleeping while the ship's engines are being repaired. He undoubtedly hasa revolver, too. Suppose we compel him to give it to us. His arm isbroken, and surely if we burst into the room we can overawe him."
The others nodded approvingly, and the eyes of the three boys lighted upwith enthusiasm. Mr. Temple shook his head gravely, but continued tomake a hasty toilet nevertheless.
"Pants and shirt, Dad," said Bob. "That's all we need. Have to hurry."
In a trice the two were thus sketchily clad, standing in their barefeet, and then Jack, who had assumed command, gave his orders.
"Mr. Temple," he said, deferring to the older man's judgment, "I believewe had better split into two parties and enter the two cabinssimultaneously, don't you? If we all go into one cabin first, either'Black George's' or Murphy's, intending to follow into the other later,the probability is that we would alarm the occupant of the other cabinand put him on his guard."
"Yes, Jack, that's right. Suppose Bob and I tackle 'Black George' andyou and Frank go after Matt Murphy."
"Right," said Jack, his hand on the door.
"One thing more, boys," cautioned Mr. Temple. "Go in quickly andquietly, and get your man before he has a chance to fire. We shall dolikewise."
The boys nodded. Then Jack opened the door and, with beating hearts, thefour filed out. Jack tiptoed across the salon to prevent his shoesmaking any sound. The others were in their stockinged feet. Two and twothey ranged outside the doors of the two cabins. Mr. Temple nodded thathe and Bob were ready. Jack did the same. Then they flung open the doorsand dashed in.
Jack and Frank found Matt Murphy sleeping heavily. One look showed anautomatic in an ammunition belt suspended from a nail above his head.With one swoop Jack caught the weapon and belt to him. The movementdisturbed Murphy, who was lying fully clothed on his berth, the bandagedarm across his chest. He looked at them, then with a roar raised up, butFrank pushed him back on his pillow. Jack drew the weapon and presentedit at him.
"Quiet now," he said, in a low voice. "We don't want to hurt you. Butour lives are in danger from the crew and we mean to protect ourselves."
Murphy lay back, and a gleam came into his eyes. He looked from one tothe other.
"Are they attackin' ye or do you just guess they're goin' to?"
"They haven't attacked us yet," replied Frank. "But we're not waitingfor what we know would come. Look here, Mr. Murphy, you know what thesentiment of the Chinese is toward us. Well, my friend Jack hereoverheard something this morning which indicated the Chinese plannedimmediate action. Now----"
"Come right in," invited Murphy sarcastically, looking over Frank'sshoulder. "This is my hour for receivin' callers."
Frank whirled.
Mr. Temple and Bob were in the doorway.
"What luck?" he asked eagerly, while Jack, not to be diverted, continuedto keep eye and revolver trained on Murphy.
"The man is still drugged," said Mr. Temple. "We found not only onerevolver, but two and a knife besides."
"Was the doctor there?" asked Jack.
"No."
"Mr. Murphy, where is the radio room?" Frank demanded.
"On top av this cabin," replied the recumbent man. "But little goodit'll do ye. MacFinney, the engineer, is the only wan aboard who canoperate it, an' till the engines git goin' there'll be no juice if it'scallin' for help you mane to do."
They looked at each other in dismay. Here was a contingency that had notoccurred to them. Jack groaned aloud. But ere any of them could speak,the stamp of the engines suddenly began. MacFinney had gotten themrepaired, whether his Chinese had tried sabotage or not. The enginesseemed to gain confidence. A slight quivering shook the trawler.
"There's your juice, lad," Matt Murphy said gruffly, reaching out hissound hand to pluck Frank's sleeve.
Frank whirled, a broad smile on his face.
"Look here, Mr. Murphy," he declared, "I believe you are on our side atheart, aren't you?"
Murphy sat up on the berth, swinging his legs over the side.
"Not I," he said. "I'm Folwell's man. But when ye point a revolver at mean' order me to get up an' navigate the ould tub, what can I do?"
"Right," said Frank gravely, although his eyes were dancing and thecorners of his mouth twitched. "Well, captain, will you pleasenavigate?"
"Sure," said Murphy. "Follow me."
As they started out of the salon and up the companionway stairs, Bobpressed a revolver into Frank's hand.
"Take this," he whispered. "I have the knife."
"But Bob----"
"But nothing. If it comes to fighting at close quarters I've got morebeef than you. You keep them off with that revolver, d'you hear? Don'tlet them get near you."
Frank, the smallest of the three chums, pressed Bob's hand gratefully,grasped the revolver, and followed in the wake of his big comrade, thusbringing up the procession headed by Matt Murphy.
The latter paused as they reached the deck and looked toward the wheel.He had left it lashed. Not a soul was in sight. The others groupedthemselves about him. He addressed Frank.
"I don't like the looks av things," he said. "The Chinks must all be inthe fo'c's'le, hatchin' their plots. Will ye trust your prisoner to gobelow an' see how MacFinney is comin' al
ong? An' do you meantime whilethe engines are turnin' over, an' ye have your chance, go into the radioroom off the bridge. 'Tis up this ladder." He indicated a narrowiron-runged ladder beside him, leading to the tiny bridge above. Keenlyhe regarded the boy. "Can ye use it when you're up there?"
"Yes, indeed," said Frank. "Well, here goes before a Chinaman sees me.Come on, gang."
And shinning up the ladder, he entered the room opening from the bridge,with Mr. Temple followed by Bob and Jack hard on his heels. One glancearound, and he saw what he was looking for. The control apparatus forsending messages was on a stand against the opposite wall. Adjusting aheadphone, and pulling a microphone toward him, Frank reached for theknobs and began calling the Sub Chaser while manipulating them.