Frontier Boys in the South Seas Part 12

"Yes," decided Jim. "I think so. By taking off this moulding, we can saw through the edge of the panel, put on leather hinges, and I can make a spring catch. Then replace the moulding and it will never show."

"That will be easy," a.s.serted Jo.

"Glad you think so," retorted Jim. "It will have to be done as nicely as the original work."

"When are you going to begin?"

"Now," answered Jim. "Only one can work at a time, so you may as well go on deck. I will start the job. I will take one of the panels near the floor. After I have started, we can take turns at the work. When we begin, we want to finish as soon as possible."

"All right," returned Jo. "Let it go."

When the others had gone, Jim secured from the engineer such tools as he needed, and returning to his room, closed the door. He selected a panel, and was about to take off the molding when he heard some one moving in the cabin. Whistling carelessly he opened the door of his room, but there was no one near. The steward Pedro, was busily employed at the far end of the room, and the mate was just entering the cabin.

"Strange," mused Jim. "There doesn't seem to be anyone acting suspiciously. I was sure, though, that there was some one near the door just now." He then called to Jo, and arranged that he should stay in the cabin on guard.

Jim returned to his task, and with infinite care removed the molding from the panel. Then he called Tom below, and working alternately, in a short time they had made the secret opening to the compartment. As it was between the wall of the stateroom and the planking of the vessel, and being inaccessible from any other point, it seemed absolutely safe.

The work under Jim's direction had been so deftly done that it could not be detected. It was opened by pressing a spring made of wire and placed in an adjoining panel.

Fastening the box containing the chart with a strong cord, it was lowered into the aperture and the cord fastened to a hook at one side of the opening.

"There," said Jo, when the box had been lowered, and the place closed.

"It will take more than a wizard to find that."

"It looks that way," agreed Tom, "but--"

"Oh, you're a regular goat with your buts," cried Jo. "What is the matter with it?"

"Nothing," said Tom. "It is all right, but some people can see through a stone wall."

"Of course they can if it has holes in it, but there ain't any holes in this."

This task ended, they went on deck, where they found the professor and the captain intently watching the Sea Eagle, which had steam up and seemed to be about to get under way.

"I was just going to call you," said the professor. "I think that the next act is about to begin."

"Good!" cried Jim. "Let's hope they will find something doing that is not down on the program."

"Isn't it rather late to start?" asked Berwick, who had come out of the engine-room, leaving Juarez in charge.

"Not if you are ready," was the professor's answer.

"I suppose they think they can slip away from us in the dark," chuckled Jim.

"It will be something of a surprise if they find us at the Bay when they come," said Jo.

"Engine all right, Mr. Berwick?" asked the professor.

"Working splendidly," replied Berwick.

"Very well, then," replied the professor, "we will get off at once. I see that the Sea Eagle is going to start. Will you give the word, captain?"

The captain pa.s.sed the order to the boatswain, and an instant later, the crew striking into a chant began to wind up the anchor chain, and in a few moments came the call:

"Anchor apeak, sir!"

"Anchor's fast!" called the boatswain.

"Ready at the wheel," directed the captain from the bridge, where he was standing with the professor. The captain rang the bell in the engine room, the propeller revolved, slowly at first, then more quickly, and the Storm King, gathering momentum, was headed through the channel's mouth for the open sea. The voyage had begun. Antic.i.p.ations and hopes ran high. What would the outcome be?

"My, but it is good to get the smell of the salt again," cried Tom.

He and Jo were standing in the bow of the boat, taking in long breaths of the salt air which blew in their faces. The spray from the waves, as they curled away from the bow, dashed over them.

"And there is better still to come," added Jo.

"Why, here comes the Marjorie," cried Tom. "We are all moving out at once."

The party on board the Storm King had been so much interested in getting under way and in watching the Sea Eagle, that they had forgotten the other vessel until Tom had noticed it following in their wake about a mile behind. Gaining the open sea, much to the surprise of those on board the Storm King, the Sea Eagle was headed directly to the north under full speed, the heavy volume of smoke from her funnel trailing behind like a cloud.

CHAPTER IX.

A PLOT.

It was true that the Marjorie was following in the wake of the other s.h.i.+ps, and some word respecting her mission will be of interest to the reader.

Our scene is once more the office of that legal adviser of unsavory reputation, to whom earlier reference has been made.

"I have some work for you to do, Captain Beauchamp."

The lawyer leaned back in his revolving chair and watched the other man with coldly critical eyes.

"Ah'm glad teh hear it, suh," replied the other in a soft southern drawl.

The two men were sitting in the inner sanctum of Attorney Reynolds'

office. Un.o.bserved, there was lying in a half opened drawer of the desk, and within easy reach of his hand a fully loaded revolver. There were but few of his clients that the lawyer received with the drawer closed.

"Ah, what is it like?" the captain went on, after a short pause, s.h.i.+fting his position to a more easy one.

The captain was tall and slender, with a habitual slowness of movement that could be changed on occasion to a tiger-like celerity. His face was thin, with sharply cut features, and dusky brown in color. His eyes were black and deeply set beneath heavy black eyebrows, and a long, sweeping, black moustache hid a thin straight-lipped mouth.

"Do you know the Marjorie?" went on the lawyer.

"Ah regret ah have not the pleasure of the lady's acquaintance," drawled the captain.

"Formerly the Mercury, of nowhere in particular," added the lawyer.