Luis Senarens

“ What shall we do?”
“There is only one thing,” said Frank, arising.
“And that?”
“We will accept this diagram and scour every foot of the Honduras Gulf. We shall have an advantage in the submarine boat.”
“Right!” cried Clifford, in a transport of joy. “There is a solution of all! We will beat Mr. Parker at his own game! Mr. Reade, we owe all to you.”
“That is nothing,” said Frank. “I am with you body and soul! But enough! Would you not like to take a look at the Dolphin?” ”

“ Then Barney gave a wild start.
“But, shure, sor, it’s fools we are to be here an’ leave Misther Frank phwere he is.”
“That is right,” agreed Clifford. “We must go and look for him.”
With which they got upon their feet and looked about them.
Nothing was to be seen of the Dolphin or her searchlight. All was gloom about them.
But beyond the circle of their helmet lamps Clifford saw a white reef.
“The sunken galleon is on the other side of that,” he said; “the shock of the explosion carried us over here.”
“All roight, sor!” cried Barney, with alacrity.
So they set out for the reef. ”

“ Five human lives hung in the balance.
The result was instantaneous.
All that the voyagers could ever remember of the affair afterward was that there was a terrific shock, a confused jumbling of ideas and incidents, and then——
Frank Reade, Jr., opened his eyes and looked about him.
Wonder of wonders!
It was broad daylight.
They were on the surface of the sea. All about them was one heaving expanse of blue.
“Great whales!” cried Captain Hartley. “What sort of a transformation do you call this, mates?”
23“We are saved!” cried Clifford.
“Begorra, it’s on the surface we are,” averred Barney. ”

“ The Dolphin sailed over this wonderful scene, while the voyagers took it all in spellbound.
“If the Veneta is sunk in such a sea as this,” declared Clifford, “it will be difficult enough to get at her on account of the marine growth.”
“You are right,” agreed Hartley. “What do you think of it, Frank?”
“Well,” said the young inventor, after some thought, “I hardly believe that the sea which the Veneta is buried in is of the same sort as this. While the Gulf of Honduras is undoubtedly rich in marine growth, yet I believe that there are greater tracts of sandy plain and coral reef. ”

“ The Aurelian was already half a mile away.
That she meant to recover the Veneta’s treasure if possible before the Dolphin was a certainty. The thought angered Frank.
“I see the whole cowardly game!” he cried angrily. “And they shall pay for it well. They shall never carry home one penny of the Veneta’s gold!”
“But what could we do against them?” asked Hartley; “their ship is larger than ours.”
“You forget,” replied Frank, “the torpedo boat is the most deadly craft in the U.S. navy. We can attack her on the same scale.”
“You are right,” cried the captain. “We surely need fear nothing from her. ”

“ They were the Aurelian divers. Each one carried a heavy ax and a spade. They paused at sight of the three divers from the Dolphin.
For a moment not a move was made by either party. Then Clifford leaned forward and shouted to Frank:
“They are Parker’s men!”
“Yes!”
“What do you think their game is? Will they trouble us?”
“I am sure of it, if they think we have discovered the galleon.”
“They must know that we have.”
“Yes.”
“Look! They are menacing us! What shall we do?”
“There is but one thing to do,” declared Frank, grittily. “We must defend ourselves at all hazards!” ”

“ Frank looked keenly at the two men.
“What shall it be?” he asked. “I shall leave it all with you.”
“Do not hesitate on our account,” said Hartley firmly; “we do not shrink from it.”
“All will be over in a very few moments. We shall know if it is to be life or death.”
“It would be death in the long run anyway,” declared Clifford. “Whatever it is, let us all meet our fate like brave men.”
“That settles it,” declared Frank, “prepare for the shock!”
Everything movable aboard the boat was carefully secured. Then Frank announced all in readiness. ”

“ A sharp cry of joy burst from the lips of each. The distant figure of a man was seen.
“Hurrah!” cried Hartley; “by the North Star if that isn’t one of our men. We shall save him!”
“Golly! dat am good luck!” cried Pomp joyfully.
It was the turning of the searchlight full upon them that had caused Barney and Clifford such a thrill of surprise as was depicted at the close of a preceding chapter. ”

“ So, when the divers had passed from the captain’s cabin into the main cabin, he slipped out from his concealment and started for the gangway.
Fatal move!
One of the Aurelian’s men turned just in time to see him. Instantly the fellow raised his ax and hurled it at Frank.
It was at close range, and the blunt head of it struck the young inventor’s helmet.
The shock was sufficient to instantly deprive him of his senses.
He fell like a log.
In a moment his captors were upon him. One of them fiercely raised his ax to brain the defenseless man. ”

“ So swiftly did Barney and Clifford throw sand that it was not long before a large space on the galleon’s deck had been cleared.
Then a closed hatch was revealed.
Barney put his spade under it and quickly pried it open. Some stairs descended into the cabin below.
Frank placed his helmet against Clifford’s and shouted:
“I will descend first. It will be better for only one of us to explore the galleon at a time. The Aurelian’s men may return at any time.” ”

“ The Aurelian must have gone upon the wrong tack.
“What will we do?” asked Captain Hartley; “shall we wait until morning, or attempt to explore the ocean by electric light?”
“Even in daylight we should have to use the searchlight,” said Clifford eagerly. “Suppose we examine it now, Frank?”
“All right,” agreed the young inventor. “All is ready for the descent.”
The doors and windows were quickly and hermetically closed. Then the Dolphin plunged beneath the surface. ”

“ But fortunately these large ones were great cowards, and kept at a safe distance from the boat.
Frank turned on the searchlight and sent its rays shooting down into the depths.
As yet the bottom could not be seen.
“Are we getting down to the center of the earth?” cried Hartley; “it must be an immense depth here!”
“I see nothing of the bottom yet!” cried Clifford. “Can the little boat stand the strain, Frank?”
The young inventor knit his brows.
“Why, I think so,” he said, but yet looked anxious, for the Dolphin was creaking and groaning somewhat; “the bottom must be near. ”

“ Great bales, made of soft burlap filled with sand, were placed under the keel and over the dynamite to act as a cushion and reduce the shock.
Then the wires were connected, and the three divers went aboard the Dolphin.
They removed their diving suits, and Frank faced Clifford and Hartley, who were pale and somewhat excited.
Now that the critical moment had come, each really shrank from the mighty risk. Yet neither could justly be called a coward. ”

“ The Dolphin sprung up out of the deep sea. All was daylight and the sun was well up toward the meridian.
A vessel lay to not one hundred yards distant. There were a group of men leaning over her rail and apparently hauling up something on lines.
These, of course, were the divers. A moment later they were pulled safely over the rail.
Frank instantly sailed nearer the Aurelian, for she it was, and made signals.
In response a man appeared in the shrouds. He was at once recognized. It was Gilbert Parker.
“There is the old chap himself!” cried Cecil. ”

“ Clifford was more than delighted when he learned of the amount of the galleon’s treasure.
“We will cheat old Parker out of it after all!” he cried wildly. “That is to pay the old scamp for his rascality.”
“You are right,” said Frank, and began to put on his helmet.
“Where are you going?”
“I am going down to join Hartley and Pomp, and help them get the chests of gold out.”
“Good! What assistance can we be?”
“Keep watch for us and manipulate the searchlight to our advantage.”
“I will do that!”
54Frank now left the Dolphin. He slid over the rail and started for the galleon’s hatch. ”

“ With which the Celt threw the flask to his lips.
Pomp stood eagerly waiting for the explosion. Gurgle, gurgle went the liquor down his throat.
The darky stared.
Could he believe his senses?
The Celt slowly and deliberately drained the flask. Then he laid it down and said:
“Bejabers, that tastes loike some whisky I once got in Donnybrook!” he said. “It’s fairly aloive!”
Pomp gave a gasp.
Then he picked up the flask and looked at Barney like one in a dream. His eyes fairly rolled in their sockets.
Barney looked at him in surprise.
“Phwat the divil ails yez!” he cried. “Shure are yez sick?” ”

“ Then a sandy plain lay before them.
“That is good!” cried Frank. “It will be easier to find the Donna Veneta than if the bottom was covered with weeds.”
27“True,” agreed Clifford. “I hope we will not be long in discovering her.”
All hands now posted themselves at the windows. The searchlight flashed everywhere across the sandy plain, while the boat moved slowly about in the quest.
All manner of curious objects were encountered. Sometimes a huge projecting ledge of rock would be mistaken for the wreck. ”

“ How do you breathe?”
“By means of a chemical generator which is portable and is carried on the back. It furnishes the best of air and is similar to the generator which furnishes our boat with oxygen.”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Clifford. “You are truly a man of inventions, Mr. Reade.”
Frank laughed.
“That is the most simple of all my inventions,” he said.
“You don’t happen to have two of those wonderful diving suits, do you?”
“I have half a dozen.”
“Good! Would you mind my putting on one of them and accompanying you?”
“Certainly you may.”
Frank called to Barney, who brought out the diving suits. ”

“ She was a shattered, water-logged hulk.
Not a sign of her crew was visible; she was hailed repeatedly, but no answer came back. Even as the voyagers were gazing at her she took a sudden plunge and went down. ”

“ The Dolphin kept on for miles sailing over the forest of marine growth.
14Had the voyagers felt the inclination there would have been no open space for a safe descent.
For to risk a descent among the tangled fibers and branches of the marine plants would be worse than folly. Powerful as the Dolphin was, she might not be able to extricate herself.
For hours the submarine boat kept on in this way.
Barney was at the helm, while Frank and Hartley and Clifford sat in the cabin and discussed the subject of locating the Veneta. ”

“ Frank laughed nervously.
“Two years is a good long while in which to make up our minds what to do. Perhaps before that time we may hit upon a good scheme.”
“Let us hope so,” said Clifford; “but we should like to hear of your scheme of yesterday, Frank.”
“By all means!” cried Hartley.
“Huh! neber you mind,” cried Pomp. “Marse Frank he neber get stuck. ”

“ He was the only passenger aboard the Aurelian, and was returning to New York from Honduras with a thrilling purpose in view.
What this purpose was only he and Captain Hartley knew.
2“I only hope that Mr. Parker received our cable from Havana, and will be at the wharf to meet us,” remarked Captain Hartley.
“So do I,” agreed Clifford. “Is it not possible that he will come down to meet us in a tug?”
The captain shook his head with a wry face.
“Humph!” he said; “you do not know Gilbert Parker. He is the most penurious man in America. Do you think he would put out the money to employ a tug? ”

“ The tubes were uncoupled and straightened, and the valves readjusted. But it required fourteen hours of hard work.
In the meanwhile the Aurelian was long out of sight and well on her way into the Gulf of Honduras. She must surely reach the sunken galleon before the Dolphin.
“Fate seems to play a very important hand in this matter,” said Clifford. “With all our accidents it is a wonder that we are able to reach Honduras at all.”
“That is true,” agreed Frank, “but let us hope that we shall meet with no more.” ”

“ At any cost he must try and save him.
So he drew his ax from his girdle and made a leap forward.
In the meanwhile Clifford had been fighting for all that was in his power. He wielded his ax with desperate energy.
He struck blow after blow at the huge tentacle which held him so firmly. Each blow threatened to sever it.
But even as success was crowning his efforts, out darted another arm and encircled him.
This was surely drawing him into the orifice, when Frank came to the rescue.
The young inventor dealt a terrific blow at the tentacle. It partly severed it. ”

“ This time it is a famous submarine boat which is a complete success, and with which the wonderful young man intends to sail around the world under water. The problem of deep-sea navigation solved. The naval and marine world in general much interested.”
More followed of a descriptive nature, and Clifford read every line. Then he drew a deep breath.
He arose and put on his hat.
“Hartley,” he said, “come with me.”
The manner of the great traveler impressed the captain. He looked up in surprise and asked:
“Where?”
“I am going to Readestown.”
“To Readestown?” ”

“ In a few moments they had donned their diving suits and left the Dolphin. They crossed the intervening distance to the deck of the galleon.
The sand had been excavated, and the hatch was open.
One moment the two explorers paused at the head of the cabin stairs.
Then Hartley said:
“Follow me, Pomp!”
“A’right, sah!”
Down the stairs they went. The sight which they met appalled them.
The floating corpses was more than Pomp could stand.
If there was one thing the darky had a horror of it was a corpse.
“Massy Lordy!” he groaned; “de debbil am down dere fo’ shuah! He done git dis chile!” ”