Luis Senarens

“ Barney and Pomp fled toward the pilot-house to close the doors and sink the boat. But they were too late.
The Spaniards were upon them. A sharp struggle followed and they were quickly overpowered. Then from the bottom of the cruiser’s boat Poole sprung up and cleared the rail with a yell of triumph.
“Throw them overboard!” he yelled. “Dead men tell no tales! The submarine boat is ours!”
But Azata was cooler, and said:
“Not yet, senor. There is time enough for that. We may need them to tell us where the gold is. Search the craft!”
Poole led the marines exultantly into the Diver’s cabin. ”

“ It was not a great distance to the Cuban coast.
Half a day’s steady deep-sea sailing showed the usual signs of the surface, and Frank brought the Diver to a stop just over a jagged reef of coral.
There were great reaches of sand before them which trended upwards. That they ultimately rose above the surface in the form of a beach there was no doubt.
“We have reached the end of the isthmus,” declared Frank, “or at least that end which once joined the Cuban isle.”
“To make sure of it,” said Wade, “suppose we rise to the surface.”
Frank touched the tank-lever and the boat sprung upward. ”

“ Wade told the story, to the edification of Barney and Pomp. Meanwhile, Frank had been examining specimens of the coins which he had found.
Wade went over to him.
“Well,” he asked, “what do you make of them, Frank?”
“Nothing but silver,” he said. “A heap of pistareens—that is all.”
The scientist was astonished.
“Mercy!” he exclaimed; “what a disappointment that will be to Poole! He declared that millions in gold were buried in that cavern.”
“So his avarice is repaid,” said Frank, with a laugh. “Poor wretch! Let him have his treasure and all the good it may do him.” ”

“ I feel sure that we have not seen the last of that schooner!”
The young inventor could not help a laugh at Wade’s earnestness.
“That is your bugbear,” he said. “How are they going to injure us at this depth of the sea? They have only the very crudest of diving-suits.”
“I don’t know,” replied Wade, “but I cannot help a feeling of that sort. I believe we have not seen the last of Poole.”
“It is a little curious that we have not as yet come to the sunken isle,” said Frank. “That I must regard as only a small part of the isthmus which did not sink in the first earthquake.” ”

“ There was no means of knowing how many were in her crew. They would doubtless have to leave the schooner and would all pile aboard the Sea Diver. This would be a perilous thing for the submarine voyagers. Moreover, what would be done with them?
Frank reflected some moments, then he said, with sudden resolution:
“Humanity demands it. I cannot conscientiously refuse to give them aid.”
“That’s right,” cried Wade. “We ought not to hesitate.”
Frank stepped into the pilot-house, but even as his fingers touched the keyboard a warning cry came from Wade. ”

“ As Frank had declared, they could not be far from the sunken Isle of Mona. And, indeed, a few hours later they came upon precipitous bluffs and forests of decaying trees.
The island was beneath them. There was no doubt of this. The voyagers were alive with the keenest of interest.
Ordinarily there would have been but a scant desire to search for the buried treasure. But their experience with Poole had aroused their interest.
Frank had a strong inclination to visit the scene of the treasure hunt. So he held the Diver closely along the island and shore. ”

“ Frank placed his helmet close to Wade’s and shouted:
“Is this discovery of value to you?”
“Much!” replied the scientist; “it establishes the fact of idolatry, and also that these people were much like the Aztecs and worshiped the same gods. There are the idols Quetzal and Quetzalcoatl. They are Aztec gods.”
“That is certainly a great point,” replied Frank. “Yonder I can see some hieroglyphics on a stone. Is it possible to read them?”
“I am not familiar enough with Aztec cryptography,” said Wade. “I shall not attempt it.” ”

“ Frank and Wade went to the rail with their glasses. It did not require much of a scrutiny to determine that Pomp was right.
It was the Meta, and she had evidently sighted the Diver. She was coming on with all sails spread.
“By Jove!” exclaimed Frank, “she will be down onto us in a jiffy. We must get out of here right away.”
“For a fact!” agreed Wade. “What shall we do, Frank? We cannot sink the boat, can we?”
“No,” replied the young inventor. “Our only hope is to run away from her until we can get our tank machinery repaired.” ”

“ She has steam up and can sail two knots to our one.”
“A steam vessel!” gasped Poole. “Then she is certainly a Cuban cruiser. She takes us for a filibuster. If she overtakes us nothing will convince her that we are not and our jig is up! Ho, there, all aloft and crowd on sail! We must make a run for it! If she overhauls us——”
“Well?” asked one of the men.
Poole’s grim face hardened.
“We will fight for it!” he said, “for they will never take the treasure from us while we live.”
The crew cheered at this bold declaration and then scampered aloft. ”

“ The villain smiled.
“There are other things,” he said.
Frank’s eyes flashed. He drew his lithe form up.
Wade looked disappointed and not a little alarmed that his temporizing had not been a better success.
Poole fixed his keen gaze upon the two men and continued:
“You have the power to visit the depths of the sea. If Mona is sunk too deep our diving apparatus must fail. Since you will not trade or sell your boat, I must charter it for the purpose of bringing up the gold. I will pay you well for the service—yes, I will give you a fifth of the treasure. Come now, is not that fair?” ”

“ Will they not attack us?”
“It is likely; but I can see no way to evade them.”
“Then we must defend ourselves!”
“Just so; our chances are as good as theirs, and we have an advantage in having no life-lines to bother us. Come along, we might as well meet them half way!”
Poole and his men, for there were now four of the divers in the cavern, had caught sight of Frank and Wade.
It could be easily seen from their actions that they were frantic and would present a hostile front. But Frank and Wade gripped the handles of their axes and marched steadily on. ”

“ He had merely to enter the vestibule and close the cabin door. Then, by turning a valve, the vestibule would fill with water. It was easy then to open the outer door and walk out.
The return was accomplished much the same, though the pressure of a lever set the force-pump at work and cleared the water from the vestibule in quick time.
Frank and Wade entered the vestibule, and a few moments later were out on the vessel’s deck.
They clambered down the side and stood upon the pavement of the sunken city.
It was a strange sensation.
Probably no other men living could boast of the same experience. ”

“ Little pipes and open valves extended to every part of the boat through which the oxygen was continually disseminated, so that the submarine boat might remain an indefinite time under water and the voyagers could be sure of breathing pure air all the time.
In fact, not a detail was lacking to make the Sea Diver a safe vessel, a comfortable home and a symmetrical, beautiful craft.
It was true that Frank Reade, Jr., had done his best to perfect the new submarine boat.
That he had been successful it was easy enough to see. Nobody had more confidence in him than his friend, Mr. Wilbur Wade. ”

“ Frank could not resist a laugh.
“Moonshine!” he said. “Your imagination is getting the best of you, Mr. Wade.”
The scientist shook his head.
“It may be all nonsense,” he said, “but we shall see.”
The sea was yet a trifle rough. The hurricane had swept away beyond the horizon and was quite out of sight.
The Sea Diver once more stood away on her course. In a little while matters had assumed the usual routine.
Barney was at work slushing the deck to get rid of the accumulation gained by the boat’s submersion. There were heaps of seaweed, great masses of jellyfish and other forms of marine life. ”

“ But Poole drew a brace of pistols and placed his back against the cabin door. He looked ugly.
18“You shall not leave here until you have given me your oath,” he said.
“You will obstruct us at your peril,” said Frank, very quietly.
“I seem to have the best of the situation just now,” said the villain, showing his white teeth.
“What sort of an oath do you require us to give?” asked Wade.
“You must swear that you will not touch the sunken treasure of Mona,” said the villain, intensely. “You look like men of honor. If you give me your word, you will be likely to keep it.” ”

“ The Meta would be certainly a day longer covering the same distance.
That the schooner would really visit the locality Frank 21had every reason to believe. But he anticipated no trouble in keeping out of her way.
Steadily onward the Sea Diver ran. At length land was sighted to the southwest.
“The Isle of Cuba!” cried Wade.
“No,” said Frank; “Cuba is farther to the east. Those are some little cays which lay off the coast. We must bear off a little to the west.”
At this moment Barney sighted a sail. It was a coast lugger and carried some trading natives from Honduras. ”

“ The coon picked up the huge mass of dough and hurled it through the open window. He expected that it would land far out in the water. But it didn’t.
As luck had it, Barney was just passing that way. He came in a line with the window just in time to get that soft, sticky mass full in the side of the head.
The soft dough split around his skull, with such force did it strike him, and stopped his ear, nostrils and eyes. The Celt went down as if struck by a cannonball.
For a second he was unable to realize what had happened. Pomp was for that brief instant aghast. ”

“ He has kindly consented to assist me in locating the sunken isthmus. This boat is capable of remaining weeks under the sea. The plan cannot fail.”
In a moment dozens of the men were thronging about Wade, congratulating him heartily. Skeptical they were no longer. Foes a moment back, now they were fawning friends. Truly, nothing creates friendship like one’s success.
He was at once the lion of the hour. Scores of requests were showered upon him. Would he procure such a specimen? Would he solve such a marine problem? Was there any room on board the Sea Diver for another savant? ”

“ In a moment they were over the rail and ranged upon the deck.
The Meta was in the power of the Spanish. Poole turned black in the face.
“What!” he roared, “you dare to board a vessel flying the United States flag? This is an outrage and you will pay dearly for it, I promise you.”
Carriero smiled suavely in reply.
“What do you think we are?” cried Poole in desperation. “We are not filibusters.”
Again the lieutenant smiled and bowed. Then he spoke sharp orders to his men.
A midshipman, with two marines, invaded the forecastle. Two more went into the forward cabin. ”

“ He was about to touch the tank-lever when Barney from the deck, gave a sudden sharp cry:
“Whurroo, Misther Frank, shure, it’s a sail off to windward!”
“A sail?”
Frank and Wade gazed in that direction. Then both gave a violent start. A small schooner was seen bearing down upon the Diver.
Wade’s eyes dilated.
“It is the Meta!” he exclaimed; “they are making for us!”
24This was the truth. Hardy Poole’s piratical schooner it was, and they had sighted the submarine boat.
She was bearing down rapidly, with all sails set. Frank and his companions watched the schooner with some curiosity. ”

“ Frank smiled grimly and made no reply. He allowed the Spaniards to depart. A few moments later the Santa Maria was scampering for the Isle of Cuba with all speed.
But Poole had no thought of surrendering himself to the mercies of a naval tribunal.
He gave a sudden mad yell and ran along the deck.
“Stop him!” cried Frank. ”

“ The schooner carried every rag of canvas. This was plainly a reckless thing.
It looked as if the crew were panic-stricken, or else ignorant of the proper course of safety. Certainly the yacht was in a dangerous strait.
The submarine voyagers were in a bit of a quandary. What should they do?
Humanity dictated that they go to her assistance. Prudence, however, asserted the policy of keeping away from her. ”

“ They must be thraveling around us, an’ divil a bit do I loike it! Shure, it’s a sorry place for banshees, but on me loife it may be that same!”
“Nonsense,” said Frank, sharply, “it is a common enough phenomenon, and due to the fog.”
“Right,” cried Wade. “Somewhere near us a ship is anchored and her crew are doubtless whiling away the time in games and pleasure. A peculiar condition of the atmosphere brings their voices to us.”
“Dat am berry funny,” said Pomp, in mystified tones.
“Begorra, yez are roight,” averred Barney. ”

“ If the water is not too deep our diving suits will be as good as their boat.”
The Diver went down quickly to the bottom of the sea. No sooner, however, had the sandy bottom come into view than another peril presented itself.
A huge monster shot out of a dark defile.
It was the same giant fish which had attacked the boat once before. Frank saw him coming.
He at once suspected that this was the fellow who had dented the shell of the pilot-house. He saw the risk of another collision.
“Look out!” he shouted. “We may hit that fellow.”
In the stem of the submarine boat was a long steel ram. ”

“ Night finally shut down, dark and moonless. But with the searchlight it was easy for the Diver to travel, with no fear of a collision.
She was rapidly nearing Key West, and would the next day be in Gulf waters. The air was fresh and delightful, and the voyagers sat out on deck until a late hour.
While thus enjoying themselves, suddenly Barney sprung up.
“Shure, sor!” he cried, motioning to Frank, “there’s a lot of colored loights over there. Phwat do yez make av it?”
“A vessel in distress!” exclaimed Frank, as he scrutinized the distant signals. “Do you suppose it was our schooner?” ”