Stanley R. Matthews

“ Well, money usually counts in this world, Matt—in fact, it cuts a pretty wide swath in every direction."
"It is secondary, captain, to the idea of 'making good.' When we left Belize I vowed that we'd make good and prove that your confidence in us wasn't misplaced. We've all had that in mind before anything and everything else."
"It's a good trait in you," replied the captain, "and in any young man, to love a piece of work for itself, and, money apart, centre every hope on making a success of it. ”

“ Would it be possible for him to keep on the surface until his friends on the submarine discovered his absence and put back to his rescue? Even if he could swim for that length of time, could his friends find him in that darkness, with the current dragging him farther and farther from the course over which the Grampus had recently passed?
In Motor Matt's place, a good many lads would have given up the struggle, but Matt was of different calibre. As long as there was a breath in his body he would fight, for he knew that while there is life there is always hope. ”

“ When the young motorist reached the boat, Carl ducked out from behind the conning tower and gave him a hand up the slope of the deck.
"Now's the time," panted Matt, falling at full length across the curved plates. "Start her—full speed."
"Where are we to go?" demanded Glennie.
"Around the point and take the Pom in tow," Matt answered. "All four of the Japs are ashore, in this cove. Before they can cross the ridge and interfere with us, we ought to be able to pick up the other submarine and make off with her. Look alive, now! We can't turn the trick if you don't hustle." ”

“ The Peace River hills loomed suddenly in front like moving pictures; before they could think it the desert was behind.
"Phil, man, you must steady up!" yelled Callahan, getting his mouth to Healey's ear. The roadmaster nodded and checked a notch, but the fire was in his blood, and he slewed into the hills with a speed unslackened. The wind blew them, and the track pulled them, and a frenzied man sat at the throttle.
Just where the line crosses the Peace River the track bends sharply through the Needles to take the bridge. The curve is a ten degree. ”

“ That's the spirit that brings its reward, not only in money, but in self-approval, which is something money can't buy. Every one who went around South America on the Grampus will find, I think, that I know how to be grateful; this, while of secondary importance to the consciousness of duty well performed, will be a substantial acknowledgment of the debt I hold myself under to all of you.
"In San Francisco the Grampus will be sold. The motor boys will go one way, Captain Nemo, Jr., another way, and Speake, Gaines, and Clackett still another. ”

“ The noiseless way in which they hung upon our flanks is easy to understand. The torpedo was launched at us while the French boat was submerged; and when that rope was hurled at me, the boat was just out of the water—there were no lights about her, and the search light of the Grampus enabled those on the French craft to make that cast with the riata."
Matt's face went pale.
"Glennie," he continued, "the hardest job of our lives is ahead of us! The Japs have a submarine, and there's not one of them who would not willingly give his life if, by doing so, he could destroy the Grampus. ”

“ All the while they were at work a deep silence reigned throughout the boat. Every one realized the necessity of keeping quiet so as not to arouse the Japs.
Matt, after swallowing a cup of coffee, came out on deck and began taking off his clothes.
"What's the game, matey?" asked Dick. "You're not going into the water and give the sharks a chance at you, are you?"
"I'm going ashore," said Matt.
"I wouldn't do that, Matt," counseled Glennie. "Why is it necessary? If the valves are in shape, we can pull out of here and make our way north under water. The Japs will never be the wiser." ”

“ As the air within became more and more depleted, the steel cylinder rose higher and higher in the water.
For a lad so deeply in love with motors as was Matt, the novelty of that ride could not fail to appeal to him. He was safe, at least for a time, and felt sure that ultimately he would gain the shore or be picked up by a coastwise ship. As for the Grampus, there were cool heads and steady nerves aboard of her, and the submarine's safety would be looked after. ”

“ Dick, you'll be the bow lookout, and Glennie can go aft; you watch the port side, Carl, and I'll watch the starboard. Can you steer for the rest of the night, Speake?" he added to the man in the conning tower.
"I guess I can stand this extra duty if you can, Matt," replied Speake, "considering what you've been through."
"A dip in the ocean and a ride on a torpedo doesn't count," said Matt, dropping his wet clothes down the hatch; "it's what may happen to us if we don't keep on our guard that bothers me. This boat is going to be delivered at Mare Island, Japs or no Japs." ”

“ This thought cast a depression over the motor boys. Captain Nemo, Jr., was a good friend of theirs, and all of them liked him. The Grampus was the triumph of the captain's career, and if he was to be stricken down just as the boat, in charge of the motor boys, was to pass successfully through the Golden Gate, the elation Matt and his friends would otherwise feel must give way to dejection and sorrow.
The victory of this successful cruise was entirely theirs, but the loss of Captain Nemo, Jr., would rob the victory of all pleasure for them. ”

“ The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the Grampus, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward. She was lying quietly enough now, however, and Carl, Dick, Speake, Gaines, and Clackett were swarming over her deck and evidently wondering what had become of the Whitehead.
Matt, with his naked eyes, could see his friends moving about, although it was impossible for him to discover exactly what they were doing.
"They're pulling in the rope that was made fast to the torpedo," said Glennie. "They've got the end of it in their hands." ”

“ Matt turned the switch of the controller and then instantly there was a low, electrical hum and the Pom started toward the bottom.
"Get on the box under the conning tower, Dick," said Matt, "and do the steering."
"How'll I steer? There's no periscope."
"Steer by compass—there's one right in front of you as you stand in the tower."
"But what'll I do for light? We're under water and no daylight comes in at the lunettes."
Matt touched a switch, and electric light flooded the tower.
"I don't like this tinkering, I'm a Fiji if I do," muttered Dick, as he crawled up into the tower. ”

“ The Grampus, responding to a signal flashed into the motor room, came to a halt. Dick threw Matt a rope, and he began tying it to one of the loops that encircled the shell of the torpedo.
"Why are you making fast, matey?" inquired Dick.
"Because I want to tow this torpedo into Lota," answered Matt.
"Oh, bother that! Here we've been all ahoo thinking you were at the bottom and as good as done for. Now that we've found you again—and in a most amazing way, at that—cut loose from that steel tube and come aboard. What's the use of fussing with it?" ”

“ Matt's astonishment almost lifted him off the stone step on which he was sitting.
"Our old enemies!" he exclaimed. "The Sons of the Rising Sun have secured a submarine boat, and that means that they can follow us wherever we go."
"Hard luck, Matt, that events should drift into this tangle! That French submarine had to be here, it seems, at just the right time to help out the Japs. The young Samurai must have known about this other craft. After dodging Captain Sandoval, they managed to reach Valdivia and came on from there by train. That is how they were able to get ahead of us." ”

“ At Panama, which was almost the same as United States soil, the boys took shore leave, turn and turn about. From this place Matt sent a cablegram to Captain Nemo, Jr., at Belize.
"On the last leg of our journey. All well and Grampus as fit as a fiddle. Telegraph me at Acapulco."
"Too bad that old canal wasn't finished," observed Dick, as the Grampus left Panama, "at the time we left Belize. We could have come through it, if it had been, and saved a month's time and all that mix-up with the Japs."
"That wasn't the point, Dick," spoke up Glennie. ”

“ Weeks before, when the submarine had left Belize, British Honduras, Captain Nemo, Jr., the owner of the boat, had placed the craft entirely in Matt's hands.
"I wouldn't trust the Grampus with any one else, Matt," declared the captain. "But you've got nerve, your judgment is good, you know the craft from one end to the other, and whenever anything goes wrong and you get into a scrape, you've got a knack of always getting out of it without much damage to yourself. A hundred thousand dollars is to be paid for the Grampus when she reaches Mare Island. ”

“ Matt was disgusted. He felt that he had never met a man so dense as this Captain Pons.
"The Japs stole your submarine in a friendly port," he remarked dryly. "I guess that proves that they're not above committing lawless acts in a Chilian harbor. You have no right to detain Ensign Glennie and myself. We are under the protection of the Stars and Stripes. If you are determined to keep us with you on this ridiculous charge of stealing the torpedo, then will you not accompany us to the Grampus while we take measures for the boat's protection? ”

“ We have dodged trouble in pretty good shape, so far, and Matt don't intend to let the Sons of the Rising Sun put us down and out at this late stage of the game."
"The Japs can't put Motor Matt down and out," averred Glennie, with suppressed admiration. "He has met them at every point, and has given them the worst of it. They'll never be able to destroy the Grampus. Mark what I say, my lads, Motor Matt is going to 'make good' with ground to spare, and chalk up another victory for the motor boys." ”

“ That part of Matt's recital which had to do with the Jap who had been captured under the wharf was particularly interesting to Dick.
"Those fellows don't care a rap for their own lives," muttered Dick, "and that's what makes 'em such nasty fighters. When that fellow got out through the Pom's torpedo tube, he must have come up directly under the Whitehead. By hugging the torpedo close, he could have got his head out of water without any of us on the Grampus seeing him. But he took long chances, just the same, and there are only four Japs left to navigate the other craft. ”

“ So, you see, it would be impossible for you to take a cruise in the Grampus."
Captain Pons glared.
"It is mos' contemptible!" was all he could say.
Matt and Glennie, without delaying further, pushed into the town. Matt had little difficulty in finding the gasoline he wanted. He had to go to two or three places before he found fuel that answered the severe tests he put it to, but finally he got what he desired and had it hauled to the landing.
The captain of the port was not in evidence, but his two negroes were waiting at the boat. ”

“ Besides all this, don't forget that the Japs are green hands with the submarine, and have had no practical experience in running her. Captain Pons explained to them the theoretical part of the machinery, but, you take it from me, those wily Orientals are going to get themselves into trouble."
"They manœuvred the submarine pretty well last night," said Matt. "I don't see how they could improve much on their work. A Jap, Glennie, is a regular genius in 'catching on' to things. Show him how to do a piece of work once, and he knows it for all time. ”

“ You know what it means if the Sons of the Rising Sun got away from Sandoval. Those misguided Japs have sworn that the Grampus shall never be turned over to the United States Government at Mare Island Navy Yard. They're a desperate and fanatical lot, and we've got to know just what we're up against, so far as they are concerned. Lota is on the railroad and telegraph line, and we'll get news there, if anywhere. ”

“ Go down to the engine room, Gaines, and, Clackett, you take your usual place in the tank room. Heave up the anchor, Speake. Glennie, you get into the conning tower. If the current sets inshore and causes the Grampus to drift that way when the anchor is up, have the motor run just enough to hold the boat where she is. Dick, you hang on to the rifle. When you go down, Gaines, pass up the strongest cable we have, so that Carl can bend it on to the mooring ring at the stern. Understand? ”

“ The compressed air in a torpedo will carry it about nine hundred yards. This torpedo had not gone its full distance, on account of an automatic misplacement of the "tripper" and starting lever, but enough of the air had been used so that Matt's ride was a short one.
After a few minutes the propellers ceased to revolve, and Matt and the steel cylinder came to a stop, heaving up and down on the surface of the water. Yielding to the pull of the current, the torpedo started erratically seaward, and another fear was born in Matt's mind. ”

“ At one time the paws were saved and mounted as curios, but it is impossible to do anything with them now.
Both flesh and eggs are eaten by a few persons, but it requires a very hardy stomach to stand the disagreeable, musky odor. There is nothing better, hunters declare, than the tip of the tail of an alligator which has reached, say, the pullet period. It is creamy in color, tasting a little like frogs' legs, but with a more pronounced gamy flavor, juicy—altogether tempting. The dish is a great favorite with the crackers of Florida. ”

“ We need not fear any attack from the Sons of the Rising Sun until the other Whitehead is ready for use. If we act quickly, we can get well away from the Pom before she becomes dangerous."
"Diable!" rasped out Captain Pons. "Is it ze American vay to r-run from ze enemy? Pur-r-r-soo and capture, zat is ze sing. I will go wiz you, oui, I, myself, Captain Pons. You will help me get back ze Pom. Eh?"
"We're not here to take any risks with the Grampus, captain," said Matt. "Responsibility for the safety of the boat rests on my shoulders, and you'll have to get some Chilian war ship to help you." ”

“ A pair of fists make pretty good weapons."
"Fists are all right," laughed Glennie, "so long as the other chap uses them; but when you find an enemy standing off forty or fifty feet and looking at you over the sights of a gun—well, that's the time another gun would be mighty valuable."
By the time the small boat fell in alongside the Grampus, Dick, Carl, and the rest had the hose ready and it took only a few moments to rig the pump. Presently the gasoline was flowing down the tower hatch and into the reservoir below. ”

“ If anything happened to the boat, Pons wouldn't be able to deliver her to the Chilian government."
"They're mighty warlike, anyway," went on Dick. "And there's Glennie, on the Grampus, trying his best to attract the attention of Sandoval."
"Sandoval and Pons think the Pom is full of Japs," laughed Matt. "We'd better go up and clear the fog out of their brains. It will be a pleasure to meet Captain Sandoval again. He's a good friend of ours, you know."
"Meppy dot vas a lucky t'ing," vouchsafed Carl, "seeing as how Pons iss madt pecause ve vouldn't go afder der Pom mit der Grampus." ”

“ Matt descended to the periscope room to give the news to Carl and Dick.
"Dot's der vorst yet!" grunted Carl. "Der itee oof dem Chaps calling deir old frog-eader poat der Grampus! I don'd like dot. Id vas some insulds."
"I guess we can stand it, Carl," said Matt.
"Did Pons tell you anything about that French submarine, matey?" inquired Dick.
"A little, but not as much as I would have liked to learn. The Pom, I infer, is smaller than the Grampus, and is propelled by electricity when submerged and by gasoline on the surface. She's only able to stay under water an hour. ”

“ On the floor, just where Matt had dropped into the well, were two levers. Matt lifted one of them. Instantly there came a gurgle and splash of water, directly under Carl and Dick.
"Avast, matey!" cried Dick. "I wouldn't fool with those things until you know more about them."
Muffled cries came from the Japs outside.
"They hear what's going on," laughed Matt, "and they don't like it. We're filling the submerging tanks, Dick," he explained.
"Then why don't we sink?"
"It takes the engine to help us sink—the diving engine and the motor." ”

“ There's meat in it for us, and it will stand us in hand to get at it."
"I'll not go below this night, Dick," said Matt, "and we'd better all of us stay on deck and keep our eyes peeled for Japs. Carl can go and bring me up some dry clothes, an extra pair of shoes and stockings, and an extra coat."
"Dot's me, bard," chirruped Carl, making for the conning tower.
"Get the boat on her proper course, Speake," said Matt; "we must get out of this neighborhood as soon as we can—and as quick as we can. Watch the torpedo as we come about, Dick, you and Glennie. ”