"What I"m interested in just now," Ned said, "is whether the diver is still alive. If he was anywhere near where the torpedoes exploded he is dead."
"And the Shark can"t close her water chamber! I see a chance, Ned,"
Frank exclaimed. "Suppose I drop out and enter that water chamber?"
"What for?" asked Ned.
"Why, they would think I was the other fellow and let me in."
"With your line and hose unconnected with the mechanism inside?" asked Ned.
"Never thought of that."
"The only way for us to get into that boat," Ned went on, "is to get in from the top."
"But how?"
"That"s just what I"m trying to study out."
"I presume the man who went down is there for good," Frank suggested.
"He probably went down to see why the torpedoes didn"t go off and got caught," Ned replied.
"Perhaps the Shark will go down to see about it directly," the other ventured.
"I hardly think she could lift again with that water chamber door open and the chamber full of water," Ned went on. "It is my opinion that they will remain on top."
"I should think she"d be afraid of the traps she set for us, anyway. I wish she would get caught in one of them."
"Not while she has that mysterious packet on board," smiled Ned. "We have traveled a long way to get that."
No more submarine explosions came, and the boys sat on the dark conning tower until nearly midnight, watching the people on the Shark flying about, evidently laboring under great excitement.
The diver had not returned. The machinery was evidently out of order and the Shark might as well have tied to the bottom for all the speed she could make.
"I"m afraid some ship friendly to these pirates will come along," Ned said, after a long silence. "I think I"d better go aboard the Shark and find out what she intends doing."
"I see you doing it!"
"I can only try."
"And try only once," Frank muttered.
"I think they are ready for a compromise by this time."
"Well, then, I"ll go with you," Frank decided.
"Get up the boat, then."
Jack and Jimmie were not inclined to favor the scheme, but they a.s.sisted in launching the boat and stood with half-frightened faces while Ned and Frank stepped into her.
Just as they were pushing off, Hans made his appearance on the little platform, his china-blue eyes filled with excitement.
"Mine friendts," he said, "vot iss if I goes py the poat?"
"No more room," said Frank.
"Now, you hold on," Jimmie called out. "You know what sort of a left hand punch this baby has? Well, then, you may need him when you get over to the Shark. See?"
"That might be," Frank muttered, looking inquiringly at Ned.
"Then let him come along," the latter said, so Hans entered the boat and took up the oars. "Rows like a steam engine!" Jimmie observed as the boat sped away. "That Dutchman is stronger than a mule."
It was still and lonely on the Sea Lion after the departure of the boys. The lights of the Shark were in sight, but they did not bring cheerful thoughts. The boys sat on the railing of the conning tower and waited in no little anxiety.
Occasionally the pounding of the prisoners reached their ears, but they paid little attention to it.
"They are suffering the tortures of the lost," Jack said. "Every minute they think they"re going to the bottom. Let them take their medicine!"
"I wish they were going to the bottom," Jimmie responded. "When we see snakes like they are we ought never to let them get away from us. If we don"t get bitten, some one else will."
Jack rested his chin on his palms and regarded the boy quizzically for a moment.
"How do you like it, as far as you"ve got?" he asked, then.
Jimmie looked down into the interior of the submarine, out over the sea, sparkling in the moonlight, then up to the heavens, bright with stars. Presently he answered:
"I don"t like it."
"Why not?" "We ain"t havin" any fun. We"ve been down in that old hold for a long time, and haven"t got anywhere. I"d rather take a trip through South America, or through China. I want the ground under my feet part of the time, anyway."
"It seems to me that it is getting stale and unprofitable," Jack admitted. "Suppose we get up power and drift up closer to the Shark.
Then we can at least see what"s going on."
"All right, "bo!" cried Jimmie, starting down the stairs.
"Well," called Jack, "don"t be in such a hurry! We want to make sure that Ned has attracted the attention of the Shark people before we move. If they see us moving up on them before Ned gets a chance to talk with them, they may do something rash to the boys."
"Guess you are right," Jimmie admitted.
"So far as I can see," Jack continued, "they are over there now. Do you hear that voice?"
"Ned"s, all right."
The boys listened, but the voice came no more.
"They"ve pulled him into the boat!" cried Jimmie. "Hurry up and get started!"
When Jack went below to handle the motive power machinery he heard Captain Moore thumping on the door of his prison.