"If there"s anything at all in that," a.s.serted Jack, "I"ll bet the thing lays in a bed of quicksand. When the tide is just right it softens up and boils. Then any solid substance may be thrown up to the surface.
Maybe someone has seen a piece of log or some driftwood at some such time and that"s the way the treasure story started."
"But I have the map," declared Harry excitedly. "What do you make of that? You"ll have to go some to explain that."
"I guess that"s so," sheepishly admitted Jack. "I forgot that."
"Until tonight," stated Harrison, "I never had much faith in the story, but this map as a climax to other things is convincing."
Rowdy, who had been lying on a berth with Arnold, now slipped to the floor. His whole body became tense and rigid while the hairs on his back rose on end. A low, menacing growl issued in subdued notes from his throat. His att.i.tude was threatening.
"Watch the dog," whispered Jack. "Look at him."
"Someone"s coming," announced Arnold. "He does that only when he gets near someone who"s a sneak or pirate or something."
"Goodness, I"m glad I"m not a pirate," declared Harrison.
"Get a leash on him," ordered Jack. "He"s been shot once tonight and that"s enough. Get your guns unlimbered, boys."
"I"ll keep a lookout on the water," volunteered Frank.
"And I"ll watch the wharf," said Tom. "I wish, though," he continued, "that the lights were off. I could see better."
"Turn the switch, Charley," was Jack"s request. "It"s at your hand there on the bulkhead. It"s the middle one."
"I see him," whispered Tom. "It looks like Wyckoff."
"Slide the door open a crack," Harry suggested, "and get the drop on him. If he starts anything, shoot him in the legs!"
"He"s laying down a bundle," whispered Charley. "It"s only a small package. I wonder what he"s going to do."
For answer, Wyckoff, for it was none other, deposited the small package described by the boy on the bow of the Fortuna. He knelt on the wharf a moment leaning over toward the boat. The boys were unable to see him well because of the curving lines of the vessel.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Charley, starting from his post toward the bows. "He lit a fuse and has started away!"
"Come back from there," cried Jack in a tone of authority. "Come back from there! Do you want to get blown into bits?"
The boys rushed forward to seize their chum and drag him to a place of safety. He kept on undaunted. Harrison gazed in open mouthed terror from one to the other. All seemed horror stricken at the situation. Rowdy tugged fiercely at his leash.
All could now see clearly the sputtering fuse attached to the package lying on the forward deck. From the gentle manner in which Wyckoff had handled it they guessed its contents. None knew better than the intrepid lad approaching the parcel what the result would be were he a second too late. Even as he hurried forward a chill seemed to run through his veins with the thought of what might happen were he not able to reach the package in time.
Harrison often declares that never to his dying day will he forget the coolness and excellent nerve displayed by Charley as he approached the sputtering fuse on the other end of which lay lurking probable death for the whole party. He says that out of all his varied experiences none stands forth with more distinctness than does the one through which he pa.s.sed that night on the Fortuna.
Doright was paralyzed with terror and sank limply to the floor, resting his head on a bunk and praying as he never had prayed before for deliverance. His voice was gone, but his lips worked convulsively while his face took on a drawn and haggard expression seeming to visibly shrink together, leaving great pouches beneath his eyes and lines through his cheeks. He gasped for breath.
In his haste Charley stumbled over the free end of the bow line, made fast to the deck cleat. It had been coiled loosely, leaving the free end trailing across the deck. Quickly he was up.
Lunging forward again, his arm outstretched, the boy tried to grasp the package that was still just out of reach. He made a last fierce lunge and grasped the thing. He stood upright. A shower of sparks flew from the end of the shortening fuse.
CHAPTER XXIII
AT THE SPANISH FORT
There is no doubt that Charley"s bravery and quick action saved the Fortuna and her crew. With a mighty effort he flung the package far from him. It fell into the waters of the bay with a splash. The next moment a m.u.f.fled roar was heard and a vast column of water was flung skyward. The Fortuna rocked in the waves.
"Man overboard!" cried Tom, who had been nearer Charley than any other member of the crew. "Throw me a ring buoy!"
He was over the side in a flying leap. He had paused but an instant to gauge the spot where he believed he would find the other lad. Charley"s effort to throw the dynamite as far as possible had resulted in his losing his own balance. The severe motion of the Fortuna had completely upset him and he had fallen overboard.
Instantly all was activity and bustle. Ring buoys hung in beckets at either side of the pilot house. A long line was attached to each. Jack tore one of these free preparing to throw it to his chum when he should rise to the surface.
"Can he swim?" queried Harrison anxiously coming up the companion-way.
"If he can"t, he"ll be in a bad way in this mess!"
"They both are Boy Scouts with medals showing proficiency in the art!"
declared Harry. "We can all swim," he continued.
"Hurrah, then it won"t be so bad! I"m hoping the explosion hasn"t stunned the boys," cried Harrison hopefully.
"There they are," shouted Frank. "Can you see them?"
"I see them," Jack answered, throwing the ring buoy with true aim.
"Stand by to help them aboard. Charley needs help!"
Dashing the water from his face, Tom seized the ring buoy and with its a.s.sistance supported Charley"s face free of the surface until drawn to the side of the Fortuna and relieved of his burden.
First aid methods were speedily applied. Charley was placed face down upon the deck, where the boys took turns applying the means of resuscitation known as the Shaefer method. Harrison stood by in wonder observing every move. At length he became discouraged.
"I"m afraid, boys, it"s no go," he said. "He doesn"t seem to be coming around at all. The explosion must have hit him hard."
"He may be a long time coming, but we"re going to keep at it in relays until we"re all exhausted. He gave himself for us and we"re prepared to do the same for him. He"s done his good turn today."
"You"re right, boys; he certainly has," declared Harrison. "Now, I"m bigger than you lads and if you"ll show me how to do the work, I"ll help. Maybe I could squeeze more water out of him than you."
Under Harrison"s manipulations directed by the boys, Charley presently showed the flicker of an eye. They worked faithfully over him for a considerable time and were at last rewarded by having him on the road to recovery from his enforced bath and attendant experience. He had fallen into the water just as the explosion came.
"Well, Wyckoff won"t plant any more dynamite here this evening I hope,"
declared Frank. "That"s the second attempt on the Fortuna tonight and I"m going to take the first watch. We"ll see if he does any more while I"m on guard. I"m tired of this."
"It must be getting on into the shank of the evening--I see the moon.
What is the hour?" asked Jack from the forward deck.
As if in answer to his query the marine clock chimed two bells.