The hatch was promptly uncovered. Leaving Burton and his men on deck, Dave descended into the hold by a ladder, followed by the mate and two of the "Olga"s" seamen. A brief inspection proved that the hold was well filled with a cargo of wood pulp.
"Now, you vill go to de after hold, please?" asked the mate, as Darrin climbed up to the deck.
"Yes," Dave nodded, and went aft, followed by four of his men, while Burton and the others remained forward. Here in the after hold the same kind of cargo was found. The "Olga" looked like a straight enough craft, but there was something in the manner of the mate that made Darrin suspicious.
Calling two of his seamen below Dave produced a tape measure.
"Get the distance from the hatchway to the after end of this hold," he directed.
Then, wheeling, he noted that the mate"s face had turned to a greenish color.
"What ails you, man?" Darrin demanded, eyeing the fellow sharply.
"N-n-nutten, sir," stammered the mate.
One of the seamen reported the measurement he had taken.
"Now, go on deck and measure aft from the hatchway," Dave commanded.
The instant that Darrin was left alone with the mate a pair of muscular arms encircled the throat of the young American naval commander from behind. In the same instant the mate sprang at him. The two a.s.sailants, taking him so by surprise, overcame Darrin with comparative ease. In the same moment they backed him through a small doorway opening into the hold forward.
Down on his back Dave Darrin was thrown, the skipper sitting on his chest, while the mate swiftly drew the door to and securely bolted it. In this stuffy apartment, lighted only by two swinging lanterns, Darrin realized that he must fight promptly if he expected to escape.
A steel tube was pressed against one of Dave"s temples, while a hoa.r.s.e, low voice proclaimed:
"Say a vord, and you die shall!"
It was the skipper who was holding a revolver to Darrin"s head, and the returning mate bent over with an iron hatch bar in his right hand.
"You do vill vat we tell you--yes!" insisted the skipper, his breath coming fast.
CHAPTER II
"THE ACCURSED POWER OF GOLD!"
DAVE made no struggle.
"You"re a pair of fools!" he declared, somewhat hoa.r.s.ely, for the effects of the severe choking were still present.
"Fools, maybe," a.s.sented the skipper of the "Olga." "But if ve must trouble have den you die shall."
"What do you want me to do?" Darrin demanded.
"You send your men to your ship back," declared the big fellow. "Den your ship it must out of sight go yet. Ve shall sail back vonce. If your ship, or any udder ship to stop us try, den you die shall already--on deck, in sight your friends of."
"You big chump!" uttered Darrin.
"Vy you call me dot?"
"Because, no matter what you do or don"t do to me, you are going to be taken and punished. Do you think my ship would sail without me?"
"Maybe, sooner dan see you killed vonce," glowered the skipper of the "Olga."
"You idiot, my subordinates, their suspicions aroused, are bound to take this craft, no matter what happens to me. They must do their duty without consideration for my safety."
"So?" uttered the skipper, looking at Dave dully.
"So!" Darrin a.s.sured him.
"But den you die must vonce."
"Go ahead and kill me," Darrin dared him.
"But if you vill to reason yet listen--"
"You"re wasting time and breath," Darrin a.s.sured him, coolly.
Just then something happened. Darrin, using a trick that he had learned on the wrestling mat and had since perfected, threw both his arms around the left arm of the "Olga"s" skipper. Clasping his hands and pressing his arms against the skipper"s left arm, Dave gave a great heave and rolled to his own left. The trick depended upon speed.
The skipper crashed over on his head. The revolver was discharged in the overturn, but the bullet went wild.
In the twinkling of an eye Dave had grabbed the weapon, and leaped to his feet just in time to dodge the hatch bar that the mate tried to smash down on his head.
"Back, unless you want yours right now!" Darrin challenged. Swiftly he changed the revolver into his left hand as he still covered the pair.
Then he reached for his own automatic, throwing off the safety device.
"Now, you, Mr. Mate, slip around and unbolt the door, throwing it open,"
Dave ordered. "Any sign of a trick will end your life on the spot!"
Seemingly cowed, the mate obeyed.
"Open the door--throw it wide open," Dave commanded.
The door was thrust ajar just as the two seamen with the tape reached the bottom of the ladder coming from the deck. These two seamen stared in astonishment at the stuffy apartment off the after hold.
"Men, take charge of these two rascals!" Darrin commanded, briskly. "Step lively, both of you!"--this last to skipper and mate, who obeyed as though dazed.
"Pa.s.s them up on deck as prisoners," ordered Darrin, and this was done, the two seamen drawing their revolvers and standing by the "Olga"s"
discomfited officers.
"Now, for your report," Darrin went on. One of the sailors reported the deck-length from hatchway to stern-post.
"A difference of twenty-one feet," smiled Dave, darkly, pointing aft in the hold. "You see, men, there are a good many feet of length to be accounted for, which means that there is another compartment aft of this hold. You," turning to one of the sailors, "go forward and request Ensign Burton, with my compliments, to take charge of this steamer. He will round up the crew and place them under guard. Then the ensign will leave a petty officer in charge of deck and prisoners and report to me here."
Within a very short time Mr. Burton had so reported. Dave, in the meantime, having worked his way over the cargo, had found a cleverly concealed door at the after end of the hold.