The Ocean Wireless Boys on the Pacific

“Hardly friends,” muttered Donald. “I knew them in America.”

“You’ve no particular affection for them, though?”

“How do you know?”

“Your tone told me that, my young friend.”

“Well, I might as well admit it. I don’t like them. They wronged me in America and that’s why I am here now. I’ve treated them in a friendly way because I’m out of money.”

Broom’s deep set eyes flashed.

“You’ve got a good head boy, very good,” he said, approvingly. “Now to get down to business. I’ll give you a handsome sum to stay on my side.”

“Spot cash?”

“The money on the nail. I want you to do a little job for me in return. Keep your mouth absolutely shut, but find out all you can about their plans. You will always find me here when you want to report. Here’s something to start with,” and he pushed over the gold which lay on the table.

Donald’s eyes sparkled greedily as he counted it.

“All right, I’ll do what you say,” he remarked, as he pocketed it, “but tell me one thing: Where is Jerushah Jukes?”

“Ah, that is for me to know and for them to find out,” was Broom’s reply, “but I’ll tell you all about it in proper time.”

“It’s a wonder you are not afraid to be seen in the town,” said Donald. “Any one might tell them about your being here.”

“Nobody knows about me but my friends, and there is no danger of their talking.”

“But your schooner, which is as well known in this part of the ocean as a mail steamer?”

Broom smiled.

“You don’t think I’d be fool enough to bring my schooner in here after I heard about the arrival of Jukes’ yacht?” he asked. “The South Sea Lass is safely hidden up the coast. I came here on a native canoe.”

“Well, you ought to be good at covering up your tracks, you’ve had enough experience,” said Donald, with a sort of grudging admiration for the ruffian.

“One thing more,” said Broom, acknowledging what he chose to take as a compliment with a grin. “Jukes is very rich. Has he much money with him this trip?”

“I guess not. Jukes is pretty foxy with his money. If he has much it would be in some form that is not negotiable. He is not the sort of man to take chances.”

Broom nodded his massive head ponderously. He was evidently revolving some plan in his mind. Presently he brought down his heavy fist with a crash on the table.

“Jukes has poked his nose into this business,” he exclaimed, “and it will cost him something to get out of it before he gets through.”

“What do you mean?” asked Donald.

“If he was made a prisoner for instance, he would pay handsomely to be released.”

“I should say so. He’s worth about $20,000,000.”

Broom smacked his lips.

“Some of that’s as good as ours if you do what I tell you,” he exclaimed.

“Ours?” A greedy look crept into the boy’s face.

“Yes, when he pays up you’ll get your share and get even with the people you dislike at the same time.”

When Donald left the place with one of his ragged pockets bulging with unaccustomed wealth, a compact had been formed that was to cause our friends a great deal of trouble in the near future.

CHAPTER XXI. – A MEMORABLE NIGHT

“It’s very peculiar that Donald should have undergone such a sudden change of front,” said Jack later that evening, following the boy’s strange way of receiving Mr. Jukes’ proposal. “He certainly appeared to want to go along the worst way a few hours ago.”

“I can’t help thinking that he has been up to some mischief,” replied Billy. “He’s got himself a new outfit somewhere and I saw him paying his hotel bill.”

“Well, at any rate that’s a laudable act,” laughed Jack. “After all, we are not much concerned with anything that he does now.”

“No, that’s true. By-the-way, how is that wireless idea of yours for a portable set getting along?”

“First rate; I’ve got it all worked out on paper and have cut the weight down to fifty pounds without the aerials.”

“Good for you. I’ve got a notion we can make a lot of use of it.”

“At any rate it won’t be much of an extra load and it might get us out of a tight place, who can tell?”

After some further talk the boys decided to turn in, as they had to be up early the next day. It was a hot, close night when the heavens seemed to be pressed down like a brazen lid on a pot. Far off, flashes of lightning illuminated the distant sky toward the mountains where, for all they knew, the millionaire’s abducted brother might be concealed.

“Phew! It’s warm,” exclaimed Jack. “I guess I’ll take a bath before I turn in.”

The boys’ bedroom was typical of hotels in that part of the world. Its floor was bare except for a strip of matting. There were two beds in it, hung with mosquito netting curtains, and a tiny wash basin and jug. An old-fashioned bell-pull hung near one of the beds and Jack decided to give it a tug and order a bath, when one of the native “bell boys” appeared. After a long interval, one of the barefooted functionaries of the hotel arrived. Jack made his wants known and the man hurried off again without a word.

“That’s odd,” commented Jack, “but I guess he’s gone to fill it and will be back directly to say it’s ready.”

They waited for some time before a soft patter of bare feet was heard in the hall and two of the native servants entered carrying between them a barrel. Another followed with a sort of dipper made out of a cocoanut.

The boys stared in amazement as the men advanced to the middle of the room and solemnly set down the barrel and then stood about waiting with an expectant look on their faces.

“What in the world is all this?” demanded the amazed Jack.

“Him your bath, boss,” came the answer, “you gettee in him ballel, we washee you.”

“I’ll be jiggered if you do,” exclaimed Jack. “Get out of here,” and the men hurried off, first staring at the boy as if they thought he was mad. “Well, a New Guinea bath certainly accounts for the appearance of some of the natives I’ve seen about,” he laughed, as soon as they had left. “But I suppose I must make the best of it.”

So Jack’s bath consisted of dipping water out of the tub and pouring it over himself, trying not to flood the room. But apparently he did so, for soon a loud and indignant voice was heard at the door.

“Who is there?” demanded the boys.

“Sapristi! Eet is I. Zee landlord. You flood zee place. Zee water drip on me.”