The Ocean Wireless Boys on the Pacific

“Row for your lives, men,” urged the captain, standing erect, pistol in hand, awaiting the first opportunity for a shot at the shark.

“Shure thare’s no nade to till us thot, captain, dear,” cried Muldoon. “We’ll git the poor lad if we have to pull our own heads off.”

The shark now made a swift dash for the bow of the Sea Gypsy. Behind him, at a distance of about seventy-five feet, poor Billy’s body could be seen being rushed through the water with a “wake” behind it like that of a fast steamer. Jack could see his chum’s face, which was ashen white. But from the glimpse he had of it, the young wireless man was sure that Billy was still alive, marvelous though that seemed. For half the time, owing to the manner in which he was attached to the shark, the unfortunate lad’s head was under the surface of the water.

Bang! Captain Sparhawk’s pistol spoke as the shark crossed the bow of the boat which had been instantly turned to follow the creature’s new tactics.

“Missed,” he groaned.

“No,” cried Jack, an instant later. “See, the water is red behind him! You hit him.”

“Yes, but I fear not mortally. These creatures have an amazing grip on life,” was the despondent reply.

And now a fresh element entered into the scene. Round the bow of the yacht, toward which the shark, with its human burden, was dashing, there suddenly appeared a long, slender canoe with two lithe young native figures propelling it. It was Anai and his friend, the sworn allies of the boys.

For an instant, as the extraordinary scene presented itself to them, they stood like bronze figures. Then the full meaning of the impending tragedy appeared to strike them. With a simultaneous cry each grasped his great iron-wood knife and without the slightest hesitation leaped overboard.

“They are going to save him!” cried Jack exultingly, as the two Kanaka boys fearlessly clove the shark-infested water to attack the monster that had abducted Billy.

“And lose their own lives,” exclaimed the captain as several dark fins appeared in the water about the two intrepid youths.

CHAPTER XV. – A MESSAGE FROM THE DEEP

The scene that ensued was one that lingered long in the recollection of those who saw it. Uttering loud yells, the two native boys bore down on the shark that had poor Billy in tow.

Each taking a side they dashed upon it with fury. As they gained its flanks their arms flashed up and the next instant their great iron-wood knives were buried hilt-deep in the tough skin. The watchers saw the great shark give an upward leap and the water was dyed crimson.

“They reached his vitals. Hurrah for them,” cried Captain Sparhawk. “Bear down on Billy, lads. I reckon the shark is done for.”

They were none too soon. After being disentangled from the rope that had caused all the trouble, Billy was hauled into the boat just in the nick of time. The rope had grazed and chafed his legs cruelly, but except for the great amount of water in his lungs he had suffered no other injury.

But no sooner had this been done than another necessity arose. The brave Anai and his companion were surrounded by a school of sharks attracted by the blood of the creature the two young Kanakas had despatched. So far, by splashing furiously, and screeching at the top of their voices, the native youths had succeeded in keeping the monsters at bay, but it was doubtful for how long they could do so.

“To the rescue, lads,” cried Captain Sparhawk, replacing the cartridge he had discharged. “Give way with a will. I wouldn’t wish to see either of those brave lads harmed.”

In a few seconds they were in the midst of the school of sharks that had assembled as if by magic, ravenous for the flesh of their dead brother. The captain’s pistol spat lead right and left, and at that short range the effect of the bullets was deadly. In a few minutes five of the sea monsters were dead. But far from being scared off the rest fell furiously upon these, making upward rushes, exposing their huge mouths with their triple rows of needle-like teeth.

Leaving them to their cannibal feast, Anai and his companion were hauled on board and at Muldoon’s special request the body of the brute that had almost caused Billy’s death was taken in tow.

“I’ll make you byes some handsome watch-charms out of his teeth fer remimbrancers,” he promised.

“As if we needed anything to remind us of it,” shuddered Jack.

“Just think, if it hadn’t been for Anai here and Bolabola I’d have been past saving by now,” cried Billy, warmly ringing their hands.

“You may well say that, lad,” agreed the captain. “They saved you from visiting Davy Jones, without a doubt.”

“We your friends. Must save you even if it cost our lives,” said Anai, looking embarrassed.

“Shure an’ thot’s more than many a white man wud say,” approved Muldoon warmly. “Byes, give us yer flippers. Ye may hav’ black skins, but be jabers yer hearts is pure gold entoirely.”

The canoe was taken in tow and the whole party returned to the yacht, where they received more congratulations from the others on board who had watched the whole affair spell-bound with alarm and then with admiration at the Kanaka boys’ brave act. The decks rang with cheers as they came on board, Captain Sparhawk and Jack supporting Billy, who was still white and shaky.

Mr. Jukes’ enthusiasm for Anai and Bolabola knew no bounds. The millionaire wanted them to accept a handful of gold pieces each. But the lads shook their heads. Gold was of little use to them. But other presents which were showered upon them they accepted gladly. There was almost a canoe-full of them, ranging from gaudy neckties to a broken concertina, the latter being presented by Muldoon. It could emit, upon coaxing, a few wheezy notes, and the brown boys appeared to prize it quite above any of their other gifts.

In the meantime, on the foredeck, to which the body of the great shark had been hoisted by slings, the members of the crew, who understood such operations, assisted by Muldoon, were cutting up the monster. From time to time they flung useless bits of offal over the side. A scramble from such of the sharks as had disposed of the dead bodies of their companions instantly ensued. Sharks are the most rapacious of any creatures on land or sea, and their appetites appeared to have been slacked in no important particular by their cannibal meal.

“Bad luck to yez,” exclaimed Muldoon, shaking his fist at them after one of these rushes, for every sailor hates a shark. “There’s many a thrue lad gone to his long rickonin’ through yez or yez mates. Bad cess to all uv yez, says Tim Muldoon.”

An interested group, among whom were Jack and Billy, watched the proceedings from the bridge. Mr. Jukes was no less interested than the rest. He attentively watched the sharks as they fought. Perhaps their feverish rapacity reminded him of certain “big business” operations at home in the States where great corporations have been not unknown to gobble up their small competitors as hungrily as any tiger shark.

“Hullo, they seem to have found something interesting,” said Jack, as a murmur arose among the butchers who suddenly crowded round Muldoon, chief of the dissectors.

“It’s a bottle,” cried Billy Raynor.

“Look here what I found in the hongry divil’s stomach,” exclaimed Muldoon, holding up his find. “Be jabers, he must hav’ a digestion a dispiptic millionaire would invy to – ”

He stopped short, covered with confusion, as he suddenly recalled that Mr. Jukes suffered from the very complaint he had mentioned.

“Bring that bottle here, Muldoon,” ordered Captain Sparhawk, in order to save what threatened to be an awkward situation, for Mr. Jukes had turned as red as a turkey-cock and the boys had had to turn away to hide their smiles.

The quartermaster hastened aft with the bottle. It was encrusted with deposits apparently caused by the acids of the shark’s stomach. But when Captain Sparhawk held it to the light, he could see that contained within it was some object.

“There’s something inside it,” he said.

“By jove, perhaps a letter from some shipwrecked sailors,” exclaimed Mr. Jukes.

“Such messages are often frauds, sir,” observed the captain. “If it should prove to be such, I’d be wary about replying to it.”

“Well, let’s have a look at it, whatever it is,” said Mr. Jukes. “This is really interesting.”

They all crowded about, even the Kanakas, as the captain smashed the bottle on the rail. A rolled-up paper dropped on the deck. Jack, at whose feet it had fallen, picked it up. He opened it and saw that it was scribbled on with pencil.

“It seems – ,” he began, when a sudden exclamation from Mr. Jukes checked his further utterance.

“Let me look at that paper,” commanded the millionaire, who, they now noticed, was breathing quickly and whose eyes shone with feverish excitement.

Jack handed it over, while they all regarded the millionaire’s agitation curiously. With hands that shook, the financier scanned the letter and then made an electrifying announcement in a voice that was tense and self-controlled, but yet betrayed the excitement under which he labored as he spoke.

“Gentlemen, the age of miracles has not passed,” he said. “When Ready first opened the paper, I thought I recognized a peculiar handwriting. I was not wrong. This message was written by my brother!”

CHAPTER XVI. – ALIVE ON THE SEA

“Incredible!” exclaimed Captain Sparhawk, unable to think of anything else to say at the astounding information.

“But, nevertheless, true. Sparhawk, this message confirms the truth of your theory about ‘Bully’ Broom. That rascal attacked and overcame the unsuspecting crew of the Centurion, and obtained the 'Tear of the Sea’.”

“The infernal scoundrel,” breathed Captain Sparhawk. “There is not another man in the South Seas who would have dared such a coup. But does the message give any clue to your brother’s fate, sir?” he added respectfully.