THE GREY WOLFS EYE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GREY WOLFS EYE

Start And Read Our Thrilling Serial* To-day

By Conrad Templeton

Said Oeorge interrogatively: "Perhaps you'd like to turn back, captain. Forgo your visit. to the sea wolf!" "Turn back? What are you saying, liny'; Mo turn back'.' Me, who ha« sailed the seas for the beat part of my life? Turn tail and run? No, sir! That i«n't Captain Bob's way of doing things, we'll tight,'' he declared. "And win - if we can." For a full minute no one spoke, then: "lt.'n nice to hear you talk like that, captain,'' from Frank. "Wo are behind you whole-heartedly. All the «ame, if we'd have known that we were buying into such ail adventure a whole utring of adventures, rather it is doubtful whether we should have urged you to tiike us to jfrey wolf rock." "[ reckon we would," Ceorge said, not without some emphasis. "We set out to find thrill*, and, by jiminy, we're finding t hcni."' "And then some," added Thompson. "Th» great ri>ck, skipper—if we were living in the olden days. I should say it was a pirate stronghold, but nowadays Aiich a thing is out of the question." "Is it!" Captain Bob a»ked peculiarly. ".Stranger things have happened. When Ned Kelly finally suffered on the gallows everyone reckoned that buahranging had passed for all time. But, bless you, we've »een bushrangers since—bushrangers and liold-up men, which mean the same thing."

"Then," Frank said eagerly, "you think there may be something in the pirate idea?'' "I'm not. committing myself, me lads. Time will tell. Of one thing I'm convinced. We are going to find the rights of that mystery, a* you call it, or perish in the attempt. And my crew i«s behind me, if needed —every man jack of 'em." "Which all sounds good to me," fieorge remarked. "How manv days' sail are we from the grey wolf. he asked. "Two, if we go straight to the spot, me boy. But I'm not going to do that. No, fiire«! I'm going to give that rock a wide berth, I am. There is sure to be a lookout H-watehing for us, and I'm going to trick him and land a mile this side of the rock." "That will mean—," Frank l*>gan. "We'll have to walk," George Jenkins completed the sentence. "Who cares? It Hill do UM good after lazing on board the Nancv Lee. What is the country like thereabouts, skipper?" "('ountry, did you say ? Bless you, it s all rocks and marsh ground. 'I he worst lump of land there is to l>e found in the State. It. is practically in its virgin state, too. You boys are going to wish you'd never come, I'm a-thinking.' A chuckle. "Perhaps you won t. I don t know. The first day or two will make thinks clear to me." Both boys disclaimed such a thought. They were very happy —not worried in the slightest. Who cared what was ahead of them? They were convinced that they would eventually triumph. "Say, that is peculiar! See, boys, over there! If we weren't in Australia, I'd say—" With a bound the veteran captain was at. the wheel. Foiled in their attempt to damage the vessel from the air, theii enemies were using an underwater boat. ( aptain Bob had noticed the ripple of the water as the periscope of the submarine had broken through the surface for a few moments. He had a fair idea ..f what was to follow. Men m unscrupu-

" 'The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,'" quoted Frank. "Again your old friend Shakespeare," he reminded, as Captain Bob was silent. "Don't you recognise it?"

lons as those who were arraigned against him would Ik; capable of doing anything—even discharging a torpedo. But that submarine! How could anyone ill Australia become possessed of such a eraft? Things were worse than had lieen suspected. The boys watched the torpedo pass harmlessly by, nodding genially to the captain as they joined him on the bridge. The Xancv 1 >ee was still afloat, thanks to the excellent seamanship of Captain Bob. •we've Veen attacked from sea, land, and air," (Jeorge said with a significant *hrug of his shoulder*. "That torpedo attack should complete the cycle. Maybe from now on we'll be at peace with the world." "And maybe not." Frank Thompson observed. "What do you think, Captain Bob? - ' "1 don't unite understand what young (Jeorge means, I.lit we've got to suffer a few more—" "Thrills,"' Frank v' in quickly. At once Captain Bob was up in arms. "These aren't thrills, me, boy. We've been very near to death s«reral times today. Thrills, indeed! This is war. Why, I'm watching all the time for floating mines, "or something of the kind. I shouldn't be surprised to see a real foreign battle-shin appear from out of the blue sea and fire a broadside into us."

I "And then sink before we could return the compliment," (Jeorge suggested. "Really, Captain, that is too much. I reckon it's only a minor gang of wouldbe smugglers •■•ho are not eager for us to sec their little domain. You see if I'm not right." The captain snorted disgustedly. He w '' used to having his minions criticised. "Thank gr " *8 the weather is fine," h" said after e 'lowing several times. "It would be too bad if we had to light a in in r ' "tion to these pirates. Yes, me lads, that's the" are—pirates! As wicked as those wh" once °ailed the seas. They could give Henry Morgan or Captain Kidd a long start and then beat them at their own rame." Crorge .Tonkins had a thought. "Perhaps these men have found a very rich goldmine end are eager to keep the fact • to themselves for fear someone will hop in and jumr> their claim." Again Captain Bob was to raise his voice. "A goldmine! Round these parts! Be ■ • age, boy. I'd as soon trv to '-ink a shaft in the middle of the of the Mediterranean thn" anvwh- near the grcv wolf." "As an exploder of theories, Captain, you certainly take the giddy biscuit," Jenkins observed. "What about you airing your views for a change? You haven't passed an opinion yet." "That is because, my boy, I'd sooner wait until I see the lie of the land, as Shakespeare says. These men—fiends, rather, to attack a defenceless little vessel like mine—are the kind who, when they are caught, wttl plead for mercy. Mercy; they'll get it. I don't think."

" 'Tisn't Shakespeare as I know him." snapped the skipper. "You may be right, but I don't think »o." "And lhat'> one for you. Frank, old gun," Ccorge tea.-ed. "If I were you I'd throw iiij eopy of Shakespeare into the sea and buy an up-to-date one like Captain l!ob'.-.'' "Another day's -ailing and ] may be aide to give \on lads a glimpse of the old grey wolf —through glasses, of course. You don't catch me going near enough to view it with the naked eye." "That's great news, captain. I reckon we've earned a glimpse or two of the wonderful lump of stone, don't you. fieorge?" I-" rank Thompson winked knowingly at his mate. "And L hope the immense eye is in a winking mood." "it's a pit \, captain —" "What is. hoy? What's a pity? A pity you came, eh? You'd like to turn round and hurry hack? Nothing doing. I've put mv hand to the plough, and, shiver me timbers, I'm going to complete the furrow, I am.'' 'You've got me wrong, skipper." ( leorge grinned know ingly. "If you had allowed me to finish you'd have savd your breath. 11 "ts a pity that you haven't wireless on board. If we'd had more time we'd have fixed up a transmitter and receiver. Then we'd have been constantly in touch with the rest of the world. Say. what would happen if war broke out while you were away on one of these fortnightly cruises of yours ?" "And Australia was menaced l>y foreign battleships," the eiTptain added. "I don't know. The enemy would sure have a prize in the Nancy L,ee. And if you as much as crease your lips in a smile I'll let you feel the weight of iny flat." Captain Bob was proud of his vessel—as proud of her as an admiral is of his fleet. "I'm beginning to love this little ship," Frank said seriously. "It's nice to hear you say that, even if you don't mean it." the skipper remarked. watching the bov closely. "And you II like her more before the end of the voyage. You're going to be glad that you have a stout little vessel beneath you and a good skipper at the helm." "Hear, hear!" The boys joined their voices in chorus. Captain Bob's even scanned the horizon. He raised his telescope and looked long and earnestly at a certain point.. "We aren't in night of the great rockyet, nurely?" from Thompson. The captain did not answer. "Any more trouble?" Jenkins asked, as the skipper, continued to gaze at the point. "f can't see what can hurt us from such a distance. There isn't a thing visible to me." (To be continued next week.)