The Blue Pirate

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Blue Pirate

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CHAPTER IV,

For a second the doctor stood perfectly motionless. Frank held his breath. Suddenly a flash of green light leapt up from tho piano below. The Flying lush banked sharply to the right and shot ahead with all tho speed at her command. We'll havo to dive," cried the doctor. " Can't dodge those rays overy time. Stand by," ho shouted into tho speaking tube. " Prepare to divo. Hold tight everyone." Thero camo a metallic clank as the propallors were drawn into tho hull. Tho Flying Fish, its crow holding on like grim death, commenced a steep glide down to tho sea. _ Paddy, his face looking tho picture of discomfort, clung to tho door of the kitchen. Frank rushed to his radio. Another shaft of green flashed from tho other piano, but the Flying Fish was descending at such a speed that it was impossible for tho rays to hit it. Tho rate at which sho was descending almost took the breath from her anxious crow. It seemed inevitable that she must strike tho water with such forco that they would all bo killed with tho shock. But' her inventor and commander, tho man whose brain was responsible for her existence, never faltered for a fraction of a second, when about twenty feet from the water ho flattened out and the great plane sped along 011 a level with tho sea until sho began to loso momentum. Then another lever was pulled over. Tho wings slid within tho hull tho stern propellors made their appearance, and tho Flying Fish, liko a duck alighting 011 a pond, slid along tho surface and then disappeared. As soon as sho was submerged tho lights were switched 011 and the air purifying apparatus set in motion. Her speed was considerably less now that sho was submerged, and tho sound of tho engines seemed to bo intensified. For an hour sho cruised along beneath the waves until Dr. 11 a veil felt suro that they had thrown off their pursuer, and then hei decided to come up to tho surface. Darkness was falling wlien they broke through tho waves and the full moon was coming up behind tho distant island. " I think wo had better remain hero till morning," said tho doctor. "Wo can lie hero,quietly with tho top deck just awash, and oven' if wo drift a littlo ifc won't matter. You tako charge, Frank, while I snatch a wink of sleep. Mac. will relievo you at ten, and I'll go 011 again at two." Frank felt very important -when Dr. Raven retired to his cabin and left him in charge of tho control room. Tho vessel rose and fell with tho waves liko a gull asleep 011 tho breast of tho ocean. Scarcely a sound broko the stillness. At half-past nino Paddy appeared with coffee and sandwiches, and ho stayed with Frank until Mac. camo on duty at ten o'clock.

"Anything to report?" he asked.^ "Nothing," replied Frank. "There isn't a light of any kind in sight. "Good. Just bring mo-'up somo of that coffee of yours, Paddy, and then I shan't worry you again till, morning." .Frank went to his cabin and in ten minutes was fast asleep. Dawn was just creeping above the rim of tho ocean when tho vibration of tho engines woke him 110 could tell by tho sound of tho water rurliing into fho submerging tanks that thoy were going down again. He dressed and hurried up to his wireless room, wondering what tho day was going to bring forth. Dr. Ravsn told him to tako it easy until Ihev broke the surface again. " I have an idea that wo shall find something interesting on that island," 110 said. " Personally, I can't make out what island it is. It isn't on the chart. 1 think wo had better remain submerged until we havo had a good look at it through tho televisor." Frank appreciated having a few hours leisure. He lost 110 time in getting up

to tho observation windows, for as they drew nearer tho island the bed of the ocean was becoming more interesting. Brilliantly coloured fishes, somo with tails twico tho length of their swum lazily past too ship. Tho day was so fine overhead that tho sun was able to penetrate tho water down to tho depth at which the Flying Fish was moving, and illuminato with a pale green light the brightly-coloured seaweed which swayed slowly in the current. As they neared tho island the doctor slackened a more five "knots an hour, so that they might bo ablo to watch tho beauties o the ocean floor, Frank had 110 idea that thero were so many shades and varieties of coral. Die specimens which ho saw varied fioiri white and palo pink to deep crimson, and the sliapo ranged from thin, finger-like fronds to great cup-like growths seveial feet in diameter. Standing by tho thick glass windows of tho ship and watching the wonders of marine lifo was, to I 1 rank, most fascinating and interesting. J. ho colours of the tall, waving branches of sea-weed passed from every shade cil green to deep red and brown. Presently tlicv camo upon a shoal of fish so startlingly beautiful 111 colouring that Frank was compelled to call tho others. One specimen was striped like a zebra, its colouring being green and brown. olhor possessed a brown body with bright red and yellow fins. " They aro angel fish," said tho doctor, afraid to speak too loudly Jest tho fish feel tho vibrations oi' his voice and become alarmed. They aro usually found in tho coral seas. Look at this 0110 coming towards us now." All eyes wero turned towards tho fish which was just emerging from behind a clump of pink coral. In shape it was as round as a balloon. Its mouth was tiny, its eyes large, and tho brown scales 011 its back changed to cream beneath its body. Its tail, almost insignificant in size, was a bright red, while its long trailing fins wero striped with green, blue, yellow and red. " I don't suppose we are likely to come across any sunken treasure ships," laughed Frank. " Even if wo did wo wouldn't bo ablo to do anything. Wo Would need divers to rescue the treasure." " On© never knows," said tho doctor thoughtfully. "■ Thero aro many strange things 011 tho bottom of tho ocean." They saw many strange and wonderful fish as they passed along among tho coral reefs, and then, quito suddenly, they saw tho bull of a ship looming up in tho dim blueness, ahead. Cautiously they approached it, and as they neared tho stern Frank gavo, a cry and pressed his face closo to tho glass. Clearly discernible on tho water-logged hull was tho name, S.S. Albatross.

"My brother's ship," cried Frank. " Doctor Raven, it's my brother's ship. Surely it doesn't mean that tho crew went down with it?" -v..- .• • Tho doctor hurried to Frank's sido in answer to his excited call. Frank's face was becoming tho picture of despair and dismay as he realised what the discovery of tho sunken ship might mean. " Cheer up", Frank," said tho doctor kindly. Don't givo up hope. Tho crew might havo escaped. I'll tell you what I think in a minute or two." Uo turned and called to Macdonald, who was in tho control i*ooin.

" Sail right round her, Mac. I want to tako particular notice of the davits." "If tho boats aro gone from tho davits," he continued, turning to Frank, " I think wo can reasonably assumo that tho crow wero saved." Then you think thero is a chance that my brother is still alive?" Frank asked eagerly. " I havo every reason to believo so," was tho comforting reply. " Yes, it is practically certain that he did not go down with tho ship, for see. all the lifeboats aro missing.' (To be Cpntinued.)