Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SIX SUNKEN PIRATES. 5 a a ————— ee For many miles under the sea the submarine boat kept on in this way. To describe all the wonderful scenes witnessed would require a volume. The first incident of a thrilling sort occurred just as the Sea Mole was sailing over a long reef. Then from a cavity in the coral formation there darted forth a strange looking monster, half fish and half crab. It was extraordinarily swift and agile, aud made a powerful rush for the submarine boat. . * So gigantic was it and so strong that its claws, wrapped about the steel ram of tke Sea Mole, actually brought it to the bottom of the sea. . It was anchored effectually, while the strange sea monster began to crawl over the bow preparatory to making an attack upon the pilot- house, Frank was not esyecially alarmed, for he could see no special harm that the monster could do the boat. But it was a hindrance. The weight of the sea crab was so immense that the boat was com- pletely anchored on the coral reef. Indeed the ram had caught ina section of the reef and was wedged quite fast. The crab gained the forward deck of the boat, and began dealing the pilot-house savage blows with its long arms. It showed no disposition to abandon the attack, and kept constant- ly hammering away. Frank could see no speedy way of getting rid of the monster. ‘‘What an odd species of the crustacean?” cried the professor, ‘‘ he is not catalogued or recorded, I know. He is a powerful chap. How will you get rid of bim, Frank?” «There is but ooe way,” said Frank, thoughtfully, ‘‘ and that is to kill him.” ‘¢ That don’t look to be very easy. How can yeu reach him?” “ Rasy enough. Barney and [ will put on diving saits and go out and. attack him.” ‘‘T'm wid yez, Misther Frank!” cried the Celt. But Pentlow looked serioas. ‘« Stop and reflect, Frank,” he said; ‘‘I would not go if I were you. That is a dangerous creature to attack.” But Frank laughed. ‘‘ He must be got rid of,” he said. prisoners of us.” ‘+ Bejabers it’a bad cess to him whin Misther Frank an meailf gits afther bim,” boasted Barney. The diving suits were quickly brought. These were an invention of Frank’s and difiered from the ordinary diver’s outfit in that no life line was required, for there was a storage tank for the chemical man- ufacture and circulation of pure oxygen which the diver carried upon his back. ki In a very few moments Frank and Barney were ready to leave the submarine boat. The sea crab was still raining its blows upon the pilot-house. The two divers*were equipped with heavy axes und long sharp tipped lances, They stepped into the vestibule 1nd closed the cabin door. Then Frank touched a valve which instantly filled the vestibule with water. This made it an easy matter to open the deck door and walk @ut. Frank understood well the risk of their undertaking. He knew that there was no slight amount of danger in venturing to attack the sea crab in his own element. Therefore he was disposed to proceed with caution. It was well that he did this. The monster seemed to spy them almost instantly. It rolled its greenish eyes frightfully and sent one long arm along the deck. Barney made a blow at it with his axe, The blade penetrated for a moment the thin shell but did not sever the arm. The Celt wrenched the weapou free and then made another blow at the monster’s claw. But this time the crab was too qnick and gave Barney a swéeping blow under the arm. The Celt went off the deck of the Sea Mole like a puppet. His fall t@the sands below, however, did not hurt him at all, fora fall under water is always a gentle one. He regained himself as quickly as he could, and clambered up over the rail again. Then a thrilling sight rewarded his gaze. ‘‘Mither av Moses!” he gasped. ‘‘Misther Frank is done for.” Indeed it seemed so. In some manner the crab had gotten a grip on Frank, and was drawing him actually into his capacious maw. It was a horrible fate—and Barney threw fear and caution away and rushed blindly to bis master’s aid. ‘* Why, he has almost made CHAPTER 1V THE SPANIARDS. TucsE in the cabin of the submarine boat could see the affair as well, and they were in a fearfnl state of excitement. ‘¢My soul!” gasped Pentlow; ‘‘ that is the end of Frank!” ‘¢ Golly, why don’ dat l’ishman git up dar an’-—— Hi, hi! I done tell yo’ ‘he will do it.” Pomp’s excited exclamation was caused by Barney’s plucky rush upon the monster. Straight into the creature’s embrace the daring Celt rushed. 4 He had but one thought, and that was to save Frank Reade, Jr. He knew that there was but one chance, and}that,all depended on him. Barney hurled his sharp puinoted lance fall into the crab’s maw; then he made a savage blow at its eye with the ax. | One of the claws of the crab diverted this blow, and Barney got a stupnoing crack upon the skull. But he was gaining a very great end. relax its grip partly on Frank Reade, Jr. This gave Frank a chance to put in some work. And he did so. Tbe young inventor freed his right arm and drove his ax full into the crab’s jaws. It nearly severed a section of them, and caused the monster to squirm with agony. What followed was afterwards but a confused remembrance to Frank and Barney. They knew that they were in a terrific rough and tumble battle; that they rained blow after blow upon the foe. A number of times Frank feared the worst, but fortune favored the brave, and they were victorious. A lucky stroke by Barney reached the creature's brain, and at once terminated its career. The two divers pulled themselves together. Frank put his helmet close to Barney’s and shouted: ‘¢ Are you hurt?” ‘¢ Divil a bit!” retorted the Celt. ‘¢ Then I think we had better get back to the submarine boat.” “*T’m wid yez, sor!” So they diseutangled themselves from the crab’s embrace, and made their way back to the Sea Mole. All this while Pomp and Pentlow had been watching the affair from the cabin of the Sea Mole with varying emotions. Pomp had all he could do to keep from disobeying orders and go- ing out in a diving suit himself. The two victorious divers were quickly in the vestibule, Closing the deck door, Frank applied the pnuematic pressure, and expelled the water from the vestibuie. Then he opened the door into the cabin. They removed their helmets to be greeted with congratulations. ‘¢ Golly, Marse Frank, I’se done glad fo’ to see yo’ back all safe!” aie Pomp. ‘Shure I done fo’t one while dat you wouldn’t git back alibe!” ‘‘ By Jupiter, that is right,” cried Pentlow. the crab would best you both.” ‘‘ Begorra, we settled him,” cried Barney. ‘‘Shure, that’s phwat we wint out to do.” ‘¢ You did well,” agreed Pentlow, ‘‘ but can you afford to take those risks often?” ‘‘ No,” replied Frank, decidedly, ‘‘ hereafter in sailing near the bot- tom of the ocean we must look for such attacks. The creature might bave wrecked us before it got through.” This terminated the episode. But Frank’s orders to keep a little safer distance from the bottom were obeyed. The submarine boat for some days now sailed on without further mishap or incident. By this time they were well into the Gulf of Mexico, and Frank went to the surface to get his bearings. The submarine boat came to the surface in a sudden and surprising manner. Not only were the submarine voyagers astonished at what they be- held, but they were the means of astonishing others. The shores of a tropical country were seen to the southward and distant not a mile. But not twenty yards to the northward was a rakish-looking man-o’-war. Astounded, the submarine voyagers gazed at her blankly a mo- ment. She flew the flag of Spain. truth. ‘¢ Great Scott!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ She is a Spanish cruiser and is guarding yonder shore, which is the isle of Cuba!” ‘¢ That is the truth,” cried Pentlow, ‘‘ but see what she is doing.” Those on the deck of the Spanish cruiser had evidently recovered from their surprise quicker than our friends. Out from one of her ports ran a long steel gun and a hail in Span- ish came from her quarter deck. ‘‘ Lay to, senors, or we'll blow you out of the water. the name of the Spanish government?” Frank’s hand was upon the lever to sink the Sea Mole. But he paused anc wisely. He saw the glitter of the gunner’s eye on the sights and knew that the shell would strike the Sea Mole ere she could sink. This would mean death for all, and sober reflection taught Frank the wiser course, : ‘‘ Look out!” gasped Pentlow; ‘don’t let her fire at us!” ‘‘ What?’ exclaimed Frank, contemptuously; ‘‘ what right has she to usounte us? We are not at war with Spain. I will show her who we are!” Frank touched a button and instantly a little ball ran up the mast- head. At the peak it burst and out fluttered the stars and stripes. What effect this had upon those on board the man-o’-war could not be seen at the moment. But presently there came a hail. ‘‘ Torpedo boat, ahoy!” It was in English. Frank let down the pilot house sash, and replied: He had caused the crab to ‘It really looked as if Instantly Frank comprehended the Lay to in commcloooks (CO) =