Pluck and Luck #139: Jack Wright and His Deep Sea Monitor — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

nn RE ote, a hs "JACK “WRIGHT AND Is. DBEP SEA ori ae from poor Hopkins attested to the fact that he was ite trouble, which no doubt came from his fear of the shark. : Jack raised the boat a few feet, by emptying her of very * little water, and, starting her ahead, she plunged into the grass, seattering it right and left by her keen prow, and leav- ing a broad passage astern. Hardly had she gone into the grass, when the shark ap- peared in front of her, just faintly distinguishable among the grass, but the cries of the professor had suddenly ceased. “Can that cannibal of the deep have devoured him?” mut- tered Jack, violently shuddering. “If it has I’ll avenge him!” He took a brass cylinder from a shelf, and, putting it hastily into one of the guns, he aimed it by a lever, and then touched a press button. With a fearful whirr, the projectile tore from the gun through the water, and true to its aim, it struck the shark's body and penetrated it. The shock burst it within the creature’s body, there came a fearful smothered explosion, the water was violently agitated, and the shark was blown to fragments that were scattered out of sight. CHAPTER V. AFTER THE TREASURE. “Professor!” shouted Jack. Startled, Hopkins glanced at the boat, and, with a glad ery, ‘he came hurrying toward it and got on deck. . “Saved!” he cried, joyfully. “Jack Wright, may the Lord ‘bless you! But how are we to get out of this fearful place, — may I inquire?” bart “Hang on to the boat and I will raise it to the surface,” re- : plied the boy. .. A moment afterwards he pumped out ‘the water, and up darted the monitor toward the surface at an angle, and she presently emerged not far from the shore near the pier. A tremendous cheer burst from every throat as the specta- ‘tors saw her, and the professor uttered a sigh of intense relief. _Jack flung open the window of the turret and saw Kellenda _ Mixitli standing on the edge of the pier with a scared look upon his face, and it instantly flashed across the boy’s mind that the Carib had made the attempt to swamp the Sea _ Serpent. -. Behind the dark-featured fellow stood a PoLrenen. and Jack pointed at the rascal and shouted: “Arrest that dark fellow, officer! us! ” No sooner was this said when the Carib withdrew the : screw- ou caps which he had stolen from the boat from his pocket and ‘began to fling them into the water to hide the proof of his guilt. He has attempted to kill A _ ™Man seized him, and a struggle ensued between them, but the - Carib could not get away, as there were so many people Pe atiad on the dock in back of him. ‘ Helped by the bystanders, who all knew Jack would not : make such a charge for nothing, the officer rendered the Carib _ helpless, and he was carried away through the crowd raving iike a madman. ee Upon seeing that the man was apprehended, with proof of we his guilt, Jack again drove the boat out upon the bay and con- eat ~ tinued the exnibition for the curiosity of the spectators for _ Several hours longer, and then sent the Sea Serpent home- ward again. :, - Twilight was falling by that time,’ and the spectators dis- ae ° rs . -3 . <4 et Y La | > . - gn + 7 r ‘ > - APRA FER AS ee) ; ’ Ls » of * “tear ® a a ‘ Apr et ae | fas 2 “4 Snes S| Stee : Seat ie Be . bd Ee fe & Py » + *>? Basti . "Tel . ; ae A , shes eee beautiful vessel, their baggage having preceded them, Tim _ Before he could get rid of all of them, eet the police-| ‘Having put’ the, boat in his workshop, Jack and ie mane # made a minute examination of every. part of her and found © several defects that required remedying before the monitor — cay, would be absolutely fit for sea service. . : They divested themselves of their suits of. armor, and, nie ing turned out the incandescent lights, they left the boat and adjourned to the house. ae Partaking of their supper, the four friends were discussing — the merits of the monitor, when there came a ring at the front door bell, and a servant came in and announced a police- man to see Jack. He went out in the hall, and at the Frere door met the — officer who had arrested Kellenda Mixitli, who had a TOU My look on his face. , “I have got some bad news for you, Mr. Wright, ” said the a policeman, in’ hesitating tones, as the boy glanced up at him. “What is the matter now?” demanded Jack. “The man you told me to arrest down on the dock has eS- caped.” “Indeed? How did it happen?” “While I was bringing him to jail, he suddenly turned upon ‘ me near the railroad depot, and with one blow he knocked me A down. Before I could get upon my feet again he ran away Re and sprang aboard of a train which was just leaving for New York. I did not get half way to the cars before they gatheted such headway that it was utterly impossible to overtake them, — and he got away.” f Re “Well, glad as I would have been to have had thé wretch caught, I am just as well satisfied to see him gone from the town, for it is not at all likely that he will ever ateuie to % return. here.” tee “How did fie make an effort to kill you?” ayes Jack explained the circumstances, and the officer went away. Ne On the following day the boy gave his boat an overhauling, ei. and the defective ° spots were repaired, ALOR which preparer, cruise to the Caribbean Sea. . A week was thus consumed, and on the first day of May every detail had been attended to, and the boat was ready to re start. At exactly three o’clock our friends went aboard of the a carrying his little red monkey, Fritz his green parrot, and the “rt professor his carpet-bag and umbrella. “eu Every one of the villagers knew about their Late ‘de parture on a long cruise, and there was a large crowd at tne water’s edge to wave their adieus when the monitor sped out | on the bay. The stirring strains of a band of music pealed out, reworks” vere let off, and cheer after cheer arose from the people. Jack was in the turret, guiding the boat for the ranng, and fired a battery from his three guns as a salute, while his ‘ companions waved their flags out on deck and shouted. them: selves hoarse. ~ Re A few minutes afterwards, the Sea Serpent shot out upon the es heaving bosom of the broad Atlantic, and Wrightstown vane ished from view. 23 ; ‘The monitor began to heave, pitch, roll and rock when she oe got in deep water, but nune of her crew, except the professor, felt uncomfortable over it, as they were accustomed to deep sea boat rides. Fritz was an expert electrician, and during the first fe we hours out was detailed to watch the electric: apparatus, to § oy that it worked properly, while Tim, who was an sh navigator, remained in the turret with Jack. ae The professor became deathly seasick, and took to his bur PSE where he lay groaning and piteously begging to be set. he again, until sleep finally overcame him and he laspsed into 0 ¢ og ae ee eS : ee aie #