Part 41 (1/2)
”Not much of a one, lad. There is a little electric battery and light in the cabin, one that was used by a professor that I took out two years ago, when the yacht was built. He was interested in electricity and he made the light himself. I never used it, for I didn't understand how it worked.”
”Let us look at the light; perhaps we can do something with it,”
said d.i.c.k.
”That's the talk,” came from Tom. ”Anything is better than holding your hands and doing nothing.”
Martin Harris was willing, and led the way into the cabin.
Battery and light were stored away in a couple of soap boxes, and the boys brought them out and set them on the cabin table.
”I think I can fix these up,” said d.i.c.k, after a long examination. ”The batteries are not in very good shape, but I think they will do. They are meant to work on the same plan as these new electric lights for bicycles, only they are, I reckon, more powerful.”
”Well, do what you please with the machine,” said Martin Harris.
”In the meantime, I'll see what I can do with a lantern and a tin reflector. Sometimes you can see a white sail putty good with a tin reflector.”
He hurried to the deck again, and Sam, who was not much interested in electricity, followed him. One of the best of the yacht's lanterns was polished up to the last degree, and they also polished the metal reflector until it shone like a newly coined silver piece.
”That's a good light!” cried Sam, when it was lit up. ”Where will you place it?”
”Up at the top of the mast,” answered the old sailor. ”I'll show you.”
It took some time to adjust the lantern just right, but this accomplished they found that they could see for a distance of a hundred yards or more.
”I see the sail!” announced Harris. ”Don't you--just over our port bow?”
”I see it,” answered Sergeant Brown. ”Not very far off either.”
Without delay the course of the _Searchlight_ was changed so that she was headed directly for the _Flyaway_.
”Keep off!” was the cry out of the darkness. ”Keep off, or it will be the worse for you!”
”You may as well give up,” shouted back the police sergeant.
”You are bound to be caught sooner or later.”
”We don't think go. If it comes to the worst, remember, we can do a heap of fighting.”
”We can fight too,” was the grim response.
”Dora! Dora! Are you safe?” shouted Sam, with all the strength of his youthful lungs.
”Save me!” came back the cry. ”Don't let them carry me further away.”
”We'll do our best, don't fear.”
Dora wanted to say more, but was prevented from doing so by Mumps, who again hurried her below.
”You must lock her up,” he said to Mrs. Goss, and once more the unhappy girl found herself a prisoner in the cabin.