Part 31 (1/2)
”We could rise to the surface even if the propeller is stuck!” declared Harry. ”I can pump the ballast all out of the tanks!”
”But if we do that we'll have to dive overboard to clear the wheel!”
protested Frank. ”I know that water is good and cold!”
”Wait a minute, boys, and see what the fellow does,” cautioned Ned.
”Maybe he wants to help us, so it wouldn't be nice to run away!”
”Here he is, now!” cried Jack from his position near a porthole. ”He's looking through the gla.s.s, and making motions again!”
”I know what he wants!” declared Harry. ”He's making motions for us to unscrew a pipe! He wants us to let in a lot of the ocean!”
”Wait a minute, Harry!” put in Ned. ”He's walking toward his own boat.
Let's see what he's going to do!”
In a short time their rescuer had reached the side of his own vessel. He stepped into an open door in the side and disappeared.
”An air lock!” cried Ned. ”Did you see that, boys?”
”Just like the little old Sea Lion we used in the China Sea!”
”Here he comes again with a line!” announced Harry. ”Now what?”
The boys heard a hammering and thumping near one of the sea c.o.c.ks.
CHAPTER XIX
MACKINDER AGAIN
Even as the five boys glanced at each other with startled and wondering looks, the thumping ceased abruptly. In a short s.p.a.ce it was resumed.
Instinctively the boys gathered near the spot.
While they stood there trying to determine the cause for the strange procedure, the noise ceased. They heard a tapping at one of the portholes. Jimmie rushed across the compartment to investigate.
”Hey, fellows, come over here a minute!” he called out.
”What have you found now?” questioned Ned, obeying the request.
”Here's this chap, and he's making all sorts of signals!”
”That's funny!” puzzled Ned. ”Can you make out what he wants?”
”He's making his hands go in the strangest way! I'm sure I can't interpret such motions unless he wants us to turn around while he places a bomb or something close enough to blow us out of the water.”
”I know what he wants!” shouted Harry, who had been closely observing the stranger's repet.i.tion of the strange motions. ”He wants us to open the valve leading from that sea c.o.c.k where he has been working!”
”Fine business!” scorned Jimmie. ”Open up the sea c.o.c.k and let the ocean come running all over our nice carpets! I guess not!”