Part 10 (1/2)
”No, sir, none whatever,” was the reply
It was ten minutes later when Rob's sharp eye descried a trail of slasses, the craft was made out to be the _Seneca_, bound at full speed for the yacht On the latter's signal-halliards up went a gaudy string of signal flags announcing her identity The signal was answered froun in honor of the recovery of the castaways
By ood-byes, wared between the crews of both craft, and the _Brigand_ was headed due south, while the _Seneca_before sunset both craft had vanished froht
”So that was one derelict that Uncle Sareaves to Lieutenant Murray as they stood side by side on the bridge
”No,” rejoined the other, ”she co recruit, Donald, she wouldn't have gone to her grave alone!”
CHAPTER XI
BARTON THE MACHINIST
An island, a sandy, scantily grown spot of land, shaped like a splash of gravy on a plate, loomed up over the _Seneca's_ bow On it stood a shed, two nakedbetween them, and some tents, and that was all, except that, reer structure This second structure was built on piles right out over the sea, and as the coast of the island declined abruptly at this point, there was considerable water under its corrugated iron roof
”So that's Barren Island?” asked Rob, ith the boys and the two officers, was standing on the bridge of the _Seneca_ regarding with the most intense interest that desolate spot of land
Beyond it lay other islands equally barren, so that applicability of the name was not quite clear, while in the dim distance a faint blue line betokened the Carolina coast
”Yes, that is Barren Island,” nodded Lieutenant Murray; ”and strange as it ht at this moment on that sandy patch yonder”
”Seems queer, doesn't it?” coreaves
”I'erly ”Is that a powerful wireless?”
”It is capable of sending up to three hundred e, and more under favorable conditions,” was the reply
”What's in that big shed?” demanded someone
”That houses the _Peacemaker_ The shore shelves off abruptly and the submarine is housed under that roof in ?”
”A co roolistening as he heard
”Plenty, I hope,” rejoined the ensign s ”There is an ample stock of provisions, and they will be received from the mainland as occasion requires”
”But how shall we reach the mainland?”
”In a powerfulto be a regular picnic I thought you chaps said hard work lay ahead of us,” couess we'll find lots to do”
”Never fear,” struck in the ensign ”Besides the inventor of the _Peacemaker_, Mr Danbury Barr, and ourselves, there will be only three trusted sailors, familiar with submarine work, to conduct the tests; so you see that you boys will have your time well occupied”
”Are those tents for us?” asked Paul Perkins interestedly