Part 22 (1/2)

Just as Donald, as nowhat to do, the door which was open becaure

It was Tubby

In a jiffy he took in the scene, the threatening attitude of Barton, the alar at the revolver like a bird fascinated by a snake Tubby realized that it was no ti the situation over Instead, he crouched low, and then, darting forith surprising agility, he seized the s before the fellohat was happening

Taken utterly by surprise, and borne off his feet by Tubby's rush, Barton ca to the floor in a heap As he fell the revolver exploded, the bullet passing by Donald's head

Barton struggled desperately with Tubby, but the stout youth held on to hi for help In a few seconds the ensign and Mr Barr ca in, followed by the Boy Scouts and the sailors There was an end to the battle then and there After a brief resistance Barton, snarling and cursing, was tied hand and foot, and the ensign ordered hi room shed for the present

Donald soon told his story and proudly exhibited the reenbit of news

”If they were near a lot of islands when sighted, it is roup At all events, having the latitude and longitude, it will be easy to go down there and see”

”What are you going to do about Barton? We have full proof of his villainy now,” struck in Merritt

”I suppose we shall have to take hi ashore now and risking the law's delays We will go down the coast in the sub as escort, and Barton a prisoner on the _Peacen

”I wonder why he was so anxious to see thatto trace the green h thatWhen he saw Donald busy taking a uessed what it was, and decided that it was necessary for him to see it,” hazarded Mr Barr ”How I have been deceived in the rascal!”

”You certainly have His actions show hin

There was not ht Exciteh for that An attempt was made to force Barton to confess his part in the conspiracy, but he sullenly refused to talk

”You've got nothing onthose tin soldier kids tell you is patched up out of whole cloth”

Sluht was devoted to stocking both craft with food and water in good quantities In this work the Scouts helped with a will They were aided by the three sailors, ere to be left behind to guard the island, and therefore did not work any too hard

Dawn found all in readiness, and at the sureaves to receive their orders To the subned Merritt and Donald, besides Mr Barr, Ensign Hargreaves, and the prisoner Barton The _Viper's_ creas captained by Tubby, a capable ineer, and Hiram and the others When this had been done, Barton was led before Ensign Hargreaves

”Barton,” said he sternly, ”you have acted the part of a scoundrel and should be behind the bars now But I need you for work, and upon the manner in which you perform it, will depend just how severe your punishine room of the submarine You are to stand by for orders”

”I'll try to do my best, sir,” rejoined Barton in a soft tone of voice, very unusual for him ”I'm sorry, sir, for what I did, but I was led astray by proe in theFrom a sullen, morose fellow he had suddenly, or so it see to obey orders and do his best Was all this genuine? We shall have to go further to see

There being no excuse for delay, and as all were anxious to get off as quickly as possible, the two craft were boarded The hatch of the submarine was left open for the present, for it was the intention of the ensign to run ”awash,” as it is called

Thevery nearly as fast as the submarine, they kept each other company down the coast with little difficulty It was fine, exciting sport in thespray and water out to either side of its sharp bow If only the boys had had Rob with theh

All that was visible of the sub tower, and the slender, needle-like ”eye” of the periscope The water surged round her conning tower as she rushed along, for all the world like so on an errand of destruction She was not going full speed, for the ensign wished to keep company with the motor boat

At noon, just as the lads on thedown to lunch cooked on a blue-fla tower It was that of Mr Barr

”We are going to run under the surface in a short time,” he said; ”just follow your saain”

”All right,” shouted Tubby, his mouth full of ham sandwich, which he held in one hand, while with the other he clasped a big wedge of pie

The hatch on top of the conning tower closed shortly after with a ” The next instant the craft vanished from view in a swirl of water For a time the tip of the periscope tube, which enty-five feet long, projected above the surface; then that, too, vanished, and the motor boat was alone on the ocean