CHAPTER XXII
ESCAPE
It was the afternoon following return of the submarine to the harbor of, Kaiserland. Frank, Jack, Captain Glenn and Williams found themselves the center of a body of armed men. They were marching inland.
Frank hailed Captain Jack, who marched near the head of the procession.
"Where are you taking us?" he demanded.
"I'd thought about turning you over to the Germans," replied Captain
Jack, dropping back and falling in alongside Frank.
"I guess you won't do that," said Frank.
"Why won't I?"
"Because it wouldn't be healthy for you. The Germans would think you had a hand in the sinking of the raider."
"Well, you're right, I guess, so I won't turn you over to the Germans right now. But I've a nice little place away back in the forest, where I think you will be safe enough until it is time for me to leave this island for good."
"So you have decided to give up piracy, eh?" asked Frank.
"Almost. One more good haul and I'll have enough to keep me in plenty the rest of my days. My men, too, will be provided for. Why should we keep this up, when we are sure to be caught sooner or later?"
"I'm glad you've seen the light; but if you'll take my advice, you'll quit this business without waiting for the next haul, as you term it."
Captain Jack shook his head.
"No," he said, "I'm decided on that."
"By the way," said Frank, "where is this place you are taking us?"
"Northern end of the island," said Captain Jack. "Most of my men are there. They'll guard you safe enough. In fact, I may say that the place I am taking you is my headquarters. There I have my office, my wireless apparatus and many other things. Oh, yes, you'll be safe enough there."
"Suit yourself," said Frank, "only remember that some day you will answer for your crimes. By the way, what have you done with our two sailor?"
"Done with them?" repeated Captain Jack. "I haven't done anything with them. They have joined my band."
"Is that so?" returned Frank. "I was afraid of it. They told me they would join if you gave them a chance, but I didn't believe it. Oh, well, I guess they will swing along with the rest of you when the time comes."
Captain Jack left Frank's side and moved to the head of the procession again. He smiled at Jack as he passed. Apparently he bore no grudge for the way the lad had maltreated him aboard the submarine.
"This Captain Jack is a pretty decent sort of a pirate," said Jack.
"Too bad he won't run straight."
"Decent or not," said Captain Glenn, "a pirate's a pirate, and if we can manage to get out of his clutches it's up to us to do it."
"Right, sir," agreed Williams. "If we can get a couple of guns apiece and get clear, I'll guarantee we can make considerable trouble for Mr. Pirate before he nabs us again."
"We'll take advantage of the first opportunity that presents itself," said Frank, "no matter how small the chance of success may seem."
"And then what?" Jack wanted to know.
"We'll let the future take care of itself," said Captain Glenn quietly.
Darkness was falling when Captain Jack announced that they were nearing the end of their journey.
"I'm glad of that," said Frank. "Hope there will be a good supper ready."
"Don't you fret," laughed the pirate chief, "I'm not one of those old-fashioned pirates who starved his captives to death."
"I'm glad to hear that, Captain," declared Jack.
"Hope you don't fatten us up too much before the feast, though."
Again Captain Jack laughed, but he made no reply.
Fifteen minutes later the four prisoners made out in the semi-darkness what appeared to be a large stockade.
"Afraid of Indians, Captain?" asked Frank.
"No; Germans," was the response. "We built that wall the better to defend ourselves if we are attacked."
"You're far-seeing, at all events," declared Jack.
Half a dozen men advanced from the enclosure to meet Captain Jack and his party. The pirate chief saluted them and they greeted him cordially.
From the top of a wooded building inside the enclosure Frank made out a large wireless aerial.
"Captain Jack is a modern pirate, all right," the lad told himself.
"Send Jackson to me," ordered Captain Jack, as he followed his prisoners into the large wooden building.
A man left the room, but reappeared a few moments later, followed by a man of extremely large stature.
"Jackson," said Captain Jack, and indicated the four captives with a sweeping gesture, "these men are prisoners and I want them well guarded. You'll lock them up in the strong room and post guards outside. You will keep the keys to the door yourself. No one must enter without my permission. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," replied Jackson.
"Good. Take them away, then."
Jackson motioned the prisoners to precede him through the door. As
Frank passed out, Captain Jack called:
"I'll do myself the pleasure of calling on you tomorrow."
The big building in which the prisoners found themselves was partitioned off into a number of rooms. As they passed a door, Jack heard a faint clicking.
"Wireless room there," he said aloud.
Frank nodded in the half light.
"That's where Captain Jack gets all his tips," he said.
At the end of a long hall, the prisoners brought up against a stout door. Jackson advanced, produced a key and flung the door open.
"This will be your prison," he said. "You will find no windows, but I will provide you with sufficient candles and matches. It will do no good to try to escape as the door is of the stoutest oak; but even if you did batter it down you would find guards without and the noise would arouse the rest of us. You will find bunks inside."
"Are you going to leave us tied up like this?" demanded Frank, extending his bound hands.
"Why, I guess there is no need of that," said Jackson.
He produced a knife and cut the cords. The prisoners entered the large room. Jackson drew half a dozen candles and a quantity of matches from his pocket. These he gave to Jack.
"Make yourselves as comfortable as possible," he said.
He shut the door and locked it from the outside.
With the candles lighting up the interior of the room, the prisoners surveyed their surroundings. The room contained half a dozen hard chairs and as many bunks. There was a single table. That was all.
"Not a very presentable place, if you ask me," declared Frank.
"But a first class prison," was Williams' comment.
All that night and the next day the prisoners remained there without sight of a human face save that of Jackson who himself brought them their meals. Captain Jack failed to keep his promise to call.
"I'm getting tired of this place," declared Frank, as he made ready for bed the following night.
"Same here," said Jack, "but what are we going to do about it?"
The answer came from an unexpected source.
The stout door creaked slightly. A moment later the head of the sailor Allen appeared within. He laid a finger to his lips and uttered a warning.
"S-h-sh!" as he entered the room. Timothy appeared behind him.
From their pockets the two sailors produced twelve Colt automatics, loaded, and an extra supply of ammunition. They motioned the prisoners to help themselves.
"But why all this?" demanded Frank in a low voice. "I thought you fellows had become pirates."
"So did we, sir," whispered Timothy, "but when we found they had locked you up here we changed our minds."
"How'd you get in?"
"Well," said Allen, grinning, "we were put on watch. Jackson appeared a few minutes ago to see that everything was O. K. Timothy, here, bumped him over the head with the butt of his gun. Then we took the key and opened the door. That's all, sir."
"You've done well," said Captain Glenn. "The next thing is to get out of here."
"No difficulty there," said Allen. "Everybody is asleep."
"Let's go, then," said Frank.
Armed with two revolvers apiece, the six left the room quietly. They were not accosted as they made their way through the darkened building. They passed noiselessly into the stockade, but there they found that the heavy gates were barred.
"Nothing to do but go over the top," whispered Frank.
Jack boosted Frank up. Sitting astride the wall, Frank lent the others a helping hand and soon they were over the wall.
"Guess it's up to us to lose ourselves in the jungles," said Frank dryly. "Come on."
The others followed. Five minutes later they were out of sight from the stockade. They plunged into the darkness among the great trees.