CHAPTER XXX: JACK AND BILL MEET ONCE MORE.
From the eminence where the flagpole had been erected, the two young castaways of the island watched the schooner brought smartly to an anchorage. Then a second gun boomed.
“Does dat mean dey are goin’ ter fight us?� asked Noddy apprehensively.
“No,� returned Raynor, “look, can’t you see they are waving to us. I guess the gun was meant as a salute. And look, a boat is being lowered. I wish I had a pair of glasses.�
Soon the boat came rapidly toward them. It was rowed by four sailors and in the stern sheets sat three figures. In a few seconds a joyous shout burst from Raynor’s lips as he recognized one of them.
“It’s Jack—Jack Ready! Hurray!â€�
He began waving frantically while Jack stood up and signaled as frantically back.
“See, they are going to land in that cove by the hut, let’s hurry down there,� said Raynor. The two boys reached the beach just as the Morning Star’s boat grated on the sand.
“Jack!� cried Raynor, in a voice that shook a little as the young wireless lad leaped ashore.
“Well, old fellow, if it isn’t good to see you again. What a time we shall have talking over our adventures!� cried Jack, as the two wrung each other’s hands as if they never would stop.
But Uncle Toby interposed.
“Avast that! Bill Raynor,� he cried, “give me a shake of your flipper, shipmate. It’s glad I am to see you all sound and afloat and A. Number One at Lloyds.�
“Why, Uncle Toby!â€� exclaimed Raynor, who had met the old mariner many times on board the Venus, where he spent much time with Jack when ashore, “how are you? How did you get here? And Jack, what is he doing on board that schooner? I thought——â€�
“It’s a long story, boy, and we can talk better over some grub, I’m thinking. Shall we go back to the ship?�
“No; come up to the hut. I want to show you all how shipwrecked mariners live. Pompey will cook us up a fine breakfast. In the meantime, let me introduce Mr. Noddy Nipper, late of the Polly Ann.�
“And recent of Skull Island,� added Noddy.
“An’ this, gentleman all, is Mr. Terrill, my partner,� said Uncle Toby, waving toward that individual who, in the sunlight, looked yellower than ever.
“Much obliged ter meet cher,� said Noddy, adding in an aside to Raynor. “He looks like one of dem wharf rats I used ter see aroun’ de sugar docks on de East River.�
With everybody talking at once, except Mr. Terrill, who lagged behind, seemingly busy with his thoughts, the group made for the hut. Mr. Terrill, with his eyes on the ground, was muttering to himself as he slowly paced after them.
“That makes three more added to the forces of Captain Ready when the time comes,â€� he breathed. “Three last night and three this morning—six. It makes the situation more difficult when the hour comes to strike. I don’t like that youngster Jack Ready. He’s too smart by half. I believe I’ll have trouble with him before this thing is over.â€�
“Well, where’s your cook?� inquired Uncle Toby, when they reached the hut, for no Pompey was visible.
“I can’t think, unless he has gone to the spring,�
“Avast, thar,� cried Uncle Toby suddenly, “thar’s something moving under that blanket. Look out, boys, it may be a snake.�
He picked up a big stick of wood and smote the blankets lustily with it. The result was startling. An appalling yell came from the bedding.
“Ow-ouch, Misto Pirate, don’ done hit me. Ah come out. Oh, Lawsy, mah bones am broken——â€�
“Come out of that, Pompey,� exclaimed Raynor angrily. “What are you hiding for? What’s all that gibberish about pirates?�
“Dey done fire guns. Ah think dey come to comblisterate de island,� moaned Pompey, getting out of his hiding place and rubbing himself where the stick had hit him, with a doleful expression, “mah goodness, ah think dat stick mustah bruk some ob mah bones.�
“Nonsense, if it had hit your head it would have broken the stick. Get up and get breakfast,� said Raynor, who knew something of Pompey’s ways of gaining sympathy.
“And here’s something to take the smart out,� said Uncle Toby, giving the negro a coin.
“Thank you, gen’ellman,� said Pompey, with a broad grin, and all his troubles forgotten. “I perceed at oncet wid’ de prognostications fo’ de mat’stushanal meal.�
“Matutinal meal I suppose he means,� laughed Raynor to the rest. “Pompey has a language that’s all his own.�
“He should be suppressed,â€� declared Mr. Terrill, “the idea of calling us pirates and then, as for giving him money—disgraceful.â€�
“Cheer up, Terrill,� chuckled Uncle Toby, “you and me ’ull have so much money before long that we kin give the Rockybilts a stake ef they should happen ter need it.�
In the general laugh that followed Jack noticed that Terrill’s expression was anything but amiable. In fact, he looked as if he wished the whole party anywhere but there. During breakfast everybody told their stories and Raynor apprised Jack of the injury to the wireless.
The young operator examined it with a rueful look.
“Out of business. Too bad,� he murmured. “I counted on it for notifying Captain Simms of what had happened. It may be weeks before I can rejoin the Thespis.�
“Why, won’t your uncle sail us all back to her?� asked Raynor, who had regarded this part of the program as cut and dried.
Jack looked serious. He looked hastily round to be sure no one overheard and then said in a low voice.
“My uncle is on a crack-brained search for treasure which may or may not exist. This man Terrill has furnished the capital and so, in a way, dominates the expedition. He has a sinister influence over my uncle and won’t hear of losing any more time in locating the treasure, so we are all bound on a long trip.�
“Well, are we all ready,� struck in Mr. Terrill’s rasping voice. He looked impatiently at his watch.
“As ready as we’ll ever be, boss,� cried the Bowery boy, making an expressive face at Mr. Terrill behind his back.
“Then let’s get back to the Morning Star, boys,� cried Uncle Toby. “I had treasures manifold, as I sailed,� he sang in his gruff old sea voice.
As they were leaving the hut a sudden notion seized Jack. He turned to Raynor.
“We’ll take that wireless set along,� he said. “I’ve a notion I might be able to repair it.�
“I don’t see what good it will be,� objected Raynor, “anyhow, we can’t wait to get down the aërials.�
“Never mind them. There’s copper wire on the Morning Star, it’s used to repair parts of the rigging.�
“All right,� said Raynor, dismantling the parts of the set and calling to Noddy and Pompey to help in carrying them to the boat, “but as I said before, I think it’s a waste of labor. What do you want it for?�
“I don’t just know myself,� admitted Jack, “but things are not going as smoothly on the Morning Star as Uncle Toby thinks, and if ever we needed to signal for help, this wireless would be a mighty handy thing to have.�
“Here comes a fresh breeze,� shouted Mr. Terrill from the distance, “hurry, boys, we must take advantage of it.�