Feeling that time meant a good deal, the skipper had his men at work even before breakfast could be considered. The empty barrels were thrown overboard, and collected so that the platform of planks could be fastened over them, and thus a float fashioned, upon which the diving apparatus might be worked.
Storms come up with very little warning in the treacherous Caribbean Sea, and, consequently, it was necessary to work at a lively rate in order to get all these preparations started.
Then a diver went down, and, as on that other occasion, the submarine was sunk in order to give him the benefit of the electric plant. Once more the boys watched the whole operation through their peepholes, and Jack thought it well worth his trouble to feature the diver making his way aboard the sunken steamer.
Two hours afterwards the second man went down in the wake of the pioneer, who had taken up most of his time cutting a way into the wreck. Finally he, too, came up to report that while he had managed to enter, and make his way to the captain’s quarters, he was too near the point of exhaustion to finish the job. In fact, it was apparent that the man had come across sights inside the steamer that chilled his enthusiasm, even accustomed as he was to seeing skeletons in some of the hulks where duty in the past had taken him.
Oscar, it was noticed, made no sign about wishing to be allowed to take a turn in the diver’s suit. As for Ballyhoo Jones, money could not have tempted him, once he heard Jack say what he thought that diver must have come across in the way of grisly reminders of the sea tragedy.
Captain Shooks was gone but half an hour. When they received the signal to commence drawing him up the boys exchanged suggestive nods. These told that they, one and all, feared they were going to meet with a severe disappointment. Had things been favorable the skipper surely would have remained below at least a full hour.
Oscar and Ballyhoo attended to the task of assisting him to a seat, where the water dripped from his heavy suit. They also busied themselves in removing his heavy helmet.
As soon as the captain’s face was revealed, they found that he had a disappointed expression on it that told the story before a word had been uttered.
“You found the safe, did you, Captain?” asked Ballyhoo finally.
“That’s what I did, younker, because nobody wanted that piece of heavy furniture,” came the booming reply; “but hang the luck, it was busted wide open, and cleaned out. We have been out-generaled, that’s all.”