“Emil Eberhardt, I do believe,” murmured Belding. “It’s no wonder things went wrong aboard the Redbird when that scoundrel was able to cross the ocean and join her crew.”
No further information could be obtained from the mutineers at that time. They were quite helpless, and could only row on to the destroyer and give themselves up as commanded.
Meanwhile the motor launch ran alongside the big, square-rigged ship. Three girls at the rail shrieked their delight at sight of Whistler and George Belding. The latter’s father and mother likewise appeared as the boys, following Mr. MacMasters, went up the ladder which had been left hanging over the side when the mutineers abandoned the ship.
The Germans had carried away Mr. Belding’s money—and it was a great sum—in the lifeboats; but they dared not throw it overboard and so, later, it was recovered. Otherwise the mutineers had done little damage, nor had they treated the Americans on the ship badly.
After the greetings were over the story of how the radio messages were sent was told in full. The radio man aboard the Redbird was a German sympathizer. He usually slept through the afternoon watch, however, and it was then the girls had been able to get regularly at the instrument. The rest of the crew thought Lilian was only playing with the radio. She told them she could receive a little, but she sent in so clumsy a way that the Germans paid little attention to her.
“And, of course, I never was a Morse expert,” the girl said, laughing. “You used to make fun of me, George, when we had the radio plant at home; but I guess I could be an operator, if I put my mind to it, as well as you.”
“You’re all right, Lil,” declared her brother. Then with a grin, he added: “I know Phil thinks you are. He can’t keep his eyes off you.”
There was a great deal to say, of course; but there was more to do. The boys were left aboard while Mr. MacMasters returned to the Colodia with Captain Lawdor of the Redbird, who had been locked into his cabin by the mutineers. He wished to confer with Commander Lang regarding the make-up of a crew to work his ship into some port. She could not go all the way to Bahia with only the handful of men who had remained faithful.
This was overcome very easily, however. The captured raider was repaired and was sent north with a prize crew. Then the commander of the destroyer sent help aboard the Redbird and agreed to convoy the sailing ship into a safe zone.
Farther south the Brazilian warships were patroling the coast of South America, and they would accompany the big sailing vessel into Bahia. For, of course, Mr. Belding had no intention of changing his plans, having already come so far from New York.