Consequently, Larry Seymour repaired at once to the wireless room and in a few minutes was telling the whole story to the Marblehead. For some time the wireless spat its messages into the ether and then subsided as its receiver got busy. Larry was transcribing the messages.
"Captain Fowler, of the Marblehead, says he will move up closer to us," said Larry. "He wants us to keep a sharp lookout during the night and apprise them of the slightest movement aboard the pirate ship. If they move at all the Marblehead will charge down upon them. Captain Fowler proposes to go aboard at daybreak and find out who they are and by what authority they come taking the gold from the Dominion."
"Tell him O. K. and to keep his wireless receiver constantly on the alert," replied Captain Austin.
In the meantime extra precautions were taken to guard the pirates. An additional guard was posted and both the powerful searchlight and the machine gun on the bridge of the Jules Verne were inspected to see that they were in prime condition.
Captain Austin told Jay and Dick to turn in; that he would call them on the slightest provocation that their services were needed. Jay, although a bit fatigued by his swim, was for remaining up, but listened to the counsel of his chum, and together they withdrew to their stateroom.
"Might as well rest a bit, for there is bound to be some excitement in the morning," advised Dick.
So they repaired to the quiet of their own stateroom and with light extinguished lay in their bunks enjoying the cool night air that was such a relief after the heat of the day. From the corner came the gentle snores of Fismes, who was curled up fast asleep and entirely oblivious of the stirring events the morrow might hold for his masters. And pretty soon Jay and Dick, who had talked for a long time there in the darkness of their quarters fronting on the water about amidships, lapsed into slumber.
It was Dick who was first roused by a slight noise outside the stateroom. Was he dreaming, or had he heard a slight movement? The youth stirred and raised himself on one elbow. Did he imagine it, or was that the figure of a man—a head silhouetted through the stateroom window against the starry sky background? He was minded on the moment to cry out, demanding who was there. But he kept silence.
Reaching quietly under his pillow he was a bit dismayed to find his revolver not there where he expected it. Then he remembered; he had left it on the table. But he could not reach it without getting out of his bunk. Jay was still asleep.