“And I reckon he won’t be in a desperate hurry, because he’ll never figure that we could have such blind luck as to have the Nomad picked up by about the only wireless craft along the coast that knew her and her owners and could notify them at once of the recovery,” cried Nat. “Boys, it’s one chance in a thousand, but it looks as if luck was beginning to run our way again after all our set-backs.”
Within a very few minutes those at the living hut were apprised of the state of affairs. The effect on every one’s spirits was wonderful. Even Dr. Chalmers and his friend became infected with the excitement of the chase after a man who had proved himself as consummate a rascal as could be found on earth.
But in the midst of the jubilation, Joe propounded a sudden question that came like a dash of cold water on their hopes.
“Suppose before he cut the Nomad adrift he rifled the trunks and got the model?” he exclaimed.
It was a possibility that, strange to say, in the general excitement, had not yet occurred to any one of them.
“In that case, if we don’t find him I am in as bad a fix as ever,” declared the professor blankly. “With the model it wouldn’t take a clever fellow like Minory more than a few days to understand the principles of my invention, rush patent papers to Washington and reap his reward from the unscrupulous capitalists employing him. You see I was so afraid of possible leaks that I was waiting till I had every detail complete before I filed application for a patent. With nobody in my confidence concerning my work, I have absolutely no proof nor witnesses that the wireless torpedo is the product of my brain. Minory, on the other hand, has the backing of almost unlimited money and influence.”
“Humph!” grunted Nat, in a low aside to Joe, “we may be euchered after all, then.”
“We!” rejoined Joe in a rather astonished tone.
“Yes,” was the sturdy reply. “I like this professor and I hate to see such a rascal as Minory getting away with a thing to which a man has devoted the best efforts of his life. We, Joe—I said we—are going to help him in every way in our power.”
“Bully for you, Nat. I’m with you to a crisp!” cried Joe, while he gave Nat a slap on the back that almost drove the breath out of the young leader’s body.