But just now her errand was one of rescue and mercy. The machine gun at her bow was swathed in its waterproof covers and the bulletproof housing of the engine was not in place.
She was making eighteen miles an hour on her way to Skull Island and her motors were turning as steadily and truly as if they knew that they were on a mission of deep importance.
There were three persons on board. In the bow sat Jack Ready, his hand on the steering wheel and ever and anon taking a glance at the compass before him. Amidships, pipe in mouth, was Matt Sherry, the engineer, lovingly feeding his motors oil and “mothering� them with waste and fussing. Astern, preparing a meal on a gasolene stove was Hank Merryweather, a stalwart tar from the Thespis detailed to accompany the relief expedition.
When Jack had made known to Captain Simms the plight of Raynor and the others, the commander of the Thespis had easily read in the boy’s excited words his intense desire to proceed to the aid of the castaways at once. But there was a difficulty in the way, as the captain explained. Duty held the Thespis to the iceberg patrol. She could not wander from her post of duty.
Captain Simms suggested sending out a message to other ships and also to the government stations ashore and having a rescue expedition despatched from the most convenient points. But Jack had already got a plan in his head, and at the risk of offending Captain Simms, he could not help but broach it.
“It’s only 250 miles to the island, sir,� he said, “the gasolene tender could do it in little more than twelve hours and be back at the ship by to-morrow.�
The captain smiled at his enthusiasm.
“But who could take the wireless while you are gone? I appreciate your anxiety to be reunited to your chum,� for Captain Simms knew the story, “but it’s duty first, you know, Ready, all along the line. We are here to warn liners of icebergs. I really think that we’ll have to let others do the actual rescuing. It isn’t as if the castaways were in actual want. They say they have plenty of provisions and fresh water so that a brief stay on the island till relief can be sent from the mainland won’t be much of a hardship.�
Jack’s face fell. He had set his heart on going. But it appeared from Captain Simms’ attitude that that would be impossible under the circumstances.
But he did not mean to give up without a struggle to gain his point.