CHAPTER X—DRAWING A RASCAL’S FANGS
“Well, what next?”
It was Tom who spoke, and his voice broke the spell that had held all hands as they gazed at the silent craft drifting away from them into the darkness.
“We must overhaul the Tarantula and set my father and yours free, Tom, if they are still there,” came from Jack.
“A good suggestion; but how are we to do it?” inquired Captain Andrews, who was not aware of the readiness of the Vagrant to be placed in active service at once.
“We’ll board the Vagrant. At the pace that spider-craft is going it won’t take long to lay alongside her,” decided Jack.
Before many minutes had passed Jack, Tom Jesson and Ned were on board the Vagrant. Jupe, much against his wishes, was left behind on the Sea King.
“Ah’d hev liked jes ter hev one good, big kick at dat Mexican tamale,” he argued; but it was decided to go without him.
The Vagrant’s engines, despite the recent strain placed on them, were found to be working perfectly. Amidst a shower of good wishes from those left on board the Sea King, she moved off into the darkness in pursuit of their recently vindictive enemy. As Jack had foretold, it did not take long to overhaul the craft with which Herrera had hoped to intimidate those on board Professor Chadwick’s yacht.
It gave the boys a somewhat uncanny sensation as they stole silently alongside the slowly moving Tarantula, and then made fast by throwing a grappling iron on her decks. This feeling was not changed when, clambering on board, they gazed on the decks strewn with senseless forms, lying as they had fallen. They appeared to be wrapped in deep, dreamless slumber. The gas had operated on them much as if they had been patients in a hospital under the influence of an anæsthetic.