Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 11: what you’re looking at

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SIX SUNKEN PIRATES. 11 ig oo ooo EEE eee ae ‘‘Then where did you expect we would find it?” ‘‘Why, in the most logical place, and that is aboard the ships of the Six Sunken Pirates.” Pentlow started ap with a sharp, gasping cry: ' «Ent? he exclaimed. ‘‘ Why, I never thought of that.” ‘T thought pot. Well, it was worth thinking of for, no doubt, each one of those vessels carried gold and silver both. You see they preyed upon the commerce of the seas as well as upon thsse small native towns.” ‘Why, of course. But do you think we can find those ships now? Have they not long since crumbled away to dust?’ ‘¢ No doubt they are badly rotted away!” replied Frank, ‘ but if is a fact that timbers sunken in sea sand are preserved for many han- dreds of years. At least we ought to find the spot where they sank, for it was in sight of this isle. + If there was any gold aboard, no mat- ter if the ships have passed into dust, we can dig for it and find it in the remains of the ships.” “Right!” cried Pentlow, excitedly. ‘‘ Frank, you are ten times more sensible than Iam. I should never have thought of that.” ‘© It was in my mind from the first,” said Frank, ‘‘in fact, I had no idea you would find gold iu Katunda. The uses of gold contrary to popular belief ard history was known to but very few of the American Datives. The Aztecs, it is true, valued the metai. But many of these island tribes would have esteemed iron far more valuable.” ‘““ Well,” cried Pentlow, eagerly, ‘‘ why not go looking for these sun- ken ships at once?” ‘© We will do so,” replied Frank. So the Sea Mole was lifted from her sandy bed and sailed out of the sunken city. A circular course was taken about the sunken island gradually di- verging at each circle, A day was spent thus in the search. But it wags bound to be rewarded. Suddenly the voyagers spied an object in the path of the search light which caused a great shout to go up. ‘¢ There is one of them!’’ cried Pentlow. ‘Steer for it, Barney!” As the submarine boat drew nearer, the ribs and rotting keel of a vessel were seen imbedded in the sands. It was a thrilling moment. There was no doubt but that this was one of the six eunken pirates. The Sea Mole turned obliquely to the left, and there, not one hun- dred yards distant, another hulk was seen. One fourth of a mile from here two more were found close to- gether. These were quite well preserved. The other two vessels had rotted even with the bed of the ocean, and were found with diffi- culty. “Now,” said Frank, “ let us begin work with these two first ships. Get out the helmets, Barney.” ‘* Yis, sor!” ; In a few moments Frank and Barney and the professor were walk- ing on the bottom of the sea. They approached the two sunken bulks with somewhat queer sen- gations. The decks of both ships had fallen in, and the timbers of the hull . were extremely rotten and flimsy. But Frank crawled through an aperture into the hold of one of the ships. Here he saw a heap of stuff in one corner, which had fallen through the rotten timbers of the cabin deck above. He dashed his helmet light upon it, and then touched it with his oot. What had apparently been an iron chest fell in rusty particles about his feet. A heap of round and dim-looking coins fell out. Frank picked one of them up and struck the corrosion from it with his knife handle. It gleamed yellow and strong. There was no doubt of its charac- Ler. It was gold. Frank turned and pressed his helmet close to Pentlow’a. ‘‘ Here ia some of the pirates’ treasure!” he cried. ‘ There is no doubt of its quality, for they are Spanish doubloons.” The scientist was intensely excited. He knelt down aud began to gather up the coins. But at that moment®a heavy timber fell and struck his helmet, cutting a hole completely througk the metal. In a momeut he was drowning. SS CHAPTER X. A VERY NARROW ESCAPE, THE moment that the beam fell and struck Pentlow, Frank fore- saw the awful consequences. He knew that it would crush the hel- met, and that the scientist was likely to drown. He acted with in- stant rapidity. Forgetful of the treasure—forgetful of all else—he instantly caught Pentlow dy the shoulders. Barney, quick to act, seized him by the heels. It was only a question of time. All depended upon reaching the Sea Mole at once. Toward the boat the two divers rashed. Pomp saw them coming, and placed a finger upon the vestibule valve. Into the vestibule dashed Frank and Barney with their load. Pomp pressed the valve. | The next moment Frank held the rigid form of the professor over his pus Water gushed from the dying man’s nose, ears and moath. He was of course insensible, but the work of resuscitation was at once beguv. There was no time to lose. Gradually there came signs of returning life. ‘¢ We will save him!” cried Frank. ‘* Heaven be praised!” Right valiantly did they work over the scientist. Such persistent efforts triumphed, and he came to. ‘¢ Hurrah!” cried Frank. ‘‘ We’ve pulled you through, Pentlow, though it was a close rub.” Gradually the Professor recovered himself. however, before he was himself again. Then his first thought was of the treasure. ‘The gold,” he muttered, ‘‘ did you bring it aboard?” ‘* Indeed, no,” laughed Frank. ‘* We thought you of more conse- quence than the gold.” Pentlow saw the absurdity of the question and laughed also. ‘‘T ghall be all right soon,” he said confidently, ‘‘then we will re- turn for the gold.” It was some hours, however, before it was deemed safe for Pentlow to venture out again. Then preparations were once more made. In a short while they were once more at the wreck of the pirate ves- ee ate gold was conveyed in two strong sacks to the cabin of the ea Mole. The search was extended further, but no more could be found in the wreck of that ship. It was of course impossible to tell just what vessel this was. No trace of the crew or any other of their belongings remained. The second vessel was now invaded. This was in a little’better state of preservation than the other. Not so much gold was found in this ship. Frank computed ali when they got back to the Sea Mole. a There is aboat forty thousand dollars worth of gold in this lot!” he sald, ‘‘ Aumph! a mere pittancel” said the professor disappointedly; ‘¢ those pirates must have carried more than that!” ‘©T don’t know,” said Frank dubiously; ‘‘I have always found that the tales of pirates’ treasures are always gross exaggerations! Again It was some hours, @ great many pirates wuried or hid their fortunes on shore, This may account for il.” ‘‘ True enough!” agreed the professor. att oie there are four more wrecks to search.” ‘“ Yes.” ‘¢ Perhaps when we get through with them there will be a resnect- able sum.” ‘*T shall hope so. You see the treasure of Katunda proving such a sham has completely discouraged me.” ‘¢ J am sorry!” Pentlow saw the folly of his course and took matters more philo- sophically; from that time he abandoned discouragement. All were now exhausted and it was proposed to retire to rest before venturing out to search the four remaining wrecks. So Pomp being left on guard, all hands turned in. They slept soundly for eight hours; then they were astir again. The spirits of all were high when after a hearty meal the quest for gold was resumed. There was something exciting and exhilarating about the quest. All entered into it with great zest. The Sea Mole was now run alongside the third one of the sunken pirates. Of this ship, little was left above the sands, save some rotting ribs. Howover, work was begun with spades and scoops. The sand was thrown aside rapidly, and the keel was reached. The gearch was prosecuted thoroughly and for hours. The only result was the unearthing of a few hundred doubloona, all in rather a bad state. That there must have been more treasure aboard was a moral cer- tainty. But to find it seemed a physical impossibility. So, after a time, work was discontinued, and the fourth sunken ship was visited. This was well sunk in the sand, and but little was left of the tim- bers. Barney put his spade into the sand and turned up some of it. The result surprised all, for out from the sand there rulled a human skull. It was in a remarkable state of preservation, due no doubt to the fact that it had not been exposed to the action of the water. Frank took the skall up and examined it critically. He saw that it was of unusual size and must have belonged to one of the largest of the pirate crew. There was a seam along one side, as though the owner had at some time or other suffered a fracture, Barney turned up more sand but no more bones were found. However, his spade struck a hard substance. Digging around it a while, the divers were astonished to see re- vealed a specimen of old-fashioned cannon. It was so intensely rueted that a blow of the spade easily broke large sections out of it. But the divera were looking for gold and passed over these tri- fling discoveries. However, Frank preserved the skull, keeping it for a relic. Gradually the lower timbers of the vessel were uncovered. Then they began to find gold. GOMIIGIoOo GC SS (CO) >