The Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers Part 35

"We're in command of this fort now," said Jack, "and we're going to stay in possession. You and the rest of your pirates will have to stay outside. Also you will have to rustle your own grub. We need all we have in here. Don't make the mistake of trying to catch us napping.

We'll always be on guard, and you will find you are barking up the wrong tree. That's all. I'll give you five minutes to get out of range."

"So you've become pirates yourself, eh?" said Captain Jack, trying to keep his temper. "You steal our grub, and--"

"That's enough," said Jack, flouris.h.i.+ng his revolver. "Your five minutes are growing short."

Captain Jack shook a threatening fist at Jack Templeton.

"I'll go!" he shouted, "but I'll come back and when I do you are going to be the sorriest Englishman I ever saw. You can lay to that. You can't make a fool of Captain Jack and live."

"I couldn't make a fool of you," said Jack. "That job was done before I ever saw you. Now go!"

A moment longer Captain Jack hesitated; then, as Jack raised his revolver, he turned and strode away.

The remainder of the pirates followed their chief.

CHAPTER XXV

CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN JACK

"He's telling the truth," said Jack, as he withdrew his head and shut the window. "He'll be back, all right, but I don't believe he'll try it tonight."

"Why?" asked Captain Glenn.

"Because he will figure that is what we expect him to do. No, I believe we will be secure enough here to-night."

"That's pretty good reasoning, Jack," said Frank. "But we'll be ready for the pirates when they do come."

"Nevertheless, it would be well to sleep with one eye open, so to speak," said Williams.

"Oh, we'll stand guard," said Jack. "We will not lay ourselves open to surprise by all going to bed at the same time. To my mind the night should be divided into three watches, as should the day. There are six of us. That means four hours' guard duty apiece."

"That's reasonable enough," Frank agreed. "I'll take the first watch, if it's agreeable."

"Any way suits me," declared Captain Glenn.

"Then I'll pick you for second watch, Captain," said Jack. "I'll take the third. That will leave the day watch for Williams, Allen and Timothy."

Thus it was arranged. Frank began his watch at six o'clock that evening.

It was about an hour later when, as the others had gathered about them, Frank conceived a brilliant idea.

"By George!" he exclaimed suddenly.

"What's up?" asked Jack.

"Well," replied Frank, "I think I've got a plan that will save a lot of trouble."

"Let's hear it," said Williams.

"According to Jack's reasoning," said Frank, "we have little to fear from the pirates tonight."

"Right," said Jack. "What of it?"

"If your reasoning is good--and I believe it is," Frank continued, "why can't we make a sortie tonight and capture the estimable Captain Jack? That would settle the whole business. Pirates without a leader would be like a s.h.i.+p without a rudder. What do you think about it?"

Jack considered the plan carefully before vouchsafing a reply. At length he said:

"Your plan, Frank, has all the earmarks of being successful. I believe you have solved the problem."

"So do I," declared Williams.

"I'm not so sure," said Captain Glenn. "Of course, no one will dispute that Frank's plan will solve the solution if it is successfully carried out. But there's the trouble. Should it fail, chances are some of us wouldn't be good for anything more. Besides, it would leave a harder task for those who survived."

"' Nothing risked, nothing gained," said Frank.

"That's true enough," said Captain Glenn, "but--"

"There is no use arguing," declared Jack. "Time grows short. Either we adopt the plan or we don't. We'll put it to vote. Frank, of course, votes for the plan and so do I. How about you, Williams?"

"Aye, sir," was the reply.

"Good! That's three. One more vote and it's decided. How about you, Timothy?"

"I vote yes," returned the sailor.

"That settles it, then," said Jack. "Captain Glenn, you're in the minority."

"All right," said the captain. "I'll make the vote unanimous if Allen is agreeable."

"Suits me, sir," was the reply.

"As it's my plan," said Frank, "I ask to be allowed to lead the sortie. Some of us, of course, must stay here to protect the retreat of the others should they come back in a hurry."

"You're the doctor, Frank," said Jack.

"Very well. Then I elect to have you stay behind, Jack. Captain Glenn, Williams and I will do the work. You fellows who remain will be ready to admit us when we return."

"Trouble is," said Captain Glenn, "we don't know just where the pirates are encamped."

"I imagine we won't have much trouble finding out," said Frank.

"Then there is another thing," said Williams. "They may see us when we emerge from the stockade."

"I think not," said Frank. "First we will extinguish all lights. We can pa.s.s from the fort into the stockade, of course, without danger of being seen. Fortunately the night is dark. I am sure we can slip into the open un.o.bserved."