The Motor Boys Under the Sea; or, From Airship to Submarine

CHAPTER XXX
HOMEWARD BOUND

Trembling, blinking in the strong light, which must have hurt their eyes after spending so much time in the dimness of their cabins, the two old Germans were again summoned to the deck. Jerry gently explained to them what had happened. The old men seemed greatly startled, and spoke rapidly together in their strange language. Then, at Jerry’s request, they called in the direction of the island.

There was no response. A megaphone was made of some cardboard, and that was given to them. But though they shouted again and again the name of the unfortunate commander, adding what was assumed to be assurances that he would be well cared for, there was no answer.

“I guess he doesn’t want to come back,” remarked Jerry.

“But what are we to do?” asked Ned. “This is his boat and——”

“It’s going to be ours long enough for us to get back to Boston,” declared Jerry, firmly. “Then Dr. Klauss can claim it—if he likes.”

“I almost wish we could keep it,” sighed Ned. “I’m beginning to like this under-water travel.”

“Do you mean to go off and leave him on the island?” asked Bob.

“What else can we do?” responded his tall chum. “He won’t come when we call. And, as a matter of fact, it looks as though one could live on that island for some time. There is plenty of fruit, and probably birds he can snare. Besides, he can make some sort of a signal, and a passing ship will take him off. We owe it to ourselves, and to our friends and families, not to stay here any longer than we have to.”

“I think that is so,” assented Mr. Sheldon, after some thought.

They explained matters to the old Germans, who agreed that Dr. Klauss was not entitled to further consideration. On their part, they said, they had had enough of him, and wanted to go back to their Fatherland. They related briefly that they had been fellow scientific workers with Dr. Klauss, who had asked them to make the submarine trip with him to get valuable data. But they had had enough.

“Then we’ll start for home!” decided Jerry.

They remained at the surface for some hours, to allow a few repairs to be made, to get rid of the last of the chlorine gas, and with the faint hope that Dr. Klauss might consent to be rescued. But he did not show himself. Everything was in readiness for the start.

Slowly the Sonderbaar, with her crazed commander absent, sank beneath the waves.

“Homeward bound!” exclaimed Jerry with a sigh of relief.

“And I’m going to cook a dandy meal!” cried Bob, whereat the others laughed. It was really the first meal they expected to eat with calm minds, for even with Dr. Klauss in chains there was a constant worry. Now he was gone.

“I say, Uncle Nelson, can’t you tell us that secret now?” asked Bob that evening, when they were speeding homeward a short distance below the surface. “What was it you were bringing from Germany?”

Mr. Sheldon opened a case that he took from his pocket. There was a flash of light, and he held up to view a magnificent diamond necklace.

“This!” exclaimed Bob’s uncle. “It is an heirloom that our family has long been trying to get. It has been stolen several times, and there was a legal tangle as to the real owner. Finally I came into possession of facts that proved my right to it—or, rather the right of myself and your mother, Bob, and I went to Germany to prosecute the case.

“The odd part of it was that a German family also claimed the necklace, and, had the case gone against me, Dr. Klauss would have had a share in these jewels.”

“Dr. Klauss!” cried Jerry.

“Yes. And when I won the suit, and the necklace was awarded to me, the doctor vowed to get it back. He did not know that I actually had it, being only told that it had gone to an American. That is why I did not want to mention it while he was aboard. He would have had a double reason for hating me—and all of us. But it is safe now, and I hope soon to be at home with this fortune in diamonds.”

“Well, that’s one mystery cleared up,” remarked Bob, while, Grace, with shining eyes, tried on the gorgeous necklace.

“Yes, and if we could get back our Comet, and rescue the old sailor on the Hassen, we’d clear up the other two,” spoke Ned.

“Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to build another Comet,” came from Jerry.

I will not tire you with a description of the voyage home. Sufficient to say that it was made, without accident, though once, when in deep water, a gigantic shark tried to ram the boat. But it was killed with the electric bomb gun, as the whale had been.

The boys and the three machinists were able to run the submarine to their entire satisfaction. After the first few days Jerry and his chums ran it alone, to get the experience. They also halted once, went to the bottom, and donned diving suits, for the professor wanted to get a few more specimens. He secured some rare ones.

“Oh, this has been a most fortunate trip for me!” he cried, with enthusiasm.

And finally the Sonderbaar entered Boston Harbor, creating no end of excitement. Great crowds watched her, and when her story was known the excitement increased. The boys were overwhelmed by reporters.

“But before we tell anything let them tell us if the old sailor was saved, and whether our airship was picked up,” stipulated Jerry.

“I can tell you about that,” volunteered an old reporter. “I had the story of both. Your airship was picked up, badly damaged, but in the main intact. Everyone supposed you were all drowned.”

“No wonder!” cried Bob. “We must send off telegrams at once to our folks.”

After this was done, and the safety of Mr. Sheldon and Grace told of to Bob’s mother, the newspaper men again begged for particulars of the remarkable voyage.

“First tell us—was that old sailor saved?” asked Ned.

“You mean the one on the Hassen?” queried a reporter. “He was—a few days after you left him. He was picked up, the vessel towed to this harbor, and he got big salvage money. Most of the passengers and crew were also saved.”

“Good!” cried Jerry. “Now give ’em our yarn, boys.”

And that it was a “yarn” well worth telling may well be believed. Columns of it were printed.

“Oh! what a time we’ve had!” cried Jerry, when he and his chums finally reached home, and were received by their tearful parents, who had almost given up hope.

“Yes, it was tough part of the time, but I’m not sorry we went through it,” spoke Ned. “I only wish we could get that submarine—or one like it—and make other trips.”

“Well, we’ll be sure to do something more—soon,” said Bob. “We’ve got to keep active!”

“Indeed—you’ll do nothing more for a long while!” cried his mother.

But the boys were destined for other adventures, and what they were will be related in the next volume of this series, to be called “The Motor Boys on Road and River; Or, Racing to Save a Life.”

The two elderly Germans left the submarine as soon as it was docked in Boston Harbor. They said they were going back to their native land. They had had enough of under-water life, they declared.

The boys watched the papers eagerly for news of Dr. Klauss, nor was it long in coming. A small steamer, passing near the lonely island, stopped for water. There they found the body of the unfortunate man. He had died from natural causes, it seemed—probably from some ailment that may have affected his mind. He was decently buried, and a stone cairn marked his grave.

“Poor Dr. Klauss,” murmured Jerry. “I wonder who will get his submarine now?”

“Why can’t we make a bid for it?” asked Ned, eagerly. “Probably his family—if he has one—will be glad to sell it. And it’s over here now. Let’s see if we can’t buy her.”

“Say, if we only could!” cried Bob, all enthusiasm now. “I never saw a better place for cooking meals!”

“Or for having things happen!” added Jerry. And so, thus planning for more thrilling adventures, we will take leave of the Motor Boys.

THE END

America’s most famous dessert

THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES

By CLARENCE YOUNG

12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid

• THE MOTOR BOYS
  or Chums Through Thick and Thin
• THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
  or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune
• THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO
  or The Secret of the Buried City
• THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS
  or The Hermit of Lost Lake
• THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT
  or The Cruise of the Dartaway
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC
  or The Mystery of the Lighthouse
• THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS
  or Lost in a Floating Forest
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
  or The Young Derelict Hunters
• THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS
  or A Trip for Fame and Fortune
• THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES
  or A Mystery of the Air
• THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN
  or A Marvelous Rescue in Mid-Air
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING
  or Seeking the Airship Treasure
• THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE
  or The Hut on Snake Island
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER
  or Sixty Nuggets of Gold
• THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA
  or From Airship to Submarine
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER
  or Racing to Save a Life
• THE MOTOR BOYS AT BOXWOOD HALL
  or Ned, Bob and Jerry as Freshmen
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON A RANCH
  or Ned, Bob and Jerry Among the Cowboys
• THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY
  or Ned, Bob and Jerry as Volunteers
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE FIRING LINE
  or Ned, Bob and Jerry Fighting for Uncle Sam
• THE MOTOR BOYS BOUND FOR HOME
  or Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Wrecked Troopship
• THE MOTOR BOYS ON THUNDER MOUNTAIN
  or The Treasure Box of Blue Rock

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers      New York

THE BOB DEXTER SERIES

By WILLARD F. BAKER

12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors

Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid

This is a new line of stories for boys, by the author of the Boy Ranchers series. The Bob Dexter books are of the character that may be called detective stories, yet they are without the objectionable features of the impossible characters and absurd situations that mark so many of the books in that class. These stories deal with the up-to-date adventures of a normal, healthy lad who has a great desire to solve mysteries.

1. BOB DEXTER AND THE CLUB-HOUSE MYSTERY
   or The Missing Golden Eagle

   This story tells how the Boys’ Athletic Club was despoiled of its trophies in a strange manner, and how, among other things stolen, was the Golden Eagle mascot. How Bob Dexter turned himself into an amateur detective and found not only the mascot, but who had taken it, makes interesting and exciting reading.

2. BOB DEXTER AND THE BEACON BEACH MYSTERY
   or The Wreck of the Sea Hawk

   When Bob and his chum went to Beacon Beach for their summer vacation, they were plunged, almost at once, into a strange series of events, not the least of which was the sinking of the Sea Hawk. How some men tried to get the treasure off the sunken vessel, and how Bob and his chum foiled them, and learned the secret of the lighthouse, form a great story.

3. BOB DEXTER AND THE STORM MOUNTAIN MYSTERY
   or The Secret of the Log Cabin

   Bob Dexter came upon a man mysteriously injured and befriended him. This led the young detective into the swirling midst of a series of strange events and into the companionship of strange persons, not the least of whom was the man with the wooden leg. But Bob got the best of this vindictive individual, and solved the mystery of the log cabin, showing his friends how the secret entrance to the house was accomplished.

Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PUBLISHERS      New York

THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES

By LESTER CHADWICK

12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid

1. BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS
   or The Rivals of Riverside

   Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to play baseball and particularly to pitch.

2. BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE
   or Pitching for the Blue Banner

   Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding school and play on the school team.

3. BASEBALL JOE AT YALE
   or Pitching for the College Championship

   In his second year at Yale Joe becomes a varsity pitcher.

4. BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE
   or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher

   From Yale College to a baseball league of our Central States.

5. BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE
   or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles

   From the Central League Joe goes to the St. Louis Nationals.

6. BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS
   or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis

   Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay.

7. BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES
   or Pitching for the Championship

   What Joe did to win the series will thrill the most jaded reader.

8. BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD
   or Pitching on a Grand Tour

   The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world.

9. BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING
   or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record

   Joe becomes the greatest batter in the game.

10. BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE
    or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy

    Throwing the game meant a fortune but also dishonor.

11. BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM
    or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond

    Joe is elevated to the position of captain.

12. BASEBALL JOE CHAMPION OF THE LEAGUE
    or The Record that was Worth While

    A plot is hatched to put Joe’s pitching arm out of commission.

13. BASEBALL JOE CLUB OWNER
    or Putting the Home Town on the Map

    Joe developes muscle weakness and is ordered off the field for a year.

Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers      New York