The Pirate Shark

as standing out into the reef-strewn South China S

had given Mart and Bob some practical lessons in dressing up in the cumbersome water-tight outfit, and in working the pumps. In t

in across his face, and got up to hang a towel across the open port, in order not to exclude the fresh

e stood for a moment gazing out at the moonlit sea, he heard the deep voice of th

p a sharp eye on that chart. Sou'

rous waters, but the yacht had a splendid outfit of charts and there was no danger for he

oice of his chum excite

so the wireless operator reflected that there must be "something doing."

Holly? Why, it's

med Bob. "Dad's up there-Joe Swanson came an'

manded Mart vigorously. "We a

l, so mebbe he's had another scrap. I heard dad tell him to call all ha

, and now they scrambled hastily up to the bridge deck, where they found everyone but the engine-room crew assembled

ollinger was seated at the table, but merely glanced at them with

e looked queer. "He was all right at eight bells, sir. Borden was at the whe

the captain quietly. "You may

nxious to know what had happened, but at sight of Captain Hollinge

came in, ducking hi

ee Mr. Peters, Birch

he was goin' below for a drink, but he

nothing s

in',

was on t

rtermast

in here. Y

ther's eyes, hardly able to believe what

Birch leave the wh

n't off the bri

s on the old seaman. "Look here, Jerry. What do you th

at the open door. Swanson

r. Take Birch there-he's threatened Mr. Peters' life before now, sir, but that's no more'n fo'c'sle talk, sir, as you know very well. No, sir, I think that Mr

t aboard her, nor had there been any sign of struggle. Remembering the scene which they had witnessed between Peters and Birch, Mart immediately suspected the one-eyed seaman, while Swan

on deck for a breath of air shortly after six bells and had seen Peters standing by the stern rail, looking down at the swirlin

ng gloomily. "Poor Peters must have either committed suicide, or else he fell overb

te. Later on that morning, when all hope had been given up, Bob and Mart sat in the wireless house and talked over the matte

ng pretty square, and Swanson didn't overlook anything either. Joe is

ways. Still, there's no doubt that Birch was innocent. I shouldn't wonder if Liverpool got moonstruck and j

s house. Jerry entered, ducked his head in silent greeting, and said nothing for some moments. After his pipe was f

wn below, lads, and us up above. Fish tell no tale

he bleary blue eyes to meet his. "I'd like to know just how much stock to take in your talk.

urprised into making some admission. Bob, also, while no little astonished at his chum's

slight widening of his blue eyes as they met the hard gray ones of Mart. When h

und to talk. Only fish tell no tales, lads. Aye, the old Coralie was a sweet little schooner, she was! But that was all years ago

d gazed calmly out at the ocean. This cool reception of his bomb was dismaying

Shark Smith, Jerry?"

s wrinkled old face lost its gently benignant expression as his firm mouth snapped shut on his pipe. This was not the first time the boys had seen that swift

did that! How come you to learn that

laughed Mart carelessly.

d again, tapped down his

ll tell you. You mind me tellin' you a

is questioning

two of our men, he did, and I been chasing him ever since, lads. I'm goin' to get him, an' I'm goin' to lay him out where he won't kill no more men, lads. My ma

denly. He thought he un

he cried accusingly. "You lied to Captain Holli

ies, lad. That river has gold in it all right. I'm goin' to get the Pirate Shark, and t

y wrong. It lay plain before him now-the Pirate Shark had killed two of Jerry's shipmates, years before, and ever since that time the old quarte

red after Jerry had slouched away below ag

s right. We were foolish to suspect old Jerry. He'

in the head, Holly, but that's about all. Did you notice that

well, Mart. I s'pose she was a pretty tough craft, like most of 'em were in the old days, and prob'ly she did a little pirating on the si

uare. I guess there's no doubt that poor Liverpool fell overboard, either. But if Jerry got tha

t up suddenly, looking at M

tigers, an' when he gets back we'll

agreed Bob,

y have greeted the prospect with such unalloyed delight. For old