CHAPTER XI.

THE ISLAND—ON A REEF.

All night long Pomp had observed to leeward what he had regarded as a huge cloud bank.

But now, as daylight cleared away the mists, it was revealed as a very startling spectacle.

The cloud bank was extremely tangible, and was, in fact, nothing more nor less than a line of coast.

It extended for many leagues to the westward, and its rugged, high cliffs frowned most forbiddingly upon the heaving crests of the sea.

“Golly!” gasped the astonished darky, “dat jes’ beat me all out. I jes’ beliebe dat am an island.”

The darky rubbed his eyes to make sure that his vision was clear. Then he muttered:

“I’se gwine fo’ to call Marse Frank at once. It am drefful funny!”

The darky at once went rushing down into the cabin, shouting:

“Marse Frank, fo’ de lan’ ob massy sakes, cum quick! Wha’ yo’ fink we hab cum to, sah? It am lan’, sah, jes’ so suah as yo’ am bo’n!”

Frank, somewhat startled, sprang up and rushed out on deck.

He saw the state of affairs at once. Pomp was right.

“An island!” he gasped. “It is not on any chart. How very queer!”

Pomp’s cry had alarmed others of the crew. These now came rushing out to view the strange spectacle.

It was a forbidding coast, with rocky shores and high bluffs, against which the waves broke pitilessly.

So far as could be seen it furnished no harbor or refuge of any kind for a vessel. What its vegetable or animal life was it was not easy to guess.

A few waving pines were seen upon the cliffs, a few stunted trees of the deciduous order also.

“Well,” muttered Captain Uriah in a mystified way, “where are we? I never remember of a charted isle in these seas!”

“We have then made a discovery,” said Frank. “Perhaps an important one. Who knows?”

“Shall you go ashore?”

“I have a desire to; but first let us find the ship.”

“Let us christen the isle as long as we are the discoverers!” cried Stanhope.

“All right!” agreed Frank and the captain in one breath. “What shall it be?”

“We will call it Pearl Island, as it was discovered so near the valley of pearls.”

“Good!” cried Captain Uriah. “You have hit it.”

“Begorra, I wudn’t moind thryin a bit av a thramp on it mesilf,” said Barney. “Shure, me legs are sthiff from the lack av exercise on shore.”

“Golly, dat’s right, I’ish!” cried Pomp.

“Rest easy,” said Frank. “You shall have the chance. But first I must ease Captain Snow’s mind.”

“By no means,” protested the captain. “If it is the disposition of the party, we will visit the isle first.”

“No,” cried Stanhope; “it is more important that we should find the Belden first of all.”

Powerful glasses were brought into requisition, and the sea was scanned closely, but not the slightest speck could be seen.

It was reckoned that the Belden would be blown to the northeast, so it was decided to pursue the quest in that direction.

The Dolphin headed that way, which would carry it past the point of the island.

She had just got under headway and was leaving the isle to the eastward when a terrible thing occurred.

There was a sudden terrible jar, a jolt and a crash. Everybody on board was thrown from his feet.

The Dolphin was at a standstill.

It needed no further explanation to tell Frank Reade, Jr., the truth. He gained his feet and rushed to the rail.

The submarine boat had struck full head upon a reef!

She lay with the waves breaking over her bow.

How badly she was stove could not be seen.

Horror was upon the features of all as this dreadful realization burst upon them.

“My goodness!” cried Stanhope, in awful despair. “We are lost! This is the end of the Dolphin!”

“A sunken reef!” groaned Captain Uriah.

Frank Reade, Jr., said nothing. He was very pale but quite cool.

The Dolphin rocked and groaned some as the waves lifted her, and it was evident that the heavy sea would be most disastrous.

She must be got off at once or the result would indeed be serious.

Frank studied her position for some moments, and then said:

“Bring out the diving suit, Barney. I must make an examination.”

“Do you think she can be got off, Frank?” asked Stanhope.

“I cannot say yet.”

Barney hastened to bring up the diving suit. Frank put it on and then tied a rope around his waist.

By means of this he was lowered down into the water.

To the bottom he went, and at a point where he could see the position of the Dolphin well.

He carried a strong electric light in his helmet. With this he could see all objects about quite plain.

He carefully examined the position of the boat.

He saw that she rested upon a section of the jagged reef. The sharp rocks had punctured her outer shell near the bow, and she was held as in a vise.

Frank at once saw the futility of trying to draw her off.

Even if the power was at hand and could be employed, it would tear a terrible hole in her.

It certainly looked as if the Dolphin was a total loss.

A more disheartening reflection than this can hardly be imagined. Frank was quite discouraged.

However, he would not give up hope.

He continued his examination of the craft, and finally reached the conclusion that there was only one way in which the Dolphin could be saved.

It was a chance out of a hundred, but Frank decided to take it.

The section of reef had many cavities.

In the largest of these Frank believed a torpedo could be placed and exploded.

This would tear the reef to pieces and doubtless dislodge the Dolphin; but, of course, there was the chance of blowing a hole in her and instantly sinking her.

But even if she were safely dislodged, it was possible that the hole in her outer hull would cause her to take so much water that she would sink.

But the young inventor was determined to act, and accordingly sent up the signal to be drawn up.

In a few moments he was again on the deck of the Dolphin.

“Well, Frank, how is it?” cried Stanhope. “Are we lost or not?”

The young inventor shook his head.

“I cannot say yet,” he declared.

He sent Barney into the cabin for a torpedo. A wire was attached to it, and once more Frank put on his helmet.

Again he went over the rail and down under the keel of the Dolphin.

He selected what he considered a suitable spot, and placed the torpedo in it.

Then he signaled to be drawn up again, and soon was once more on the deck of the Dolphin.

Removing his helmet, Frank said:

“I am going to explode a torpedo under this boat. It may dislodge her and it may sink her. If any of you fear the consequences you may go ashore.”

“Is it the best thing to do, Frank?” asked Stanhope, anxiously.

“It is our only chance.”

There was a moment of silence.

Captain Uriah finally said:

“I believe in sticking to the ship!”

“So do I!” cried Stanhope.

“Begorra, it’s mesilf will niver go ashore,” said Barney.

“I reckon if de ole boat go down I jes’ go down wif it,” averred Pomp.

The sailors from the Belden were of the same opinion. So Frank at once made connection with the dynamo.

As the explosion would be under the bow, it was deemed best to get as far away as possible.

So all went to the stern.

Frank waited for a moment when the boat was steady in its rocking. Then he pressed the electric key.

There was a sudden shock, a muffled roar, and the Dolphin heaved and pitched violently.

Then a great column of water shot up abaft her bows, and she was perceptibly lifted and hurled back.

“Hurrah!” cried Frank, with the wildest of joy. “She is off the reef!”

The others gave a great cheer. It was too good to believe.

But it was the truth, just the same. The Dolphin was off the reef.

Frank sprang into the pilot-house and pressed the motive lever. She backed away, and answered her helm readily.

For a moment the spirits of the voyagers were indeed high.

But as a thrilling event proved, this was premature.

Suddenly the Dolphin began to rock strangely, and a dull gurgling was heard under her bow.

Frank ran to the companionway that led down into her hold, and listened intently.

When he turned about his face was deadly pale.

“My God!” he gasped. “The Dolphin is doomed!”

“What!” cried Stanhope, in alarm. “Is she sinking?”

“She is making water fast!”

Consternation most profound seized the voyagers.

What did the future hold for them?

Luckily they were near land. But to be cast away upon a desert isle in this part of the world was by no means a pleasant thing.

The Dolphin was sinking beyond a doubt.

“What shall we do?” cried Stanhope. “Shall we leave her, Frank?”

For one swift moment the young inventor had thought of this. But now another plan came to him.

If the boat sank in that spot he knew she could never be redeemed. He looked toward the shore.

There was a little sandy strip of beach in a small cove.

Frank instantly seized the wheel. She would yet answer this, and he pressed the motive lever.

The Dolphin shot forward, headed directly for the island shore.