The Wizard of the Sea
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THE WIZARD OF THE SEA
or
A Trip Under the Ocean
by
ROY ROCKWOOD
Author of "A Schoolboy's Pluck," Etc.
[Illustration]
A. L. Burt Company, Publishers
New York
Copyright, 1900
by
The Mershon Company
[Illustration: IN FRONT OF HIM WAS A HUGE OCTOPUS. P. 112.]
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCING OUR HEROES. 1
II. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. 8
III. THE GREAT FIGHT. 14
IV. ON THE ROAD. 20
V. HOKE UMMER'S TREACHERY. 26
VI. OUT ON THE BAY. 32
VII. A LIVELY ENCOUNTER. 46
VIII. MONT IS PUNISHED. 51
IX. DOCTOR HOMER WODDLE. 55
X. THE SUBMARINE TERROR. 61
XI. ON THE BACK OF THE MONSTER. 67
XII. INSIDE OF THE "SEARCHER." 74
XIII. THE OWNER OF THE SUBMARINE MONSTER. 81
XIV. THE ATTACK. 86
XV. PRISONERS. 91
XVI. THE MYSTERIES OF THE "SEARCHER." 98
XVII. THE DEVIL FISH. 106
XVIII. MONT IS LOST. 113
XIX. MONT'S PERIL. 120
XX. THE WRECKS. 128
XXI. ON LAND ONCE MORE. 132
XXII. FIGHTING THE SAVAGES. 141
XXIII. ELECTRIFYING THE SAVAGES. 149
XXIV. A PEARL WORTH A FORTUNE. 159
XXV. THE MAN OF MYSTERY. 169
XXVI. THROUGH THE EARTH. 177
XXVII. THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION. 183
THE WIZARD OF THE SEA.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCING OUR HEROES.
"Hip, hurrah! Hip, hurrah!"
"Well, I declare; Mont Folsom, what is the matter with you?"
"Matter? Nothing is the matter, Tom, only I'm going to a boarding
school--just the best place on the face of the earth, too--Nautical
Hall, on the seacoast."
"Humph! I didn't know as how a boarding school was such a jolly place,"
grumbled old Tom Barnstable. "They'll cane ye well if ye git into
mischief, lad."
"Will they, Tom? What for? I never do any wrong," and Mont Folsom put on
a very sober face.
"Jest to hear the lad! Never do no mischief! Ha! ha! Why you're the
wust boy in the town fer mischief, Mont--an' everybody knows it. A
nautical school, did ye say. Maybe they'll take ye out in a ship some
time in that case."
"They do take the pupils out--every summer, so Carl Barnaby was telling
me. He goes there, you know, and so does Link Harmer."
"Then you an' Carl will make a team--an' Heaven help the folks as comes
in your way," added Tom Barnstable decidedly.
"But we are not so bad, I tell you, Tom," said Mont, but with a sly
twinkle in his bright eyes.
"Oh, no, not at all. But jest you tell me who drove the cow into Squire
Borden's dining room and who stuffed the musical instruments of the
brass band with sawdust at the Fourth of July celebration? You never do
anything, you little innocent lamb!"
And with a loud guffaw the old character sauntered down the street
toward his favorite resort, the general store.
Montrose Folsom continued on his way. He was a handsome youth of
fifteen, tall and square-shouldered, with a taking way about him that
had made him a host of friends. He was the only son of Mrs. Alice
Folsom, a rich widow.
A moment after leaving Tom Barnstable, Mont reached the home of his
particular chum, Lincoln Harmer. Throwing open the gate, he espied Link
in the barnyard, and made a rush forward.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
"That settles it, Mont, you're going with me next term!" exclaimed Link,
a bright fellow of our hero's age.
"If I wasn't I'd sing a dirge instead of shouting, Link. Yes, it's all
settled, and I'll be ready to start with you Monday."
"Your mother has written to Captain Hooper?"
"Yes, and got word back in to-day's mail."
"Good!"
"I'm to buy a lot of things down to Carley's store and then go home and
start to pack up. Come on."
Arm in arm, the two chums made their way to the large general store,
where Tom Barnstable was again encountered. Here Mont purchased some
extra underclothing his mother said he needed. While he was at this Tom
Barnstable came close to him.
"When are ye goin' away?" he asked.
"Monday morning, six o'clock."
"Don't fergit the old man, Mont. We've had lots of good times--fishin'
an' huntin', ye know."
That was Tom Barnstable, good-natured and willing to do, but an absolute
beggar at the slightest chance.
"I won't forget you, Tom, not I," said the merry-hearted lad. "Here you
are," and he slipped a shining dollar into the man's hand. A moment
later he called one of the store clerks aside.
"Have you any of those April-fool cigars left?" he whispered.
"Yes--just four."
"I'll take them."
The cigars bought and paid for, the boy put three of them in an inside
pocket and then turned the fourth over to Tom Barnstable.
"Here, Tom, put the pipe away and have a real Havana to celebrate the
parting," he said, and the old man immediately did as requested.
The cigar burnt all right for just half a minute. Then something began
to bulge at the end. It kept growing larger and larger, forming into
what is called a Pharaoh's serpent, three or four feet long.
Tom Barnstable's eyes began to blaze. He stared at Mont wildly.
"Who--what--what is that?" he stammered. "Great Scott! I've got 'em!"
And, dashing the weed to the floor, he rushed from the country store,
with the boys' laugh ringing in his ears.
"He'll remember you now, no doubt of that!" said Link merrily.
The day was Saturday, and it was a busy one for both Mont and Link, with
packing trunks and bags, and getting ready otherwise.
The Sabbath passed quietly enough, and five o'clock Monday morning found
the two boys on their way to Nautical Hall.
The run of the train was to New York, and here they fell in with their
mutual chum, Carl Barnaby, a rich young fellow from their town, and
several others who will be introduced as our story progresses.
From the Metropolis the boys took another train directly for the
seacoast. At Pemberton they had to change cars, and here they met
several more scholars of Nautical Hall.
"There is Ike Brosnan and Hoke Ummer!" cried Link. "Two of our fellows."
The newcomers were quickly introduced. Ike Brosnan looked a whole-souled
fellow and full of fun. Hoke Ummer, on the other hand, seemed of a
decidedly sour turn of mind.
"Hoke is a good deal of a bully," whispered Link, later on. "You want to
steer clear of him."
"Thanks; he'll not step on my toes," returned Mont firmly. "The first
man who tries to haze or bully me will get his fingers burnt."
"Oh, the boys will be sure to want a little fun. You mustn't be too
particular."
"I don't mean that--I mean they mustn't go too far," replied Mont.
Little did he dream of all the hazings and larks to be played ere that
school term should be over.
The journey to the seacoast was devoid of any special incident. The ride
on the train was magnificent, and all enjoyed it thoroughly.
Towards nightfall a landing was made not many miles from Eagle Point.
Here at the dock a long stage was in waiting to take them to the Hall.
The four boys, along with a dozen others, got aboard, and they moved off
rapidly for Nautical Hall, two miles distant.
CHAPTER II.
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
Nautical Hall was a large building of brick, stone, and wood situated at
the top of a small hill. In front was a level parade ground, and to one
side the grounds sloped down to the edge of a small bay, while at the
other they were flanked by a heavy wood.
The institution was owned and managed by Captain Hooper, an ex-army and
-navy officer, who looked to the military drill of the boys and left the
educational department to an able corps of assistants. With the
assistants and the gallant captain himself we will become better
acquainted as our tale proceeds.
Mont soon became acquainted with nearly all of the one hundred and odd
boys who attended Nautical Hall, and became the leader of a set composed
of himself, Link Harmer, Barry Powell, another lively lad, Carl Barnaby,
his old-time chum, Piggy Mumps, a fat youth, and Sam Schump, a German
pupil, as good-natured as can possibly be imagined.
As soon as the boys arrived they were assigned to their places. Mont was
put in the room with the crowd above mentioned. This room connected with
another, in which were installed the bully, Hoke Ummer; Bill Goul, his
toady, and half a dozen of the bully's cronies.
"This room will get into a free fight with that gang some day," was
Barry Powell's comment, after Schump, the German boy, had related how
the bully had treated him.
"Dot's it, mine gracious," replied Sam Schump. "Ve vill git togedder an'
show dem vot ve can do, aint it!"
Several days were spent in getting ready for the term. Mont was placed
in the first class, with twenty others, and he was likewise put in an
awkward squad to learn the steps and manual of arms, for the boys had
regular military and naval exercises.
As luck would have it, our hero was placed under one of the assistant
teachers, and fared very well, but poor Piggy Mumps was put in a squad
under Hoke Ummer, who did all he could to make the fat boy miserable.
"Eyes right! Eyes left! Front!" shouted Hoke. "Why don't you mind, you
clown!" he added to poor Piggy, who was in a sweat to do as ordered.
"Vot you say, eyes right an' den eyes left, ven da vos right?" asked
Piggy innocently.
"Silence! Eyes right! Eyes left! You clown, can't you twist your eyes,
or are you too fat?" roared Hoke.
"Ton't vos call me a clown, you--you unchentlemanly poy!" cried Piggy
wrathfully, when without warning Hoke fell upon him and hit him a blow
on the neck.
This was too much for Piggy, and he ran out of the line and closed with
the bully. But he was no match for the big boy, and Piggy would have
been severely punished had not Hoke been caught by the shoulder and
hurled backward against a wall.
"Let him alone!" came in the voice of Mont. "You have no right to touch
him, Hoke Ummer."
"Haven't I, though?" sneered the bully. "Do you suppose I'm going to be
made a fool of by a lump of fat like that? You clear out, or I'll give
you a dose, too!"
"You can try it on any time you please," replied our hero quietly.
"A fight! A fight!" exclaimed half a dozen at once, and the awkward
squad was broken up on the instant.
"A fight?" repeated the bully. "He'll get a thrashing--that's all it
will amount to. Come on down to the woods if you want to have it out."
"I'm willing to meet you," returned Mont, and started along, followed by
Piggy, Link, and a dozen others.
But scarcely had the boys gone a rod before the belfry bell rang out
loudly five times.
That was the signal for assembly on the parade grounds.
"Hullo, we can't go now!" cried Link. "Boys, you'll have to postpone
that mill till later."
"I'll meet you after assembly," growled Hoke Ummer, under his breath,
as Captain Hooper put in an appearance.
"I'll be ready any time," rejoined our hero.
"Boys, we are to have visitors in fifteen minutes!" shouted out Captain
Hooper. "Attention! The captains will form their companies on the campus
and a salute will be fired as the visitors enter the grounds."
Orders were quickly passed, and inside of five minutes the boy cadets
were drawn up in long lines, with the officers of the two companies in
their proper places.
The visitors were old friends of the captain who had come to the Hall
merely out of curiosity. As their carriages approached, a cannon was run
out, and Link and several others were detailed to fire it off.
Link chose Mont to assist, and before long all was in readiness to touch
her off.
"Here they come!" shouted somebody.
"Stand ready to fire!" sang out Captain Hooper, in true military style.
"Steady, boys, now--I expect all to make the best possible appearance.
Fire!"
Link touched the cannon off, while our hero and several others stood
close at hand.
Bang!
The report was terrific. The old cannon was overcharged, and was blown
into a thousand pieces, which flew in all directions.
Both Link and Mont were hurled flat, and while the former was seen to
stagger up again, our hero lay as one dead!
CHAPTER III.
THE GREAT FIGHT.
"He is dead!"
"Run for the doctor!"
"A piece struck me, too!"
"The cannon must have been overloaded!"
Such were some of the cries which went up after the awful explosion.
Captain Hooper stood close at hand, and instantly went to our hero's
assistance.
He caught the youth up in his arms and carried him to a shady spot.
"Bring some water," he commanded, but water was already at hand. With it
he bathed Mont's head.
For a minute there was an intense silence. Then, with a quiver, the lad
opened his eyes.
"Wha--what---- Did the cannon burst?" he asked feebly.
"Hurrah! He's all right!" shouted Link joyfully, and inside of five
minutes more Mont stood up and gazed about him in wonder.
But he was too weak to take part in the review, and while this went on
sat in a rustic chair under the oak tree, with several of the lady
visitors by his side.
The reception to the guests over, the cadets were dismissed, and the
crowd lost no time in dispersing.
Link remained with his chum, and both walked towards the lake.
"How do you feel?" asked Link anxiously.
"Rather faint in the legs, to tell the truth," was the reply. "But I
guess I'll soon get over it."
"Ready to do that fighting?" demanded a rough voice at their elbow, and
Hoke Ummer ranged up at their side.
"For shame, Hoke, Mont isn't in condition, and you know it," said Link.
"Oh, nonsense!" growled the bully. "That cannon affair was only a fake.
He wasn't hurt a bit."
This remark angered our hero, and, stepping up, he faced the bully
defiantly.
"I will fight you whenever you say," he said stoutly.
A boy standing near heard the remark, and the news spread like magic.
"A fight between Hoke and Mont. Come on down to the woods."
The schoolboy cadets needed no second invitation. A score started from
the campus instantly.
They were about evenly divided as to who would win.
The bully was known to be heavy and strong.
Yet our hero had shown lots of pluck.
In a corner of the grounds, shut out from view from the school windows
by a belt of trees, the boys assembled to witness the conflict.
Mont prepared for the encounter, assisted by Link.
Ummer, satisfied of an easy victory, placed himself in the hands of his
toady and backer, Bill Goul.
When the combatants were declared ready they faced each other.
As Hoke looked into the unflinching eyes of his opponent the smile of
satisfaction he had worn for the past few hours suddenly faded.
He could see he must do his best to win.
"But I'll mash him, see if I don't," he said to his toadies.
"That's right, Hoke!"
"Show him what you can do."
Mont said nothing.
"He's a tough one," whispered Link. "Beware of a foul."
"I'll have my eyes open."
The boys took off their coats and vests.
A ring was formed and our hero and the bully got into position.
"Time!" cried one of the older boys, and the great fight began.
At first Mont was cautious, for he wanted to take his opponent's
measure, so to speak.
Sure of victory, the bully rushed at him, and aimed a blow at Mont's
nose.
Our hero ducked, and Hoke's fist only sawed the air.
"That was a clean duck."
"Land him one, Hoke!"
"Go for him, Folsom!"
Around and around the ring went the two boys.
Then the bully aimed another blow at our hero.
As quick as a flash our hero warded it off.
Then out shot his fist, and the bully of Nautical Hall got a crashing
blow in the chin that knocked him clean off his feet.
What a yell went up!
"Hoke is knocked out!"
"Did you ever see such a blow?"
Wild with rage, the bully was assisted to his feet by several friends.
The blood flowed from his chin and from a cut lip.
"I'll show you yet!" he hissed, and again went at Mont.
But our hero was cool and collected, while the bully was excited.
The bully got in one little body blow, but that was all, while our hero
fairly played all over his face.
"Better give it up, Hoke!"
"You are outclassed against Mont Folsom!"
"Let me be!" howled the bully.
With every blow that our hero delivered Ummer's anger increased.
His reputation, he felt, was at stake.
If he was beaten that would be the end of him, so far as bossing the
boys was concerned.
At last Mont hit him a stinging blow on the ear that caused him to roll
over and over.
CHAPTER IV.
ON THE ROAD.
The bully was knocked out completely, and had to acknowledge Mont the
victor of the encounter.
This he did with very bad grace, and a minute later sneaked off with his
toady.
"I'll get even for that," he growled. "He'll be sorry he ever tackled
me."
"You'll have to watch Hoke Ummer," said Link, some time later, when the
crowd had dispersed. "He is a treacherous fellow."
"I'll have my eyes open," returned our hero.
Yet little did he dream of the dastardly way in which the bully would
try to get even.
It did not take Mont long to settle down at Nautical Hall. The fight had
made him many friends, and established him as a sort of leader among a
certain set.
On the following Saturday Link proposed that he, Barry Powell, and Mont
take a stroll down to the village.
The others were willing, and soon the party was on the way.
"I'll get some stuff for a midnight feast while I am at it," said Mont.
Soon the school was left behind, and they came out on the village
highway.
"Hark!" cried Barry suddenly.
"What is it?" demanded Mont.
Barry was listening intently to a dull, heavy tramping sound, which was
wafted faintly toward them on the breeze.
"Do you hear that?" he asked excitedly.
Link and Mont listened, and could distinctly hear a low thud, thud, thud
in the distance.
"What does it mean?" Link asked.
"It means that a pair of ponies, or horses, have run away, and are
coming along at a tearing gallop."
As if in corroboration of Barry's words, at that moment a light phaeton,
drawn by two high-spirited ponies, which were pounding along at the top
of their speed, burst round the bend of the road.
The vehicle was rocking from side to side, and every moment threatened
to hurl it into one of the deep ditches which lined the road.
As the boys gazed at the approaching carriage Mont's heart seemed to
stand still.
"Fellows!" he cried, "there is someone in the phaeton--a lady, I
believe."
"So there is!" gasped Link, in tones of horror. "What shall we do?"
"We must stop them."
With his face whiter than usual, and his lips tightly compressed, our
hero ran down the road.
"He is courting death," said his chum, beneath his breath, "but we may
be of some use."
And both started after their companion.
Mont was running at the top of his speed, for he saw that the occupant
of the carriage was only a young girl, and utterly helpless, and that
every second's delay endangered her life.
On and on he went, until he was within a score of yards of the maddened
steeds.
Then he planted himself firmly in the middle of the road and prepared
for a spring.
Fiercely the ponies dashed onward.
Nearer and nearer they came, until it seemed they must inevitably
trample him beneath their iron-shod hoofs.
But our hero never wavered.
Motionless he crouched there until the end of the pole almost touched
his cheek.
Then he leaped up and caught both the bridles in his strong, nervous
grip.
The ponies, with loud whinnies of rage, tossed up their heads and lifted
him from his feet, but he clung tenaciously to them.
They dragged him along the ground for a few yards, and then their speed
began to slacken.
Link now came up, and the vicious little brutes were brought to a
standstill.
Then Mont, thoroughly exhausted, sank in a heap upon the ground.
As soon as the carriage was stopped in its wild career, a fair and
beautiful girl sprang out.
"Oh, is he very much hurt?" she cried, as she raised her clasped hands
in despair.
Our hero staggered to his feet, and as he gazed on the fairy-like form
and sweet, delicate face his cheeks flushed and his heart beat quickly.
"I am not hurt at all," he said stoutly, although his arms and legs and
every portion of his body ached as though he had been upon the rack.
"How can I thank you?" she exclaimed. "If it had not been for you, I
shudder to think what might have happened. You saved my life."
At this praise our hero blushed more than ever.
"I require no thanks," he said. "I am rewarded enough by knowing I have
been of some service to you, but I think you are scarcely strong enough
to be trusted with such high-spirited animals."
"My father would never have thought of such a thing," she replied. "He
alighted at a cottage to visit one of his old friends, and while he was
inside the ponies bolted. But here he comes, and I know he will be
better able to thank you than I am."
She pointed to the figure of a tall, elderly gentleman, of upright
carriage and aristocratic bearing, who was coming up the road at a rapid
pace.
"It's Judge Moore," whispered Link; "he owns a fine place a couple of
miles from here."
In another moment our hero found himself being presented to the judge,
who overwhelmed him with praise.
"You must come and dine with us, you and your friends," said the judge;
"there will only be myself and my daughter Alice. Nay, you must make no
excuses. I shall call upon Captain Hooper and tell him all about it, and
if ever you require a friend do not forget to come to me."
Mont would have respectfully declined the invitation, but a glance from
Alice Moore prevented him from doing so.
He therefore thanked the judge for his kindness, and then the boys took
their leave.
Our hero simply raised his cap, but Alice put out her hand.
"You will be certain to come?" she asked in a low tone.
"Certain," he replied.
The news of Mont's heroism spread through Nautical Hall, and he speedily
found himself a decided hero.
CHAPTER V.
HOKE UMMER'S TREACHERY.
Our hero succeeded on the following Monday in getting a quantity of
cake, pie, and other stuff from town and hiding them in an unoccupied
bedroom.
He was also promised a dozen bottles of root beer and soda water, but
these he was unable to smuggle into the school, owing to the
watchfulness of Captain Hooper and his assistants.
Accordingly, he hid the stuff in the bushes near the lake, and decided
to go after it late at night.
He unfolded his plan to Link, Barry, and Carl Barnaby, and this plan was
overheard by Hoke Ummer.
Next to the empty bedroom was a window overlooking the side playground.
From this window Mont decided to reach the ground by aid of a long rope.
This was the only way to get out, as after nine o'clock all the doors
and windows below were locked in such a fashion they could not be
opened.
That evening our hero, with a light heart, repaired to the empty
bedroom.
Opening the boxful of stuff, he spread out upon a tablecloth of
newspapers a prettily decorated ham, a couple of cold roast chickens, a
fine apple pie, a quantity of mince pies, and a varied assortment of
choice fruits and cake.
All these arranged to his satisfaction, he looked at his watch, and then
sat down and waited.
It was just half-past eight, and in another half-hour servants and
masters would all have retired for the night.
After what appeared to the watcher to be an age the great school clock
tolled solemnly out the hour of nine.
Then Mont drew out a thick rope from beneath the bed and left the room.
Soon he was at the window.
Throwing up the lower sash, our hero fastened one end of the rope
securely and threw the other out.
"Just the right length," he said, and then he swung himself over the
window sill. "I'll soon have the rest of the stuff up."
The door of one of the spare bedrooms was opened, and Ummer stepped into
the corridor.
As the light of the moon fell upon his face it looked strangely white
and ghastly.
His lips were tightly compressed and his eyes had in them a horrible
glare as he stepped stealthily but quickly to the window.
Arrived there, he crouched low down that he might not be seen by any
person outside.
Then, with deft fingers, he untied the knot by which the rope was
secured.
There was heard a loud, wild cry, followed by a dull, heavy thud.
Then all was still.
The bully crept away along the corridor and down the stairs, his heart
beating as though it would burst its bounds.
A little before twelve o'clock that night several dark figures might
have been seen stealing cautiously along the corridors.
All these figures made their way to one common spot.
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