Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under The Amazon Read online

  CHAPTER III.

  THE MEETING IN THE HARBOR.

  Events in this world, no matter how seemingly incomprehensible, usuallyhappen for the best.

  If the _Grampus_ had not had her fight with the cachalot she would nothave put in at Port-of-Spain, and if Ensign Glennie had not lost hisdispatches he would not have put in there, either.

  The damage to the fore-rudder had been insignificant. Some of the ironbars protecting the rudder had been twisted and bent by the whale'sflukes, and Motor Matt had repaired the damage while coming through theBoca Drago into the gulf.

  The submarine was riding high in the water a quarter of a mile offshore, the Stars and Stripes fluttering gayly from the little flagstaffforward. A small boat was in the water and a colored boatman wasrowing two lads around the bow of the _Grampus_. Three men and anotherboy were forward on the submarine's deck, evidently assisting in anexamination of some sort.

  Glennie had the skipper of the launch lay alongside the small boat.

  "Hello, there!" called Glennie. "Is that boat the _Grampus_?"

  "Yes," replied one of the lads in the other boat.

  "I'm looking for Matt King, otherwise Motor Matt."

  "You mean you're looking at him and not for him. I'm Motor Matt."

  "Well, I'm Ensign Glennie. What the dickens are you doing atPort-of-Spain?"

  "What the dickens are _you_ doing here? We were to pick you up atGeorgetown."

  "What I'm doing here is _my_ business," said Glennie, stiffening. "Iwasn't expecting you for two or three days yet, and expected to be inGeorgetown by the time you got there."

  Matt stared at the haughty young man in the trim uniform. Dick Ferral,who was in the boat with him, gave a long whistle.

  "Then," said Matt coolly, "I guess our reason for being here is our ownbusiness. We were expecting to find a midshipman, Glennie, and not----"

  "_Mister_ Glennie," struck in the ensign. "I'm a passed midshipman anda commissioned officer."

  Dick got to his feet, pulled off his cap, and bowed.

  "_Mister_ Glennie!" he exclaimed, with an accent on the "mister"that was not entirely respectful. "Our brass band has been givenshore-leave, so we can't muster the outfit and play you aboard. It's alittle bit hard, too, considering our limited number, to dress ship."

  A smothered laugh came from the deck of the _Grampus_. Glennie staredat Ferral, and then at Speake, Gaines, Clackett, and Carl. The latter,grabbing the flag halyards, dipped the ensign.

  "Oof ve hat a gannon, Misder Glennie," yelled Carl, "ve vould gif deratmiral's salute."

  A flush ran through the ensign's cheeks.

  "Who is that person, King?" demanded Glennie, pointing to Dick.

  "Mister King," corrected Matt. "This, Mr. Glennie," proceeded the kingof the motor boys with mock gravity, "is my friend, Mr. Dick Ferral.The Dutchman on the boat is another friend--Mr. Carl Pretzel. The handsare Mr. Speake, Mr. Gaines, and Mr. Clackett. This colored gentleman isMr. Scipio Jones. Now that we are all acquainted, Mr. Glennie, may Iask you if you are coming aboard to stay?"

  "I am," was the sharp rejoinder. "Those were my orders from the captainof the _Seminole_."

  Matt caught a rope which Carl threw to him and stepped to the roundeddeck of the _Grampus_.

  "The submarine's all right, Dick," said he, "and hasn't a dent in heranywhere. Go ashore and get the gasolene. Have you the hydrometer inyour pocket?"

  "Aye, aye, matey," answered Dick.

  "Then be sure and test the gasolene thoroughly."

  As Dick was rowed away he once more removed his hat ostentatiously inpassing the launch. Ensign Glennie disregarded the mocking courtesy andmotioned his boatman to place the launch close to the submarine.

  "Take my grip, my man," called Glennie to Gaines, standing up andtossing the suit case.

  Gaines grabbed the piece of luggage. "Why didn't you whistle, Mr.Glennie?" he asked, dropping the suit case down the open hatch of theconning tower and listening to the smash as it landed at the foot ofthe iron ladder. "We're well trained and can walk lame, play dead, an'lay down an' roll over at a mere nod."

  The ensign ignored Gaines' remarks. Climbing to the rounded deck hefaced Motor Matt with considerable dignity.

  In spite of the ensign's arrogance there was about him a certainbearing learned only at Annapolis and on the quarterdeck of Americanwarships--a bearing that predisposed the king of the motor boys in hisfavor.

  "We had a fight with a cachalot, Mr. Glennie," said Matt, unbending alittle, "and thought best to put in here and look the _Grampus_ over tosee if----"

  "You were guilty of gross carelessness," interrupted Glennie, "byrisking the submarine in such a contest. But possibly you are ignorantof the fact that a bull cachalot has been known to attack and sink afull-rigged ship?"

  "Ach, vat a high-toned feller id iss!" grunted Carl disgustedly. "Hevill make it aboudt as bleasant on der poat as a case oof measles."

  Matt frowned at Carl.

  "It was either sink the cachalot or run the risk of being stove in,"said Matt. "We'll have to have a little talk, Mr. Glennie, so you hadbetter go below to the periscope room."

  The ensign nodded, climbed over the top of the tower, and disappeared.

  "That there uniform makes him top-heavy, Matt," scowled Clackett. "Thequicker you pull some o' the red tape off o' him the better it'll befor all of us."

  "He's all right, boys," said Matt, "and I'll bet he's a good fellowdown at the bottom. He forgets he's not on the _Seminole_, that's all."

  When Matt got down into the periscope room he found Glennie examiningone corner of the suit case, which was badly smashed.

  "I regret to note, Mr. King," said he, "that there is a serious lack ofdiscipline aboard this boat. Such a thing could never be tolerated inthe service. We are to take a long and hazardous journey, and I shallinsist on having the men keep their places."

  "You are not here to insist on anything, Mr. Glennie," replied Matt,coolly placing himself on one of the low stools that were used asseats. "My own duties, and yours, are pretty clear in my mind. Let'ssee if I have the situation exactly as you understand it.

  "The owner of this boat, Captain Nemo, Jr., is recovering from a sickspell in Belize, and he has sold the _Grampus_ to the United StatesGovernment for one hundred thousand dollars, conditional upon thesubmarine's being taken around the Horn and delivered safely to thecommandant at Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco. For this longcruise I have been placed in charge of the boat. You are aboard asrepresentative of the government, merely to observe her performance.Have I got it right?"

  Glennie nodded.

  "Upon my report," said he, "will largely depend the acceptance orrejection of the craft when she reaches Mare Island. Don't overlookthat point. A lack of discipline will get us all into trouble, and mayresult in the loss of the----"

  "I will attend to the discipline," said Matt stiffly. "If the boatbehaves well, you can find no fault with the way I manage her. I mustask you not to bother me with any remarks as to how the _Grampus_ is tobe run. I and my friends are not in the naval service, but we all knowthe submarine perfectly and understand what is expected of us.

  "The cruise we are to make is one that no submarine ever made before.It is full of dangers, and unforeseen difficulties are going to bob upand will have to be dealt with. The _Grampus_ is equal to the work, andin due time she will be delivered to the commandant at Mare Island, butI want, and will insist on having, a perfectly free hand. A friendlyfooting is what I desire among all on board, more than anything else."

  Matt smiled and stretched out his hand.

  "Just a minute, Mr. King," said Glennie, pursing up his lips. "Iunderstood that I was to be here in an advisory capacity. From yourtalk I take it that you consider yourself the whole works, and that Iam to play the r?le of an innocent bystander."

  "I am to manage the boat," returned Matt firmly.

  "Then," cried Glennie, "if you get us into serious difficulties, I amto say nothing, but bear
the brunt of your mistakes along with the restof the men?"

  "Do you know anything about submarines?"

  "A graduate of Annapolis is equipped with all the knowledge he canpossibly need in his work."

  "Theoretical knowledge," qualified Matt. "Have you ever had anypractical experience on a submarine?"

  "No."

  "Then, if I get into difficulties, I don't think you could give anyadvice that would help us out."

  The ensign bowed coldly.

  "Have you a cabin reserved for me?" he inquired.

  Matt nodded toward a bulkhead door leading to a steel room abaft theperiscope chamber.

  "We have fixed up a place in there for you," said he.

  "Then, inasmuch as I am a passenger, I will proceed to eliminate myselfand keep out of your way."

  Without taking Matt's hand he picked up his suit case and started. Atthe door he paused while a hail came down from the hatch.

  "Hello dere, vonce! Matt!"

  "What is it, Carl?" answered Matt.

  "Dere iss a Chink feller alongsite, und he say dot he vant to seeMisder Glennie."

  "A Chinaman!" muttered Glennie, pausing. "Why does he want to see me?"

  "Vell, he say dot he tell you somet'ing aboudt a feller mit der nameoof Dolo, und----"

  A shout of joy escaped Glennie, and he dropped his suit case and jumpedfor the ladder.

  "Wait, Mr. Glennie," said Matt, "and I'll have the Chinaman come down."

  "Very good," said Glennie, smothering his impatience and dropping downon the locker.