Chapter TWELVE

For two hours after Commander Fitzgerald and his squadron left Wake Island a wireless silence reigned over the Pacific Ocean. Throughout that period the operators at the naval wireless stations of Honolulu, Guam and Manila sat with the telephone receivers glued to their ears listening with concentrated attention for the slightest sound from the pirate.

In the meantime the squadron of pursuit airplanes was speeding over the vast reaches of the ocean at slightly better than two hundred miles an hour toward the position given in the cable message from Honolulu. They were now within a flying distance of one hour and a half from that spot. The question revolving in the mind of Commander Fitzgerald as he sped along was the probability of the pirate rushing along from the position given at a speed equal to, or even greater than their own. The next two hours would determine that all important point.

Suddenly in all three of the great naval wireless station the signals from the pirate’s airplane were heard again simultaneously. Clearly and distinctly they came across the intervening space. Apparently the operator on board was merely trying out his apparatus because he was not sending out any intelligible message. Nevertheless the operators at the naval stations took full advantage of the situation and trained their Direction Finders on him. A few moments work and all three obtained bearings before the pirate operator ceased sending.

“’Phone Commodore Heathcote quick,” yelled the chief operator at the Honolulu station to his assistant. This done he continued, “Now get Guam and Manila and ask them if they got bearings.”

Before the cable queries were sent and answered Commodore Heathcote entered the station.

“What do you make it this time?” he inquired breathlessly.

“Why, Sir, it’s very strange,” said the operator, “but my reading is exactly the same as last time. I’m waiting to see what Guam and Honolulu say so that I can check up with them.”

“Here’s the Guam report now,” broke in the assistant operator from the cable table. “It says ‘my bearing is the same as last time. I made two adjustments but obtained the same results each time.’”

“Alright,” said Heathcote, “Now call up Manila and see if by any chance he has succeeded in getting a reading. He was forewarned this time, and may have got a bearing. If he has it will act as a complete check on the position.”

After a few seconds’ work, the operator at the cable instruments got up and said: “Yes sir, he obtained a bearing, and he reports that it is E by N 87.”

“That’s good, let’s see what it shows,” replied Heathcote as he picked up a chart and commenced to work upon it.

“By George!” he continued a few moments later, “that absolutely confirms your first observation and puts the position at 16.50 N., 179 W. The only explanation I can give for it is that the pirate has been flying in circles around that general vicinity, probably for the purpose of picking up and attacking some commercial airship. If he only keeps there, Fitzgerald will get to him within the next hour. We couldn’t have wished for anything better.”

“Shall I advise Commander Fitzgerald by wireless, sir?” asked the operator.

“No,” replied Heathcote, “keep quiet. Fitzgerald is going to that position as fast as he can get there. He will continue on his course I’m sure, even though he does not hear from us, and it will bring him there shortly. If you send any signals now it will tip the pirate off. Fitzgerald will be able to tackle him with his squadron, and won’t need any assistance. This looks like a great chance to get this fellow. I don’t think it would be wise to send the Johnston Island squadron after him. No, the best thing we can do now is to keep quiet. Tell Guam and Manila the same thing. Tell them under no circumstances to use their wireless again without instructions from us.”

For the next hour Heathcote remained in the wireless station. Both he and the chief operator were in a state of suppressed excitement. The latter listened intently for the slightest sound. In their minds both conjured up a picture of the dramatic scene that they were certain was about to be enacted close to the central meridian of the eastern world, a scene they felt sure would cause a thrill to surge throughout civilization. The minutes ticked slowly by until more than an hour passed since the second reading had been obtained. Then across the ether came this signal from Fitzgerald’s airplane:

“PCG.”

That was all. Heathcote, keenly alert, had noticed the almost imperceptible movement of the operator as the signal commenced and leaned over his shoulder as the latter wrote down the three letter signal.

“Good,” exclaimed the commodore, “that means he has sighted the pirate. Now things will begin to happen in a few minutes. Everything depends upon the speed and maneuvrability of the pirate machine. If it is no better than our own machines we’ll get him sure.”

Patiently the three men in the wireless station waited for what seemed an eternity. Then suddenly there came this signal:

“AE.”

“That means he has engaged the pirate,” said Heathcote, “and has opened fire. Keep your ears open now for everything that comes along. There’s nothing more we can do but wait.”

And wait they did. For thirty long minutes not a sound came from the spot in the vast Pacific where was being fought the momentous battle in the skies that was to determine the immediate future of commercial transport. At the end of that period Heathcote could no longer restrain his impatience. He said to the operator:

“Send out a call to Fitzgerald and ask him what has happened if you can get him.”

The operator obeyed. For several minutes he called repeatedly, but could get no reply. Suddenly at the end of ten minutes he began to adjust his receiving apparatus very carefully with his right hand, while with his left hand he pressed the telephone receiver tightly into his ear. He continued this for several minutes and then with a sigh of disappointment relaxed.

“What’s the trouble,” asked Commodore Heathcote.

“I couldn’t raise Commander Fitzgerald’s ship,” replied the operator, “but I heard very faint signals that sounded like the sending of the pirate operator. I thought perhaps he was using a small powered set. I tried to amplify the signals, but it was no use. He was sending something but I couldn’t make out what it was.”

“That’s strange,” said the air officer, “I wonder what’s happened. In any case if that was the pirate it means that he is still flying, otherwise he wouldn’t be sending by wireless. I wonder why Fitzgerald doesn’t reply.”

“Oh, here he is now, sir,” said the operator, “he’s sending something. Wait now.”

Picking up a pencil the operator began to write the following:

“Why do you impose such a condition. Why don’t you act like a man. You ought to take a fair chance or none at all.”

“Is that what he said?” asked Heathcote, and receiving an answer in the affirmative continued, “I wonder what he means? That certainly sounds funny.”

The operator listened in for several minutes but no further messages were sent. He had just made up his mind to call up Fitzgerald when signals began coming in. Turning to Commodore Heathcote the operator exclaimed.

“Here’s Commander Fitzgerald calling us now, Sir.”

The operator answered the call, and then began to write:

“Heathcote Honolulu: We sighted the pirate flying in circles at approximate altitude of twenty-five thousand. At that time we were in widespread formation at fifteen thousand. I gave order to ascend to twenty-five thousand. The pirate continued flying on his circular course until we came within range.

“I ordered our machines to open fire at three thousand yards, and the pirate returned it. Suddenly he straightened out his course and commenced to fly due north. We followed up, but he evidently had greatly superior speed and greater climbing ability. We started the chase but he soon outdistanced us, and he is now disappearing over the northern horizon. We were making two hundred miles an hour, but he must be doing close to three hundred miles an hour. We were hopelessly outclassed. Just as he was disappearing we received a call from him by wireless. He sent us the following message:

“‘You took us by surprise today, and we weren’t ready to engage you. We are not afraid of your superior numbers. We are going back to our base for more ammunition. We shall be back at the same position tomorrow at this time, and will join action with you on the following conditions: that you do not bring any more airplanes with you than you have today; that no other machines are held in reserve; and that you do not send any destroyers or cruisers to this position. We are willing to give you battle on those terms. By the way, we promised to give Miss Ingleton a flight tomorrow.’

“You can easily see the significance of that last sentence. I will discuss this with you by cable when we get back to our base.--Fitzgerald.”