"Now that I know the worst, I'm not scared at all," she smiled pluckily. "It was _not_ knowing what fiendish thing the Scorpion was planning, that was the hardest to bear. There are lots of worse deaths than drowning. And anyhow, I can't believe it will come to that!"
"Neither can I!" put in Michael Splendor, quietly. "With Don Winslow on deck, our chances of making port are better than the enemy's. He'll find a way to fight back, never fear! Besides, there's me own seaplane we took aboard last night. She has two machine guns and----"
Without knocking, Captain Riggs flung open the door and entered, with Don Winslow at his heels.
"I have a few plans to talk over with you, sir!" the latter announced, halting before the cripple's wheel chair. "Lieutenant Darnley has told you the latest trouble, I suppose--about our anti-aircraft guns being jimmied?"
"He has that!" replied Splendor. "And I knew you'd have a plan to overcome that difficulty, Commander. 'Tis honored I am that ye wish to discuss it with a useless old man like me!"
"You've been called 'the brains of the Haitian Intelligence Service,'" Don retorted. "And if brains are useless, it's news to me! Joking aside, sir, there are three good reasons against our being bombed and sunk at daylight. I'll name them over, and see if you agree with me. Perhaps Captain Riggs and Lieutenant Darnley may have some valuable suggestions to make, too."
"Go ahead. Commander!" nodded the crippled man, as the others grouped themselves closer about Don. "I had a couple of schemes in me own mind, but three sounds better yet!"
In short, rapid sentences, Don Winslow outlined the hopes of the _Gatoon's_ company.
First was the message now being radioed by Red Pennington to Captain Holding of the Naval Intelligence in Washington. A squadron of light bombing planes would be taking off within an hour to come to the _Gatoon's_ rescue.
Whether or not they would arrive in time was another question, of course. The distance of the nearest fighting ships, the weather they might meet on the way, and various other difficulties made the answer uncertain. Less than three hours now remained before daybreak and the Scorpion's attack.
Pursuit type planes, Don explained, could have made the distance quicker, but could not carry enough gas for a round trip.