Then out went the port and starboard lamps. Then
there was a ten-minute wait, while Mr. Howland, Virginia, and the rest
of the party who had ventured on deck, thrilled and delighted with the
situation, held their breath. Dan pulled another switch and the
masthead lights went out. The _Tampico_ was now a part of the night.
"Oh!" exclaimed Virginia, "I see. You have given them an imitation of
a vessel disappearing hull down in the darkness. How clever!"
An exclamation from Mr. Howland broke the silence. "Oh!" he cried. "I
see." And he placed his hand on Dan's shoulder.
The stillness was intense. The water swept softly past the hull; the
extremities of the vessel were lost in a blur of black. Mr. Howland
became impatient.
"What can be the matter with those fellows? Why don't they chase us
and be done with it?"
Dan touched him on the shoulder. From the outer darkness floated a
mysterious bourdon, which rapidly outgrew that definition and became a
veritable commotion. One light twinkled, then another, and still
another. Finally the swift pulsation of engines at high pressure rived
the night.
"They are coming." The Captain turned to those who had gathered on the
bridge, adding, "Now I want this place cleared, please. If this scheme
falls through, we shall have our perch raked with machine guns.
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