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"But I think I can summon help." "How?" demanded Mr. Hosbrook. "Have you managed to discover some cable line running past the island, and have you tapped it?" "Not exactly." was Tom's calm answer, "but I have succeeded, with the help of Mr. Damon and Mr. Fenwick, in building an apparatus that will send out wireless messages!" "Wireless messages!" gasped the millionaire. "Are you sure?"
We did not want to say anything about it until we were sure we could succeed." "And are you sure now?" asked Captain Mentor. "Fairly so." "How could you build a wireless station?" inquired Mr. Hosbrook. "From the electrical machinery that was in the wrecked WHIZZER," spoke Tom.
"Oh, I don't mind it," answered the lad "Perhaps the message may come to-night." Hardly had he spoken than there sounded the ominous rumble and shaking that presaged another earthquake. The shack rocked, and threatened to come down about their heads. "We must be doomed!" cried Mr. Parker. "The island is about to sink! Make for the raft!" "Wait and see how bad it is," counseled Mr. Hosbrook.
Hosbrook, the owner, is an ideal host, mamma said. They are proceeding directly to the West Indies, now. I do hope they will arrive safely. They say there are bad storms down there at this time of year." "Perhaps, if they are shipwrecked, Mr. Swift will go to their rescue in one of his airships, or a submarine," suggested Mabel Jackson, one of the several pretty girls.
"Don't speak of reimbursing us," went on Mr. Fenwick, with rather a suspicious glance at Mr. Jenks. "You are welcome to whatever we have." "Bless my topknot; certainly, yes!" joined in Mr. Damon, eagerly. "Well, I er I only spoke of it," said Mr. Jenks, hesitatingly, and then he turned away. Mr. Hosbrook looked sharply at him, but said nothing. "Suppose we go to our camp," proposed Tom.
But the earth-tremors were not the only surprise in store for Tom and his two friends, On the island they found five men and two ladies, who, by strange chance, had been stranded there when the yacht Resolute, owned by Mr. George Hosbrook, was wrecked in the same storm that disabled the airship. Mr. Hosbrook, a millionaire, was taking a party of friends to the West Indies.
Jenks seemed so cut-up about being deprived of the yachting trip, and was so fond of the water, that I invited him to remain on board, even if his friend did not. So that is how he came to be among my guests, though he is a comparative stranger to all of us." "I see," spoke Tom. "Has he been acting unusually strange?" asked Mr. Hosbrook suspiciously.
"What is?" demanded Mr. Hosbrook. "The destruction of our island. My theory will soon be confirmed," and the scientist actually seemed to take pleasure in it. "Oh, you and your theory!" exclaimed the millionaire in disgust. "Don't let me hear you mention it again! Haven't we troubles enough?" whereat Mr. Parker went off by himself, to look at the place where the cliff had fallen.
Hosbrook, "two other boatloads, one containing most of the crew, and the other containing some of my guests, got away before our boat left. I trust they have been rescued, but we have heard nothing about them. However, our own lives may not long be safe, if these earthquakes continue." "But did I understand you to say, Mr. Swift, that you had food?" he went on.
"The island is slowly breaking up." "It confirms my theory!" said Mr. Parker, almost in triumph. "Forget your theory for a while, Parker, please," begged Mr. Hosbrook. "We're lucky to have left a place on which to stand! Oh, when will we be rescued?" he asked hopelessly.
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