The Secret of Lotos Island by Michael Poole

Author:Michael Poole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, adventure
Publisher: Distributed Proofreaders Canada
Published: 1930-11-14T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

THE FIGHT FOR THE ISLAND BEGINS

That particular night was, if not exactly an exciting one, a disturbing and an important one for quite a number of people on Lotos Island or on the only vessel which lay within easy reach of its shores.

To Valda Rumboltz, aboard the Sleuth, it was meant to be a decisive night. All things considered, his plans since he first made up his mind to come to Lotos and “annex” it, as he himself termed it, had not gone with that smoothness which usually characterised the schemes of the “uncrowned king of the South Seas.”

It was not the first time Rumboltz had desired to possess an island in the possession of some one else. It would not be the first time that unpleasant rumours had gone round as to the manner in which he had achieved his object, if perchance later on some whisper leaked out through his servants concerning this adventure.

“Lotos Island is mine!” Rumboltz had said when he had finally settled everything with Grettrex, Rignold, and Klingmann, some months ago now. “It’s going to be useful later on!”

It was not only for the sake of what the island was alleged to contain, according to Grettrex. There were other aspects which appealed to Rumboltz. An island right off all regular routes and wonderfully hidden by an amazing natural phenomenon so that any vessel sailing near it would never suspect what lay hidden beyond, would be valuable in any emergency that might arise. And in the life of Rumboltz, the possibility of an emergency in which he might have to seek safety in flight was never disguised.

Grettrex had been quite straight with Rumboltz, since Grettrex himself lacked both the money and the means to take the island himself. But Grettrex was to have a goodly share of the profits, and whatever other tales may have been told of Rumboltz, it was generally agreed that he played straight with those who gave him a straight deal.

But this expedition in the Sleuth had struck difficulties, and success had not come so easily as had been expected. That was why, having safely come through the storm and having discovered that the people on the island had also got safely through, though the yacht had come to grief, Rumboltz had chosen this night and the following morning for the settlement of all difficulties.

Unfortunately there was a hitch quite early, though it was some time before those on the Sleuth could understand just what had happened. Rignold had gone ashore to find out if there were any men of Rumboltz’s party still on the island. If they were being held as prisoners, as seemed quite possible, they were to be released.

Another item which was on Rignold’s programme, assuming that he found some of the crew from the yacht, or even discovered Grettrex, was to get Delamere and bring him out to the submarine—as a prisoner of course. According to the plan laid down by Rumboltz, neither Delamere nor Maynard, nor

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