we just discussed your project before your arrival.
– To go to the Island and to open Sleyton’s riddle? – the Simpkins surprised and pleased asked.
– Not absolutely so. We are interested in secrets of other criminal more…
– Another? Really I do not know about it? – Simpkins became interested. – Who this criminal?
– The Sargasso Sea – smiling, Viviana answered. – Unless it ruined the ships a little? To reveal secrets of this criminal sea, to warn others – here our purpose.
– In a word, we go to a scientific expedition for studying of the Sargasso Sea – finished Gatling.
– Here it that! But I hope that you will not refuse to take me with yourself in order that I could make the business in passing…
– Certainly, Simpkins! But what sense to you to go? Sleyton is killed…
Симпкинс significantly moved with eyebrows.
– Sleyton is not necessary to me any more. But here interests of others are mixed. On the Island I managed to get some documents.
– Really?
– Симпкинс does not linger – the detective fatly noticed. – But, unfortunately, I took not all documents. They should be got, and then everything will become clear.
– Interests of others? That is another matter. We go, Simpkins!
– When you sail?
– I think, in a month…
– Who else with you?
– The oceanographer is professor Thomson, two of his assistants, team, and more than nobody.
– So, we go. You know my address. – And, having taken leave, Simpkins hasty left, and Gatlingi went deep into studying of the card again.
– Here look – Redzhinald pointed to the card – this straight line drawn as on a ruler – a way from New York to Genoa. We will go on this way to the three hundred twentieth degree of east longitude and we will curtail on the South – and Gatling made a mark a pencil.
The new visitor prevented them from working. Professor Thomson – the famous researcher of life of the sea entered. After fussy Simpkinsa Thomson struck with the tranquility and even sluggishness. This the person, good-natured, inclined to completeness, never hurried; but it was necessary to be surprised how much he managed to make.
Gatling hospitably met Thomson.
– You study our way? – he asked and, having by the way darted a glance at the card, told: – I think, it is better for us to head to the south, for Bermuda at once, and from them to go on the northeast. But we still will talk about it. Today I received three boxes of the equipment for chemical and photographic laboratories. The aquarium is ready and already established. Tomorrow the library ordered according to my list will be received. In a week our biological laboratory will be equipped quite. And how at you by an engineering part?
– For about three weeks – Gatling answered. – In a month we can throw down a challenge Sargassam.
Thomson nodded. He understood that the word “call” means. Gatling bought the small, outdate for the military purposes Defiant ship for an expedition, and it under the direction of Gatlinga was adapted for the peace purposes. Its guns gave way to devices for a pulling of drags. Except biological laboratory, a number of storerooms for storage of scientific production was arranged. The Gatling worked much to adapt the ship for swimming among seaweed of the Sargasso Sea. On a nasal part the sharp cutter which had to cut seaweed was fixed into Kiel of the ship. That seaweed did not prevent operation of the screw, it was protected by the special cylinder from the metal gauze.
The radio set, two easy tools and machine guns on a case of collision with islanders supplemented the equipment.
All participants of an expedition worked with such hobby and diligence that the ship was ready to withdrawal even before the appointed term.
At last hour of withdrawal came. Participants already were by the ship. Waited only for Simpkins. The big crowd familiar and just curious stood on the embankment.
– Where it got lost? – Gatling was perplexed, looking for hours. – Forty minutes of the third.
– Let’s wait a little – professor Thomson told.
Rub… Half of the fourth… Simpkins is absent everything. The captain hurried with withdrawal. “It is necessary to get out before twilight of a coastal strip with the big movement – he said – especially as fog approaches”.
Decided to sail away to four. The siren is heart-breaking cried as a wounded fantastic giant cat… and the ship sailed away. From the coast waved hats and scarfs.
Suddenly several people standing at the edge of pier jumped aside aside, and on their place there was Simpkins who got wet, disheveled with the hat which got off on a nape. He violently shouted, waving hands.
The captain “Defiant” swore and ordered to reverse. And Simpkins already fell down in the boat and floated to the ship, without ceasing to wave a hand.
– Thousand apologies! – he shouted, climbing a ladder. – Awfully hurried… An unforeseen delay … – And it appeared on the deck.
– What is with you? – poluispuganno, полунасмешливо asked Vivian, inspecting Simpkins.
His nose swelled, on cheekbones bruises were seen.
– Anything… small boxing with the old acquaintance, Cross-eyed Jim… Such unexpected meeting! Escaped, the villain; his happiness! If I did not hurry … – And, calming myself, he added: – Nothing, will leave. It is a small game… I will make a lotion, and everything will pass.
Fog tightened coast. The ship went slowly. From time to time the siren shouted.
– Damp, we go down – Viviana told and went down with the husband in biological laboratory. There already professor Thomson and two assistants – Tamm and Müller worked.
The laboratory represented itself quite capacious room with a big square window in a wall and two hexagonal windows in a ceiling. The left side was taken by photographic laboratory, right – chemical. Over wide tables with boxes, as in drugstores, regiments with books. On empty seats of walls various jails, harpoons, regiments and shelves with bubbles and medicines are strengthened. Each span of the area is used. Even on a ceiling oval boxes what are used by naturalists, and spring scales are attached. In the middle of laboratory there was a huge table. Here microscopes, accessories to preparation, stuffing of effigies and preparation of herbariums were located: scalpels, scissors, tweezers, press. Several stools with the rotating seats were strengthened so that could move along a table. Thomson slowly went on laboratory, slowly rearranged banks, humming in a low tone, and work was argued in his hands.
Evening passed enough drearily. And at night the siren did not allow to sleep. By the morning the siren calmed
