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Digital Image Processing 1st Edition A. Baskar instant download

The book 'Digital Image Processing' by A. Baskar and others offers a comprehensive overview of both theoretical and practical aspects of image processing. It covers fundamental concepts, applications, tools, and techniques including noise reduction, edge detection, and image segmentation, along with practical examples using OpenCV and MATLAB. This resource is designed for graduate students, researchers, and anyone interested in the fields of image processing and computer vision.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
18 views

Digital Image Processing 1st Edition A. Baskar instant download

The book 'Digital Image Processing' by A. Baskar and others offers a comprehensive overview of both theoretical and practical aspects of image processing. It covers fundamental concepts, applications, tools, and techniques including noise reduction, edge detection, and image segmentation, along with practical examples using OpenCV and MATLAB. This resource is designed for graduate students, researchers, and anyone interested in the fields of image processing and computer vision.

Uploaded by

nkangubartak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Digital Image Processing 1st Edition A.

Baskar
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Digital Image Processing
This book provides a mix of theoretical and practical perceptions of the
related concepts pertaining to image processing. The primary objectives are
to offer an overview of the elementary concepts and practices appropriate
to digital imaging processing as well as to provide theoretical exposition.
The book starts with an expanded coverage of the fundamentals to provide
a more comprehensive and cohesive coverage of the topics including but not
limited to:

• Applications and tools for image processing, and fundamentals with


several implementation examples
• Concepts of image formation
• OpenCV installation with step-by-step screenshots
• Concepts behind intensity, brightness and contrast, and color models
• Ways by which noises are created in an image and the possible
remedial measures
• Edge detection, image segmentation, classification, regression, and
classification algorithms
• Importance of frequency domain in the image processing field
• Relevant code snippets and the MATLAB® codes, and several inter-
esting sets of simple programs in OpenCV and Python to aid learn-
ing and for complete understanding

The video lectures by the authors for specific topics through YouTube enable
easy inference for the readers to apply the learned theory into practice. The
addition of contents at the end of each chapter such as quizzes and review
questions fully prepare readers for further study.
Graduate students, postgraduate students, researchers, and anyone in
general interested in image processing, computer vision, machine learning
domains, etc. will find this book an excellent starting point for information
and an able ally.
Digital Image Processing

A Baskar, Muthaiah Rajappa,


Shriram K Vasudevan,
and T S Murugesh
MATLAB® is a trademark of The MathWorks, Inc. and is used with permission. The MathWorks
does not warrant the accuracy of the text or exercises in this book. This book’s use or discussion of
MATLAB® software or related products does not constitute endorsement or sponsorship by The
MathWorks of a particular pedagogical approach or particular use of the MATLAB® software.

First edition published 2023


by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

© 2023: A Baskar, Muthaiah Rajappa, Shriram. K Vasudevan, T S Murugesh

Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and pub-
lisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use.
The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced
in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not
been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so
we may rectify in any future reprint.

Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced,
transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.

For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, access www​.copyright​
.com or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923,
978-750-8400. For works that are not available on CCC please contact mpkbookspermissions​@tandf​
.co​​.uk

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are
used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data


Names: Baskar, A., author. | Rajappa, Muthaiah, author. | Vasudevan,
Shriram K., author. | Murugesh, T. S., author.
Title: Digital image processing / A. Baskar, Muthaiah Rajappa, Shriram K.
Vasudevan, T. S. Murugesh.
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton : Chapman & Hall/CRC Press, [2023]
| Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “The book
augurs to be a mix of theoretical and practical perceptions of the
related concepts pertaining to image processing. The primary objectives
orient to offer an overview to the elementary concepts and practices
appropriate to DIP as well as to provide theoretical exposition. It
starts with an expanded coverage of the fundamentals to provide a more
comprehensive and cohesive coverage of the topics”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022052363 (print) | LCCN 2022052364 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032108575 (hbk) | ISBN 9781032478678 (pbk) | ISBN 9781003217428
(ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Image processing--Digital techniques.
Classification: LCC TA1637 .P374 2023 (print) | LCC TA1637 (ebook) | DDC
006.4/2--dc23/eng/20221110
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022052363
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022052364

ISBN: 9781032108575 (hbk)


ISBN: 9781032478678 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003217428 (ebk)

DOI: 10.1201/9781003217428

Typeset in Palatino
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Contents

Preface����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix
Authors��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xi

1 Introduction to Image Processing: Fundamentals First������������������������� 1


Learning Objectives����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
1.1 Introduction������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
1.2 What Is an Image?���������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
1.3 What Is Image Processing?������������������������������������������������������������������2
1.4 What is a Pixel?��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3
1.5 Types of Images�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4
1.6 Applications of Image Processing������������������������������������������������������ 8
1.7 Tools for Image Processing���������������������������������������������������������������� 11
1.7.1 OpenCV for Windows: Installation Procedure����������������� 12
1.8 Prerequisites to Learn Image Processing���������������������������������������� 19
1.9 Quiz������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19
1.9.1 Answers����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20
1.10 Review Questions������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20
1.10.1 Answers����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
Further Reading��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22

2 Image Processing Fundamentals��������������������������������������������������������������� 23


Learning Objectives��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23
2.1 Introduction����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23
2.2 Concept of Image Formation������������������������������������������������������������� 24
2.3 Bits per Pixel���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 29
2.4 Intensity, Brightness, and Contrast: Must-Know Concepts����������30
2.5 Pixel Resolution and Pixel Density�������������������������������������������������� 31
2.6 Understanding the Color Models�����������������������������������������������������34
2.6.1 What Is a Color Model?���������������������������������������������������������34
2.6.2 RGB Color Model and CMY Color Model��������������������������34
2.6.3 HSV Color Model������������������������������������������������������������������� 36
2.6.4 YUV Color Model������������������������������������������������������������������ 37
2.7 Characteristics of Image Operations������������������������������������������������44
2.7.1 Types of Operations���������������������������������������������������������������44
2.7.2 Types of Neighborhoods������������������������������������������������������� 45
2.8 Different Types of Image Formats���������������������������������������������������� 46
2.8.1 TIFF (Tag Image File Format)����������������������������������������������� 47
2.8.2 JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)�������������������������� 47
2.8.3 GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)������������������������������������� 48

 v
vi Contents

2.8.4 PNG (Portable Network Graphic)���������������������������������������� 49


2.8.5 RAW Format��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 49
2.9 Steps in Digital Image Processing���������������������������������������������������� 49
2.10 Elements of Digital Image Processing System�������������������������������� 51
2.11 Quiz������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 53
2.11.1 Answers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������54
2.12 Review Questions�������������������������������������������������������������������������������54
2.12.1 Answers����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 55
Further Reading��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 58

3 Image Noise: A Clear Understanding������������������������������������������������������ 61


Learning Objectives��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 61
3.1 Introduction����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 61
3.2 Photoelectronic Noise�������������������������������������������������������������������������63
3.2.1 Photon Noise (Also Called Shot Noise or
Poisson Noise)������������������������������������������������������������������������63
3.2.2 Thermal Noise������������������������������������������������������������������������64
3.2.3 How to Overcome Photoelectronic Noise?
(Thermal Noise/Photon Noise)�������������������������������������������64
3.3 Impulse Noise��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65
3.3.1 Salt-and-Pepper Noise����������������������������������������������������������� 66
3.3.2 How to Overcome Impulse Noise?������������������������������������� 66
3.4 Structured Noise��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 67
3.5 Quiz������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 69
3.5.1 Answers����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 69
3.6 Review Questions������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 69
3.6.1 Answers����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 70
Further Reading��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 70

4 Edge Detection: From a Clear Perspective����������������������������������������������� 73


Learning Objectives��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 73
4.1 Introduction����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 73
4.2 Why Detect Edges?����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 74
4.3 Modeling Intensity Changes/Types of Edges: A Quick Lesson�� 74
4.4 Steps in Edge Detection���������������������������������������������������������������������77
4.5 Sobel Operator������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 79
4.6 Prewitt Edge Detector������������������������������������������������������������������������83
4.7 Robinson Edge Detector��������������������������������������������������������������������� 86
4.8 Krisch Edge Detector�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 88
4.9 Canny Edge Detection������������������������������������������������������������������������ 91
4.10 Laplacian: The Second-Order Derivatives������������������������������������� 100
4.11 Review Questions����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 104
4.11.1 Answers��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 104
Further Reading������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 105
Contents vii

5 Frequency Domain Processing���������������������������������������������������������������� 107


Learning Objectives������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 107
5.1 Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 107
5.2 Frequency Domain Flow������������������������������������������������������������������ 109
5.3 Low-Pass Filters: A Deeper Dive���������������������������������������������������� 110
5.3.1 Ideal Low-Pass Filter����������������������������������������������������������� 110
5.3.2 Butterworth Low-Pass Filter����������������������������������������������� 113
5.3.3 Gaussian Low-Pass Filter���������������������������������������������������� 115
5.4 High-Pass Filters/Sharpening Filters��������������������������������������������� 119
5.4.1 Ideal High-Pass Filter���������������������������������������������������������� 119
5.4.2 Butterworth High-Pass Filter��������������������������������������������� 121
5.4.3 Gaussian High-Pass Filter��������������������������������������������������� 123
5.5 Quiz����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 127
5.5.1 Answers��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 128
5.6 Review Questions����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 128
5.6.1 Answers��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 128
Further Reading������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 129

6 Image Segmentation: A Clear Analysis and Understanding������������ 131


Learning Objectives������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 131
6.1 Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 131
6.2 Types of Segmentation��������������������������������������������������������������������� 134
6.3 Thresholding Method���������������������������������������������������������������������� 136
6.3.1 Segmentation Algorithm Based on a Global
Threshold������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 136
6.3.2 Segmentation Algorithm Based on Multiple
Thresholds���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 142
6.4 Histogram-Based Segmentation����������������������������������������������������� 142
6.4.1 Segmentation Algorithm Based on a Variable
Threshold������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 143
6.4.2 Variable Thresholding through Image Partitioning������� 144
6.5 Region-Based Segmentation������������������������������������������������������������ 145
6.5.1 Region-Growing Method���������������������������������������������������� 145
6.5.2 Region Split-and-Merge Technique����������������������������������� 147
6.6 Edge-Based Segmentation��������������������������������������������������������������� 150
6.7 Clustering-Based Segmentation������������������������������������������������������ 150
6.8 Morphological Transforms-Based Segmentation������������������������� 150
6.8.1 Dilation and Erosion����������������������������������������������������������� 151
6.8.2 Opening and Closing���������������������������������������������������������� 158
6.8.3 Hit-or-Miss Transform�������������������������������������������������������� 159
6.9 Review Questions����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 160
6.9.1 Answers��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 161
Further Reading������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 162
viii Contents

7 Classification: A Must-Know Concept��������������������������������������������������� 163


Learning Objectives�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������163
7.1 Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 163
7.2 Support Vector Machine (SVM)������������������������������������������������������ 164
7.2.1 Hyperplane��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 164
7.2.2 Support Vectors�������������������������������������������������������������������� 165
7.2.3 Margin����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 165
7.3 How SVMs Work?����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 165
7.4 k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN)������������������������������������������������������������� 166
7.5 Clustering: An Interesting Concept to Know������������������������������� 170
7.5.1 k-Means Clustering������������������������������������������������������������� 170
7.6 Quiz����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 175
Further Reading�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������175

8 Playing with OpenCV and Python��������������������������������������������������������� 177


8.1 Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 177
8.2 Ubuntu and OpenCV Installation�������������������������������������������������� 177
8.3 Image Resizing���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 179
8.4 Image Blurring���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 180
8.5 Image Borders������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 182
8.6 Image Conversion to Grayscale Format with OpenCV��������������� 183
8.7 Edge Detection with OpenCV��������������������������������������������������������� 183
8.8 Counting Objects with OpenCV����������������������������������������������������� 185
8.9 Predicting Forest Fire with OpenCV��������������������������������������������� 185

Index...................................................................................................................... 191
Preface

Image processing, a rapidly growing technology, is a type of signal process-


ing where some operations are performed on an image, so as to obtain an
enhanced image or to extract some valuable information from it.
Digital image processing (DIP) is a constantly evolving field with new
algorithms and techniques and is certainly worth learning if one is interested
in image processing, computer vision, machine learning, etc. Learners who
wish to get started with image processing can find this book an able ally to
learn DIP from scratch. The popularity of DIP includes many reasons starting
from enhancing the quality of digital images, image restoration techniques,
removing noise from digital images, and compressing digital images thereby
conserving memory space be it on a computer or storage device. The primary
objectives of this book orient to offer an overview to the elementary concepts
and practices appropriate to DIP as well as to provide theoretical exposition.
This book starts with an expanded coverage of the fundamentals, image
types, applications, and tools for image processing. Later, the vistas are
extended to the concepts of image formation, unraveling the concepts behind
intensity, brightness and contrast, and color models, and details the steps in
DIP as well as its components. The following chapter deals with noise in
an image and types of image noise, addresses the ways by which noise is
created in an image, and deals with the possible remedial measures.
The subsequent chapters deal with edge detection and its operators followed
by frequency domain processing, which, along with all the MATLAB codes,
provide more comprehensive and cohesive coverage of the topics under
purview. This book then moves toward image segmentation to deliver a
clear analysis and for a thorough understanding, and then introduces the
must-know concepts of classification and regression and also explains the
concepts of a few frequently used classification algorithms. Finally, the
readers are presented with several interesting sets of simple programs in
OpenCV and Python to help enhance their understanding. Also, the same
has been presented as video lectures through YouTube by the authors to
enable the readers to apply the theory they have learned into practice. The
addition of content at the end of each chapter such as quizzes and review
questions fully prepare readers for further study.

ix
Authors

A Baskar is a seasoned academician with close to two decades of experience


in teaching and research. He is currently associated with the Department of
Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita School of Computing, Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India. He is an expert in the areas of
image and video processing, Internet of Things, and computer vision. Baskar
has guided over 15 master’s projects and many undergraduate projects.
Baskar also has many published articles with refereed international jour-
nals. He has presented papers at international and national conferences. He
is also associated with boards of studies in many colleges of high repute. He
has also won awards from the likes of Infosys and Accenture for his teaching
and research skills.
Muthaiah Rajappa is a professor and associate dean in information
technology and information communication technology at the School of
Computing, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy
(SASTRA) (deemed-to-be-university), Thanjavur, India. He obtained his
bachelor’s degree in electronics and instrumentation engineering from
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, in 1989. He completed his master’s
degree in power electronics from Shanmuga College of Engineering, Tamil
Nadu, India, in 1997. He was awarded a doctorate in the area of image com-
pression by SASTRA in 2008. Rajappa has published more than 100 research
articles in many reputed journals. He also has contributed through paper
publications, and review and chairing sessions in many conferences. He has
completed multiple funded projects from organizations of high repute and
national importance.
Shriram K Vasudevan obtained his bachelor’s degree in electronics and
instrumentation from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, in 2004, master’s
degree in embedded systems from the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology
& Research Academy (deemed-to-be-university), Thanjavur, India, in 2007,
and doctorate in embedded systems from Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute
of Science and Technology (PRIST) University, Tamil Nadu, India, in 2015.
He earned his master of business administration degree in human resource
management and marketing from Periyar Maniammai University, Tamil
Nadu, India, in 2008. Over the course of 16 years, he has obtained a blend of
industrial and teaching experience. He has authored/coauthored 45 books
for reputed publishers across the globe. He has authored 140 research papers
in revered international journals and 30 papers in international/national
conferences. He is currently associated with Intel, India. Prior, he was
associated with Wipro Technologies, VIT University, Aricent Technologies,
Amrita University, and L&T Technology Services. He holds the Corporate
Fellow Membership in IETE and is an ACM Distinguished Speaker, CSI

xi
xii Authors

Distinguished Speaker, NASSCOM Prime Ambassador, NVIDIA DLI, and


Intel Software Innovator. He has a YouTube channel bearing his name
through which he teaches thousands of people all around the world. He has
been recognized/honored for his technical expertise by Factana, Accumulate,
Telecommunications and the Digital Government Regulatory Authority
(United Arab Emirates), ZyBooks (Wiley Brand), AOTMP, Adani Digital,
NASSCOM Foundation, World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS),
De-Nora, IIT Kharagpur E Cell, Huawei, NVIDIA, Cubestop, IETE, Datastax,
Honda, Wiley, AGBI, ACM, Uletkz, The Hindu (Tamil), Exact Sciences Corp,
Proctor and Gamble Innovation Centre (India), Dinamalar, AWS (Amazon
Web Services), Sabre Technologies, IEEE Compute, Syndicate Bank, MHRD,
Elsevier, Bounce, IncubateInd, Smart India Hackathon, Stop the Bleed,
HackHarvard (Harvard University), Accenture Digital (India), NEC (Nippon
Electric Company, Japan), Thought Factory (Axis Bank Innovation Lab),
Rakuten (Japan), Titan, Future Group, Institution of Engineers of India (IEI),
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI – Government of India), Intel,
Microsoft, Wipro, Infosys, IBM India, SoS Ventures (USA), VIT University,
Amrita University, Computer Society of India, TBI–TIDE, ICTACT, Times
of India, Nehru Group of Institutions, Texas Instruments, IBC Cambridge,
Cisco, CII (Confederation of Indian Industries), Indian Air Force, DPSRU
Innovation & Incubation Foundation, and EL Equipments (Coimbatore). He
is a certified Scrum Master. He is also listed in many famous biographical
databases. He has delivered talks at various international conferences and
forums of high repute. Vasudevan has also been granted many patents.
He is a hackathon enthusiast and has won about 50 hackathons, including
HackHarvard 2019.
T S Murugesh obtained his bachelor’s degree in electronics and instru-
mentation in 1999, master’s degree in process control and instrumentation
in 2005, and doctorate in instrumentation engineering in 2015, all from
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India. He possesses a vast experience of
nearly 23 years in academia in the field of analog and digital electronics, auto-
mation and control, IoT, system design, instrumentation, image processing,
and computational bioengineering. After a tenure of almost 19 years with
the Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, belong-
ing to the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University,
he is currently an associate professor in the Department of Electronics
and Communication Engineering, Government College of Engineering
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
He has delivered four talks at international conferences of high repute
such as the 3rd Edition of International Conference on Materials Science and
Engineering (MAT 2022) organized by Magnus Group LLC, Chicago, Illinois,
as well as at the 5th Virtual Congress on Materials Science and Engineering,
“Materials Info 2022” organized by Mind Authors, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon.
He has delivered invited lectures at the national level in various institutions
including Sastra University, Annamalai University, Manakula Vinayagar
Authors xiii

Institute of Technology – Puducherry, Government College of Engineering


Srirangam, Madurai Institute of Engineering and Technology, and P.A.
College of Engineering and Technology – Pollachi and Viswajyothi College
of Engineering and Technology, Kerala. He has delivered invited lectures in
faculty development programs organized by the Faculty Training Centre,
Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, in association with the
Government College of Engineering – Thanjavur, and another one with
Government College of Engineering – Salem, and also in a national-level
webinar conducted on behalf of “Unnat Bharat Abhiyan”, a flagship program
of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
To his credit, he has around three dozen peer-reviewed indexed publica-
tions including Springer Nature, Elsevier, and Inderscience; has organized a
one-week AICTE Training And Learning (ATAL) Academy-sponsored FDP;
conducted a few workshops at the national level; and is a reviewer for IEEE,
Inderscience, and a few other peer-reviewed journals. He has acted as a pri-
mary evaluator for the Government of India’s Smart India Hackathon 2022
(Software & Hardware Edition) as well as Toycathon 2021 and also as a judge
in the grand finale for the Government of India’s Toycathon 2021, an inter-
ministerial initiative organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation
Cell with support from AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education).
He is an AICTE and NITTTR-certified mentor under the National Initiative
for Technical Teachers Training and also a Certified Microsoft Educator
Academy Professional. He is also a reviewer of B.E / B.Tech Technical
Books in Regional Language scheme of AICTE coordinated by the Centre
for Development of Tamil in Engineering and Technology, Anna University,
Tamil Nadu, India. He is a Master Assessor for the prestigious Naan
Mudhalvan Program devised by the Government of Tamil Nadu. He was
appreciated by Huawei for his academic collaboration and was issued a
Huawei developers certification. Murugesh mentored the team that won
first prize for the problem statement “Employment tracking and traceability
system – Organized sector”, given by the Ministry of Labour Employment,
Government of India, during the grand finale of Smart India Hackathon 2022
Software Edition. He is a hackathon enthusiast and his team has won the
FIRST Prize in the 2022, Cloud Fest Hackathon 2 presented by Google Cloud
as well as in the DigitalGov Hack, the Hackathon by WSIS Forum 2023 and
Digital Government Authority, Saudi Arabia and also bagged the second
Prize in the IFG x TA Hub Hackathon 2022. He is a conference committee
member as well as a publishing committee member for the International
Association of Applied Science and Technology. He also holds the edito-
rial board membership of American Journal of Embedded Systems and
Applications. He has authored two books for CRC Press/Taylor & Francis
Group (UK) and is authoring a book for Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (USA)
and 2 more books for CRC Press. He is a professional body member of the
Institution of Engineers (India).
Another Random Scribd Document
with Unrelated Content
you'll be in a jolly tight corner. Those fellows have a grievance,
although they were in the wrong to kick up a shindy. I can't lend you
any hands, so what are you going to do?"

"Dashed if I know," admitted Captain Abe, in perplexity. "Say, what


would you?"

"You've been at sea a jolly sight longer than I have, I should say,"
continued Villiers. "So it seems like teaching my grandmother to tell
you how to handle men. Meet them half-way. If you've a grievance
and they have one, there's always the Consular Courts to appeal to.
That's better than jumping round the deck with sheath-knives and
revolvers."

"Guess you're about right," considered Captain Abe. "Just you


sound 'em for me, young man. For my part, I'm willin'."

Villiers went for'ard. In five minutes he had "talked over" the crew.
They, too, were willing to carry on as before, on the understanding
that a competent cook was shipped at the next port they touched.

Jack, proud of his moral victory, shook hands with the Yankee
skipper and the two mates, and returned to the Titania.

"It's all right, now, sir," he reported. "They're carrying on."

At that moment the Titania, forging slowly ahead, was passing


under the stern and within half a cable's length of the becalmed
Lucy M. Partington.

The latter's skipper caught sight of Pete sitting contentedly on the


cat-head. His eyes opened in utter amazement.

"Pete!" he hailed. "Come you back!"

The nigger shook his woolly head.


"You kick me out, Cap'n Abe!" he reminded him.

"Fifty dollars, Pete, if you swim for it," almost implored the Yankee,
finding as he thought an easy solution to the present difficulty.

Pete's head shook until his teeth almost rattled in his capacious
jaws.

"Dere's no leather sea-boots with nails in 'em on dis vessel," he


replied. "Only indy-rubber. 'Specks I know where dis nigger am
comf'ble."

Then, using an expression that he had picked up from his new


acquaintances on the Titania, he added: "Cheerio, you deah,
priceless ole thing!"

CHAPTER XIII
Advice and Bluff

"No, no, boy. Not 'la silence' but 'le silence'."

"But, sir," protested the boy, "it's according to rule; it ends in a


silent 'e'."

"An exception, Beverley," explained Mr. Jaques. "An exception. One


of the peculiarities of the French language. But this might help you
to remember. Silence is one of the things that a woman cannot keep,
therefore the French place that word in the masculine gender——"

"I say, sir," interrupted Dick Beverley. "Look at that moth. Rather
late for this time of year, isn't it?"
"Never mind the moth," said his house-master. "You'll see plenty of
varieties of moths during the next few months," he sighed, envious
of the high-spirited youth. "Now, say in French: 'Will you kindly tell
me the way to the police-station'. Good; 'poste' has two different
meanings: 'post-office' and 'police-station', according to gender. Now
say the same sentence in Italian. H'm, yes, passable. You have that
written slip of directions the Head gave you? And your Italian
passport: you're keeping that in a different pocket to your notes?
And don't address strangers on Continental railways. If in doubt ask
someone in uniform. All railway officials are in uniform on the other
side of the Channel, you know."

Dick Beverley nodded. Already the well-meaning Mr. Jaques had


dinned the various and somewhat bewildering instructions and
injunctions into his excited head at least half a dozen times between
Charing Cross and Folkestone. But the boy's brain had closed its
doors, temporarily at least, to the advice of his house-master. On the
eve of a vast adventure it is often so, although before long a
confidant would be welcome.

"Monsieur Deschamps will meet you at the Gare du Nord,"


continued Mr. Jaques. "The journey across Paris is the most difficult
part of the business, but that difficulty will, I trust, be eliminated. I
believe there is a wagon lit straight through from Paris to Brindisi."

Dick again nodded, but his attention was centred on the animated
harbour as viewed from the lounge of the hotel.

"From Brindisi," resumed the master, "you proceed to Taranto. If


the Titania should not be there, what do you do?"

"Stop at the Hotel d'Annunzio, Strada Miratore," replied Dick


promptly. He knew that bit.

"That is so," agreed the pedantic Mr. Jaques; "and above all, be
discreet. Remember what I told you about 'silence'. I was given to
understand, during a brief interview with your brother, that absolute
discretion is necessary—not only for your own welfare but for the
people you are about to join. Remember also to keep your French
paper money in a different compartment of your pocket-book from
your Italian notes, and examine your change carefully. There is a lot
of bad money about in those countries, I believe."

"Like a lot of bacon we get in England, sir," added the irrepressible


youth.

Mr. Jaques nodded. He could well afford to be sympathetic on that


subject.

"You have your keys, I hope," he asked, returning to the lengthy


exhortation to a juvenile traveller. "The douaniers—custom-house
people—will want to examine your luggage, you know."

Dick produced the keys; a large jack-knife, a catapult, and a piece


of whip-cord were disclosed during the operation.

"You had better let me have that catapult," observed the house-
master. "I cannot conceive why you should want to take a thing like
that away with you, especially as the possession of a catapult is an
offence against the rules of the school."

Beverley junior surrendered the catapult cheerfully. After all it was


one of three that he carried about his person.

Ten minutes later Mr. Jaques and Dick parted company on board
the cross-Channel steamer, the former to return with a feeling that
he had carried out a duty conscientiously, the latter realizing at last
that he was actually on the threshold of a big adventure.

Dick remained on deck. Even the strong desire to go below, to see


if he could prevail upon the engineer to allow him to enter the
engine-room, was not enough to tear him from the sight of the
receding shores of Kent and the constant stream of shipping passing
to and fro on one of the main arteries of the world's maritime trade.
He was a high-spirited youth, no better and no worse than the
average British schoolboy. He had received his colours at "footer",
was a moderate bat, could swim and box, and could ride almost any
make of motor-cycle and understand its mechanism as well. True, he
hadn't a motor-bike of his own, for the simple reason that funds
wouldn't run to it, but his unfailing good nature and ability to
undertake repairing jobs were sufficient to give him the run of the
majority of motor-cycles belonging to his fellow-boarders.

Normally he was open and inclined to be communicative, but, with


Mr. Jaques' warning somewhere in the back of his brain, it was not
surprising that he showed a tendency to "choke off" an attempt at
conversation on the part of a fellow-passenger on the Folkestone-
Boulogne boat.

"Your name's Beverley, isn't it?" inquired the stranger. Dick had
noticed him in the foyer of the hotel.

"Yes," he replied shortly. "He can see that by reading the labels on
my luggage," he added mentally.

"I know your father," continued the stranger. "My name's Wilson."

"Really," rejoined Dick. "You didn't speak to him in the hotel, did
you?"

"No," was the answer, after a moment's hesitation. "I saw you were
both talking very earnestly, and naturally one doesn't like to butt in
on the eve of parting."

Dick considered. Either the "old buffer" had made a genuine


mistake or else he was trying to "pump him". Possibly the latter.

"I'm going as far as Brindisi to meet my daughter from Egypt,"


continued Mr. Wilson. "You are going farther, I see?"

"Yes, to Taranto," replied Dick. "Cruising in the Mediterranean."


"Then you are one of the Titania's party."

"Am I?" rejoined the lad.

The stranger smiled.

"Of course you are," he said. "And you are going farther than the
Mediterranean, I believe."

"We were," declared Dick mendaciously, for he considered himself


quite justified in bluffing the fellow. "We were, but the long cruise
has been abandoned. Don't know why."

"You'll be quite a traveller. Have you journeyed on the Continent


before?"

Dick shook his head.

"No? Then I'll have to give an eye to you," continued Mr. Wilson.
"Rather a long journey without having anyone to talk to."

"Don't think I'd take it on if I were you, Mr. Wilson," said Dick in a
well-simulated, confidential tone. "You see, I'm let out before I
ought to be. I only came out of the sanny yesterday."

"The sanny?" queried Mr. Wilson, in perplexity.

"Yes, that is the sanatorium, you know," explained Dick, warming


to his part. "Scarlet fever; 'fraid I haven't quite finished peeling yet."

"Er—er—I don't quite understand," murmured the stranger


uneasily, moving back a pace.

"Of course with proper precautions it may be all right," continued


the fever-stricken youth cheerfully. "I've been cautioned to keep to
the lee side of the boat so that the germs—beastly things germs—
don't get blown on the people. In the train I've got to keep the
window open at night, if other passengers don't object, and sniff
carbolic powder. But I'll be free from infection by the time we get to
Brindisi, I expect."

Chuckling to himself, Dick watched Mr. Wilson beat a hurried


retreat.

"If I'd taken old Jaques' advice about keeping silence I'd have had
to have been awfully rude," he soliloquized. "As it is, I've put the
wind up him. Wonder who he is? And he said he knows my father,
too. That's rich!"

He did not see Mr. Wilson again, save for a glimpse of his back at
the Gare du Nord, during the journey to the south of Italy. "Mr.
Wilson", or to give him his real name, Herr Kaspar von Giespert,
thought fit to alter his proposed route, for instead of proceeding via
Brindisi he booked to Marseilles, hoping to catch a Messageries boat
to Singapore.

It was a pure coincidence that von Giespert and Dick were fellow-
passengers on the Folkestone-Boulogne boat, but Mr. Jaques' over-
cautious exhortation had given the Hun a clue. Happening to hear
the word Titania, von Giespert pricked up his ears. He decided to
sound the open-faced British boy; he might have succeeded but for
an initial false move in assuming that Jaques was Dick's parent.

Von Giespert was cooling his heels at the southern French seaport
days after Dick Beverley joined the yacht Titania at Taranto.

CHAPTER XIV
Sunk in Collision
It was a dark, windless night. The Titania, under power, was gliding
through the tranquil waters of the Red Sea. The port watch had just
been relieved, and Bobby Beverley, having "handed over" to Jack
Villiers, lingered on the deck to have a yarn with his particular chum.

Already the port of Hodeida was left on the port quarter. Ahead lay
the reefs surrounding the dangerous Hanish Islands. Two miles
astern could be discerned the red, green, and white lights of a
vessel that was obviously overhauling the Titania hand over fist.

"Mail boat—P. & O. most likely," observed Beverley. "We needn't


worry about her—she's the overtaking vessel. Shan't be sorry to get
clear of the Red Sea. Too many Arab dhows sculling around without
lights to my fancy."

"Enough to give a Board of Trade examiner a puzzler for the 'Rule


of the Road' stunt," remarked Villiers. "Do you remember that white-
bearded old buffer? I suppose it was the same fellow who examined
you. Tried to catch me out with the 'single red light on my starboard
bow', but I tumbled to it just in time. Narrow squeak, though."

"I remember him," replied Beverley. "He gave me a regular galaxy


of light, and asked what I would do. 'Put my helm hard down and
clear out', I told him. 'The best course, too', he agreed."

"After knocking about at sea without lights for three years," said
Beverley, "it does seem a bit awkward to find yourself up against
'em. Something like that prisoner in the Bastille who asked to be
shut up again after he was released. Question of use, I suppose."

"Light on the port bow, sir," sung out Merridew.

At that distance only a red and a white light were visible, but by
the aid of his binoculars Villiers saw the gleam of the starboard light.

"Port helm," he ordered.


The Titania and the approaching vessel cleared each other easily,
but Villiers had little time to pay further attention to her. Ahead were
a number of dhows, strung out in an irregular line, practically
motionless in the flat calm.

"Good heavens, what's that!" ejaculated Bobby. "There's an


almighty smash."

How it occurred was a mystery, but the fact remained that the
overtaking liner and the vessel that had just passed the Titania were
in collision. It was one of those instances that have taken place and
will take place in the future—unaccountable yet none the less
disastrous. In clear weather and in a perfectly calm sea two
steamers crashed into each other.

Above the noise of grinding steel and the hiss of escaping steam
came a clamorous panic-stricken yell from hundreds of throats.

"Not British this time," commented Jack, as he ordered the helm to


be put hard over and the boats swung out ready for lowering.

"Get the searchlights running, Bobby," he added, "and inform the


Old Man."

But the Old Man was at that moment bounding up the companion-
ladder, a conspicuous figure in his white drill uniform.

Directly the two brilliant beams of the searchlights were brought


into action Harborough took in the situation at a glance.

One of the colliding vessels was a liner. She was badly damaged
for'ard and was deep down by the bows. The other, a chartered
Belgian steamer conveying Mussulman pilgrims to Jiddah, the port of
the Holy City of Mecca, had already sunk, having been cut
completely in two by the impact.
"Have those boats swung inboard again, Mr. Villiers," he ordered.
"We'll lay right alongside that fellow. There'll be time before she
goes."

Villiers understood. The lessons learnt in the North Sea, where it


was an everyday task to place an M.L. alongside a huge lumbering
tramp, were not forgotten. To avoid delay in rescuing human lives
Harborough had ordered the Titania to be manoeuvred alongside the
foundering liner.

Even under normal conditions it would have been no easy task, but
the difficulties were increased tenfold, for while the colliding vessels
remained locked together, nearly a hundred frantic Mussulmans had
succeeded in clambering over the liner's shattered bows to find but a
temporary refuge on her decks. These, in addition to a very
cosmopolitan assortment of passengers, were already out of hand,
despite the firm efforts of the liner's officers and crew to maintain
discipline. There was a wild stampede for the boats—Arabs and
Europeans mingled in a suicidal and homicidal rush, with the result
that by the time the Titania was within hailing distance one boat
only had been successfully lowered. The rest had either capsized or
were hanging vertically from the davits. Those of the passengers
who yet remained on board were either made of sterner stuff or else
they had been tamed by the sight of the fate that had befallen the
frenzied mob. As for the officers and crew of the foundering vessel,
they were doing their best to try and preserve order, but the sudden
addition of a swarm of pilgrims rendered their task almost
superhuman.

Taking the helm, Harborough adroitly manoeuvred the Titania until


she lost way within ten yards of the sinking vessel. Instantly there
was another rush on the part of the utterly demoralized
Mussulmans.

"Women and children first!" roared Harborough. "Does anyone on


board speak Swahili or Arabic? If so, tell those blacks to keep back.
I'll shoot the first man who jumps without permission."

Apparently some of the pilgrims understood English, or else they


guessed the purport of Harborough's words. Calm again succeeded
the paroxysm of cowardice.

Carefully avoiding the outswung davits of the huge vessel,


Harborough brought the Titania alongside so neatly and carefully
that there was hardly any need to employ fenders to absorb the
shock. Even though the ship was foundering she towered high above
the yacht, thereby rendering the task of transhipping the survivors a
somewhat difficult one. Had there been any sea running the
operation would have been hazardous, but lifting upon the very
gentle swell the vessels, large and small, lay almost motionless,
although momentarily the former was settling deeper and deeper by
the head.

Half a dozen women and children were the first to be received on


board the yacht. Then came thirty or forty passengers, mostly
French, but with a sprinkling of Italians and Dutchmen. Then the
survivors of the pilgrim-ship were allowed on board, where, thinking
themselves safe, they squatted on deck and took no further interest
in the proceedings, or, if they did, they concealed it under a cloak of
Oriental impassivity. Then followed the crew, most of whom had
found time to collect their personal belongings, for nearly every man
held a bundle made of a coloured handkerchief filled to its utmost
capacity. Last of all came the officers, the dark-featured, white-
haired Breton captain bringing up the rear.

He seemed reluctant to leave, and not until Harborough shouted a


warning did the little Frenchman leap. It was not a moment too
soon, for by this time the liner's bows were awash and water was
entering the boiler-rooms.

The Titania, her decks resembling a Bank Holiday Margate steamer,


and submerged two feet above her water-line, backed slowly away,
keeping her searchlight still running in the hope that they might see
other survivors from the sunken pilgrim-ship.

"We're lucky," remarked Harborough to Villiers. "Decidedly lucky,


otherwise I wouldn't give much for our chances if there had been a
sea running. By Jove! What a pack. Makes one think of the good old
days when Fritz started running amok with his U-boats."

"What are we doing with this lot, sir?" asked Jack.

"Run 'em into Massowah," replied the skipper of the Titania.


"Seems to be the easier way out of the difficulty. Massowah's a bit
out of our course, but it's an Italian port. They can't detain us to
give evidence in a Court of Inquiry. At Aden we might be held up.
Hallo! There she goes."

The French liner Cité d'Arras was on the point of disappearing. With
the Titania's searchlights flashed upon the scene, her stricken hull
looked as though it were fashioned of silver. Her stern was high out
of the water, and, after the Titania had pushed off, she had
developed a terrific list to starboard.

A hush fell upon the crowd on the Titania's deck. All eyes were
directed upon the sinking vessel, even the Mussulmans abandoning
their hitherto impassive attitude to gaze upon the scene.

Steam was still issuing in dense clouds from her boiler-rooms; jets
of water expelled by compressed air leapt high above her listing
masts as the eddying, foaming water encroached upon her decks.

Then, with a movement not unlike the convulsive spring of a


mortally wounded animal, the stricken craft lifted until her twin-
propellers were clear of the water. For perhaps ten seconds she
remained thus; then, to the accompaniment of a loud roar as her
displaced boilers exploded, she disappeared from sight.

Harborough rang for full speed ahead.


CHAPTER XV
What did Dick Do?

Literally forcing his way along the crowded deck, Bobby Beverley
went below to make up arrears of sleep. At the foot of the
companion-ladder he encountered Claverhouse, on whom the task of
providing accommodation 'tween decks for the women and children
rescued from the Cité d'Arras had fallen.

"Do you know your young brother's been in the ditch?" inquired
Alec.

"By Jove!" exclaimed Bobby. "Is that a fact? Where is he?"

"Fact," confirmed Claverhouse. "At the present time he's shedding


his wet gear in your cabin."

Dick Beverley looked a little confused when his brother appeared.


As a matter of fact he had changed his saturated garments, and was
in the act of attempting to remove all traces of the pools of water
from the floor when the cabin door was thrown open and Bobby
entered.

"What silly game have you been up to?" inquired Beverley Major
sternly.

"Only got a bit wet," replied Beverley Minor. "Nothing much; I'll
soon get your cabin straight, Bob."

"How did it happen?" demanded Bobby.


"Sort of slipped in," declared Dick.

"Pushed in?"

"Well, there was a bit of a crush," observed Dick diplomatically.

"You young ass!" ejaculated his brother. "I suppose you know the
water's teeming with sharks?"

Dick admitted that he was aware of the unpleasant fact. He had


seen them following the yacht soon after she left Suez.

"How did you get on board again?" asked Bobby.

"Trevear hauled me up with a rope," replied Dick simply. "I wasn't


in for more than fifteen seconds."

"Time enough for you to have been bitten in two," rejoined Bobby.
"All right, carry on and wipe up the mess. I want to turn in."

He went out, leaving Dick to complete his self-appointed task, to


seek Trevear and gain further particulars, since his brother was
obviously "lying low".

He found the R.A.F. pilot talking French as spoken on the Somme in


1918 to a pair of children whose home was at Oléron in the
Department of the Basses-Pyrénées. The result was not altogether a
success, although by a wealth of dumb show Trevear contrived to
keep the children amused.

"They've shoved me in charge of the crèche, old bird," he


observed. "Know it's no use offering you a cigarette; try some of
this."

He extended a well-used and bulky tobacco-pouch.

"What's on your chest, old man?" he continued.


"Something my young brother's been doing," rejoined Beverley.

"Eh, what's that?" asked Trevear, raising his eyebrows and


simulating an air of complete ignorance.

"I want you to tell me exactly how he got into the ditch," declared
Bobby.

"You know that much, then?" rejoined Trevear. "Non, non. Taisez-
vous; c'est defendu de puller mon hair (that was an aside addressed
to his charges, who, finding themselves ignored, reasserted their
presence by tugging vigorously at the ex-airman's closely-cropped
hair). All right, then; s'pose I'm no longer bound to secrecy. While
we were lying alongside the Frenchman, young Dick spotted
someone in the water—one of the Arab crowd. Before I knew what
he was up to—I thought he was going to sling the fellow a coil of
rope—he took a turn round his waist with the end of a line and
jumped overboard. Pete and I hiked him back in double quick time,
'cause the Arab fellow was trying to drag him under. Yes, we got the
pair of 'em just as a brute of a shark turned on his back and showed
his ugly jaws. Gave me a bit of a turn, and I fancy young Dick had
the wind up after it was all over. That youngster's got some pluck,
old son."

Trevear would doubtless have held to his compact with Dick


Beverley, but it was obvious that the secret would out, as Pete had
been a witness of the affair. The negro had already told O'Loghlin
and Swaine, and they, in turn, had communicated the news of the
exploit to others.

Bobby returned to his cabin. Dick, having completed the tidying-up


process, had turned in. His brother went to the side of the bunk.

"Dick," he said softly. "You're a silly young ass, but I'm proud of
you."
It was broad daylight when Bobby Beverley awoke to find Pete
standing by his bunk with a cup of tea. Already the air was
insufferably hot, in spite of the fact that the port-hole was wide open
and an electric fan running. Without, the sun beat fiercely down, its
hot rays glancing obliquely from the mirror-like surface of the water.
On deck the tramp of many feet showed that the survivors of the
catastrophe were giving signs of activity.

Looking at the clock, Bobby saw that he had but twenty minutes
before going on deck to take over his watch. A plunge into a bath of
tepid water, shaving and dressing, occupied half the allotted time;
then, making a hurried breakfast, the watch-keeping officer went on
deck.

The Titania was approaching Massowah, somewhat to the


discontent of many of the ex-passengers of the Cité d'Arras, who
wanted to be landed at the French colony of Obock farther down the
coast and just below the Bab el Mandeb. But Harborough had
decided otherwise. The objection to calling at Aden applied equally
well to putting into Obock, so willy-nilly the survivors had to accept
the hospitality of the Italian colony until they found means of
resuming their interrupted journeys.

The moment the anchor was dropped and the yacht lost way the
Titania was surrounded by a fleet of small boats. Into them the
rescued people were placed and taken ashore, not before an
impromptu meeting had been held on deck and a vote of thanks
delivered in broken English by a tall, corpulent Frenchman who was
about to take up a Consular appointment in China.

"Do you know what, in my opinion, is the height of


embarrassment," asked Harborough, addressing his crew in general
after the departure of the cosmopolitan crowd. "No? I'll tell you;
being kissed on both cheeks by a demonstrative bearded
Frenchman, with the temperature 125 degrees in the shade."
"Jolly funny thing," remarked Dick to his brother. "I met one of the
liner's passengers on the Boulogne boat—a Mr. Wilson."

"Really?" remarked Bobby, to whom the announcement conveyed


little interest. In his own experience the world was small, and he
was used to knocking up against acquaintances, chance or
otherwise, at various odd times. "Speak to him?"

"No," replied the lad. "For one thing, I didn't notice him until he
had left the Titania and was sitting in the boat. For another, I didn't
want to."

"Why not?" asked Bobby. When Dick took a dislike to anyone there
was usually a sound reason.

The schoolboy told how "Mr. Wilson" had tried to pump him.

"By Jove!" exclaimed Jack Villiers, who was with Bobby at this time.
"Pity you hadn't let us know half an hour ago. That's old Borgen for
a million. He's on his way to join the Zug."

"And what would you have done?" inquired Dick, forming a mental
picture of burly Jack Villiers and "Mr. Wilson" fighting à l'outrance on
the deck of the good ship Titania.

"Done?" echoed Villiers. "I owe him one for sand-bagging me—or
getting his minions to do so, which comes to practically the same
thing. I'd have kept him under the influence of morphia for the next
twenty-four hours and taken him to sea with us. Then we'd see how
the rival crush got on without a figurehead. We'll have to inform the
skipper."

Harborough received the news with his inscrutable smile.

"'Tany rate he's boxed up in Massowah for a week or ten days and
he's lost all his kit. That's rather put the lid on his activities for a bit.
But since he owes us something for saving his life I hope he won't
bear us a grudge on that account."

Three hours later, having shipped an additional two hundred


gallons of oil and replenished the water-tanks, the Titania weighed
and resumed her voyage.

It was a long, tedious stretch across the Arabian Sea, for more
than 2500 miles lay between the yacht and the port of Colombo. For
the most part there was little wind. When there was any it was
generally too much ahead to give the vessel a useful slant, for it was
the time of the north-east monsoon. Consequently, the heavy oil-
engines were kept running almost continuously.

The Titania passed to the south'ard of the Island of Socotra, which


was the last land sighted for a space of twelve days.

"India's coral strand" was a wash-out as far as Dick was concerned,


for the Titania passed a good hundred miles to the south'ard of Cape
Comorin, but at sunrise on the following morning the lad had a
distant view of Adam's Peak, its prominent outlines silhouetted
against the rapidly-growing light.

Two days in Colombo Harbour gave the crew a much-needed rest


before tackling the almost as long voyage across to Singapore.

Thence, threading her way cautiously between the islands of the


Java and Banda Seas, and encountering no adventure in the shape
of Malay pirates (somewhat to Dick's disappointment), the Titania
approached the outward limit of her long voyage.

Towards the latter end of the run Harborough rarely left the deck.
He slept in the chart-house, going below for his meals and returning
with the utmost haste. His usual coolness was noticeably absent. He
was restless and uncommunicative, often pacing the deck for hours
with hardly a word to anyone.
At length, shortly after daybreak, he touched Villiers on the
shoulder and pointed to a rugged mountain-top just showing above
the horizon.

"That's Ni Telang," he announced. "If I've worked our cards


properly we ought to find the Zug there searching for treasure that
does not exist."

CHAPTER XVI
The Wrong Island

"Putting in there, sir?" asked Beverley, finding his chief inclined to


become communicative.

"I was debating," replied Harborough. "I want to, and yet I don't
want to. Fact is, I can't make up my mind."

Villiers, Beverley, and Claverhouse, who with the skipper formed


the party on deck, gazed steadfastly upon the distant peaks of Ni
Telang. Each man wanted to study the expressions on his
companions' faces, but somehow every one hesitated to do so. The
admission of indecision coming from the hitherto somewhat despotic
skipper of the Titania rather took the wind out of their sails.

"What's your opinion on the matter, Villiers?" inquired Harborough


abruptly.

"You wish to satisfy yourself that our rivals are slogging away on
the wrong spot?"
"Exactly," replied the baronet. "I suppose it's rather childish, but
somehow I want to enjoy the spectacle of seeing the Zug's crew
figuratively tumble into the pit they suppose they've dug for others.
On the other hand, we are anxious to get to work, and on that
account perhaps it would be as well to slip past Ni Telang
unobserved and carry on to Nua Leha. It will take us some time, I
fancy, to locate the wreck."

"I would suggest, sir," remarked Claverhouse, "that we make


straight for Nua Leha and get to work. Trevear and I could have a
joy-ride over to Ni Telang and see what sort of game the Huns are
up to."

"They'd spot the sea-plane," objected Bobby Beverley. "That


wouldn't be advisable in the initial stages of the salvage operations."

"Then what is your scheme, Beverley?" asked Harborough,


reaching down for a large-scale chart of the islands that lay in a
locker under the chart-house table.

"We could make a trip in one of our boats," replied Beverley. "You
couldn't, Villiers, old son; they know you already. We could pitch up
a yarn that we are on a fishing expedition and have got blown away
from our ship. For that purpose we would be Yanks from the U.S.
yacht Narrunga. No doubt friend Strauss would bluff us, but he
daren't refuse to let us land for fresh water."

"Quite a sound scheme, Beverley," agreed Harborough. "I think


we'll act upon it when we get to Nua Leha.... A couple of points to
the south'ard for the present, quartermaster. East-a-half-south will
do."

"East-a-half-south, sir," intoned Merridew in professional style.

Keeping to the new course, the Titania passed a good ten miles
from the island of Ni Telang. At that distance, although the peaks
were plainly visible in the clear atmosphere, the low-lying land and
the surrounding barrier of coral reefs were below the horizon. There
was a strong temptation to ascertain whether the Zug had already
arrived, but, once a decision was arrived at, Harborough put the
question firmly from his mind.

Almost before the peaks of Ni Telang dipped below the horizon


other land appeared above the skyline, bearing E by N.1/2N.

"We'll broach that case of champagne to-night, all being well,"


declared Harborough, whose fit of indecision had now passed. He
gave another glance at the chart. Almost daily for the last three
months he had studied that canvas-backed sea-map of the
approaches to Nua Leha; and now the vision of tomorrow had
become the reality of to-day.

"Keep her as she is," he continued. "There's plenty of water for a


bit. I'm going to turn in. If I'm not awake by one bell in the first dog
watch turn me out."

"Very good, sir," replied Villiers.

The Titania was bowling along under canvas at a good seven


knots. It was one of those rather exceptional days when the breeze
held true and the vessel was able to cut through the clear blue water
without any necessity on the part of the crew either to increase or
reduce canvas, or to touch a sheet. The weather-shrouds were
tautened like harp strings as the yacht lay over at an almost
constant angle of thirty degrees from the perpendicular. The spray
hissed from her cutwater, and burbled pleasantly past her sides,
leaving a clean wake astern.

All hands, including Pete, who was now entirely "in the know",
were tremendously excited as the distance between the Titania and
her goal decreased.

Yet the island appeared to rise above the blue horizon with
provoking slowness. By noon it was just possible to discern three
jagged peaks that rose to a height of two thousand five hundred
feet above the sea-level, the intervening valleys being a good
thousand feet lower. To the northward the ground sloped gradually
until it vanished in the haze of mingled sea and sky.

By four o'clock the white line marking the surf upon the outer reef
was visible. By the aid of glasses it could be seen that the lower
portion of the island was much-wooded, coco-nut palms
predominating. The upper land was well covered with grass, but the
higher peaks were bare and rugged, indicating their volcanic origin.

Five minutes later Harborough anticipated himself by coming on


deck. He had slept the sleep of mental and bodily exhaustion, and
although he still looked tired he had lost the grey, haggard
expression that had been his constant companion for the last ten
days.

"We'll have to approach from the eastern side," he remarked.


"There is a passage on this side, but I don't care to risk it. The lead's
precious little use in these parts."

He swept the island with his binoculars, and then turned abruptly
upon Bobby Beverley.

"Tell Swaine to go aloft," he ordered. "Conning the ship from the


cross-trees is the best means of getting across the bar. Mr. Villiers,
see that there's a kedge aft ready to let go. You might as well stow
canvas. The wind will be heading us round the corner."

While these orders were being executed O'Loghlin went below to


start up his beloved motors. He usually spent the greater part of his
waking hours below tinkering with the engines. Even in the Red Sea
and in the sweltering heat of the Malacca Straits he kept up the
performance, and the hitherto-neglected engines were now a picture
of polished and easy-running mechanism.
Keeping within a distance of two miles from the reef, the Titania
skirted the south-eastern sides of the island. Although a careful
watch was maintained there were no signs of human habitation
ashore, except a ruined hut that might have been built by the crew
of a trading-vessel during their search for bêche-de-mer.

"Good thing there are no natives," remarked Harborough "They'd


only tend to complicate matters. We wouldn't dare leave any stores
on the beach; they'd vanish. Right-o, Swaine; up aloft with you."

Like a cat Swaine swarmed up aloft, hand over hand, by means of


the throat-halyards, for the Titania was not fitted with ratlines.
Barely had he settled himself on the cross-trees when he shouted:

"Vessel at anchor in the lagoon, sir!"

"By Jove!" ejaculated Villiers, and without expressing his thoughts


he, too, went aloft.

Beyond a low-lying spur of land fringed with an irregular line of


coco-nut palms, he could discern the upper parts of the hull and the
mast and funnel of a steamer. She had evidently only recently
arrived, for smoke was issuing from her funnel.

"It's the Zug, sir," he announced.

The explosion of a 42-centimetre shell could hardly have produced


greater surprise. Beating her rival only by a few hours, the Zug had
dropped anchor not at Ni Telang but at Nua Leha, and almost over
the spot where the wreck of the Fusi Yama was supposed to be
lying. By what freak of fortune had von Giespert's minions chosen
that spot, when, had they acted upon instructions given in the false
chart, they should have been fifty miles to the west'ard?

"That's a nasty one, sir," remarked Villiers, as he gained the deck.


"It is," agreed Harborough briefly. He was rapidly forming a plan of
action rendered necessary by the totally unexpected turn of events.

To enter the lagoon and dispute the right of possession with the
rival expedition would almost certainly end in bloodshed, and this
Harborough was loth to provoke. Nor was he willing to come to
terms with them. On the other hand, he was not going to give up his
chances and those of his fellow-adventurers. Something had to be
done and that quickly, for in another five minutes the Titania would
be visible from the Zug's decks.

"Make all plain sail," ordered Harborough. "We'll beat back to Ni


Telang. It's possible that we may lure 'em out."

Quickly fore and aft canvas was set, and, close-hauled on the port
tack, the Titania skirted the western side of the island. It was soon
evident that her presence was observed, for with true Hunnish
effrontery the Zug gave a long blast on her syren and hoisted the
German colours.

"So much for the Swedish myth," commented Harborough. "Fritz


likes to crow when he thinks he's on top. Now we'll see if the fish
will bite."

Apparently the Zug's crew were puzzled when the approaching


British vessel, instead of turning and entering the lagoon, held on a
course parallel to the reef. As a matter of fact, owing to a
miscalculation on the part of Captain Siegfried Strauss, the steamer
had anchored off Nua Leha, under the impression that she was at Ni
Telang. The merest fluke prevented this error from leading to the
accidental discovery of the sunken treasure of the Fusi Yama.

But when the Titania held on, Strauss began to puzzle his brains. If
this were the island he could not understand why the Englishmen
should admit defeat so tamely. Something was wrong somewhere.

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