Adventures Of The Sea Hound 44-08-16 The Traitors - Trouble with Indians

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Adventures Of The Sea Hound 44-08-16 – “The Traitors: Trouble with Indians”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Original Air Date: August 16, 1944
Summary Date: August 27, 2025
Episode Theme:
A dramatic installment set in the jungles of Peru, where Captain Silver and his crew confront betrayal, sabotage, and escalating tensions with their laborers—stoked by adversary Dirk Gleason—while racing to finish a critical airfield project during the wartime era.

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Main Themes and Purpose

• Betrayal and Conflict: Captain Silver and his crew face mutiny among their Indian laborers, instigated by Gleason’s scheming.
• Sabotage & Resourcefulness: While their enemies try to derail the airfield project, the protagonists reveal their own secret weapon: heavy machinery rapidly advances the work.
• War-time Undertones: The story underscores themes of patriotism, innovation under pressure, and sabotage, resonating with the contemporary wartime context.

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Key Discussion Points & Scenes

1. The Stand-Off with Armed Laborers (02:21–05:16)

• Recap: Captain Silver, Jerry, and Francisco find themselves surrounded by Indian laborers, agitated and armed with pistols brought by Gleason. They attempt to negotiate and calm the situation.
  • Quote (03:04) — “That’s why [Gleason] was so smug about everything... He knew what would happen if it came to a showdown.” (Captain Silver)
  • The laborers, led by Eda, are unwilling to engage further but do not confess to wrongdoing.
  • Jerry acknowledges a confession from Eda would be meaningless in Lima’s courts (05:02), and they decide to let the laborers leave.

2. Gleason’s Confrontational Return (05:35–08:36)

• Gleason taunts the returning heroes:
  • Quote (05:47) — “So this is the return of the warriors, eh?” (Dirk Gleason)
  • Gleason admits he was hoping for a violent confrontation, and reveals his ongoing plot to sabotage the airfield.
  • Gleason proposes a partnership, claiming only he can bring the laborers back, but Silver firmly refuses:
    Quote (07:44) — “Do not talk of partnerships. You shall have no part in this airfield.” (Captain Silver)
• Revealing the Secret Weapon:
  • Jerry reveals they no longer need the sabotaged labor force because heavy machinery has arrived via two planes:
    Quote (09:01) — “Wait till that bulldozer goes to work. Why, that one machine will do more in a day than all Eda’s men could do in three weeks.” (Jerry)

3. Late Night Codebreaking & Sabotage Plot (10:01–14:39)

• Radio Intercepts:
  • Jerry is up all night monitoring and copying 42 coded messages sent from Gleason’s camp.
  • Discussion of codebreaking efforts and the importance of their contents.
    • Quote (10:51) — “Well, can you break the code?” (Francisco)
    • Quote (10:52) — “I’m going to try. There’s plenty to work on.” (Jerry)
• The Stakes:
  • Upon decoding, Jerry realizes the messages are sent to various contacts, aiming to prevent them from acquiring planes or gliders for the airfield:
    Quote (13:51) — “He’s trying to make it impossible for us to get a single plane or glider when the airport is done. If he’s successful... we’ll lose the franchise.” (Jerry)
  • Captain Silver pledges to use his contacts to secure the fastest plane:
    Quote (14:12) — “I still have friends. Friends with influence... I can promise you a fast plane.” (Captain Silver)

4. Cliffhanger Conclusion (14:39–15:00)

• The episode ends with urgency—Jerry must travel as far as Gleason’s influence reaches (perhaps to Washington, D.C.) to save the project—
  • Quote (14:29) — “I may have to go all the way to Washington... I’ve got to go just as far as Gleason’s influence goes and one step farther.” (Jerry)
• The narrator teases the coming climax and encourages listeners to return for the next episode.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He had better not gloat too loudly. I will punch his fat stomach.” — Captain Silver about Gleason, showcasing characteristic humor and bravado (05:39)
• “We not only don’t need those Indians, Gleason, we don’t even want them.” — Jerry asserts independence and new-found strength thanks to machinery (08:28)
• “Your own plot to hurt us brought that machinery here two weeks ahead of time.” — Irony as Gleason’s sabotage speeds up progress (09:14)
• “I have the facilities to issue bonds in Lima. The citizens of Peru can share in—” — Gleason’s transparent attempt to secure a majority stake (07:25)
• “If Gleason succeeds... we’ll lose the franchise after the airfield is completed because we can’t get a plane to make a flight from here.” — The true stakes revealed (13:51)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:21–05:16| Stand-off with armed laborers | Attempts at negotiation, analysis of confession’s value | | 05:35–08:36| Gleason’s confrontations and partnership | Gleason wants in; the crew refuses; heavy machinery revealed | | 10:01–11:00| Night codebreaking | Jerry intercepts Gleason’s coded radio messages | | 12:22–14:39| Realization of sabotage | Decoding reveals Gleason’s attempt to block all plane acquisitions | | 14:29–14:39| Plans for counteraction | Jerry prepares for a long, critical trip to counter Gleason’s influence | | 14:39–15:00| Cliffhanger and teaser for next episode | Call to action and anticipation of drama to come |

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Tone & Atmosphere

• The episode maintains a tone of tension, daring, and optimism, laced with wartime urgency and camaraderie. Dialogue is brisk, with characters alternating between sly humor and steely determination. The presence of a villain with layered motives and moments of technological triumph reflects the era’s flavor of adventure.

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For listeners and fans of classic radio serials, this episode successfully mixes action, intrigue, and period-appropriate drama, leaving the audience eager for the next installment.

Transcript

[Captain Silver]

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[Jerry]

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[Narrator]

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[Jerry]

The Hound hoy. The Hound hoy.

[Narrator]

The Blue Network presents the Adventures of the Sea Hound with Captain Silver, Silver and Jerry.

[Captain Silver]

Captain Silver.

[Francisco]

Ahoy, Captain Silver.

[Narrator]

Well, in the jungles of Peru, Captain Silver's faith in Fletcher proved well founded. Much to everyone's surprise, the big dog pointed to Eta, leader of the Indian laborers, as the one whom Gleason had hired to make trouble in the camp. Ita fled, but Fletcher caught him. When Captain Silver, Senor Garlo and Jerry reached the prisoner, they were cut off from camp by other Indians. And those other Indians showed signs of real trouble. Eat A signaled by yell. And the Indians started closing in on Captain Silver. And worst of all, they were armed. Every one of them held a pistol.

[Captain Silver]

They stopped firing those guns.

[Francisco]

Where'd they get them?

[Jerry]

Gleason, of course. He must have brought them here in his plane.

[Francisco]

That's why he was so smug about everything.

[Captain Silver]

He knew what would happen if it came to a showdown.

[Francisco]

They're creeping up a few feet at a time.

[Jerry]

I'm going to try talking to them again.

[Captain Silver]

They pay no attention to you.

[Jerry]

All right, all right. Hide. You tell them to be quiet.

[Captain Silver]

Kumu kaku. No quiet.

[Jerry]

Yes. Yes, it is quiet. Now, you seem to have those Indians well under control, Eater.

[Captain Silver]

Boss, I see you are your friend over there. Start trouble.

[Francisco]

Manuel and the others are coming this way.

[Captain Silver]

Start trouble, eater. Start Boom Boom.

[Jerry]

There'll be no trouble. Eater.

[Francisco]

Manuel's waving. He's signaling to us.

[Jerry]

I'll signal to him to stay back. These Indians are just waiting for an excuse to start shooting.

[Francisco]

Jiminy Crickets. How'd they learn to use guns?

[Captain Silver]

Good friend. Come to village on river a long time ago.

[Jerry]

Good friend. You mean Senor Gleason?

[Captain Silver]

Mean same.

[Jerry]

Oh, so he came to your village, eh?

[Captain Silver]

Him come.

[Jerry]

And when was that?

[Captain Silver]

Long time. Come with other men and give it up, people. Boom Boom. Show how make noise. Then take Boom Boom. Go away.

[Jerry]

You're quite proud of yourself, aren't you? I suppose. Gleason made great promises.

[Captain Silver]

Him good friend.

[Jerry]

What are you going to do now?

[Captain Silver]

No eat the old Indian. Go home, good friends say, and go home.

[Francisco]

Does he mean they're going to leave us?

[Jerry]

I guess so.

[Francisco]

Well, Jim, and eat crickets. Captain Silver, we can't let them go, can we? Yes, Jerry, but what about the confession? If you don't get Ida to confess, you can't get Dirk Gleason.

[Jerry]

A confession by Eda wouldn't mean anything.

[Francisco]

It wouldn't?

[Jerry]

Not in the courts of Lima.

[Francisco]

Aw, hang it all.

[Captain Silver]

He's right, Jerry. Nothing Ita might say would implicate Dirk Gleason.

[Jerry]

I doubt if Ita and the other Indians really understand what they've done.

[Captain Silver]

No, Ita'll go.

[Jerry]

All right, Ita, go ahead. Come on, Jerry. Francisco, we'll go back to the camp.

[Francisco]

Yes, sir.

[Jerry]

Oh, come on, come on, cheer up. You two look as though you'd lost your best friend. You've got to take a setback once in a while.

[Francisco]

Look at Gleason standing over there. Wait. He'll gloat all over the place.

[Captain Silver]

He had better not gloat too loudly. I will punch his fat stomach.

[Dirk Gleason]

So this is the return of the warriors, eh?

[Jerry]

At least we identified the traitor, Gleason.

[Dirk Gleason]

You know, Silver, I wondered if you'd be fool enough to try to make a stand against those guns. I hoped you would.

[Jerry]

Yes, I suppose you did. Please, let me offer congratulations.

[Dirk Gleason]

For what?

[Jerry]

Your far sightedness. Peter just told me how you had him lined up before Manuel hired him.

[Dirk Gleason]

I'm admitting nothing, Gleason.

[Jerry]

You said you were returning to the States, didn't you?

[Dirk Gleason]

Did I say that?

[Captain Silver]

You know you said that, Gliton.

[Jerry]

Yes. You were going to abandon your interests in Peru. Remember? You said you stopped off here only to bid us goodbye and make an attempt at establishing more cordial relations before you left Peru.

[Dirk Gleason]

I think I've changed my plans.

[Jerry]

I thought you weren't very serious when you made those statements, Silver.

[Dirk Gleason]

We've been fighting each other since the day you came aboard my yacht. I've swung some hard blows at you, and I'm a man that can swing them. But you've parried most of them.

[Jerry]

It's certainly strange to hear you speaking honestly.

[Dirk Gleason]

I know that there's a fortune in this project of gallows. If he completes the airfield and launches gliders that can carry freight, it'll be one of the biggest things Peru has ever seen. There's a fortune in natural resources in this jungle. Economical transportation will work wonders.

[Jerry]

And don't you wish you had a finger in it?

[Dirk Gleason]

Yes, I do. I thought the Gallo might forfeit his franchise.

[Captain Silver]

You have done all you could to make that happen.

[Dirk Gleason]

I've tried.

[Captain Silver]

You have tried everything. Listen. Including murder. But you have failed.

[Dirk Gleason]

I haven't failed yet. You have a long way to go, Senor Gallo. There's still a great big question about the job. But now, if we get together on it and stop fighting, that is out of the question. But listen to me. I have the facilities to issue bonds in Lima. The citizens of Peru can share in.

[Captain Silver]

This enterprise while you own most of it. Oh, no, Gleason. Do not talk of partnerships. You shall have no part in this airfield.

[Dirk Gleason]

But look at that field. It's got to be three times as big as it is. All those trees have to be cleared. When that's done, you've got to get tow planes and gliders.

[Captain Silver]

Those things will be done.

[Dirk Gleason]

Yes. By whom? What you've done so far was done by Ita and the Indians. They've left, you see?

[Captain Silver]

Thanks to you.

[Dirk Gleason]

Let me in on this thing and I'll have him back on the job tomorrow morning.

[Jerry]

Just a minute.

[Captain Silver]

Bueno. Capitan Silva will speak for me.

[Jerry]

Gleason, you say our laborers have gone?

[Dirk Gleason]

Yes, and I alone can bring them back.

[Jerry]

We not only don't need those Indians, Gleason, we don't even want them.

[Dirk Gleason]

Oh, you're trying to put on a bold front, Silver.

[Jerry]

Oh, I don't fluff.

[Dirk Gleason]

Well, then who's going to clear the land? There are acres of trees to be cut, stumps to be dug.

[Jerry]

Gleeson, things have been happening behind your back.

[Dirk Gleason]

What do you mean?

[Jerry]

Turn around and look over there. The men have been busy. The sides of those two big planes have been opened and the cargo is being unloaded.

[Francisco]

Senor Gallo.

[Captain Silver]

Caramba. I am looking.

[Jerry]

Those planes brought in heavy machinery for us. See those machines? Wait till that bulldozer goes to work. Why, that One machine will do more in a day than all of Eda's men could do in three weeks.

[Dirk Gleason]

I forgot.

[Jerry]

We didn't even hope to get that stuff here as soon as this. Ironic, isn't it, that your own plot to hurt us brought that machinery here two weeks ahead of time. It's too bad you won't be here tomorrow, Gleason, to see that thing at work. Drop back in a couple of weeks and see the progress we've made.

[Dirk Gleason]

All right, Silver. I've given you a chance. You'll find that I have some trump cards left.

[Jerry]

I'll bet they'll be interesting.

[Dirk Gleason]

You'll wish you'd listen to my proposition before this job is done.

[Jerry]

Listen. Your plane will be filled with gas. Be sure you're out of here at daybreak tomorrow.

[Francisco]

Captain Silver.

[Jerry]

Quiet a minute, Jerry.

[Francisco]

It's 3am.

[Jerry]

There.

[Francisco]

Golly. Haven't you been to bed yet?

[Jerry]

No, not yet, Jerry. Sorry the radio awakens you. I had it down low.

[Francisco]

That wouldn't waken me. I. I guess I. I just wakened.

[Jerry]

I've been listening to Gleason's radio. Oh, his pilot's a good man on code. Fast sender.

[Francisco]

Has he been going ever since I turned in?

[Jerry]

Yes. I had a hunch Gleason would be using his radio. He was. He sent exactly 42 different messages.

[Francisco]

42?

[Jerry]

Yep. Here they are. And they don't mean a thing to me. Just a jumble of letters. Don't even know whom they're for.

[Francisco]

Code, huh?

[Jerry]

Yes.

[Francisco]

Well, can you break the code?

[Jerry]

I'm going to try. There's plenty to work on. Looks like some sort of substitution code.

[Francisco]

It's too bad Kukai isn't here. He's good at codes.

[Jerry]

Well, if I have too much trouble, I'll pass these along to him. Now, turn over and get some sleep. Tomorrow's another day.

[Francisco]

All right. Captain Silver.

[Jerry]

Yes?

[Francisco]

How about letting me drive that bulldozer?

[Jerry]

We'll see, Jerry. We'll see.

[Captain Silver]

You. Say, Capitan Silver needs me at once. Jerry.

[Francisco]

Yes, Senor Galo. He sent me for you as soon as he saw you come out of your tent.

[Captain Silver]

But wait. Let me watch that bulldozer at work. See how it takes up the trees. Oh, it is wonderful, Senor Gallo.

[Francisco]

I. I think this is important.

[Captain Silver]

Oh, I will go to the tent with you.

[Francisco]

He's been up all night again, Capitan. Yes, sir. I wakened about three and he was intercepting a lot of coded messages sent by Dirk Gleason.

[Captain Silver]

I had the report from a guard that they were lighting Gleason's plane until after 3.

[Francisco]

Well, after the transmission stopped, Captain Silver started decoding the messages.

[Captain Silver]

He would not go to bed and get some rest.

[Francisco]

Not when there's anything to be done.

[Captain Silver]

Caramba. Ain't the hombre.

[Francisco]

Here we are. Here's Senor Gallo.

[Jerry]

Come in, Francisco.

[Captain Silver]

Capitan, did you not hear the bulldozer at work?

[Jerry]

They can probably hear that thing in Lima.

[Captain Silver]

And you did not come out to see it. Oh, senor, it is worth going miles to see.

[Jerry]

Did Jerry tell you what I've been doing?

[Francisco]

See?

[Captain Silver]

You mean about the radio messages? Yes, but one of them. Why are you so serious? It's not just being tired that makes you look like that.

[Jerry]

No, it's not just being tired.

[Captain Silver]

Capitan. Che hay que pata?

[Jerry]

Here, read this message.

[Captain Silver]

This is one that you intercepted?

[Jerry]

Yes.

[Captain Silver]

It's decoded to John W. Bacon, New York.

[Jerry]

That's the first one, see?

[Captain Silver]

But it's not serious, is it?

[Jerry]

It's mighty serious. Read the next one. Bueno, Jones, Lori.

[Francisco]

Now, Captain Silver, what are they?

[Jerry]

Wait, Jerry. Wait till he address them.

[Francisco]

Oh.

[Captain Silver]

Copy. Done. Do you think these mean anything?

[Jerry]

They do. There are about 40 more of them, and all along the same line.

[Captain Silver]

The same car number.

[Jerry]

Francisco, I've got to make some trips to offset these messages. I don't know whether I can do it or not.

[Captain Silver]

But you must offset them. If Gleason succeeds, what's he going to do?

[Francisco]

I mean, what's he trying to do?

[Jerry]

He's trying to make it impossible for us to get a single plane or glider when the airport is done. If he's successful, Jerry, we'll lose the franchise after the airfield is completed because we can't get a plane to make a flight from here.

[Captain Silver]

Capitan, you said you might offset what he's doing.

[Jerry]

I've got to have the fastest plane in Peru and one that's equipped for long flights. Can I get it?

[Captain Silver]

I still have friends. Friends with influence, senor. And I can promise you a fast plane.

[Jerry]

Good.

[Captain Silver]

Good. How soon will you leave and how long will you be gone?

[Jerry]

I've got to leave as soon as possible. I don't know when I'll be back.

[Francisco]

So how far do you have to go?

[Jerry]

I may have to go all the way to Washington. Jerry, I've got to go just as far as Gleason's influence goes and one step farther.

[Narrator]

Well, events are moving toward a mighty climax, so don't miss tomorrow's episode. Tune in at the same time for further adventures of the Sea Hound.

[Jerry]

Until tomorrow.

[Narrator]

Then Captain Silver says smooth sailing.