Prompt action alone could save the women and children who lay cowering in the launch.
"Corporal, kneel with your men, and let them have it as fast as you can!" ordered Dave. "Riley, get your men into the boat, and take the Colt with you. Post it as fast as you can on the starboard quarter!"
Dave himself stood behind the kneeling marines, a fair target for every hostile bullet.
John Carmody, too, felt in honor bound to risk himself beside the young Navy ensign.
"All sea-going, sir!" called Coxswain Riley. "Schmidt, make ready to cast off," sang back Darrin.
Now the different groups of Mexicans, who had been halted for a minute under the brisk fire, saw their prey slipping away from them.
With yells of fury, Cosetta's men rose and attempted the final charge.
"Marines aboard!" yelled Darrin.
Almost in the same instant, loaded revolver in hand, Dave sprang to the gunwale and landed on the after deck.
Without waiting for the order from his chief, Schmidt cast off, with the aid of the single sailor under his own command. The engineer went ahead at slow speed for a few seconds while Riley steered the launch clear of the wharf and headed for deeper, safer water.
"Half speed ahead!" shouted Darrin, as Schmidt sprang to the wheel, while Riley, snatching up his rifle, joined the fighting men. Uttering howls of rage as they saw their prey escaping them, the Mexicans rushed out onto the wharf in a mad attempt to board before it was too late.
Three men would have succeeded in boarding the launch, had they not been shot down as they leaped for the after deck.
"Give it to them with the Colt, Corporal!" Dave called. "Every other man fire with his rifle!"
Before he had finished speaking, the reloaded Colt belched forth its rain of death. It was the machine gun, with its muzzle swiftly turning in an arc of a circle that did the most execution among the outlaws, but the riflemen did their share.
Until his rifle barrel was too hot to hold in his hands, John Carmody shot rapidly, yet coolly putting into his work all the pent-up indignation that he had felt for days against Cosetta and his men.
"Stop the gun!" ordered Dave Darrin, resting a hand on the shoulder of the marine corporal. "Don't waste its fire."
The launch was now free of the shore, and moving down the lagoon at half speed. On the wharf fully a score of Mexicans either lay dead or dying.
Dave's spoken order to the engineer caused the launch to increase its speed.
"Line up at the starboard rail," Dave called to the men grouped about him. "We're going to catch it from the shore."
The launch was a few hundred yards down the lagoon when Darrin, alertly watching, made out several figures on the eastern shore.
Patiently he waited until the first flash from a rifle was seen, which was followed instantly by the report and the "pss-seu!" of a bullet.
"Let 'em have the rest of what's in the Colt," the young ensign directed, calmly. "Men, don't fire too rapidly, but keep up your work. We want to be remembered by Cosetta, if he has the good luck to be still alive."
It was neither a heavy nor an accurate fire that came now from the enraged Mexicans. Helped out by the Colt, the fire from the moving craft was sharp enough to discourage the rapidly diminishing ardor of the miscreants on shore.
Just as the launch rounded the point of land at the mouth of the lagoon, and stood out into open water at full speed, a stray bullet killed Seaman Hicks.
"Yes, sir, he's dead, poor fellow!" exclaimed Riley, looking up as Ensign Dave stepped hastily forward for a look at his man. "Hicks was a fine sailor too."
"For a party that wasn't expected to fight," returned Darrin wearily, "we've had a pretty big casualty list—-two killed, and three wounded."
"You're wounded yourself, sir," exclaimed Riley.
"Oh, my boot was cut," Darrin assented, indifferently.
"Look at your wrist, sir," urged the young Coxswain.
Dave glanced down at his left wrist, to find it covered with blood.
"It must look worse than it is," Darrin commented, listlessly."I didn't even feel it."
"It will need attention, sir, just the same," Riley urged. "Let me fix it up, sir, with a first aid bandage."
There was a water cask aboard. As the launch was now out of close range, and the Mexicans had apparently given up firing, Riley brought a cup of water, poured it over the wrist, and wiped away the blood.
"A scratch, as I thought," smiled Dave. "Not even enough to get excused from watch duty."
"You'll have it dressed, sir, won't you, as soon as you get aboard the 'Long Island' again?" urged Riley, applying the sterilized bandage with swift skill. "If the scoundrels used any of the brass-jacketed bullets of which they're so fond, a scratch like that might lead to blood poisoning, sir."
In a few minutes more the launch was out of rifle range. Dave ordered the course changed to east by north-east, in order to reach the rendezvous of the three launches.
"Steamer ahead, sir!" sang out the bow lookout, a few minutes later.
"Whereaway?" called Darrin, moving forward.
"Three points off starboard bow, sir," replied the sailorman."It looks like our own launch, sir."
By this time Darrin was well forward. He peered closely at the approaching craft, for she might be a Mexican Federal gunboat that had fallen into the hands of rebels or outlaws.
"It's our own launch," pronounced Darrin, a minute later. He reached for the whistle pull and blew three blasts of welcome, which were promptly answered.
The two craft now neared each other. "Launch ahoy, there!" called a voice from the bow of the other craft.
"Aye, aye, sir!" Darrin answered.
"Is that you, Ensign Darrin?"
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Lay to. I am coming alongside."
As the launch under Dave's command lost headway, then lay idly on the light ground swell, the other launch circled about her, then came up under the port quarter.
"Did you find the American party, Ensign Darrin?" demanded LieutenantCantor.
"Yes, sir; I have the entire party aboard and uninjured."
"Was there any trouble?" asked Cantor.
"Yes, sir. We were fired upon, and forced to defend ourselves."
"You fired upon the natives?" exclaimed Lieutenant Cantor, in an \ astonished tone.
"I had to, sir."
"In the face of orders not to fight?" pressed Dave's enemy.
"Sir, if I had not fought, I would have lost my entire command," Darrin answered, with an indignation that he could not completely veil.
"Ensign Darrin," came the sharp rebuke,
"You have disobeyed the orders of Captain Gales, which were repeated by me just before we parted company. Did your fire hit any of the Mexicans?"
"I think we must have done so, sir," Dave returned dryly. "Several of them lay down, at all events."
"Any losses in your own command?" pressed Cantor.
"Two men killed and four wounded."
"The consequences of disobedience of orders, sir!" cried Lieutenant Cantor, angrily. "Ensign Darrin, I am certain that you should not have been entrusted with the command of a launch."
"That sounds like a reflection on the Captain's judgment, sir!"Dave rejoined, rather warmly.
"No unnecessary remarks," thundered Cantor. "I shall not place you in arrest, but on our return to the ship I shall report at once your flagrant disobedience of orders."
Darrin did not answer, but the hot blood now surged to his head, suffusing his cheeks. He was deeply humiliated.
"Young man, if you call that good sense," rumbled the deep voice of John Carmody, "then I don't agree with you. You condemn Darrin——-"
"Who is speaking?" roared Lieutenant Cantor.
"My name is John Carmody," returned the planter, coolly.
"Then be good enough to remain silent," commanded Cantor.
"Since I'm on a government boat," retorted the planter, "I suppose I may as well do as I'm ordered. But at some other time I shall air my opinion of you, young man, as freely as I please."
Lieutenant Cantor bit his lips, then gave the order to proceed to the appointed rendezvous.
As Cantor's launch neared Dalzell's steamer, the lieutenant ordered a rocket sent up. From away over on the horizon an answering rocket was seen.
Forty minutes later the "Long Island" lay to close by. Cantor's launch was the first to go in alongside.
"Were you successful?" hailed the voice of the executive officer from the bridge.
"Ensign Darrin was, sir," Cantor replied, through the megaphone.
"Are all the missing Americans safe?"
"Yes, sir," Cantor continued.
"And all our own men?"
"Two killed, sir, and four wounded, through what I believe to be disobedience of orders."
Instructions came for Lieutenant Cantor's launch to lay alongside. Soon after the men were on deck and the launch hoisted into place. Then, under orders, Darrin ran alongside. First of all his wounded men were passed on hoard, being there received by hospital stewards from the sick bay. Then, amid impressive silence, the two dead men were taken on board.
"Ensign Darrin," directed the officer of the deck, from the bridge, "you are directed to report to Captain Gales, at once."
Saluting, and holding himself very erect, Dave Darrin stepped proudly aboard. His face was white and angry as he neared the captain's quarters, but the young ensign strove to command himself, and tried to keep his sorely tried temper within bounds.
"You will pass inside, sir, at once," directed the marine orderly, as the young officer halted near the door.
Acknowledging the marine's salute, Dave Darrin passed him and entered the office.
Lieutenant Cantor, erect and stern, faced Captain Gales, who looked the sterner of the two.
"Ensign Darrin," began the battleship's commanding officer, rising, "most serious charges have been preferred against you, sir!"
Ensign Darrin bowed, then awaited further communication from his commanding officer.
"It was particularly set forth in the orders," resumed Captain Gales, "that any form of conflict was to be avoided by the expedition of which you commanded a part, was it not?"
"It was, sir," Darrin admitted.
"And yet, by the report which Lieutenant Cantor has turned in, you opened fire on Cosetta and his band and have returned to ship with two men killed and four men wounded. Is that report correct?"
"It is, sir," admitted the young ensign, "with one exception."
"State the exception, Ensign Darrin," ordered the captain, coldly.
"The exception, sir, is that Cosetta's fellows opened fire on us first."
Dave Darrin stood looking straight into Captain Gales's eyes.
"Ensign Darrin, did you do anything to provoke that fire?" asked the commanding officer.
"Yes, sir," Dave admitted.
"Ah!" breathed Captain Gales, while Cantor gave an almost inaudible ejaculation of triumph.
"What was it, sir, that you did to provoke Cosetta into ordering his fellows to fire?" questioned Captain Gales.
"Why, sir, I found and rescued the Americans after whom you sent me," Dave explained. "They were Cosetta's prisoners. There was not a shot fired on either side until after I had placed the released prisoners under the protection of my own men, and had started away with them. Then the Mexican bandits opened fire on us."
"Couldn't you have escaped without returning the fire?"
"We might have been able to do so, sir."
"Then why didn't you?" pressed the captain.
"Because, sir, I felt sure that we would lose most of our men if we tamely submitted, and ran, pursued by superior numbers, to our launch. Moreover, I was much afraid that some of the Americans we were trying to rescue would be hit."
"In your judgment, Ensign Darrin, there was no other course open save to return the fire?"
"That was my exact judgment of the situation, sir," replied the young ensign earnestly.
"And still is your best judgment?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Hm!" commented Captain Gales. "And yet you have returned to ship with your casualties amounting to thirty per cent of your command, and one-third of your casualties are fatalities."
"Those are the facts, sir," interposed Lieutenant Cantor. "Therefore, in the face of fighting against orders, and sustaining such losses to his own immediate command, I felt it my duty, sir, to prefer charges against Ensign Darrin."
"This is a most unfortunate affair, sir," commented Captain Gales.
Dave Darrin felt the hot blood mounting to his face. He tried to control his wrath, but could not refrain from asking a question. "Sir, do you wish me to hand my sword to you?" he said gravely, with a quick movement of his right hand toward his sword hilt.
"Not yet, at any rate," answered Captain Gales, calmly. "I wish to hear your story."
"Very good, sir," Dave returned, then plunged at once into a narrative that was stripped to the bare facts. He told everything from the landing of his men to the final escape from the lagoon under Mexican fire.
"Of course, sir, Coxswain Riley and Corporal Ross will be able to bear me out as to the facts of which they have knowledge. And I would suggest, sir," Darrin added, "that Mr. Carmody, who knows more of Cosetta than any of us, will be able to give you an excellent opinion of whether I was obliged to throw my command into the fight."
"How much of your ammunition did you bring back?" asked CaptainGales, his face betraying nothing of his inward opinion.
"All the Colt ammunition was used, sir."
"And the rifle ammunition?"
"I do not believe, sir, that any man brought back more than three or four of his cartridges. Some of the men, undoubtedly, have no ammunition left."
"It is evident, sir," hinted Lieutenant Cantor, "that Ensign Darrin did his best to bring on an engagement. And his thirty per cent casualty list——-"
"Thank you, Lieutenant," broke in Captain Gales. "The number of casualties, while unfortunate, is to be justified only by a decision as to whether it was expedient and right to engage the brigand, Cosetta."
Lieutenant Cantor's only comment was an eloquent shrug of his shoulders.
"Ensign Darrin," continued Captain Gales, "if your story is true in every detail, then it would appear to me that your action, while I regret the necessity for it, could hardly be avoided. In that case, your conduct does not appear to render you liable to censure. Until further notice you will continue in your duties. Lieutenant Cantor will, as early as possible, turn in a written report of the work of the expedition, and you, Ensign Darrin, will make a written report on your own part in the affair. You will make your report through Lieutenant Cantor, who will hand it to me with his own report. Lieutenant Cantor, in his report, will make such comment on Ensign Darrin's statements as he sees fit. You may go to your quarters, Darrin, and begin your report."
"Very good, sir," Darrin returned. Saluting, he left the office.
Out in the passage-way Dave encountered Dan, who had been waiting for him.
"What's in the wind?" asked Danny Grin, eyeing Dave anxiously.
"Cantor," Dave returned, grimly.
"Is he trying to make trouble for you because you behaved like a brave man?" Dan asked, angrily.
"That is his plan."
"The contemptible hound!" ejaculated Dan Dalzell. "Do you think he is going to succeed in putting it over on you?"
"That's more than I can predict," Darrin answered his chum. "Cantor is a bright man, and in rascality I believe him to be especially efficient."
"I'd like to call the fellow out!" muttered Dan.
"Don't think of it," Dave Darrin urged, hastily, for he knew only too well the quality of Danny Grin's temper when it was fully aroused. "A challenge would suit Cantor to the skies, for it would enable him to have my best friend kicked out of the Navy."
"I won't think of it, then," promised Ensign Dalzell, "unless that fellow tries my temper to the breaking point."
Dave went hastily to his own quarters, where he laid aside his sword and revolver, bathed and dressed himself. Then he sent a messenger in search of a typewriting machine. When that came Darrin seated himself before it. Rapidly, he put down all the essential circumstances of the night's work.
Scanning the sheets closely, Dave made two or three minor changes in his report, then signed it.
Through a messenger, Darrin inquired if Lieutenant Cantor could receive him. A reply came back that Dave might report to him at once.
"This is my report, sir," Dave announced,
Dave was about to turn on his heel and leave the room, when LieutenantCantor stopped him with:
"Wait a few moments, if you please, Darrin. I wish to run hastily through your report."
Declining the offer of a chair, Darrin remained standing stiffly.
As he went through the report, Cantor frowned several times.At last he laid the signed sheets down on his desk.
"Darrin," asked the division commander, "do you realize that you are out of place in the Navy?"
"I do not, sir," Dave answered, coldly.
"Well, you are," pursued Lieutenant Cantor. "With your talents you should engage in writing the most improbable kinds of romances."
"That report is true in every respect, sir," Dave frowned.
"It appears to me to be a most improbable report—-as highly improbable as any official report that I have ever seen."
"The report is true in every detail," repeated Dave, his face flushing.
Lieutenant Cantor rose from his desk, facing his angry subordinate.
"You lie!" he declared, coldly.
"You cur!" Dave Darrin hissed back, his wrath now at white heat.
Instantly he launched a blow full at Cantor's face. The lieutenant warded it off.
Within three or four seconds several blows were aimed on both sides, without landing, for both were excellent boxers.
Then Dave drove in under Cantor's guard with his left hand, while with his right fist he struck the lieutenant a blow full on the face that sent him reeling backward.
Clutching wildly, Cantor seized a chair, carrying it over with himself as he landed on the floor.
In an instant Lieutenant Cantor was on his feet, brandishing the chair aloft.
"Ensign Darrin," he cried, "you have made the error of striking a superior officer when on duty!"
"I know it," Dave returned, huskily.
"You have committed a serious breach of discipline," blazed the lieutenant.
"I have struck down a fellow who demeaned himself by insulting his subordinate," Darrin returned, his voice now clear and steady. "Lieutenant Cantor, do you consider yourself fit to command others?"
"Never mind what I think about myself," sneered the lieutenant."Go to your quarters!"
"In arrest?" demanded Dave Darrin, mockingly.
"No; but go to your quarters and remain there for the present.You are likely to be summoned very soon."
Saluting, Ensign Dave turned ironically on his heel, going back to his quarters.
In an instant Danny Grin came bounding in.
"There's something up, isn't there?" Ensign Dalzell asked, anxiously.
"A moment ago there was something down," retorted Dave, grimly."It was Cantor, if any one asks you about it."
"You knocked him down?" asked Dan, eagerly.
"I did."
"Then you must have had an excellent reason."
"I did have a very fair reason," Darrin went on, "the fellow passed the lie."
"Called you aliar?"
"That was the purport of his insult," Dave nodded.
"I'm glad you knocked him down," Dalzell went on, fervently."Yet I see danger ahead."
"What danger?" Dave asked, dryly.
"Cantor will report your knock-down feat to Captain Gales."
"Let him. When he hears of the provocation Captain Gales will exonerate me. Cantor will have to admit that he deliberately insulted me."
"If Cantor does admit it," muttered Danny Grin, doubtfully. "I haven't any faith in Cantor's honor."
"Why, he'll have to do it," Dave contended, proudly. "Cantor is an officer in the United States Navy. Can you picture an officer as telling a deliberate falsehood?"
"It wouldn't be extremely difficult to picture Cantor as doing anything unmanly," Dan replied, slowly.
"Oh, but he couldn't tell a falsehood," Darrin protested. "That would be impossible—-against all the traditions of the service."
"My infant," Dan retorted, "I am afraid that, some day, you will have a rude awakening."
While these events were happening Captain Gales was closely questioning John Carmody. Coxswain Riley and Corporal Ross of the marines had already been before him.
As Darrin left his division officer's quarters Cantor turned to wipe his stinging cheek, which he next examined closely in a glass. Then he turned back to his desk, smiling darkly.
Rapidly he wrote his comment on Darrin's report, signed his own report, and then leaned back, thinking hard.
"I'll do it!" he muttered, the sinister smile appearing again.
Picking up his pen, He began to write a separate report, chargingEnsign David Darrin with viciously knocking him down while on duty.
This report Cantor folded carefully, tucking it away in an inner pocket of his undress blouse. Then, gathering up the other reports in one hand, he pushed aside the curtain and stepped outside.
"Hullo, Trent," he offered, in greeting, as that officer suddenly appeared.
"Cantor, I want to talk with you for a moment," urged LieutenantTrent.
"Just now, I am on my way to the commanding officer with official reports," Cantor objected.
"But what I have to say is urgent," Trent insisted. "Can't you spare me just a moment?"
"If you'll be extremely brief," Cantor agreed, reluctantly.
"You may think I am interfering," Trent went on, "but I wish to say that I heard that fracas in your quarters, between yourself and Darrin. I happened to be passing at the moment."
Cantor gave an uneasy start. He felt a moment's fright, but hastily recovered, for he was a quick thinker.
"It was outrageous, wasn't it, Trent?" he demanded.
"I should say that it was," replied his brother officer, though he spoke mildly.
"I don't know what to make of young Darrin," Cantor continued."First he insulted me, and then struck me."
"Knocked you down, didn't he?" asked Trent.
"Yes," nodded Cantor.
"What are you trying to do to that youngster?" asked Trent, coolly.
"What am I trying to do to him?" Cantor repeated, in seeming astonishment. "Nothing, of course, unless I'm driven to it. But Darrin insulted me, and then followed it up with a blow."
Trent fixed his brother officer with a rather contemptuous glance as he answered, stiffly.
"Cantor, there are two marines aft. Go and tell your version to the marines."
"Are you going to call me a liar, too?" demanded Cantor, his eyes blazing, as he turned a threatening face to Trent.
"Keep cool," urged Lieutenant Trent, "and you'll get out of this affair more easily than you would otherwise."
"But you spoke," argued Cantor, "as though you doubted my word. If you were outside my door at the time, then you know that I asked Darrin, 'Am I a liar?' Then he struck me at once."
"Are you going to prefer charges against Darrin for knocking you down?" demanded Lieutenant Treat.
"I am most certainly," nodded Cantor, taping his breast pocket wherein hay the report.
"Then I am obliged to tell you, Cantor," Lieutenant Trent went on, "that at the courtmartial I shall be obliged to appear as one of Darrin's witnesses. Further, I shall be obliged to testify that you said to him, 'you lie.' Then Darrin knocked you down, as any other self-respecting man must have done."
"But I didn't tell him he lied," protested Cantor, with much seeming warmth. "On the contrary, I asked him if he meant to imply that I lied."
"That may be your version, Cantor," Lieutenant Trent rejoined, "but I have just told you what my testimony will have to be."
"What's your interest in this Darrin fellow?" Cantor demanded, half-sneeringly.
"Why, in the first place," Trent answered, calmly, "I like Darrin. And I regard him as an excellent, earnest, faithful, competent young officer."
"But why should you try to shield him, and throw me down, if this matter comes before a court-martial?"
"Because I am an officer," replied Trent, stiffly, drawing himself up, "and also, I trust, a gentleman. It is both my sworn duty and my inclination to see truth prevail at all times in the service."
"But think it over, Trent," urged Lieutenant Cantor. "Now, aren't you ready to admit that you heard me ask, 'Am I a liar'?"
"I can admit nothing of the sort," Trent returned. Then, laying a hand on the arm of the other lieutenant, Trent continued:
"Cantor, all the signs point to the belief that we shall be at war with Mexico at any time now. We can't afford to have the ward-room mess torn by any court-martial charges against any officer, unless he richly deserves the prosecution. Darrin doesn't; that I know. I have no right to balk any officer who demands a courtmartial of any one on board, but it is right and proper that I should he prepared to take oath as to what I know of the merits of the matter. I must assume, and I hope rightly, that you really have an erroneous recollection of what passed before the blow was struck. Cantor, you have the reputation of being a hard master with young officers, but I know nothing affecting your good repute as an officer and a gentleman. I am ready to believe that you, yourself, have a wrong recollection of what you said, but I am very certain as to the exact form of the words that I heard passed. Good night!"
Barely returning the salutation, Cantor passed on to Captain Gales's office, to which he was promptly admitted.
The hour was late, but the commander of the "Long Island" was anxious to get at the whole truth of the evening's affair ashore, and so was still at his desk.
"Oh, I am glad to see you, Lieutenant Cantor," was the captain's greeting, as that officer appeared, after having sent in his compliments. "You have both reports?"
"Here they are, sir," replied the younger officer, laying them on the desk.
"Be seated, Lieutenant. I will go through these papers at once."
For some minutes there was silence in the room, save for the rustling of paper as Captain Gales turned a page.
At last he glanced up from the reading.
"I note, Lieutenant Cantor, that you are still of the opinion that the fight could have been avoided."
"That is my unalterable opinion, sir," replied the lieutenant.
"You are aware, of course, Mr. Cantor, that your report will form a part of the record that will go to the Navy Department, through the usual official channels?"
"I am well aware of that, sir."
"Have you any other papers to submit in connection with EnsignDarrin?"
For the barest instant Lieutenant Cantor hesitated.
Then he rose, as he replied:
"No other papers, sir."
"That is all, Lieutenant," nodded the captain, and returned his subordinate officer's salute.
"The captain's compliments, sir, and will Ensign Darrin report to him immediately?"
Darrin had dressed for breakfast the morning after, but there were yet some minutes to spare before the call would come to the ward-room mess.
"My compliments to the captain, and I will report immediately,"Ensign Dave replied.
Turning, he put on his sword and drew on his white gloves. Then, with a glance over himself, he left his quarters, walking briskly toward the commanding officer's quarters.
Captain Gales, at his desk, received the young ensign's salute.On the desk lay the papers in the matter of the night before.
"Ensign, I have gone over the papers in last night's affair," began the "Old Man," as a naval vessel's commander is called, when not present.
"Yes, sir?"
The captain's face was inexpressive; it was impossible to tell what was going on in his mind.
"I have given careful attention to your report, and also to that of Lieutenant Cantor. I have talked with Mr. Carmody, and have asked Coxswain Riley and Corporal Ross some questions. And so I have come to the decision——-"
Here the captain paused for an instant.
How Dave Darrin's heart thumped under his ribs. The next few words would convey either censure, criticism or exoneration!
"——-that Lieutenant Cantor's charges are not well sustained," continued, Captain Gales.
Dave Darrin could not repress the gleam of joy that flashed into his eyes. The memory of the men killed under his command and the present sufferings of the wounded had preyed upon him through a long, wakeful night.
But here was a veteran in the service, prepared, after hearing all possible testimony, to declare that he, Darrin, was not blamable!
"I had hoped," resumed Captain Gales, "that the affair on shore could he conducted without firing a single shot, However, Ensign Darrin, the fact has been established to my satisfaction that you did your work well; that you did not allow your men to fire a shot until you had been attacked in force. Nor did you fire upon Mexican troups or reputable natives, but upon a body of bandits—-outlaws—-who are enemies of all mankind. Not to have returned the fire, under such circumstances, would have been censurable conduct. That several times through the night you held your party's fire, and at no time fired oftener than appeared to be absolutely necessary, is established by the eye-witnesses with whom I have talked. Nor were the losses to your command higher than might have been looked for in a fight against superior numbers, such as you encountered. I have endorsed these views of mine upon Lieutenant Cantor's report and also upon your own. I can find no fault with your course of action."
"I cannot tell you, sir, how highly I appreciate your decision."
"Of course you do, Darrin!" cried Captain Gales, holding out his hand. "No young officer in the service enjoys being censured when he has used the very best judgment with which Heaven has endowed him. No man of earnest effort, likes to have his motives questioned. And I am happy to say, Ensign Darrin, that I regard you as the same faithful, hardworking officer that I considered you when you had not been more than three days aboard the 'Long Island.' I congratulate you, Ensign, upon your skilful handling of a bad situation last night. Now, I am not going to keep you here longer, for mess call is due in two minutes, and you will want your breakfast."
With a heart full of joy and gratitude Dave hastened back to his quarters, where he laid aside his sword and gloves.
Just outside the ward-room door he encountered John Carmody, who appeared to have been waiting there purposely.
"Now, Mr. Darrin," cried the planter, holding out his hand, "I want to try to give you some idea of my gratitude for the magnificent work you did last night for my dear ones and our friends. I don't know how to begin, but——-"
"Please don't try to begin," laughed Dave. "An officer of the American Navy should never be thanked for the performance of his duty. I can't tell you how delighted I am that my efforts were successful, and that the scoundrels, who had tried to violate Mexico's sacred duty of hospitality, were roundly punished. Tell me, sir, how are the ladies this morning?"
"All of them are in excellent spirits, Mr. Darrin. I suppose you have not seen them yet. They are in full possession of the captain's quarters, and are at breakfast now."
The breakfast call sounded, and in twos and threes the officers of the "Long Island," passed into the ward-room.
John Carmody was provided with a seat beside the chaplain.
"Darrin, you lucky dog!" called Lieutenant-Commander Denton, as soon as the officers were seated.
"Am I really fortunate?" Dave smiled back.
"Yes; for you were privileged to order the firing of the first shots in the Mexican war that is now close at hand. You are, or will be, historical, Darrin!"
Dave's face clouded as he replied, gravely:
"And I am also aware, sir, that I had the misfortune to lose the first men killed."
"That was regrettable," replied another officer, "but we of the Navy expect to go down some day. The two men who were killed died for the honor and credit of the service, and of the Flag, which we serve. It is the lot of all of us, Darrin. If war comes many a soldier and sailor will find an honored grave, and perhaps not a few here will lose their mess numbers. It's just the way of the service, Darrin!"
"Cantor, you were out of luck last night," observed LieutenantHolton, who sat next to him.
"In what way?" asked Cantor, but he flushed deeply.
"You had only a boat ride, and missed the fight," replied Holton.
"Oh!" replied Cantor, and felt relieved, for he had thought thatHolton referred to something else.
"Where are we heading now?" asked Dave.
"Didn't you notice the course?" inquired Dalzell.
"About westerly, isn't it?"
"Yes; we are bound for Vera Cruz," Danny Grin answered. "We shall be there in two hours. Mr. Carmody and his party have no notion of going back to their plantation at present. Instead, they'll take a steamer to New York."
Breakfast was nearly over when an orderly appeared, bringing an envelope, which he handed to Commander Bainbridge.
"Pardon me," said the executive officer to the officers on either side of him. Then he examined the paper contained in the envelope.
"Gentlemen," called Commander Bainbridge, "I have some information that I will announce to you, briefly, as soon as the meal is over."
Every eye was turned on the executive officer. After a few moments he continued:
"Yesterday, at Tampico, an officer and boatcrew of men went ashore in a launch from the 'dolplin.' The boat flew the United States Flag, and the officer and men landed to attend to the purchase of supplies. An officer of General Huerta's Federal Army arrested our officer and his men. They were released a little later, but Admiral Mayo demanded a formal apology and a salute of twenty-one guns to our insulted Flag. Some sort of apology has been made to Admiral Mayo, but it was not satisfactory, and the gun salute was refused. Admiral Mayo has sent the Mexican Federal commander at Tampico something very much like an ultimatum. Unless a satisfactory apology is made, and the gun salute is fired, the Washington government threatens to break off all diplomatic relations with Mexico and to make reprisals. That is the full extent of the news, so far as it has reached us by wireless."
"War!" exploded Lieutenant-Commander Eaton.
"We mustn't jump too rapidly at conclusions," Commander Bainbridge warned his hearers.
"But itdoesmean war, doesn't it?" asked Lieutenant Holton. "That chap, Huerta, will be stiff-necked about yielding a gun salute after it has been refused, and Mexican pride will back him up in it. The Mexicans hate us as only jealous people can hate. The Mexicans won't give in. On the other hand, our country has always been very stiff over any insult to the Flag. So what hope is there that war can be averted? Reprisals between nations are always taken by the employment of force, and surely any force that we employ against Mexico can end in nothing less than war."
As the officers left the table nothing was talked of among them except the news from Tampico.
The rumor spread rapidly forward. Cheering was heard from the forecastle.
"The jackies have the word," chuckled Dan Dalzell. "They're sure to be delighted over any prospect of a fight."
"If we have a real fight," sighed Darrin, his mind on the night before, "a lot of our happy jackies will be sent home in boxes to their friends."
"A small lot the jackies care about that," retorted Danny Grin."Show me, if you can, anywhere in the world, a body of men whocare less about facing death than the enlisted men in the UnitedStates Navy!"
"Of course we should have interfered in Mexico long ago," Dave went on. "Serious as the Flag incident is, there have been outrages ten-fold worse than that. I shall never be able to down the feeling that we have been, as a people, careless of our honor in not long ago stepping in to put a stop to the outrages against Americans that have been of almost daily occurrence in Mexico."
"If fighting does begin," asked Dalzell, suddenly, "where do we of the Navy come in? Shelling a few forts, possibly, and serving in the humdrum life of blockade duty."
"If we land in Mexico," Dave retorted, "there will be one stern duty that will fall to the lot of the Navy. The Army won't be ready in time for the first landing on Mexican soil. That will be the duty of the Navy. If we send a force of men ashore at Tampico, or possibly Vera Cruz, it will have to be a force of thousands of our men, for the Mexicans will resist stubbornly, and there'll be a lot of hard fighting for the Navy before Washington has the Army in shape to land. Never fear, Danny boy! We are likely to see enough active service!"
Dave soon went to the bridge to stand a trick of watch duty withLieutenant Cantor.
For an hour no word was exchanged between the two officers. Cantor curtly transmitted orders through petty officers on the deck below. Dave kept to his own, the starboard side of the bridge, his alert eyes on his duty. There was no chance to exchange even a word on the all-absorbing topic of the incident at Tampico.
Vera Cruz, lying on a sandy stretch of land that was surrounded by marshes, was soon sighted, and the "Long Island" stood in toward the harbor in which the Stars and Stripes fluttered from several other American warships lying at anchor.
A messenger from the executive officer appeared on the bridge with the information that, after the ship came to anchor, Ensign Dalzell would be sent in one of the launches to convey the Carmody party ashore.
There was no chance for the rescued ones to come forward to say good-bye to Darrin on the bridge, for they went over the port side into the waiting launch.
Dalzell, however, manoeuvred the launch so that she passed along the ship's side.
A call, and exclamations in feminine voices attracted Dave's notice.
"Mr. Darrin, Mr. Darrin!" called four women at once, as they waved their handkerchiefs to him. Dave, cap in hand, returned their salute.
"Thank you again, Mr. Darrin."
"We won't say good-bye," called Mrs. Carmody, "for we shall hope to meet you and your splendid boat-crew again."
At that the jackies on the forecastle set up a tremendous cheering.
Not until Dave had gone off duty did another launch put out from the "Long Island." That craft bore to one of the docks two metal caskets. Brief services had been held over the remains of the sailor and the marine killed the night before, and now the bodies were to be sent home to the relatives.
After luncheon a messenger summoned Ensign Darrin to CommanderBainbridge's office.
"Ensign Darrin," said the executive officer, "here are some communications to be taken ashore to the office of the American consul. You will use number three launch, and take a seaman orderly with you."
"Aye, aye, sir."
Darrin went over the side, followed by Seaman Rogers, who had been in the landing party the night before, Both were soon ashore. Rogers, who knew where the consul's office was, acted as guide.
Crowds on the street eyed the American sailors with no very pleasant looks.
"Those Greasers are sullen, sir," said Seaman Rogers.
"I expected to find them so," Ensign Darrin answered.
They had not gone far when a man astride a winded, foam-flocked horse rode up the street.
"Do you know that man, sir?" asked Seaman Rogers, in an excited whisper.
"The bandit, Cosetta!" Dave muttered.
"The same, sir."
But Darrin turned and walked on again, for he saw that the recognition had been mutual.
Espying the young ensign, Cosetta reined in sharply before a group of Mexicans, whose glances he directed at Dave Darrin.
"There he goes, the turkey-cock, strutting young officer," cried Cosetta harshly in his own tongue. "Eye the young Gringo upstart well. You must know him again, for he is to be a marked man in the streets of Vera Cruz!"
It was a prediction full of ghastly possibilities for EnsignDave Darrin!
Seaman Rogers led the way briskly to the American consulate.
"The consul is engaged, sir, with the Jefe Politico," explained a clerk at a desk in an outer office. "Will you wait, or have you papers that can be left with me?"
"Thank you; I shall he obliged to wait," Dave decided, "sinceI was instructed to hand the papers to the consul himself."
He took a chair at a vacant desk, picking up a late issue of aNew Orleans daily paper and scanning the front page.
Seaman Rogers strolled to the entrance, watching the passing crowds of Mexicans.
"Is there any very late news from Tampico?" Darrin inquired, presently.
"Nothing later than the news received this morning," the clerk replied.
"The bare details of the dispute there over the insult to the Flag?"Darrin inquired.
"That is all, sir," the clerk replied.
So Dave turned again to the newspaper. Several things were happening in the home country that interested him.
"It was half an hour before theJefe Politico, a Mexican official, corresponding somewhat to a mayor in an American city, passed through on his way out.
"You will be able to see the consul, now," suggested the clerk, so Dave rose at once, passing into the inner office, where he was pleasantly greeted.
Dave laid a sealed packet of papers on the desk before the consul.
"If you have time to wait, pardon me while I glance at the enclosures," said the consul.
Ensign Darrin took a seat near a window, while the official went rapidly through the papers submitted to him.
Some were merely communications to go forward to the United States in the consular mailbag.
Still other papers required careful consideration.
"If you will excuse me," said the consul, rising, "I will go into another room to dictate a letter that I wish to send to your captain."
Dave passed through another half hour of waiting.
"It will be some time before the papers are ready," reported the consul, on his return. "In the meantime, Mr. Darrin, I am quite at your service."
"I wonder if you have received any further news about the Tampico incident," Dave smiled, questioningly.
"Nothing further, I fancy, than was sent by wireless to all theAmerican warships in these waters."
"Is that incident going to lead to war?" Darrin asked.
"It is hard to say," replied the consul, musingly. "But the people at home are very much worked up over it."
"They are?" asked Dave, eagerly.
"Indeed, yes! In general, the American press predicts that now nothing is so likely as United States intervention in this distracted country. Some of our American editors even declare boldly that the time has come to bring about the permanent occupation and annexation of Mexico."
"I hope our country won't go that far," Dave exclaimed, with a gesture of disgust. "I should hate to think of having to welcome the Mexicans as fellow citizens of the great republic."
"I don't believe that we need worry about it," smiled the consul."It is only the jingo papers that are talking in that vein."
"How does Congress feel about the situation?" Dave asked.
"Why, I am glad to say that Congress appears to be in line for as strong action as the government may wish to take."
"It really looks like war, then."
"It looks as though our troops might land on the Mexican coast by way of reprisal," replied the consul. "That would bring stubborn resistance from the Mexicans, and then, as a result, intervention would surely follow. There may be men with minds bright enough to see the difference between armed intervention and war."
"I'm stupid then," Ensign Dave smiled. "I can't see any difference in the actual results. So you believe, sir, that the people of the United States are practically a unit for taking a strong hand in Mexican affairs?"
"The people of the United States have wanted just that action for at least two years," the consul answered.
"That was the way it looked to me," Dave nodded. "By the way, sir, did you hear anything about an armed encounter between a naval party and Cosetta's bandits last night?"
"Why, yes," cried the consul, "and now I remember that the landing party was sent from your ship. What can you tell me about that?"
Dave Darrin gave a brief account of the doings of the night before, though he did not mention the fact that he, himself, was in command of the landing party of rescuers.
"It was a plucky bit of work," commented the consul.
"Will that fight with Cosetta inflame the Mexican mind?" Dave asked.
"It is likely to have something of that effect upon the Mexicans," the consul replied, "though Mexico can hardly make any legal objection to the affair, for Cosetta is a notorious bandit, and bandits have no rights. The Mexican government appears to have been unable to rescue the prisoners, so the United States forces had an undoubted right to do so. Do you know anything about this fellow, Cosetta, Mr. Darrin?"
"I never heard of him before yesterday," Dave confessed.
"He is a troublesome fellow, and rather dangerous. More than once he has extorted large sums of ransom money for prisoners. He has a large following, even here in Vera Cruz, where he maintains his little force of spies and assassins. Whenever a wealthy Mexican hereabouts has had an enemy that he wanted 'removed,' he has always been able to accomplish his wish with the aid of this same fellow, Cosetta."
"Cosetta is in town to-day," Dave remarked.
"Are you sure of that?"
"I saw him here," Darrin replied, quietly.
"Then you must have been the officer in command of last night's landing party."
"I was." replied Dave Darrin, shortly.
"Then, Mr. Darrin," said the Consul, earnestly, "I am going to give you a bit of advice that I hope you won't disregard. Cosetta may feel deep resentment against you, for you thwarted his plans. Probably, too, you were the cause of laying several of his men low last night. Cosetta won't forget or forgive you. Whenever you are in time streets of Vera Cruz I would advise you to keep your eyes wide open. Cosetta might detail a couple of his worthless desperadoes to bury their knives in your back. This bandit has done such things before, nor is it at all easy to punish him, for the scoundrel has many surprisingly loyal friends in Vera Cruz. In a more strictly-governed country he would be arrested in the city streets as soon as pointed out, but in Mexico the bandit is likely to be a popular hero, and certainly Cosetta is that in Vera Cruz. If he were wanted here for a crime, there are hundreds of citizens who would gladly hide him in their homes. On any day in the week Cosetta could easily recruit a hundred men for his band. Perhaps he is now in town on that errand."
"I have an idea that the fellow is dangerous," Darrin nodded. "Still, here in Vera Cruz, with scores of American sailors usually in sight on the streets, it seems to me hardly likely that Cosetta would instruct his men to attack me. The sailors would interfere. Certainly they would lay hold of the assassin."
"Ah, but the sailors do not come ashore armed," the consul warned his visitor. "On the other hand, most of the Mexicans go about to-day with arms concealed about them. A fight between a sailor and a Mexican might, just now, be enough to start a riot."
Dave listened attentively. He was not in the least alarmed by the possibility of an attack being made upon his person, but he had the natural distaste of a naval officer for being the innocent cause of strained relations between his country and another nation.
When the stenographer brought in the papers that had been dictated to him, the consul looked them through, then signed them.
"Here is a packet of communications for your captain," said the consul, handing a bulky envelope to Darrin. "One of the communications enclosed, Mr. Darrin, is of so important a nature that you will have an added reason for keeping your weather eye open against any form of trouble that Senor Cosetta might start for you in the streets."
"At any time and in any place," Dave smiled, earnestly, "I would take the best possible care of official papers entrusted to me."
"I am aware of that, Mr. Darrin," replied the consul smiling. "But the paper in question is one that it would greatly embarrass the United States to have fall into improper hands. That is my only excuse for having cautioned you so particularly."
Seaman Rogers was waiting at the door. He saluted when EnsignDarrin appeared, then fell in a few paces behind his officer.
A short distance away a carriage stood before the door of a private banker. A woman of perhaps thirty came out through the doorway, carrying a small handbag.
Seeming almost to rise from the ground, so suddenly did he appear, a ragged Mexican bumped violently against the woman.
There was a scream, and in a twinkling the ragged Mexican was in full flight, carrying the handbag as he ran.
"After that rascal, Rogers!" cried Dave Darrin, aghast at the boldness of this daylight robbery.
"Aye, aye, sir, and with a hearty good will!" called back Rogers, as both sailors started in full chase.