Dan hurried aft, without delay, for a summons from the captain meant that no unnecessary delay would be tolerated.
Dan reported and the orderly announced him. The lad entered the captain's office, which was also used as a dining room and stood waiting for his superior to speak.
Dan's ear was done up in adhesive plaster, and a bandage had been wound under his chin and up over his head, giving him the appearance of being much worse off than he really was.
"Davis, I hear you have had an accident?"
"Yes, sir; a slight one, sir. It is of no great consequence, sir."
"I understand differently. I should say that it is of greater consequence than you imagine. The master-at-arms is quite sure that an attempt has been made to do you serious injury, if not worse."
"Perhaps it was not so bad as that, sir. It was a pretty close call, just the same. I am sorry to have been the cause of so much disturbance on board, sir."
"I am sorry, too, but not for that reason. I am sorry, deeply grieved that there is a man on board the 'Long Island' base enough to commit, or attempt to commit, such a crime. It is quite evident that you had a very narrow escape. I trust you are not suffering greatly from the wound?"
"Very little, sir."
"I am glad of that."
"Thank you, sir."
"In view of the fact that you are the person most directly interested, outside of myself, I have sent for you to direct you to devote every effort toward learning who your assailant was. It is of vital importance that we locate the man and send him up for general court-martial. Of course, he will be severely punished and then dismissed from the service. You have no suspicions?"
"None at all, sir."
"Have you had any difficulty with any of the men?"
"Not that I can recall at the present moment, sir. I would not intentionally give any man cause for such enmity."
"I am sure of that, lad. Have you watched the men who might possibly have been implicated in this?"
"I have not had an opportunity, sir. And, besides, I should not know whom to watch. I am wholly at a loss to account for the attempt."
"I understand. But keep your eyes open. You will be the best person to find the man. You will feel instinctively that you have the right man, before any of the rest of us could have a suspicion. Have your friend do a little investigating also. I have an idea that he is a very shrewd boy. If either of you need any leisure time in which to make your investigations, then inform the master-at-arms, and say that I told you to do so. I trust to your good sense to carry on this investigation in a discreet manner."
"I think you may trust us, sir. I am as anxious as anyone to find the man who did this to me," touching his ear gingerly.
"How are you getting along with your work on the seven-inch?"
"Fairly, sir. I find there is a great deal to learn. May I ask your advice, sir?"
"Go on, lad. I am listening."
"I have been thinking that I should like to take a course in one of the seaman-gunner classes at the Torpedo Station in Newport. Will you tell me, sir, what to do to enter such a class?"
"Certainly. Your ambition is a laudable one. However, you have not been in the service long enough for that as yet. I should advise you to continue your duties on shipboard for a year longer. Then you will be well fitted for the gunner class. Your marks on shipboard must average seventy-five per cent. That will entitle you to admission. The course is six months. In it you will learn the assembling of guns and everything to do with the practical part of ordnance. I can give you some further books along this line, if you wish."
"I do, indeed, sir. I find I have considerable leisure time in which to study. I am working for promotion."
"With your ability, my lad, you will get promotion eventually without going to the school. But it will be an excellent idea for you to go. There you will learn theory as well as practice. After you have served a year, then, it might not be a bad idea to take the eight months' course at the Torpedo Station, where you will learn all about torpedoes and mines. If you hope to rise in the service you will have to know all this, and more. Do you know anything of navigation?"
"Yes, sir; I am studying that now."
"Excellent. Who is teaching you?"
"I am teaching myself."
"I would suggest that you have one of the quartermasters help you. He will do so gladly, and you will possibly avoid falling into errors that you will find troublesome later in your course."
"Yes, sir."
"That will be all. The bugle is piping gun crews up, so you had better go to your station. Ord'ly!"
The orderly stepped in and saluted.
"Tell the chief quartermaster that I wish to see him when he is at leisure."
"Yes, sir."
Dan hastened to his station, more proud than ever. He could hardly wait until the crew was piped down again to tell Hickey of the encouragement he had received from the commanding officer. Dan determined that Sam should go with him when the time came to go to the gunners' class at Newport, and, with that in view, he had a long talk with his chum that afternoon, urging him to study and work hard that he might be far enough advanced to take the course.
At quarters that night Dan Davis's name was called among those who were to go on watch. He was to take the anchor watch, which would place him on the quarter-deck from eight until twelve o'clock. Both lads had had other watches, but this was the first time either had been on anchor watch, the watch that is always set when the vessel is in port or at anchor.
The Battleship Boy was pleased. Only those men in whom their superiors had confidence, were ever chosen for these duties, for no little responsibility rests on the watch, especially at night.
The lad's superior on this watch was a midshipman named Carter, a clean-cut, bright young officer who had on several occasions had opportunity to speak to Dan complimenting him on certain well-performed duties.
"Davis, are you on watch to-night?" he asked as Dan approached, saluting.
"Yes, sir."
"How is your wound?"
"Improving, sir, thank you."
"Seeing you are on anchor watch with me, I will let you take charge of the extra-duty squad."
This squad is obliged to remain on duty after the regular hours of work because of some trifling offences. In such cases it is customary to give the squad some light work to do. Now and then the men would be obliged to stand at attention with their rifles for half an hour at a time. Different officers employ different methods with their extra-duty squads.
"Aye, aye, sir," answered Dan, his heart giving a jump, for this was to be his first real command. To all intents he was an officer. He was to command this unhappy squad of shipmates and assist in their punishment. When this thought came to him the boy did not feel half so elated as he had been a moment before.
"What do you wish me to do with them, sir?"
"I will leave that to you. They are not doing anything just now. Perhaps you had better march them about the deck for a time. However, do as you think best."
Dan walked over to where the six delinquents were standing ruefully, with guns over their shoulders.
"Men, I am to have charge of you during this watch. How long are you to be on duty?"
"Two hours, sir."
"You are to be released at ten o'clock, then?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good. We will now have a few moments in the manual of arms. Attention! Present arms! Carry arms! Port arms! Right face! Carry arms! Forward march!"
The midshipman smiled as the measured tramp of feet attracted his attention, the extra-duty squad in single file marching steadily toward the stern of the vessel.
"Column right, march! Column right, march! Halt!"
The men halted. They were now facing the superstructure.
"Right face!"
"Men, I am going to form you into a guard. Count off."
"One, two, three, four, five, six," counted the men.
"Numbers one and two will take the forward end of the deck, three and four the port and starboard sides respectively, with numbers five and six at the stern. Each set will march back and forth from opposite ends of their stations, patroling their beats. You will carry yourselves like soldiers. Remember, you are on guard duty. You are responsible for this part of the ship. Let no person pass unless he is halted, and then gives the countersign."
"What is the countersign, sir?"
Dan reflected. He had not thought of that. It would not do to let them see that he was at a loss to answer the question.
"I think, men," said Dan, with a smile, "that a pretty good countersign for you will be 'Never again.' Yes, that is the countersign. To your posts, forward march!"
Six faces, reflecting as many grins of appreciation, marched to their posts, which they began patroling, marching back and forth in opposite directions.
The midshipman, officer of the deck, halted in his leisurely pacing up and down the deck, glancing at the sentries with a puzzled look.
"Now what is that boy Davis up to, I should like to know?" he wondered. "Ah, I see. He has turned out a guard. Not a half-bad idea, at that. He will do. He ought to be an officer, with such resourcefulness as he shows on every occasion."
The officer of the deck resumed his walk, forgetting all about the formation for which Dan was responsible. But it was brought to his notice in a most forcible manner half an hour later.
The night was moonless, and heavy clouds had settled down, enshrouding the ship in a gloom that was broken here and there by the faint rays from a port hole.
Shortly after nine o'clock the captain came up from below for a look at the weather and a breath of fresh air before turning in. He paused at the top of the hatchway, glanced about the deck, then started pacing up and down as was the midshipman doing on the opposite side.
"Halt!" ordered a voice sternly.
The captain glanced up in surprise. He found himself facing a Krag rifle.
"What—what——"
"Who goes there?"
"A friend," he answered instinctively.
"Advance, friend, and give the countersign."
Something of the truth began to dawn upon the quick mind of the commanding officer.
"I do not know the countersign, my man. But I am the commander of this ship."
"Officer of the deck, sir," called the sentry.
The officer of the deck hastened to the spot.
"Sir, stranger without the countersign."
"Man, what do you mean? This is the captain of this ship whom you have halted. What do you mean?"
"Orders, sir, to let no one pass unless he has the countersign."
"Who is responsible for this?" demanded the captain in a half amused tone.
"I let young Davis take charge of the extra-duty squad, and he formed the men into a guard. They had been patroling the deck for the last hour. I did not interfere, not having any idea the affair would be carried this far, sir. I'm sorry, sir. Man, lower your gun."
"Wait, wait!" exclaimed the captain, raising a restraining hand. "This man has his orders. He is quite right. It is a most excellent idea. Fine training for these young men. What is the countersign, Carter?"
"I—I don't know, sir."
"What, you the officer of the deck and not know the countersign? I am surprised, sir. Where is Seaman Davis?"
"He was here a moment ago."
Dan at that moment was peering from behind the twelve-inch-gun turret, fairly aghast at the situation in which his efforts to do something original had involved them.
"Davis!" called the officer of the deck, in a sharp voice.
"This is where I get it!" muttered the boy. "Aye, aye, sir," he answered promptly, stepping from behind the turret and hastening toward the group.
"What does this farce mean, sir?" demanded the midshipman.
"I will attend to this, Mr. Carter. Davis, these are your men, are they not?"
"Ye—yes, sir."
"You ordered them to let no one pass unless he had the countersign?"
"Yes, sir."
"My man, you did quite right," announced the captain, addressing the sentry. "Davis, will you be good enough to give me the countersign?"
"'Never again,'" whispered Dan in the ear of his commanding officer.
"What's that? I asked you for the countersign."
"The countersign is 'never again.'"
For a moment the captain stared, then he roared with laughter.
"'Never again,' my man," he said, whereat the sentry instantly lowered his rifle.
"Well, if that doesn't beat anything I ever heard!" chuckled the captain, grasping Dan by the arm and leading him over to the starboard side of the deck.
"Davis, that was a stroke of genius on your part."
"I—I beg your pardon, sir. I did not think how far my thoughtlessness might carry us. I am very sorry, sir."
"You need not be, my lad. If some of our men had as much good sense as you have, there would be fewer extra-duty squads on the quarter-deck. The effect on those men will be most excellent. Besides learning to obey orders, they will carry the memory of that countersign with them for many a day, and unless they are beyond hope of reform, you will not see them on an extra-duty tour again for a long time. I commend you, Davis. You may dismiss the squad now. They need no further lessons for to-night."
"Captain's orders, sir, to dismiss the squad," announced Dan, stepping up before the officer of the deck and saluting.
"Very well. Get my raincoat if you will, then, for I think it is going to rain before the end of the watch."
Dan saluted and hurried away below to fetch the officer's rain clothes. A light sprinkle set in that soon covered everything, making the decks slippery; it became hard to keep one's footing. Both the officer of the deck and the anchor watch pulled their rubber coats more closely about them, and, with lowered heads to protect their faces from the drizzle, began walking back and forth.
Eleven o'clock, six bells, rang out; then silence settled over the ship again. Cautiously a head was thrust above the hatch of the upper deck. No one was in sight, save the dark figures of the midshipman and the anchor watch, far aft on the quarter-deck.
The head lengthened out into a dark figure, which was drawn up through the hatch opening. Without a sound the man slunk across the deck. He appeared to be perfectly familiar with his way, but crouched low, probably so that his moving figure might not catch the watchful eyes of the officer of the deck, or of the anchor watch far below him.
About this time Dan Davis climbed the ladder to the superstructure, took a long, sweeping observation of the upper deck, then descended to the quarter-deck again.
"I thought I heard something up there," he muttered. "It must have been a chain shifting with the roll of the ship."
In the meantime the figure had flattened itself on the deck. When sure that the anchor watch had gone aft, the man rose and crept silently toward the side of the ship.
He was safe now. He knew that the watch was not likely to come to the superstructure for the next hour at least. The fellow had stumbled over a chain. The sound, faint and far away as it had been, caught Dan's ear instantly, leading him to mount the superstructure for an observation.
"Everything secure above there?" demanded the officer of the deck.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"I thought perhaps you heard something, from the way you went up."
"I thought so, too, sir, but I must have been mistaken. I saw no one."
Reaching the side of the ship the figure hesitated a moment, then quickly climbed through the rail. He was just opposite the lower boom, the long, strong pole along which the sailors step to get down into the small boats.
Trailing from a long rope at the end of the lower boat rode the ship's dinghy, where she had been left for the night, as had other boats on the opposite or starboard side.
Now a second figure seemed to rise directly out of the deck, and an instant later it too had crept out on the lower boom. The men on the quarter-deck could not see forward to the lower boom without leaning out over the ship's rail, so the two men were unobserved.
Reaching the end of the boom, the men quickly let themselves down the Jacob's ladder, dropping noiselessly into the dinghy. They had some little trouble in casting the boat off, it having been made doubly secure for the night.
Unluckily one of them dropped an oar, which fell to the bottom of the boat with a loud clatter.
"What's that?" demanded the officer of the deck sharply.
"It sounded like an oar in a small boat, sir," answered Dan, making for the topside, which, he reached in a few swift bounds.
"Something going on down there, sir."
"Where away?"
"Just aft of the port boom, sir."
"Can you see the dinghy?"
"Aye, aye, sir. Just make her out."
"Is she all right?"
"She looks to be, sir. I can't quite tell from here. I'll get over that way; I'll go further forward, sir, and let you know. I see two dinghies now. The port and starboard dinghies are moored to the port boom, sir."
"Watch them while I turn out the guard."
"The dinghy is moving, sir. I think there is some one in her."
"Dinghy, there, ahoy!" bellowed the officer of the deck.
There was no reply from the men in the dinghy, who, by this time, were making more frantic efforts to free themselves.
"Dinghy, there!" shouted Dan. "What are you doing down there?"
Dan's hail, like that of the midshipman, met with no response.
"Lay forward, anchor watch!" shouted the officer of the deck.
A quartermaster came running to the quarterdeck.
"Lower away the first whaleboat. Turn out your men in a hurry. Boatswain's mate!"
"Aye, aye, sir," bellowed a deep voice somewhere down one of the corridors leading off from the quarter-deck.
"Turn out the coxswain of the second whaleboat. Look alive, everybody."
"Aye, aye, sir," chorused several voices.
"Anchor watch!"
"Aye, aye, sir."
"What are they doing?"
"Casting off, I think, sir."
"How many men?"
"Two, I think, sir."
The officer of the deck shouted a warning to the men and ordered them to return instantly to the ship; and then, addressing Dan, he shouted:
"Stop them, if you can!"
"Aye, aye, sir."
Dan's raincoat and hat were off in a twinkling. These dropped one by one to the deck, as he sped along, bounding over obstructions that he did not even see, so familiar was he with the course he was following.
"They're rowing away, sir. I'll get them," shouted the Battleship Boy confidently.
He darted out on the lower boom, grasping the life line strung along its length for protection to the sailors passing over the boom.
"Boat ahoy!" cried Dan.
The men bent to their oars; that is, one of them did, for there is but one pair of oars in a dinghy.
"It'll be the worse for you men, down there, if you try to get away. The whaleboats are being turned out to go for you, and I'm after you myself."
His warning had no effect, unless it were to hasten the work of the man at the oars. In his excitement the fellow let an oar slip from its fastening, keeling him over on his back in the boat. A muttered exclamation reached the boy on the boom.
Without an instant's hesitation Dan crouched down on the boom, letting himself down until he hung suspended over the sea by his hands.
For a brief instant he peered down into the sea some thirty feet below him, taking mental measurement of the distance, figuring just how near he would come to hitting the dinghy were he to let himself go.
"I'll chance it," he muttered. "It's my duty to try. I am under orders to stop them, and stop them I will!"
The Battleship Boy let go.
His body shot downward, striking the water with a splash that was heard far back on the quarter-deck.
"Man overboard, off the port boom!"
"Stand by the falls. Whaleboat number one!" cried the officer of the deck.
"What's this, what's this?" shouted the captain, running to the deck in his pajamas.
"Two men leaving ship in the port dinghy, sir," answered the officer of the deck.
"Step lively there, lads. What does all this mean, Mr. Officer of the deck?"
"I don't know, sir. The anchor watch discovered that there was something wrong. He's gone after them, sir."
By this time the captain was leaning over the port rail, training his night glasses on the dark sea.
"I make them out. Who is the anchor watch?"
"Seaman Davis, sir."
"You say the lad went after them?"
"Yes, sir, so it seems."
"How?"
"He must have gone over the side, for someone just called man overboard."
"The boy will be drowned! Have you ordered any one after him?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hurry, lads. The man may be drowning."
Meantime, Dan was doing his best to overtake the fugitives. The moment he struck the water he threw out his hands to check his descent. This prevented his going under very far. He shot up, and, shaking the water from nose and eyes, struck out for the dinghy that was still moored to the port boom.
He was clambering into the boat within the next minute. His knife, attached to the knife lanyard, was in his hands almost the instant he pulled himself into the boat. One swift stroke severed the line that held the dinghy to the boom.
Dan sprang to the oars; throwing them into place in the locks, he sent the little boat through the water with long, swift strokes.
"Dinghy number two, there!" shouted a voice from the deck.
"Aye, aye, sir," answered Dan.
"You all right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Better come back. The whaleboats will overhaul the other dinghy."
"The whaleboats are on the other side of the ship. By the time they get around here the men will be out of sight. I'm under orders to get them, sir," answered the plucky lad, putting more force into his strokes.
His frail little boat cut the water with a swish and a splash, as the swells slapped its sides, sending showers of spray over him.
Dan now and then turned in his seat, to get the location of the other boat. He could but faintly make it out in the gloom of the night. He was unable to say, as yet, whether he were gaining on the fugitives or not. If he were gaining, it was but slowly.
The whaleboats had not yet rounded the bow of the "Long Island." It seemed to take the boat crews a long time to launch the boats. The captain thought so too, for he was now shouting out his orders with explosive force, having taken command of the operations himself.
"Have an officer go in that boat," he commanded. "Here, ensign," as an officer came up from below on the run, "take charge of those two boats. If you don't make haste there you'll lose the dinghies and the men. Remember, one man is out there in a little boat chasing two, perhaps, desperate characters."
"Shall we hail Seaman Davis, and order him back to ship?" asked the executive officer.
"That boy would not hear us, even if we were to blow the siren for him. He is obeying orders, Coates. He'll do what he was sent to do, no matter what the cost to himself. But the whaleboats should catch up with him in time to be on hand if he comes up with the others. I let him go on because, in that way, we shall keep track of the other boat. If he does that he will be doing his full duty."
Dan was keeping the other dinghy in sight very well, indeed. He was doing more than that, he was gaining rapidly now. He could hear the splash of the oars in the other boat. The lad smiled grimly, for he knew that the others were rowing badly, perhaps because they were excited. Dan himself was an expert oarsman and every stroke in the race was made to tell.
"Dinghy ahoy, there!" he called when within hailing distance.
The fleeing men made no reply to his hail.
"They are bound to get away. I wonder what it means? It may be that some one has been on board from the shore to steal. No; that cannot be it. It must be men from the ship, for they took a ship's boat. I'll bet they are deserters."
He was now within a boat's length of the other dinghy, directly in its wake. Observing this, the Battleship Boy swung out a little, so as to come alongside of the other boat with several feet of water between the two boats.
"Halt!" he commanded. "You're caught. I demand that you surrender and cease rowing."
"No surrender. You go back if you know what is good for you."
The voice sounded strangely familiar to Dan Davis.
"I know you!" he shouted exultingly. "I know you now. You're Blackie. I'll bet that's White in the boat with you. Boys, stop rowing and go back to the ship. It's the only thing that will save you. I do not know why you have done this thing, but your punishment will be much less severe if you turn about and return at once."
A jeering laugh answered him.
"Then I shall have to take you back, and somebody is liable to get hurt in that operation, I am thinking."
The boy gave his dinghy a sudden quick turn, and with one powerful stroke sent it dashing up to within half a boat length of the other craft.
As he neared it he caught the swing of a body in the first dinghy. Dan ducked, flattening himself in his own frail craft just in time to avoid a vicious swing of the other's boat hook. The gunwales of his boat saved him from the blow.
Quick as a flash Davis grabbed the boat hook. He gave a violent, sharp pull and the boat hook was in his possession.
"So that's your game, is it? I'll show you that two can play that sort of game. You look out, or you'll get the pole over your own heads."
He drove his boat right alongside the other. At that moment Blackie straightened up with an angry exclamation. At the same time he grabbed an oar from the hands of his companion, making a vicious swing at Dan, who, by this time, was half standing in his own boat.
But Dan had been on the watch for just such villainy. He parried the blow with the captured boat hook.
Dan Parried the Blow With the Captured Boat Hook.Dan Parried the Blow With the Captured Boat Hook.
Dan Parried the Blow With the Captured Boat Hook.Dan Parried the Blow With the Captured Boat Hook.
"Smack, smack, smack!" boat hook and oar came together again and again. The battle waged so furiously that for the moment the lad forgot all about the other man in the boat. White was stealthily rising to his feet, watching the Battleship Boy with keen, menacing eyes.
All at once he swung his oar. Dan heard it as it cut the air, but at that instant he was powerless to dodge the blow, being busy parrying one from Black.
White's oar caught Dan on the head. The Battleship Boy wavered for a brief instant, seeking vainly to catch his balance; then he toppled over backwards into the sea.
Fortunately for him, the blow had been a glancing one.
"Row, row!" cried Black. His companion fell to the oars. The men, as they well knew, were now in a desperate situation.
Dan twisted his body about in the water, his fingers closing over the gunwale of his own boat. The blow had dazed him, though he still had plenty of fight left in him.
He clambered back into his own boat with no little effort, for his clothes were soaked and weighed him down, this being the second wetting he had had within a very short time.
The other dinghy now had a slight start of him, but when the Hawaiians looked back a moment later, they saw Dan again in their wake.
The Battleship Boy's jaws were set. His fighting blood was up. He would give no quarter now.
"I'll get those heathens at any cost," he growled.
He had forgotten all about the whaleboats that had been sent for the men. Perhaps they had lost their quarry on the dark waters.
"I'm after you," shouted Dan. "This time I'm going to get you, you miserable deserters! Things like you deserve to be drowned without the formality of court-martial. Do you surrender?"
"No."
No sooner were the words out of the Hawaiian's mouth than Dan drove his dinghy bow-on against the other boat. So sudden and unexpected had been the movement that the islanders were taken wholly off their guard. Black fell forward, nearly going into the sea, while White, who was at the oars, lost his grip on them for the moment.
A crunching sound accompanied the collision. The bow of Dan's boat was crushed in the thin planking of the other dinghy. The hurt was not deep enough to sink the little craft, but it made an opening through which the seas slopped persistently.
Dan sought to swing his boat alongside the other, when a sea unexpectedly threw him off. A full minute of valuable time was thus lost. Still Dan persisted. He was working at high speed now.
This time he drove his boat right up beside the other, so close that the two boats smashed together with a force that threatened to break in their gunwales.
Black, in the time that it took Dan to get closer, had recovered himself and grasped an oar from his companion. Ere the Battleship Boy could ship his oars the enemy had swung an oar. It caught Dan a glancing blow on the forehead, the sharp edge of the oar cutting a deep gash there. The blood was in the lad's eyes instantly. He brushed his eyes clear with an exclamation of impatience.
The oar was raised for another blow. Davis did not stand still to wait for it to land this time. With a bound he was in the other boat. He had jumped from the seat of his own dinghy, measuring the distance well.
Black was taken by surprise. He had no time to dodge. Dan landed full upon him, the two falling to the bottom of the boat with a crash and a jolt that threatened to overturn the little craft.
For a few seconds the men struggled desperately, Black squirming and twisting in his efforts to get his hands up.
"He's trying to get his knife," was the Battleship Boy's swift conclusion. "I hate to do it, but I've got to, or they will have me in the sea."
He raised Black's head, giving it two sharp thumps against the ribs of the boat. That settled Black for the time being. The Hawaiian straightened out and lay still. But Dan had been none too quick. White was standing over him with raised oar ready to bring it down at the first opportunity. He had not dared to strike before, not being able to make out his enemy as the two figures struggled at the bottom of the dinghy.
The instant that he saw Dan scrambling up he brought the oar down. Dan dodged the blow cleverly, the blade of the oar landing on the side of Black's head, thus finishing the work that the Battleship Boy had begun.
The two men sprang at each other at the same instant. This time the boy found that in White he had a far different antagonist. White met him with a swift blow which barely grazed Dan's head. Dan countered as best he could, planting a blow on the Hawaiian's chest, staggering the fellow and at the same time well-nigh upsetting the boat.
Blow after blow was struck in the rocking boat, now and then each of the contestants landing a staggering punch on his adversary's head. All at once Dan lost his footing and fell. As he did so, he stretched forth a hand, and by desperate effort succeeded in fastening his hold upon the Hawaiian's arm.
White lost his balance and pitched forward.
Both men fell half over the side of the dinghy with heads and shoulders in the sea. For the next few seconds a desperate struggle followed. Dan held to his man, knowing full well that, were his adversary to get the upper hand now, it would go hard with Dan Davis. Using their free hands, the men managed to pull themselves back into the boat.
By this time both were well-nigh exhausted. Their efforts were attended with little success compared with what they had done earlier in the battle. White was struggling to get his adversary overboard, while Dan was seeking to overcome the Hawaiian without doing him serious injury.
All at once the men stumbled over a seat. Dan fell prone upon the prostrate Black, with White on top of him. And there the gladiators lay, breathing hard, gasping for breath, half suffocated with the salt water that was dashing into their faces.
Everything about him seemed to Dan suddenly to grow blacker than before. He felt his head swimming.
"I'm going to faint," he gasped.
With one final supreme effort he threw the weight of White's body from him, and, rolling over, wrapped his arms about the Hawaiian, crushing the fellow down with all his strength.
A light came dancing over the long, even swells, sending up a shower of spray as it smashed into the white crests of the swells.
It was whaleboat number one from the battleship.
"Sing out!" commanded the officer in charge of the boat.
"Dinghy, ahoy!" shouted the seaman who was standing braced in the bow of the whaleboat, scanning the waters ahead.
There was no response to his hail.
The seaman put down the megaphone that he had been using, and, raising his telescope, swept the waters.
"Boat, sir, two points off the port bow," sang the lookout.
"Coxswain, lay your course two points to port."
"Aye, aye, sir."
The whaleboat headed for the speck that the lookout had made out through his glass. In a few minutes the whaleboat had drawn up alongside.
"She's empty, sir."
"Do you make out the other boat?"
"No, sir."
"I think I see her," said the officer. "Train your glass dead abeam to starboard."
"Yes, sir, that's the other dinghy. She's drifting."
"Then something has happened to those men. Lay to, men. Pull for all you're worth. They may be drowning while we are lying here. Coxswain, look alive."
"Aye, aye, sir."
The oars hit the water as one, and the heavy, sharp-pointed whaleboat sprang away, taking a long leap over the waves with every powerful stroke of the oars.
"Her side is stove in, I think, sir," announced the lookout.
The officer in charge made no reply. He was gazing at the bobbing dinghy through his night glasses.
"Steady there, coxswain. We don't want to run her down. Come up on the lee side and draw in slowly. She rides as if she were loaded. We shall find men aboard the dinghy, unless I am much mistaken."
They drew alongside slowly.
"Out boat hooks!"
The whaleboat made fast to the drifting dinghy. No sooner had they done so than the officer leaped lightly aboard.
"Here they are. Lend a hand here, men. Be careful you don't upset her. The dinghy is half full of water."
Willing hands quickly transferred Dan Davis and the two Hawaiians to the whaleboat. Dan was half unconscious, while his two prisoners were wholly so.
"Take the dinghy in tow. Pick up the other one on your way, but be quick. Seaman Davis is wounded. I don't know how seriously, but he looks to be in pretty bad shape."
The men needed no further urging. In a few minutes they were on their way back to the ship, towing both small boats behind them.
"There's the other whaleboat, sir," announced the lookout.
"Hail them. Tell them to turn about and return to ship," directed the officer.
The lookout did so.
As they approached the side the battleship's rails were seen to be lined with officers and men. Dan, by this time, was sitting up and the prisoners were coming around slowly.
"Did you get them all?" called the executive officer.
"Yes, sir."
"Are they all right?"
"Pretty well knocked out, sir."
"Pull alongside the starboard gangway. Need any help?"
"No, sir; I think we can manage them. But we need the doctor right away. Seaman Davis is hurt."
"No, no," protested Dan. "I'm all right. I want to report. I'm not a baby, sir."
"I should say you are not."
Dan was permitted to stand up as the whaleboat drew up to the starboard gangway. Waiting until the boat rose on a swell he grasped a stanchion, swinging himself to the platform of the gangway by sheer grit, for he had little strength left. He poised on the landing planking, still clinging to the stanchion. A jackie ran down the gangway, extending a helping hand.
"Never mind me. I'm all right, shipmate," said the boy pluckily.
Directing all his strength to the task, the Battleship Boy climbed the gangway. Never before had the stairs seemed so long to him. At last he reached the quarter-deck.
"You are hurt, my lad," exclaimed the captain, starting forward. "Surgeon, here!"
Dan's face was covered with blood, while the white jacket was stained a deep crimson clear down to his duck trousers.
All at once he started forward unsteadily. He had espied the officer of the deck, the one whose command he had nearly lost his life in obeying.
"Sir, I beg to report that I have overhauled the dinghy and captured the men."
The boy came to attention, saluting stiffly, for it hurt him to raise his hand to his forehead.
"Very good, Seaman Davis."
"Take that man to the sick bay," commanded the captain. "Don't you see that he is barely able to stand on his feet? How about those other men? Are they seriously hurt?"
"I think not, sir," answered the surgeon, who had made a quick examination of the Hawaiians.
"Then give them attention. Master-at-arms, if the surgeon decides that they are fit, lock them in the brig. As soon as all hands are in condition we will have a quick examination."
The islanders proved to be in a more serious condition than had at first been supposed. Acting upon the surgeon's orders, they were taken to the sick bay, where their wounds were dressed and they were put to bed, with a guard placed over them.
Dan's wounds were washed and dressed and his head bandaged. The cut on his forehead where the sharp edge of the oar had struck it was deep and wide, the oar blade having gone clear to the bone, while the lad himself was weak from loss of blood.
"You are lucky that you did not sustain a fracture," decided the surgeon, as, with nimble fingers, he sewed the flesh together. "You will turn in and sleep here to-night."
"I can't do that, sir."
"Why not?"
"I am on the anchor watch, sir. I'm under orders."
"Anchor watch nothing; you'll remain here."
"I am sorry, sir, but I cannot do so until I am relieved at eight bells. If they do not want me on watch they will tell me so. I am all right now. I feel fine."
The surgeon grunted.
"Very well; but I shall tell the captain that you are unfit for duty. You have lost more blood than is good for you."
Dan left the sick bay, the surgeon watching his unsteady steps as the boy made his way down the dimly lighted corridor.
A group of officers were gathered on the quarter-deck discussing the exciting incidents of the evening, when the Battleship Boy made his appearance there.
"I report for duty, sir. I am ready to finish my watch, sir," he said, saluting the officer of the deck.
The officer of the deck looked the boy over, who, with bandaged head and pale face, presented a woebegone appearance.
"I thought you were ordered to the sick bay?"
"I was, sir, to have my wounds dressed."
"From your appearance I should say that was the place for you, not the quarter-deck."
At that juncture the captain strode across the deck.
"Davis, what are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Finishing my watch, sir," answered the boy, saluting.
"Did I not order you to the sick bay?"
"You did, sir, but you did not order me to stay there."
"I do so now, then. You will report at the sick bay at once, and remain there until you are released by the surgeon." The command was delivered sternly.
"Aye, aye, sir," answered the Battleship Boy, saluting.
"Boatswain's mate, order out another man to take Seaman Davis' watch until eight bells. Come here, my lad."
Dan had started away to obey the captain's command. At that he turned, retracing his steps.
The captain laid a hand on his shoulder.
"My lad, I am proud of you. I know you would much prefer to remain on deck and do your duty as you see it. There is another side to this matter, however. Your duty just now lies in getting yourself into shape for the morrow. You are in no condition to work. You have done quite enough for one day."
"I feel perfectly well, sir."
"I know you think you do, but turn in and get a good night's rest. I shall require your services further in this matter, if you are able to get up in the morning. That will be all."
Dan saluted and walked off, but it was evident, from his hesitating steps, that he was reluctant to do so.
"That boy is all nerve," nodded the captain. "He has more pluck than any two men on this ship, and that is saying a good deal. Ord'ly, tell the surgeon I desire to speak with him when he is at leisure."
"Yes," agreed the executive officer. "Davis and his red-headed friend are both a credit to the service."