"Welcome, my lads!" greeted the Spanish ambassador, grasping the lads warmly by the hand. They had been led into a broad hall by a footman and then on into a drawing room brilliantly lighted.
The boys had never gazed upon such a brilliant scene; for a moment they were too dazed to speak. Suddenly they realized that the ambassador was introducing his wife, Madame Martinez. Then a beautiful, dark-eyed girl was led forward.
"This, young gentlemen, is my daughter, Señorita Inez Martinez, to whom we hoped you might owe your liberty. Happily, however, for you, your own consul succeeded in getting you released before the matter was brought to my attention. I trust you have suffered no ill effects from your unjust imprisonment?"
"No; thank you," answered Dan.
"On the contrary, it was a mighty good thing for us," spoke up Hickey.
"How so?" asked the ambassador.
Dan nudged his companion, but there was no stopping Sam when he once got started.
"Why, sir, these get-rich-quick people would have had all our money by this time. I never saw anything like it."
"You do not mean that you have been robbed?"
"Oh, no," interrupted Dan. "You see, we do not know the ways of the country. We thought we had paid too much for some things. It is all good experience, however, and we are not finding fault."
"Ah! I hope you like Paris? I take it, this is your first visit here?" suggested the ambassador's wife.
"Is it not a glorious city?" added the daughter.
"Yes," agreed Dan, "it is a wonderful city."
"I don't think so," objected Sam. "I've had a hard time of it ever since I came here—that is—until—until to-night," as he noted the eyes of the beautiful señorita fixed upon him.
Somehow her voice had a strangely familiar ring to him. He felt sure that he had heard it before, but the more he thought about it the more perplexed did he grow. The young woman seemed to divine what was passing through the red-headed boy's mind. She smiled teasingly, then began talking as if to give him further opportunity to make up his mind where he had seen her before.
Dan, too, was puzzled, but he concealed his perplexity better than Sam had. Davis was growing quite at his ease. It seemed to him as though he had always been with people of this sort, and he found himself talking easily and well, discussing many subjects with which the average sailor is not expected to be familiar.
"I take it that you lads hope to be petty officers one of these days," said Señor Martinez.
"We have already won our ratings in that class, sir."
"Indeed. What is your rating, if I may ask?"
"I am a gunner's mate on the Battleship 'Long Island.' My friend is a coxswain connected with the same ship."
"Do you—do you shoot the big guns?" questioned Señorita Inez, with a brilliant smile.
"I hope to do so, some day—that is, I hope to do so at target practice, though I trust the time may never come when I shall have to train a gun on the ship of another government."
"I am with you in that, my lad. I hope it may never be your lot to do so. Of course you have ambitions to rise in your profession?"
"Yes, sir; it is our hope to become officers of the line at some time in the distant future."
The ambassador nodded thoughtfully.
"It is a splendid career that your Navy offers. Any man who has it in him to advance himself may do so. The opportunities are unlimited."
"Yes, sir; but the way is hard."
"All things worth having are difficult of attainment. Were they not, there would not be rooms for those at the top," smiled the Señor.
The dinner was the most elaborate that the Battleship Boys had ever sat down to. Their host was in uniform and the ladies were in evening gowns, while behind the chairs of each stood a servant in livery.
The Battleship Boys were filled with wonder over what had befallen them. Strangely enough, their host seemed quite familiar with their records, and all about their experiences with the Paris Apaches and gendarmes.
Señor Martinez appeared to take a keen enjoyment in their perplexity, though he was forced to admit that Gunner's Mate Davis was sufficiently well-bred to hide his curiosity.
At last the dinner came to an end, whereupon the party withdrew to the drawing room.
"Shall I sing for you?" asked the señorita, with a flash of her black eyes.
"I should be most happy to hear you," replied Dan courteously.
"Yes; I like singing," added Sam. "The singing we hear on board ship, sometimes, makes you wish you could jump overboard."
A well-bred laugh greeted his announcement.
"Do you sing?" questioned the young woman.
"I thought I did once."
"When was that?"
"At a Sunday-school picnic that I attended at home in Piedmont."
"Oh! And did you sing?"
"They all said I didn't. They said my voice was a poor imitation of a steam calliope."
The well-bred laughter of the little company was lost in a roar. A glance at Hickey's twinkling eyes told them that he was far from dull, and that he was enjoying the fun he was creating fully as much as the rest were.
"So, you didn't sing after all?"
"No, I didn't sing. I just made a noise that might have been singing—if it had been."
Thus the evening passed, full of song, of laughter and brightness.
Dan, after a time, glanced at a French clock on the mantle. He gave a start when he noted that it lacked but fifteen minutes of midnight.
"Oh, we must be going, sir. I did not know it was so late," he said, half rising.
"In a moment, my lad. I presume you are somewhat curious as to why I invited you to my home this evening?" questioned Señor Martinez quizzically.
"We are, indeed, sir. I have been wondering why you should do such a thing. We are just plain American sailors, sir, serving our country as best we know how. We are not used to being received in the splendid way you have received us to-night."
"My lad, that was well said. It has been an honor to have you here. We have felt the keenest pleasure in being able to ask you. As for your being plain American sailors, let me say that such men as you and your friend would be a credit to any Navy. I congratulate yours in possessing you. Can you not guess why you have been invited here this evening?"
"I have not the slightest idea, sir."
"No, we're all at sea, and I guess that's the proper place for sailor lads," added Sam.
"I had very good reasons. You have done myself and family a very great service."
"A service?" exclaimed Hickey wonderingly.
"Yes. And let me say here that perhaps I never should have known of you, had not my wife and daughter insisted that I look you up and ask you to come here. They have purchased a little gift for each of you, which you will find at your pension upon your return. I have had it sent there so that you may have a little surprise when you reach your lodgings."
The boys did not answer. There was nothing they could think of to say.
"Have you not noted anything that struck you as familiar about my wife and daughter?"
"Mr. Hickey has," interjected the young woman, with a merry twinkle in her eyes, "He has been wondering all the evening where he has seen me or heard my voice."
"That's the time you hit the target right in the center," answered the red-headed boy. "If I'd been a ship, and that had been a projectile you had fired at me, I'd been headed for Davy Jones's Locker by this time."
The girl laughed merrily.
"I'll tell you, my lads; you saw my wife and daughter last evening."
"Last night!" exclaimed the boys.
"Yes."
"Where, may I ask?"
"On the Bois de Boulogne. It was they whom you saved from the terrible Apaches, who no doubt would have put them to death after having robbed them. You see, my lads, myself and family have reason for feeling that we owe you a deep debt of gratitude."
"Is it possible?" muttered Dan Davis, looking from one to the other of the smiling faces.
"Well, all I've got to say is that it was worth going to jail for," added Sam Hickey, with an admiring glance at the señorita.
"Dan, I've been touched!"
"What's that?"
"Touched, I tell you! Touched," persisted Sam Hickey, raising his voice with each word.
"You—you don't mean you've lost your money?" demanded Dan Davis incredulously.
"No; I mean I've been touched for it."
"Nonsense! You have lost it, if you haven't it. Look through your pockets again. You have put it in some other pocket; that's all."
The boys were strolling slowly toward the pension where they were staying. They had insisted on walking back to their lodgings, after having left the residence of the Spanish ambassador, and this despite his warnings that it was not safe for them to do so at that hour of the night.
"Have you found it?"
"I have not. And that's not the worst of it."
"What do you mean?"
"I never shall find it."
A troubled expression appeared on Davis' face.
"How much, did you have with you?"
"You mean how much did I have left?"
"Yes."
"I don't know. I never can learn to count this foreign money. I had quite a bunch of it. Maybe twenty dollars or something like that."
"I am surprised, Sam. You are so careless. It's a wonder you did not lose your money before this. I take care of my money. You never heard of my losing any, did you?"
"How about the café where you pay?"
"That was different. That money was not lost."
"Not lost?" exclaimed the red-headed boy. "Well, if it wasn't lost, will you tell me where it is? Will you tell me that?"
"I spent it."
"You bet you did. And I've spent mine, only I didn't get anything for it. This town is the limit. I don't wonder they had a revolution here. They will have another, too—you mark me! Now, you've had so much to say about my being careless with money, suppose you examine your own pockets. Maybe you've been touched, too."
Dan laughed.
"No danger of that. No one could go through my pockets without my knowing it."
"Couldn't, eh? Why these Frenchmen could touch you through a stone wall, and never move a stone. Just for the fun of the thing, shell out and let's see what you have in your pockets."
"All right; if it will please you. My money is safe."
Dan thrust a confident hand into his trousers' pocket; then he went into the other pocket.
An expression of surprise appeared on his face, as he drew forth a handful of small silver from a vest pocket.
"Well, what about it?" demanded Sam. "Got it?"
"I've—I've lost my money, too; almost every cent of it."
Hickey uttered an uproarious laugh.
"How much have you there?"
"About five hundred centimes, that's all."
"Five hundred centimes! You don't mean it?"
"Yes; that's all."
"All? Good gracious, isn't that enough? Why, man, it's a fortune. We're all right, even if I have lost mine."
"Wait a minute. Do you know how much five hundred centimes is?"
"No; ask me something easier."
"Well, it is about the equivalent of a dollar in American money."
Sam groaned.
"Broke!"
Dan nodded.
"I don't understand it at all. Where could we have lost our money?"
"Lose it, nothing! I tell you we have been touched—touched good and properly. It's a wonder they didn't take our clothes while they were about it. By gracious, they even got my jack-knife. I'll fight somebody in a minute."
Dan did not answer. He was too amazed and upset to talk just then.
"So no one can touch you without your knowing it!" jeered Hickey. "You are an easy mark. I am not in the same class with you. Hold me up while I laugh."
"Don't laugh, Sam; this is serious."
"Of course it is. I wouldn't laugh at it if it weren't. Most of the funny things aren't worth laughing at. The serious things are, most always."
"Very well; laugh if you wish. I shan't. I am wondering what we are going to do. We certainly are in a fix."
"You've got five hundred what-do-you-call-thems, haven't you?"
"Five hundred centimes, yes. They will not go far. A dollar will not purchase much in France."
"But the five hundred sounds big enough to buy a house and lot with. I could put up a pretty good bluff on five hundred of anything."
"We had better go home. The hour is late. We can talk there, though talking will not help us out of this trouble at all."
"Yes; that's a good idea. These Paris folks will have the shirts off our back if we stay out here much longer. What time is it?"
"I don't know."
The boys wandered on, finding their pension without difficulty. Once in their own room, they sat down facing each other.
"This is a nice mess we're in, Sam."
"We've been in worse," answered the red-headed boy wisely.
"It is fortunate for us that we have paid our board."
"How about the return tickets? Have you lost those, too?"
Dan went through his pockets again. The more he searched, the more excited he grew.
"I—I——"
"Stung again?" jeered Sam Hickey. "Maybe I got touched for my money, but I didn't lose my tickets. You lost them both. But have you lost them?"
Dan nodded helplessly.
"Oh, this is too bad!"
"Yes; I wish I'd changed my mind and stayed aboard ship. Let's get back there right away."
"How?"
Sam reflected.
"That's so," he said, with a grin.
"There is no other way for it, but to walk."
"How far is it to Boulogne?"
"It must be all of a hundred miles."
"Not for me," declared the red-headed boy, with an emphatic shake of the head. "Hello, what's that on the table there?" he demanded, suddenly espying a neatly wrapped package.
Dan rose and took up the package. It was addressed to Daniel Davis and Samuel Hickey.
"Open it."
Davis was already doing so. He tore off the wrapping, disclosing a neat plush box underneath.
"This must be the package that the ambassador referred to, Sam."
"Yes, that's it. Hurry up and open it. I hope there's some money in it."
"No; we could not accept it if there was. Ah!"
"Well, what do you think of that!" muttered Sam.
The ease upon being opened disclosed, to their amazement, two handsome gold Swiss watches, with solid gold chains attached. On the back of the first case Dan found his initials engraved. Opening the case, he read the inscription, "Presented to Gunner's Mate Daniel Davis for heroic conduct in saving two women from the Paris Apaches." Sam's case bore a similar inscription.
"Beautiful!" breathed the Battleship Boys in one voice.
"We're all right now," exclaimed Hickey.
"How so?"
"We can borrow some money on the watches."
"I guess not," answered Dan firmly. "We'll walk first!"
"I'm going to see the consul," announced Dan Davis next morning as they were dressing for breakfast.
"Better wait until he gets out of bed," suggested Hickey.
"Yes; we will walk about until ten o'clock; then I will go over. He will no doubt loan us enough money to pay our fares to Boulogne."
"Sure thing. What's a consul for, if it isn't to help a fellow-countryman who is in trouble?"
To their disappointment, they found the consul out. The boys called several times that day. At last, late in the afternoon, they found him at his office, when they quickly made known their predicament.
"Certainly I will help you, my lads. I will send over and have your tickets bought for you. That will save you all trouble in the matter. I do not think you will be able to get a train until late this evening, however."
"You are very kind, sir," said Dan. "As soon as possible after reaching the ship we will send you the money you have advanced to us."
"Never mind that. It is but a trifle."
"Oh, no, sir; that will not do. We shall return it."
"If you wish to remain in Paris longer I will loan you more money."
"Thank you, but we think it best to get back to the ship. Our leave has not quite expired, but we shall feel better to be back."
The tickets were brought to them in due time. Late that evening the boys presented themselves at the Gare du Nord, the station from which they were to take a train for Boulogne. It was not yet train time, however, so the boys strolled about watching the people.
"Guide, sir? Show you all about the city, young gentlemen?" questioned a man in fairly good English.
Sam fixed him with a stern eye.
"Get out!" he commanded.
"Guide, sir?"
"No, sir; we do not need a guide," spoke up Dan.
"How much do you charge?" questioned Sam.
"Two dollars for two hours."
"Humph! I'll tell you what I'll do. If you'll stand up before me for two minutes I'll send you two dollars as soon as I get back to the ship."
"Stand up before you?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"So I can knock your head off! I owe you fellows a thrashing."
"And so do I," broke in Dan. "You go away from here and let us alone, or I'm liable to forget myself and give you a thumping that you won't forget for the rest of the season. Now, beat it!"
"Yes, scat!" added Sam.
The guide gazed at them for one apprehensive moment.
The Battleship Boys made a threatening move in his direction, whereat the guide turned and beat a hasty retreat.
Half an hour later, after much difficulty, the young sailors managed to find their way to a second-class carriage on the Boulogne train.
At last they were on their way to their ship. The boys breathed a sigh of relief.
"It has been a great experiment," said Dan.
"Fine!" laughed Sam.
"And we've seen a lot."
"And got 'done' a whole lot more," added the red-headed boy. "If there is anything we haven't bumped up against I should like to know about it."
Dan nodded reflectively.
"Let me see; we have visited pretty nearly every point of interest in the French capital; we have had a battle with the Paris Apaches, got arrested and locked up; got our names in the Paris papers; had two government officials working on our behalf, and have been dined by the ambassador of a foreign power. That's going some, isn't it, Sam?"
"Yes; but you have forgotten the most important part of it all."
"What have I forgotten?"
"That we got touched for our rolls, and went broke in Paree."
Dan laughed happily.
"The next question is, where are we going to sleep?"
"We shall have to sleep sitting up."
"Yes; these railway carriages, as they call them, are built on the bias. I'd like to see a fellow try to sleep on these seats, divided off by arms, without being crippled for life."
Dan was looking about the carriage. Sam observed that his companion's face had suddenly lighted up.
"Made a discovery, eh?"
"Yes, and I have an idea."
"Good! Get it off your mind before you lose it. What's the idea?"
"I'm going to sleep in the upper berth."
"The upper berth?" wondered Hickey.
"Yes."
"I don't see any upper berth."
"Then watch me."
Dan proceeded to remove his coat and vest, collar and tie. Next he took off his shoes, Hickey in the meantime watching his companion with suspicious eyes.
Along either end of the compartment, over their heads, was a luggage rack extending the entire length, or rather, width, of the compartment.
Dan grasped the rack, pulled himself up to it and lay down as snug as if he were in reality in the upper berth of a sleeping car.
"Hooray!" shouted Sam.
"Can you beat it?"
"Not this trip. You're a wonder, Dan. That's almost as good as the hammock on shipboard. Will the thing hold you?"
"I hope so. It seems secure. You try the other one."
"I don't know whether I want to trust myself in that spider web or not."
"It's made of woven leather strands. It holds me all right. Try it."
Hickey pulled himself up to the rack, lay down, then peered over the edge, grinning.
"This isn't so bad, after all. But I dread to think what will happen to me if I should have the bad luck to walk in my sleep."
"Don't do it. You must get used to it, for to-morrow night we shall be sleeping in our hammocks again."
A few minutes later the boys were sound asleep, unmindful of the swaying of the rapidly moving carriage, which was almost like the roll of the ship. They did not awaken until daylight. The carriage had stopped and they could hear talking outside.
"Breakfast time; get up!" shouted Hickey.
A guard opened the door and peered in.
"Hello, down there!" called Dan.
"Yes; is that the way you bolt into a gentleman's bedroom without knocking?" demanded Hickey.
The guard glanced up with a puzzled expression on his face, then slammed the door shut.
"We'd better get out of here, Sam, or they will have the police after us again," muttered Dan, scrambling to the floor.
Hastily pulling on their clothes, they got out to the platform, having recognized the station as Boulogne.
"We've got to go without our breakfast this morning, Sam."
"I suppose so," replied the red-headed boy ruefully. "My, but I've got an appetite!"
"So have I, but it will keep."
"I guess it will have to."
Half an hour later the boys were standing on the quay. Off just outside the breakwater lay the battleship "Long Island."
"Doesn't she look good?" breathed Dan. "I'm really happy to get back."
"I'd be happier if I knew there was a square meal awaiting me," answered Sam. "How are we going to get aboard?"
"I'll show you."
Dan pulled out his handkerchief and began wig-wagging with it. After a little a signal flag was observed on the forecastle. It was waving a question.
"What do you want?"
"We want to come aboard," answered Dan.
About that time the officer of the deck had leveled his spyglass upon the boys.
"Messenger!" he called.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Tell the captain that two men in citizen's clothes are on the quay asking to be put aboard."
The messenger returned a moment later.
"The captain wants to know who they are, sir."
"Tell him they look to me like two of our men, Seamen Davis and Hickey. I do not know why they should be in citizen's clothing, however."
Again the messenger hurried below with the information.
"The captain says it is all right, sir. He says have a cutter go out to meet them, sir, and bring them aboard."
A cutter was launched, and a few minutes later was plunging through the green seas, headed for the quay. Great seas were breaking over the dike, drenching those in the cutter as they shot alongside the quay.
The Battleship Boys were taken off, and shortly afterwards they stepped to the deck of the "Long Island," coming to attention as they saluted the Flag.
"Home again," said Dan, his eyes glowing happily.
"You bet," answered Sam Hickey. "Got any real food aboard? I'm half starved. No more French biscuit diet for mine!"
"The captain wishes to see you, sir," said an orderly, approaching Dan.
"I am in shore clothes, orderly."
"The captain knows that. You are to come at once."
Dan hurried below, leaving Sam to tell the admiring sailors of the experiences through which they had passed in Paris.
"Well, my lad," greeted the captain, with a laugh, "you are back, I see."
"Yes, sir."
"You did not stay your leave out?"
"No, sir."
"Get tired of it?"
"Well, yes, sir—rather."
"How was that?"
"We had a pretty good time. We saw everything worth seeing, I guess."
"What is this that I hear about you lads trying to rob a couple of women?" questioned the captain, with a quizzical smile.
Dan flushed rosy red.
"Did you hear about that, sir?"
"Certainly."
"Oh, yes, I remember! the consul said you had telegraphed to him. I am sorry, sir, that we got into so much trouble, but we did what we thought was right."
"Indeed you did," answered the captain, dropping his quizzical tone. "Not only that, but you proved yourself real men. But did you really assault some of the French police?"
"I am afraid we did," answered Dan, meeting his commanding officer's eye squarely.
"Bad, very bad. But how did it occur?"
Dan related, briefly, their meeting with the Apaches, and the fight with the police a few minutes later. From that he told of their arrest and imprisonment. Davis told the story well, the captain listening intently until the narrative was finished.
"You boys certainly have had an experience. But you have not told me why you cut your leave short?"
"We lost our money, sir."
"Lost your money?"
"Yes sir."
"How did that happen?"
"As my friend Hickey would put it, we were 'touched,' sir."
The captain threw back his head, laughing heartily.
"That is not a new thing to happen to a sailor. Do you know how it occurred?"
"We can only guess at it, sir. We had been dining with the Spanish ambassador——"
"Dining with the Spanish ambassador?" questioned the captain in well-feigned surprise.
"Yes, sir; did I not tell you about that?"
"No."
"It seems that it was his wife and daughter whom we rescued from the Apaches. We did not know that until some time afterwards. The ambassador invited us to dine with them at the embassy; then later in the evening he told us who the women were that we had rescued."
"Well, I must say you lads are getting on in the world pretty fast."
"Yes, sir; it seems to me that we have not been losing any time."
"I should say you had not. But about losing your money?"
"We walked home from the ambassador's residence, sir. On the way we sat down on a seat in one of the little parks. We had not sat there long before two gentlemen came along and sat down. There was one on either side of us."
"They began talking to us in English, and, learning who we were, became quite friendly. They were very pleasant gentlemen, sir."
"So I should imagine."
"After talking for some time, we decided to move on, and, bidding them good night, went to our pension."
"Then you think those pleasant gentlemen were those who got your money?"
"They must have been, sir. We were not near enough to any one else to give him a chance to get into our pockets. I am ashamed of myself, sir, to have been so easily fooled."
"Many men more experienced than either of you lads have been taken in, my boy. You did very well. I commend you both for the way you have conducted yourself in the trying experiences you have had. The American consul said some very pleasant things about you."
"We had to borrow some money off him to get back to ship, sir," said Dan. "I should like to return it to him at once. Shall I be able to put a letter ashore?"
"I am afraid not. We shall be sailing very shortly now. We were waiting——"
Some one knocked at the door.
"Well?"
"Orderly, sir."
"Yes, what is it?"
"The master-at-arms reports that twelve men are ashore, having overstayed their leave, sir."
"Thank you. Send the executive officer here to me."
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Davis, go to the canteen at once, and procure your uniform. See that your rating badge is sewed on the sleeve; then report back to me here."
"Aye, aye, sir."
Dan hurried away, delivering the captain's order to the keeper of the canteen. He was quickly furnished with a new uniform and a rating badge, the latter showing that he was a petty officer. This rating badge consisted of two white crossed cannon with three red chevrons beneath, all surmounted by a white eagle, worn on the sleeve.
Dan went out on the spar deck where he changed his clothes abaft of the second stack.
While he was thus engaged, the executive officer reported to his superior officer. The two officers were engaged in conversation for some moments.
"See that the master-at-arms is informed immediately of my wishes. I am sending Davis because I wish him to have the experience."
"Are the men to carry arms, sir?"
"Yes."
"Has authority been obtained from the local authorities, sir?"
"Yes; that has been arranged for, in case we found it necessary to land a patrol."
"Very good, sir. Shall I send Davis to you?"
"I already have ordered him to report. See that the master-at-arms has everything arranged at once. I desire to get away from here to-day if possible."
"Aye, aye, sir."
The executive officer saluted and left the captain's cabin. He had been gone but a few moments when there came another knock at the door.
"Seaman Davis, sir."
"Come in."
Dan Davis, in his new uniform, stepped into the room, looking very handsome and manly. He stood erect, with shoulders well back, in perfect military position.
The captain surveyed him with critical but approving eyes.
"I wish you to perform a service, Davis," announced the captain in a business-like tone.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"I am giving you this detail that you may get the experience. By rights, the marines should do it, though it is discretionary with me to send whom I choose. I have decided to send you."
Dan did not reply. He could not imagine what was wanted of him.
"You will take a detail of six men, armed, carrying five rounds of ball cartridges. Proceed ashore in steamer number one, and round up the delinquents. Bear in mind that you are on foreign soil, and that any indiscreet act on your part might involve the United States in trouble with the French government."
The captain paused to give his words force.
"Aye, aye, sir."
Dan's eyes were sparkling, strive as he might to appear as if it were nothing unusual to be sent ashore at the head of a patrol.
"Twelve delinquents are ashore, having overstayed their leave. Bring in all you can find, reporting to the American consul as to those whom you fail to round up. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will use no unnecessary force, but simply bring in the men. You will remember that you are clothed with no little power. Exercise it discreetly. I know that I can depend on you. That will be all. Report at once to the master-at-arms, who has instructions and orders in this matter. Make all possible haste, as I desire to sail this afternoon, or as much earlier as is possible."
"Aye, aye, sir. Is that all, sir?"
"Yes."
The Battleship Boy saluted and retired. Proceeding directly to the forecastle, he reported to the master-at-arms, who had already ordered out the men who were to constitute the patrol.
Dan's companions were looking on smilingly, for the lad was popular among his fellows.
"Here is the list of the men whom you are to bring in," said the master-at-arms.
Davis took the list, going over it deliberately and fixing the names in his mind, after which he stowed the paper in his blouse pocket.
"You have your orders?"
"Yes, sir; the captain has given me my instructions. You have no idea where I shall find the men, sir?"
"No; that is for you to find out when you get ashore. Are you ready?"
"All ready, sir."
"Take charge of the patrol."
"Carry arms!" commanded Davis, turning to his squad. "Right face, forward march! Board steamer!"
The men scrambled over the side, going down the Jacob's ladder into the steamer that lay awaiting them below.
"Cast off!" commanded the Battleship Boy. The steamer whistled once and headed for the landing stage.
Dan sat on the stern rail alone. He was impressed with the importance of his assignment. He realized that he had it in his power, perhaps, to bring on war between two friendly powers. Every minute the steamer was drawing nearer and nearer to the landing stage.
Dan felt no nervousness. He did not try to make up his mind what he should do when he got ashore. Time enough for that when he got there.
The landing stage reached, the men were piped out.
"Fall in, forward march, by twos!"
The men fell into step and marched steadily up the street.
It was a small command that Dan Davis had under him, but he was as proud of it as if he had been commanding a company.
"Halt!"
The men came to a quick stop in front of a resort where Dan thought he might possibly find some of the absent sailors.
Instead of ordering his men to go in, he entered alone.
"Have you any American sailors here?" he asked.
The proprietor shook his head. He did not understand the words, perhaps, but he had seen the detail of armed sailors halt before his place, and well knew the meaning.
"You are sure you have none of our men here?"
"Non." (No.)
"Who went into that room there?" pointing to a door that had closed with a bang as Dan pushed open the front door.
The proprietor shrugged his shoulders and turned away.
The boy's mind was made up at once. A few quick strides brought him to the door in question. He threw it open and sprang in.
A pair of legs, clad in the blue of the Navy, were protruding from beneath a table. Dan grabbed the legs, giving them a mighty tug. The result was that a sailor was jerked out into the middle of the room.
"So you thought you would get away from me, did you, Anthony? Stand up."
Anthony did stand up. He sprang to his feet, launching a terrific blow at Seaman Davis. Dan merely parried the blow, making no attempt to return it.
"Anthony," he said, stepping back. "I have a patrol outside. Do you want me to call them in?"
"I'll lick you first," growled the man.
"Stop where you are! You are not wholly responsible for what you are doing or saying, but you know what will happen to you if you resist. I came in here to get you, and I'm going to take you out with me."
Dan whirled at that instant. He had caught an expression in the eyes of his man that told him something was going on behind him. The boy ducked like a flash, thus avoiding a vicious blow that had been aimed at him by the proprietor of the place.
"Don't you do that again!" warned Dan sternly. "You are facing the United States Government now, remember. Stand aside!"
With this he grabbed Anthony by the arm. The sailor struggled to release himself, but Davis' grip was too strong to enable him to break away easily. Anthony swung his free hand. That was just what Dan wanted.
With a quick twist he brought both the sailor's arms behind the latter's back, giving the fellow a violent push.
There was nothing for Anthony to do but to go ahead. He did so with a rush, Dan running behind him and pushing with all his might. They struck the swinging doors with a bang. The doors flew out, the Battleship Boy and his prisoner landing with a bump against the astonished jackies of the patrol, who were waiting outside.
"Two of you men take this fellow down to the steamer and tell those aboard that he is under arrest. Tell the coxswain I shall hold him personally responsible for the man's safe keeping. Hurry back. You will find us up the street somewhere. Anthony, you had better go peaceably unless you want to spend the next three months in the brig."
The two men detailed for the purpose led the ugly sailor away.
"Twos right, forward march!" commanded Dan.
The little company trudged up the street, many persons pausing to look at the slim, well-set-up fellow who was plainly in command of the four remaining men of the squad.
The part of the town in which they now found themselves was the location of most of the sailor boarding houses in Boulogne. Somehow, Dan had an idea that some of their men would be found there. He kept his eyes open, slowing his men down.
"Halt!" he commanded.
Dan had espied a sailor from one of the trans-atlantic ships on the other side of the street. He crossed over to the man.
"Good morning, shipmate," greeted Davis. "I'm looking for some of our delinquents. Have you seen any of our men in this quarter within the last hour or two?"
"You from the 'Long Island'?"
"Yes. Have you seen any of our fellows?"
"I guess I have. One of them gave me this black eye 'bout half an hour ago. I'd have trimmed him proper if he hadn't had a gang back of him."
"Where was that?"
"Down the street a piece."
"Where is the man now?"
"See that two-story building down there?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's a sort of hotel; that's what they call it; but I reckon it's a joint where they shanghai fellows for the long cruises. I wouldn't go in there for the price of a round-trip voyage."
"Thank you. I'll soon find out."
"You ain't going in there, are you, shipmate?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"Why, they'll knock your block off, the first thing if you try to get a man out of there."
"Don't be too sure about that," answered Dan, with a smile. "I guess they had better not try it."
"Take my advice and take your men in with you. I see they have their guns, and you'd better see to it that the guns are loaded, while you are about it."
"Thank you very much. I will look out for myself."
By the time the young commander rejoined his squad the two men who had taken their prisoner down to the ship's steamer had returned. Dan now had six men that he could use.
"Forward march!" he commanded.
They continued on until they reached the place that the merchant sailor had indicated.
"Men, I want you to wait here. Do not enter unless I give three short, sharp whistles, then come quickly. But do not lose yourselves. Under no consideration use your guns. It is not necessary. We have our fists if it comes to a fight."
"Hadn't you better take a couple of us with you?" questioned one of the men.
"No, it is not necessary. An armed force might stir up trouble."
Dan entered the place, and he saw at once that the sailor had not overdrawn the character of the house. It was about the worst he ever had seen. The place was thronged with tough characters, few of whom were sailors; or, at least, they did not appear to be.
"I don't believe a man of them has ever smelled salt water unless he's been out on the breakwater," thought Dan.
Glancing about, he failed to see any of the men for whom he was looking. He strolled about, attracting as little attention as possible, though several of the men regarded him suspiciously.
The front room was a sort of office and lounging room. A small desk, on one side, was walled off by a rusty iron screen. Around by the lower end of the desk was a door opening into a rear room.
Dan decided to investigate. He made his way as quietly as possible to the end of the desk, pushed the door slightly ajar, peered in and sneezed.
The odor of bad tobacco was almost over-powering. The boy blinked and sneezed again.
"Shut that door, you lubber!" roared a voice from the rear room.
Davis shut it, but when the door closed he was on the inside, with his back against the door.
It was with difficulty that he made out the faces of the men congregated there. Not one of them paid the least attention to him.
"Ah, there's one of my men now," muttered the boy.
The man indicated was an ordinary seaman, who had been aboard but a short time. His name was Kuhn. He was in deep conversation with a man better dressed than most of the others. The older man appeared to be seeking to convince the sailor of something that he was telling him.
Dan edged over near them and listened. Perhaps he suspected what was going on, for Dan Davis was a shrewd lad, and he was learning many things about the life of the sailor and the snares that are set for him.
A moment's listening convinced him that he was right. The well-dressed stranger was trying to induce Kuhn to desert and join a ship bound for China. A large increase in wages was promised, good grub and a real berth to sleep in.
"But they'll come and get me and lock me up," protested Kuhn. "I'll be a deserter."
"Nothing of the sort, my lad. How are they going to get you when you are in China? Why, you'll never be heard from again. I'll tell you what the skipper of the schooner is willing to do for a likely lad like you."
"What?"
"Sh-h-h, don't say anything about it, but he's promised to make you first mate."
"He has?"
"Sure thing."
The sailor's eyes glowed with anticipation.
"All right; if you will get me out of this uniform, so I shall not be recognized, I'll——"
"You'll come with me," finished a voice behind Kuhn, as a hand was laid lightly on his shoulder.
The sailor leaped to his feet, his face flushing. An angry light flashed to his eyes as he recognized the features of Gunner's Mate Davis confronting him.
Dan had heard enough. He understood. He did not blame the young, inexperienced sailor so much, but he felt rising within him a righteous indignation toward the Englishman who was seeking to induce the young fellow to desert the Flag under which he was serving.
"Come, Kuhn; it is time you were getting back to the ship," said Dan in a quiet tone.
"I—I am not going."
"Not going?"
"No. I——"
"Never mind, Mr. Sailorman. The boy and me is friends. You just let him alone. I'll see that he gets back to the ship afore you get there yourself."
Dan turned upon the Englishman.
"Who are you?"
"I just told you. I'm a friend of the shipmate here."
"A nice sort of friend you are," replied Dan witheringly. "Are you coming with me, Kuhn? You know what it means to refuse to return to ship as you have just done. The ship is preparing to sail. If I have to use force it will be the worse for you. I know what this man is trying to do with you. He is a bad man, Kuhn. He is trying to induce you to desert——"
"You go away and let me alone——"
"See here, young fellow," commanded the Englishman savagely, "if you know what is good for you, you get right out of here, and don't you come back again. It'll be the worse for you if you do. Understand?"
"Look out that you do not get into trouble yourself. Kuhn, you are coming with me."
The Battleship Boy laid a firm grip on the arm of his shipmate and began moving toward the door by which he had entered the room.
Suddenly Kuhn was jerked violently from his grasp. Dan made a spring, recovering his prisoner.
All at once the Englishman uttered a series of short, sharp exclamations in French. Like magic, nearly every man in the room was on his feet. They appeared to understand perfectly what was wanted of them, and with one accord made a rush for Seaman Davis.
"Stand back!" roared the young officer, boldly facing the mob. "You will have to answer to your government if you dare lay hands on me."
They gave no heed to his warning, but threw themselves upon the lad. Dan fought manfully, using his fists to good purpose, and many a hardy stoker and sailor went down before Little Dynamite's sturdy blows.
Not daring to cease fighting long enough to reach for the boatswain's whistle with which he had provided himself before leaving ship, he uttered three sharp whistles with his lips, but in the din about him the whistles failed to carry beyond the room.
The whistles did, however, have the effect of quieting the uproar. The men interpreting them as some sort of a signal, hesitated, looked at each other inquiringly, then at the cool, hatless young fellow who was facing them, working his way determinedly toward Ordinary Seaman Kuhn. The latter was standing with a half-frightened expression on his face. He had begun to realize the enormity of his proposed act.
"Kuhn, come here!" demanded Dan sternly.
The sailor made a move as if to comply with the order. Ere he had taken a step forward, however, the Englishman had fastened upon his arm.
"You're in it now. You can't get out. If you go back to the ship they will put you in the brig. You just stay here till the ship has sailed, and you'll be all right."
"But where—where? They'll come here and get me."
"We'll see to that."
Again Dan had forced his way to where Kuhn was standing, but before he was able to lay his hands upon the young fellow a dozen men threw themselves upon the Battleship Boy.
Davis struggled with all the strength that was in him. His struggles were fruitless. Men of brawn and muscle had hold of him now. He was as a child in their hands, though, had his hands been free, he would have given a good account of himself.
Some one gave a few brief directions in French. The men picked Dan up, bearing him through a door, into a long, dark hallway, down which they carried him until they reached a door at the end. Opening the door, they threw the Battleship Boy in bodily, slamming and locking the door.
"I've made a mess of it," groaned the lad, "but I'll beat them yet."
The room was quite dark, except for the light that came in through an open skylight above Dan Davis' head. A glance about him told the boy that he had been thrown into a storeroom. All about him were boxes, cases and trunks.
"It will do me no good to shout. If I do, I'll give them the satisfaction of knowing that I'm done for. No; I won't yell. My men could not hear me if I did."
Dan pondered for a few moments, and an idea came to him.
"I believe I could batter that door down," he mused. "I'll take a look at it."
A brief examination convinced him that such an attempt would be foolish. The door was constructed of heavy plank, and had been made to withstand assaults. The room in which he had been made a prisoner was a place where sailors' chests were stored, a sort of safe deposit vault. There were no windows on either side, only the skylight in the ceiling, some twelve feet above the boy's head.
Dan gazed up at it longingly.
"I wonder if I could do it," he thought. "I cannot more than fail, anyway."
He quickly went to work, piling up boxes and chests. The latter were so heavy that he was unable to handle them and get them up more than three high. On top of these he piled boxes and climbed to the top of the pile. He found that he was still some distance from the skylight. This was a double affair, with the lights turning up on either side of a brace between them.
Dan crouched down, measured the distance and made a leap straight up into the air. His fingers barely touched the frame of the opening, then down he shot.
The lad landed on the edge of the upper packing case. It toppled over with him, and nearly every one of the boxes he had piled up came down with a crash that made that part of the building shake.
An empty case turned over Dan, imprisoning him beneath it. At first he lay still, not knowing whether he had been injured or not. Finally concluding that he had not been hurt, he eased the case from his body and crawled out.
"Either they are all deaf and dumb, or else they have deserted the place," he said out loud. "I don't believe I shall try that again. I'll try some other plan, and——"
Footsteps were heard coming down the hall. A new idea occurred to the lad. In an instant he had flattened himself on the floor, pulling the packing case over him as it had been before.
A key grated in the lock and several men entered. Among them was the Englishman. Dan recognized his voice, though the fellow was speaking in French. The men set up a great chattering when, as they thought, they found the room empty. It appeared plain to them how their man had made his escape.
"He's climbed out of the skylight!" cried a voice in good English.
"I shouldn't wonder if he is up there now. He can't get down," answered the Englishman with whom Dan had had the trouble out in the other room.
"Get him, quick! Somebody climb up there!"
The men began chattering in French again. Instantly they started piling boxes on top of the chests which they had put in place on the pile again.
"This is the time I lose," muttered Dan.
Fortunately for him, however, they were getting their cases from the other side. They found light and empty cases for their purpose, and it required but a moment to fling them up in place.
Three men instantly clambered to the top of the pile thus made. One man was lifted by the other two and boosted to the skylight. He grasped the frame, holding on, his feet standing on the hands of the other two beneath him.
The pile of boxes wavered and swayed beneath the weight placed upon them.
In the meantime Dan Davis had raised the box from his own body just far enough to enable him to peer out. He saw what was going on, and his eyes lighted up with joy as a sudden idea occurred to him.
"I'll show them they can't beat a Yankee tar," he thought, raising the box little by little. Fortunately for him, the men on the floor were at the other side of the pile of boxes, while those on top were too busy with their own affairs to look down.
Crouching for a spring, he gathered himself.
All at once the box over him landed several feet away with a crash.
Dan was on his feet in a twinkling. The door leading into the hallway stood open. Freedom was at hand, but the boy was not yet ready to take advantage of the opportunity offered him.
With a bound he threw his whole weight against the pile of packing cases.
For one giddy moment the cases trembled, then fell inward toward the men on the floor. Those above emitted a yell. Down they went, howling and shouting, their companions not having had time to get out of the way, being caught under the falling boxes and buried beneath them. All of the men were fighting, kicking and struggling to extricate themselves from the wreckage.
"Hip, hip, hooray!" yelled the Battleship Boy, unable to control his delight at the downfall of his enemies. "Next time maybe you'll think twice before you try to beat the United States Government."
With that Dan sprang out into the hallway. He slammed the door, turned the key in the lock, then hurled the key from him.
"Let them stay there and think it over for the rest of the day. It will do them good," he laughed, starting for the other end of the hall. He stepped into the room from which he had been taken a short time before.
There were still a number of men there, but they had not observed his entrance. Dan's eyes swept the room. In a far corner, crouching low in his chair, sat Kuhn, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. There was a frightened expression on the young sailor's face.
Dan walked quickly around the outer edge of the room. Kuhn did not happen to look his way. The fellow's eyes were fixed on the door leading out into the office in momentary expectation of seeing a squad of blue jackets enter the place.
"I've got you this time, young man!" exclaimed Davis, pouncing upon the sailor.
Kuhn toppled from his chair to the floor, with Dan on top of him.
"Get up!" commanded the Battleship Boy, scrambling to his feet and jerking his prisoner up beside him. "Out of here, before I serve you worse. I'm getting angry. You'll regret acting the way you have to-day. Come along!"
Ere the others in the room had an opportunity to protest, Dan had dragged his man to the door, which he kicked open, pushing his man through, then running him to the front door. With a shove, Dan sent his prisoner staggering to the sidewalk. Ere Kuhn stopped going he had measured his length in the street before the eyes of the jackies who comprised the patrol.
"Hold him, men!" commanded Davis. "That's it. Take him down to the steamer, two of you. I believe there are other men in this place. It is taking long chances, but I am going in to find out. Two of you come in with me this time. Be careful that you do not start anything. Take no part in any fight that may occur unless I tell you to do so."
At a carry arms, two of the detail followed Dan into the office of the place.
Approaching the proprietor, he said:
"Do you speak English?"
The man, a fat, red-faced Frenchman, nodded surlily, his eyes on the two armed men standing at attention at one side of the room.
"Are any of our men in your place?"
The fellow shook his head.
"I have reason to believe there are."
"No men here."
"Do you wish me to report your conduct to the Prefect of Police?"
The fellow's face took on a darker shade.
"Unless you convince me that none of our sailors are under your roof, I shall place a guard at the door to see that none of our men leave; then I shall go to the police and enter a complaint against you. They don't love you any too well now, you know."
Davis had taken a long shot, but he saw, from the expression on the proprietor's face that it had reached the mark.
Just then the Englishman, followed by the other men whom Dan had imprisoned in the store room, burst into the office. Espying the Battleship Boy, the Englishman made a dash toward him.
"There he is! Grab him!"
The men behind the Englishman started forward. None had observed the two jackies standing rigidly at one side of the room with eyes front.
"Stop where you are!" commanded Davis.
They paid no attention to his command.
"Port arms!" he commanded sharply, turning to his own men. "Load!"
Two audible metallic clicks sounded above the noise in the room.
"Take aim! Steady, there," he ordered, in a voice just loud enough for his men to hear. "I wouldn't have you pull the triggers for a million dollars. Don't get excited."
The rush stopped instantly.
"Now, you fellows, I want you to stand out of my way. At the first sign of opposition on your part I shall order my men to fire. Mr. Proprietor, lead the way through your place."
Backed by the two armed men, Davis started in the wake of the proprietor. They examined all the rooms on the ground floor, after which Dan, leaving his men in the hallway to guard the rear, proceeded upstairs where a number of rooms had been arranged for lodging places. In one of these he found three sailors sound asleep on the floor. They were awakened with no little difficulty.
"Guard, there!" called Dan down the stairway.
"Aye, aye."
"One of you come up here. Take these men out to the patrol with instructions for two of them to march these fellows down to the steamer. Tell the men to report back at once. If the other two have returned, send one of them in to me!"
The sailors, rubbing their eyes, rose, grinning sheepishly.
"Where are we heading, matey?" demanded one of them.
"For the ship and perhaps the brig," answered Dan shortly.
"What for?"
"Overstaying your leave. Come, hurry out of here!"
The men ruefully made their way down the stairs, and a few minutes later were on their way to the landing stage, where the steamer was waiting to receive them. Dan was convinced that the men had not intentionally overstayed their leave. Still, he had little sympathy for men who had so light a regard for their duty as to forget it entirely.
"Now, Mr. Proprietor, what other rooms have you in this establishment?"
"None."
"I am afraid I can't take your word for anything after the way you have tried to deceive me. We will look about below a little. Where does that door lead to?" he asked, espying a small door under the stairway after they had reached the hallway again.
"To the cellar. There's nothing down there."
"Open the door."
The owner of the place did so. Dan peered down into the darkness and was about to turn away, when he thought he heard voices. He listened intently.
"Who is down there?" he asked of the proprietor.
"No one."
"Get a light and lead the way."
The proprietor did so, his face working convulsively as he sought to control his rage.
Leading the way across the cellar, the fellow threw open a door. A great wave of damp, smoky air smote the newcomers in the face.
"So that's the game, is it?" demanded Dan triumphantly. There were the others of the missing men, enjoying themselves immensely. They were laughing and joking.
"Attention!" commanded Davis.
A loud laugh greeted his order.
"Bring him in here. It's Little Dynamite!" shouted the men. "Hurrah, for Little Dynamite! Hurrah!"
Sudden silence settled over the room. Behind the stern-faced Battleship Boy the eyes of the occupants of the room all at once made out their companions, armed with Krag rifles.
They understood.
"Attention! Forward march!" ordered Dan.
The men rose, hesitated, then bowing before the authority that they knew represented the United States Government, they filed from the room, up the stairs and into the hallway, where another guard stood at attention.
Dan led the way through the hall, on through the two rooms. He paused at the street door, while the men filed past him. They lined up in the street where Dan had halted them.
"Right dress. Twos right, forward march!"
The disconsolate sailors started away down the street, guarded in front and rear by armed men, with the Battleship Boy at their head.
Dan had had a lively time, but he had carried out his orders faithfully.
No conversation was indulged in, and, reaching the landing stage, the men were ordered into the little steamer, which quickly got under way and headed for the battleship. Shortly after that the delinquents were climbing up a sea ladder to the deck, the gangways having been taken in in preparation for getting under way.
"All present, sir," announced Dan, saluting the officer of the deck.