CHAPTER XLVI.BESIDE THE GREAT GUN.
In the captain’s cabin of theKearsargea white-haired, emaciated man, with tears streaming down his pallid cheeks, was vociferously assuring the commander of the warship of his undying gratitude.
“My dear sir, you don’t owe any thanks to me,” the latter protested gruffly. “The man to whom you owe your freedom is Mr. Hawley. Anxious though I was to serve you, I could have done nothing if it hadn’t been for him.”
President Felix raised his faded eyes to the beamed ceiling of the cabin. “And to think that I misjudged the motives of that heroic young man!” he said remorsefully. “It seemed to me preposterous that he could save me with his camera. I did him the injustice of supposing that he was merely a professional photographer trying to get a sensational picture and not caring what happened to me afterward as a result of his exploit.”
“And yet you assisted him by standing at the bars of your dungeon and posing for his camera?” Captain Cortrell exclaimed, in a surprised tone.
A glow came to the liberated martyr’s eyes. “That was because I saw the possibility of being vindicated in the eyes of the world,” he replied. “That was all that I dared hope for, señor—vindication, not freedom. I believed that Mr. Hawley’s daring exploitwould cause my enemies to resort to desperate measures, but I was in hopes that afterward—after my death—the picture might be published in the United States and my reputation cleared. Even if Mr. Hawley had done me only that service, it would have been enough,” he added fervently.
“Well, thank goodness, he was able to accomplish more than that,” said the naval officer heartily.
“How shall I ever be able to repay him?” said Felix brokenly.
While this conversation was taking place in the captain’s cabin, the Camera Chap was standing under the shadow of one of the warship’s great guns, looking into the blue eyes of Virginia Throgmorton, and earnestly assuring her that to her alone was due the successful outcome of his adventure.
“I was sure, when I handed you that pouch, that you would grasp the idea,” he said, a note of profound admiration in his voice. “Any other girl might have failed to understand.”
Virginia laughed and blushed at the same time. “I am so glad that I did understand,” she said earnestly. “It wasn’t cleverness, of course—it was just instinct. But suppose I had taken you literally and sent on that keepsake to your friend, Mr. Paxton, without examining it!” She shuddered at the thought.
Hawley smiled grimly. “In that event, I guess theSentinelwould have had a big picture scoop. Tom Paxton would have realized what that film meant, of course, as soon as he saw it, and would have played upthe snapshot for all it was worth.” Suddenly he smiled as a thought came to him. “What has become of our friend Gale?”
Virginia informed him that theNewsman had gone back to New York.
“I supposed as much,” Hawley chuckled. “I guess he was in a hurry to go back to his office and hand them his big picture scoop. In spite of the seriousness of the situation, I could scarcely keep from laughing, that night, when I saw him fool Portiforo by pocketing my camera and handing him another, not suspecting that while he was working that cunning little trick he was being hoaxed himself.” He chuckled again. “I would give a whole lot to see his face when he arrives at theNewsoffice and develops that perfectly blank film.”
Virginia frowned. “Serves him right,” she said. “I don’t like to be vindictive, but I hope his editor discharges him.” She sighed. “I can’t understand why my father should have taken such a fancy to that contemptible fellow. But then,” she added, with a rueful smile, “poor dad has shown himself to be a very poor judge of men.”
Hawley nodded.
“I am sorry for your father, Virginia. I presume it will be a great blow to him—the way things have turned out.”
“I am afraid it will,” the girl said wistfully. “He had such great faith in that tyrant Portiforo. And I suppose he will be asked to resign his post. It isn’t to be expected that Washington will continue him here under the circumstances. Personally I shall notbe sorry to return to the United States, but I fear that dad will feel keenly the disgrace of being recalled.”
The Camera Chap made no comment on this, but there was a thought in his mind which did not find expression until a few days later when he arrived at Washington and presented himself at the White House.
The President of the United States received his photographic envoy with marked cordiality, and gazed appreciatively at the snapshot which the latter handed him with the simple announcement: “Here is the picture, Mr. President, which you instructed me to take.”
The chief executive smiled quizzically. “I must compliment you on the manner in which you have carried out my instructions, sir,” he said formally. “Thank you for the picture. I fear that you must have had considerable trouble in getting it.” Then suddenly the quizzical smile left his face, and his hand went out and grasped that of Hawley in a strenuous grip. “Well done, sir,” he exclaimed, in a tone that was by no means formal. “I shan’t forget your splendid, plucky work, my boy.”
It was a little late when the subject of reward was brought up, and the president was offering the Camera Chap a lucrative position in the United States secret service, that the latter spoke the thought which was in his mind when he had that conversation with Virginia on board theKearsarge.
“I don’t want anything for myself, sir,” Hawley said. “But—if you won’t think me too presumptuous—I would like to ask a favor on behalf of somebodyelse. I understand that there is talk of Minister Throgmorton being recalled as a result of the latest developments in Baracoa. If you could see your way to permit him to retain his post it would be giving me a greater reward than I deserve.”
The president shook his head. “I regret to say that is out of the question,” he replied. “I am convinced that Mr. Throgmorton acted with perfect sincerity in upholding Portiforo and refusing to believe the rumor about the conspiracy against Felix, but a man capable of such bad judgment is scarcely fit to represent this government abroad. Besides, Mr. Throgmorton has no desire to continue in his post. He has sent me his resignation to take effect immediately. He feels naturally that it would be embarrassing to him to remain in Baracoa under the Felix administration. He and his daughter have sailed for the United States.”
And the president wondered why this announcement brought such a joyous expression to the Camera Chap’s face.
THE END.
No. 70 of theAdventure Library, entitled “The Sky Pilot,” by Burt L. Standish, is a book that from beginning to end is filled with entertainment.