Part 29 (1/2)
”I have a first aid package, sir. With some help I can, bind this man's wounds until we get him over to the sick bay on the 'Sudbury.'”
”A fine idea,” agreed Lieutenant Jack. ”Go ahead.”
First of all, the wounded prisoner was taken out into the pa.s.sageway.
Jack and Eph had yet important work to do here. For a few minutes they searched in vain. Then, in turning over the lower berth's mattress, Eph's hand touched something hard.
”Wait until I get my pocket-knife out,” he smiled.
Rip! r-r-r-r-rip! As Ensign Eph tore open the mattress and thrust his hands inside, the grin on his face broadened.
”I reckon we've got the object of the whole expedition,” he announced.
He drew out a package wrapped in heavy paper. Jack broke the string, unwrapping, and pulling out to the light, a bundle of charts, layer upon layer.
”Yes. Here we have what we're after,” nodded Lieutenant Benson. ”And here are two books written chock-full of notes to go with the charts.
Gracious! That fellow. Millard must have stolen plans of every important fortified harbor on the Atlantic coast. And here are charts of some of the gulf ports as well.”
Gray, his wounds bound, had been laid on the door of the stateroom, which had been taken from its hinges. On this stretcher, the prisoner was taken over the side into the launch.
”Who's going to pay for the damage done here, sir?” asked the skipper of the Cobtown schooner, stepping forward.
”Hm!” muttered Jack. ”It seems to me you are lucky, my man, that we don't put a prize crew aboard this craft and take you back to Norfolk.”
”I haven't done anything,” protested the fellow, ”except to stand for a lot of damage on board because you're backed by sailors and marines.”
”My man,” retorted Jack, grimly, ”if you think you have suffered any unfair damage, then lay your case before the Navy Department. But my private advice is for you not to attract the attention of the authorities to you in case they seem likely to overlook you.”
”Is my vessel at liberty to proceed?” inquired the man, sullenly.
”Yes; I have no orders to seize your craft. I'd like to, however,”
Lieutenant Jack Benson added, dryly.
CHAPTER XVII
THE LAST HOUR OF COMMAND
Through the night the ”Sudbury” rolled lazily over the waves.
A wireless message had carried the news through s.p.a.ce to Was.h.i.+ngton.
Orders had come to return to Norfolk, there turning Gray over to the United States authorities.
Benson and his comrades were instructed to return to Was.h.i.+ngton with the charts and record books.
Down in a berth in the sick bay, lay Gray. The hospital steward had made the wounded man as comfortable as possible. The latter was painfully but not seriously wounded.
At the speed at which the gunboat was now proceeding the ”Sudbury” was due at anchorage at six in the morning.