Part 26 (1/2)

”Them signals aer a-waggin' fit ter split theirselves,” the man cried.

”Reckon it erd be jist right ter send 'em aboard.”

”So; then we'll get under way. Get to your post.”

The torpedo boat quivered and throbbed from stem to stern as the screws revolved in the water.

”Say,” said the officer, ”there's steam and plenty of it in that old tub of yours. Suppose we go aboard the flags.h.i.+p in it; it'll be the handier.”

Hal and Gerald acquiesced, and at once stepped into the launch. A man was left in charge of the wheel of the torpedo boat. Then two were sent aboard the launch, one of whom dived into the engine-room; the las.h.i.+ngs were cast off, and they steamed alongside the huge vessel which flew the admiral's flag.

A monster she looked, too, for the _New York_ was one of the largest of armored cruisers afloat.

”Down below there! Hook on, and we'll bring you flyin' up,” someone shouted, and the tackle of the two falls began to descend, a sailor clinging to the lower block of each. Hal was no seaman, and it was a revelation to him to see the way in which the hooks were made fast, and the launch, engines, and all, whisked aloft. A minute later he and Gerald, together with the officer, were standing on the white decks of the magnificent flags.h.i.+p _New York_.

”Admiral's compliments, and will ye sthep below?” an Irish marine said, saluting.

”To be sure I will! Stay here till I come up again,” replied the officer, turning to the lads.

As he left them for his interview with the admiral, another officer approached.

”Should say that this was irregular,” he said, looking keenly at Hal and Gerald. ”Two prisoners left unguarded! But you'd be amazin' clever, I reckon, to do us much harm. Hallo! What's this? I've a kind of recollection of one of you. Now, where have we met?”

”And I remember you; I saw you aboard the _Maine_,” replied Hal quietly.

”Why, the _Maine_! That you did, certainly. Are you not the Britisher?

You are, of course, but what are you doin' with this young fellow aboard a Spanish craft?”

This needed another explanation, which was barely completed when Admiral Sampson, the commodore of the squadron of American s.h.i.+ps, came up.

”Congratulations, young gentlemen,” he said, extending his hand in welcome. ”I have heard part of the story, and shall be glad to learn more. Meanwhile, I fancy that a bath and some clean clothes will be more in your line than anything else. Mr. Perkins, I'll be obliged if you will hurry next time something turns up. This time it's different, for they're excellent young fellows.”

The officer saluted, and at once descended the gangway, and entered a boat which had been lowered, bestowing a wink on Hal and Gerald as he did so.

”Mr. Billing, you'll do me the favor of looking after our guests,”

proceeded the admiral. ”Fix them up, and bring them along to dinner to-night.”

”Thankee, sir, I will,” was the reply; then he turned to Hal and Gerald, and led them below.

”You've had a good square meal, I understand,” he said, ”so we'll see right away what's to be done about togs. Come along here.”

He led them into a cabin, and began to ransack various drawers, producing, after a long hunt, undergarments and a spare suit for each.

”Perhaps you won't mind telling us what's going on?” said Hal. ”We know no more than that war was declared a few days ago.”

”Then I fancy that you are as well primed with information as we are. I can tell you that this is a very queer war--in fact, quite the strangest I have ever heard of. The truth is, that neither the Dons nor my country are prepared for fighting; for, you see, s.h.i.+ps are not sufficient to enable a nation to carry on hostilities. An army to invade is wanted, and where is ours to come from? Mind you, sir, I've not a morsel of doubt that we shall raise all the troops we want, and that very quickly too, for all America is buzzin' with enthusiasm at this very moment. But you must understand that men who have not been trained to work together stand a very poor chance when confronted with regulars. Then, again, where would our supply department be? I can inform you right now that there would be terrible confusion when it was found that a hastily raised arm of the service was called upon to feed, say, twenty thousand men, perhaps in Cuba, or elsewhere.

”So it comes to this, that we must wait till all is ready ash.o.r.e.

Meanwhile, the navy will have to do all the fighting, and, if only the Dons show the spirit for which their ancestors were famous, we shall have some very ticklish brushes with them.

”After our forces are ready to move, and the various departments have got into thorough working order, we shall want s.h.i.+ps to carry them to Cuba, or even to Spain, for all I know; and then I have a notion that there'll be a heap of fun, and a mighty lot for all of us to do.”