Part 23 (1/2)

”Give it up, unless there's going to be a fight between the revolutionists and the regulars.”

”I wonder if we'll be in on it.”

”Say, are you looking for trouble?” asked Frank, with a laugh.

”No, but if it's coming our way, I'm not going to dodge it very hard,”

Ned answered, grimly.

The two battles.h.i.+p boys strolled about the town a little longer, and then made their way to the boat landing, for it was nearly time to start back for the _Georgetown_.

”This looks like an American quarter,” said Frank, as they pa.s.sed a place where several signs, in distinctly American names, were to be seen.

”It is,” said a petty officer, who was walking along with them. ”And if there's any trouble going to happen it will happen right here, in this quarter.”

”What do you mean?” asked Frank, quickly.

”Oh, nothing,” was the evasive answer. It was evident that the petty officer had said more than he intended to. ”It's just as well to know,”

he went on, ”where the American quarter of any foreign city is located.

There's no telling when one may need the information.”

Something in the officer's words and manner impressed Frank. Dropping a little to the rear he whispered to his brother:

”Ned, open your eyes and take a good look around this place.”

”What for?”

”So you'll know it again. I have an idea we'll need to know it. Maybe we'll have a sc.r.a.p in it sooner than we expect.”

”A sc.r.a.p? You mean a fight?”

”That's just what I mean. There's trouble brewing, and it isn't far off!”

Ned did as his brother advised, and made a mental map of the streets of what might be designated the ”American quarter” of Pectelo. It was not large, and was only a short distance from the water front.

A large number of the citizens of the South American city gathered to witness the departure of the blue-jackets for their battles.h.i.+p. And here again, in spite of the fact that some of the inhabitants cheered while others scowled, Ned and Frank could not help noticing that there was that same curious air of expectancy-as if something was about to happen.

But there was nothing out of the usual as the sailors took to the cutters and began steaming back to the _Georgetown_. They had had their sh.o.r.e leave and felt all the better for it.

Frank noticed that all the officers reported to the captain as soon as they got on board, and he wondered if that had anything to do with the expected happening.

Again that night, after hammocks had been slung, and the men had enjoyed their period of rest, were double sentries posted. It fell to the lot of Frank to have an important station on the side of the battles.h.i.+p nearest sh.o.r.e where he could plainly see the flickering lights.

It was nearly midnight when, as he patrolled his post up and down the deck, he saw on sh.o.r.e a series of lights suddenly flash into view. At first he paid no attention to them, thinking they indicated some celebration near the beach. But as they continued to flash he took more notice of them.

”It looks like a signal,” he said; ”a signal to us. I wonder if there can be any trouble? I'd better notify the officer of the watch.”

It took but a moment to do this.

No sooner had the officer seen the flas.h.i.+ng lights than he exclaimed: