Part 29 (1/2)

Their story was now quite well known, and some of their comrades received permission to use nets, dragging them on the bottom of the bay, in the hope of bringing up the box. Ned helped, and so did Frank when his leg healed, which it did in about ten days. But the efforts were fruitless.

”Well, we leave here to-morrow,” said Frank one day, as he and his brother were taking their ease on deck, having just finished their tour of duty.

”Yes, it's been a great time while it lasted, but I do wish we had some good news to take back North to Uncle Phil.”

”So do I.”

The battles.h.i.+p was soon to leave. Matters in Uridio had now quieted down, and the government had the situation well in hand. Every promise was made that the rights of the Americans would be respected, and they were to be given adequate sums for the damage caused to their property by the rebels. The stronghold of the latter had literally been blown to bits by the big guns of the _Georgetown_.

Shortly after reveille one morning word was given to hoist the anchors.

A parting salute had been fired as a compliment to the Uridian flag. It was answered from a small land battery. The one cruiser owned by the rebels had not been seen since the _Georgetown_ had pursued her.

What had become of her was not learned until later, when it was discovered that her commander had been told of the collapse of the revolution, and had discreetly remained away. Later he took service with the government and turned his craft over to the authorities, so unless she has sunk, or tried to fight some other vessel out of her cla.s.s, the little war craft may yet be doing duty for Uridio.

”Well, it's good-bye to Uridio,” remarked Ned, as he looked landward.

”That's what it is,” answered Frank.

”I wonder if we will ever see this place again?”

”I doubt it-that is, unless there is another revolution.”

”Oh, I guess they've got fighting enough for the present.”

”Just what I think.”

”Maybe we'll see some other countries, more interesting than this. I'd like to go to Europe, and to j.a.pan and China, and I'd like to see Africa too.”

”Wow! Why don't you include the North Pole and Australia while you are at it,” came with a laugh. ”Wars.h.i.+ps like this don't travel just any old place. It costs too much money.”

”Oh, I know that. Just the same I'd like to see other countries, especially those that are well built up. This is only a one-horse affair.”

”It isn't much of a place, that's true.”

Slowly the great anchors of the _Georgetown_ came out of the bay as the steam winches wound up the big chains. Ned and Frank were on duty forward as the immense hooks came to the surface.

Something on one of the flukes caught Frank's eye. It looked like a bunch of seaweed, but when he glanced a second time he saw what it was, and cried out.

”Ned! Ned! Great guns, Ned! Look at that! It's the tin box! The tin box Bernardo's man threw out of the boat. It caught on the fluke of the anchor and was brought up from the bottom of the bay! Great guns! Don't let it get away again! It's the box with the papers that may free Uncle Phil!” and he fairly hopped up and down.

CHAPTER XXV-CLEARED

Frank Arden was so excited when he saw, caught by the binding ropes, on the great wars.h.i.+p's anchor, the mysterious box that might mean so much to him and his brother and uncle, that he would have sprung over the side of the _Georgetown_ and caught at the anchor. Indeed, he made a motion in that direction, but a sailor nearby stopped him.

”Wait a bit, me lad,” he said. ”I'm in charge of hoistin' th' mud-hook, an' I'll have it stopped if there's somethin' on it that ye want.”

He was a genial Irishman, and, as he said, he was there to pa.s.s the signals to the operator of the steam winch when the anchor had been hoisted high enough. In a quick manner, though he did not know all of the story of our heroes, he had grasped the situation. In another moment the anchor hung stationary over the side of the battles.h.i.+p.