HERMAN DODLEY INTERPOSES DIFFICULTIES
After leaving headquarters, and while making his way back to camp, our
hero was in a state of hardly-to-be-repressed excitement. Was one of
his age and limited experience ever intrusted with so important a
mission? He did not believe it possible, and was so filled with pride
that it seemed as though every person he passed ought to regard him
with respectful interest. As one after another only glanced at him
carelessly or failed to notice him at all, he wondered at their
stupidity, and felt like compelling their attention by proclaiming his
great secret.
At camp the situation was even more aggravating, for every one was so
intent on his own affairs or so unhappy at being left behind that Ridge
found himself barely noticed. Several questioned him concerning his
return, and one asked if the whole regiment was ordered back.
"Not that I know of," answered Ridge. "I believe I am the only one
thus far."
"Well, I'm glad you have been sent to the rear, and only wish all the
others were as well, for it's a beastly outrage that some should be
taken and others left. Just as if we weren't as good as any of them!"
was the bitter comment.
"Without reply, Ridge turned towards the place where he had left his
blanket roll, only to encounter another shock to his recent pride. An
officer met him.
"Hello! What troop do you belong to?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Troop K, sir," answered Ridge, saluting.
"I thought so. What are you doing here?"
"I was ordered ashore."
"Humph! Without any reason at all, I suppose."
Ridge remained silent.
"Oh, well, if you don't choose to tell why you are in disgrace you
needn't, but you may report to the cook of the officers' mess, who is
in need of an assistant."
Here was a dilemma. Ridge could not, of course, obey this order, since
every moment was precious. To disobey would cause his arrest and
detention in the guard-house. Nor could he inform even this officer of
the secret mission on which he was engaged. At that moment evening
stable-call was sounded, and a happy inspiration came to his relief.
"Very well, sir," he answered, turning as if to obey the order. Then
he added, "May I look after my horse first?"
"I suppose so," replied the officer. "Only be quick about it, for the
cook is badly in need of some one to help him."
So, without making a further attempt to recover his personal
belongings, Ridge hastened to the picket-line, where Señorita
manifested most extravagant joy at again seeing her young master.
"Is that your horse?" inquired the non-commissioned officer in charge
of the stable guard.
Upon Ridge acknowledging that the mare was his, the other continued;
"Well, I'm mighty glad you've come to look after her, for she has
nearly killed two men already, and we were just wondering whether we
should kill her or turn her loose. Now you'd better take her to water."
"May I put on a saddle and bridle?" inquired Ridge.
"Of course not. Who ever heard of riding a cavalry horse to water any
way but bareback?"
So the young trooper was obliged to set forth on| his great undertaking
without equipment of any kind. In his joy at finding himself once more
in possession of his beloved "Rita," this did not trouble him; and
untying the mare's halter, he leaped to her back. In an instant they
were dashing off at full speed, followed by jeers from all who
witnessed the proceeding, and who imagined the mare to be running away
with her present rider, as she had with every other who had attempted
to take her to water during her master's absence.
The camp was quickly left behind, and knowing his general direction,
Ridge soon found himself on the road to Port Tampa. It was a hard ride
to make without saddle or bridle, and long before the welcome lights
marking the mile-long pier of the port came into view the young soldier
was aching in every bone. The dim road through the solemn pines was so
heavy with sand that it took even fleet-footed Rita more than an hour
to cover the distance, and night had closed in before their destination
was reached.
It was with many misgivings that Ridge rode out on the long pier,
which, never intended for the use of horses or wagons, carried only a
sidewalk for pedestrians beside its railway-track, for Rita regarded
locomotives with the utmost terror. Still, he believed he must go to
the extreme outer end, where the big steamers lay, and where he hoped
to find either the _Speedy_ herself or some one from her to direct his
movements. Half-way out he discovered a train coming directly towards
them, and, to avoid it, turned his mare on to the platform that served
as front yard to the pretty little inn that was here built over the
water.
At this moment a figure in white duck approached him. It was Ensign
Comly of the _Speedy_.
"You are the very man I was sent to look for!" he cried. "I thought
you might be coming out here, and so was on my way to head you off and
turn you back. You see, the end of the pier is so crowded that our
craft can't lie alongside. So Captain Boldwood got hold of a small
scow, which he has sent in to shore, towed by one of our boats, to take
you off. We'll just about meet it if we hurry."
By this time the unusual sight of a horse in that place had aroused
much curiosity among the guests of the inn, who came out to see what
was going on. Among them was an army officer, who uttered an
exclamation the moment his eyes rested on Ridge standing in the glow of
an electric light. Stepping quickly up to him, he placed a heavy hand
on the young trooper's shoulder, and said, in a harsh voice:
"I arrest you, sir, and order you to come at once with me to my camp on
shore, where a guard-house awaits you."
"On what charge am I arrested?" asked Ridge, calmly, turning, and
looking Major Herman Dodley full in the face.
"On the several charges of contempt for an officer, disobedience of
orders, and desertion," was the startling reply.
"Very well, sir, I'll go with you," said Ridge, "seeing that I was
going in that direction anyhow."
"But--" remonstrated Ensign Comly.
"Who are you, sir? And what have you to say regarding this business?"
demanded the Major, fiercely, at the same time drawing and cocking his
revolver.
"Only a United States officer."
"Then, in the name of the United States, I call upon you to assist me
in carrying this deserter to a place of security," shouted the Major,
in theatrical tones.
"Pretend to agree," said Ridge, in a low voice, heard only by Comly.
"All right, Major, I'll see the thing through," agreed the navy man;
"though I must protest that it is wholly out of my line of business."
With this the three set forth, Ridge leading Rita, and the officers
walking on either side of him. For some distance they proceeded in a
silence that was finally broken by the sound of oars, apparently close
to the pier, which touched land but a short distance ahead. At the
same time a train of cars came thundering over the hollow structure
behind them, causing the mare to plunge violently in a terrified effort
to escape.
"Now is your chance!" whispered Comly.
Quick to take the hint, Ridge flung himself on the animal's back and
dashed away, followed by a harmless bullet from Herman Dodley's
revolver.
Ere he could fire another shot the naval man snatched away the weapon,
flung it into the sea, and started on a run after the disappearing
horseman. As he ran he shouted: "Look out for that horse, you in the
boat, and get it aboard lively! Do you understand?"
"Ay, ay, sir," came a cheery answer from out of the darkness.
Behind the Ensign ran Major Dodley, swearing, and also shouting:
"Corporal of the guard! Turn out the guard! Quick! This way!"
Then all other sounds were drowned in the roar of the passing train.
When it subsided a confused struggle between a dark mass and a number
of dimly seen white forms was going on in the shallow water. Several
sailors were lifting Señorita bodily into a little flat-bottomed boat,
and two young men in soaked uniforms were aiding them. Then, as two
boats, one in tow of the other, began to move away, a squad of soldiers
with muskets in their hands came running down to the beach.
"Fire!" commanded Herman Dodley, beside himself with rage. "Fire at
that boat. A deserter is escaping in it."
"Don't you dare fire!" came back in a stern tone from the darkness.
"This is a boat from a United States man-of-war, commanded by an
officer in the discharge of his duty."
The bewildered soldiers hesitated, and then, in compliance with
repeated orders, coupled with threats, from their Major, fired a few
harmless shots in the air, after which they returned to camp. There
Herman Dodley prepared another telegraphic report for General Shafter,
that aroused that irascible warrior to profanity, and resulted in the
speedy transference of his offending aide to New Orleans on recruiting
service.
So our hero was at length fairly started on his momentous mission, with
its secret yet undivulged. As the _Speedy_, with the bewildered
Señorita and her young master safely on board, slipped swiftly past the
great transport _Yucatan_, Ridge, shivering in his wet clothing, said
to Ensign Comly, who also shivered, "How I wish I could call out and
tell Rollo all about it!"
"Yes, wouldn't it make him open his eyes? But you can't, so let's go
below for something dry."