UNDER THE FLAG ONCE MORE
"I'm going to see the consul," announced Dan Davis next morning as they
were dressing for breakfast.
"Better wait until he gets out of bed," suggested Hickey.
"Yes; we will walk about until ten o'clock; then I will go over. He will
no doubt loan us enough money to pay our fares to Boulogne."
"Sure thing. What's a consul for, if it isn't to help a
fellow-countryman who is in trouble?"
To their disappointment, they found the consul out. The boys called
several times that day. At last, late in the afternoon, they found him
at his office, when they quickly made known their predicament.
"Certainly I will help you, my lads. I will send over and have your
tickets bought for you. That will save you all trouble in the matter. I
do not think you will be able to get a train until late this evening,
however."
"You are very kind, sir," said Dan. "As soon as possible after reaching
the ship we will send you the money you have advanced to us."
"Never mind that. It is but a trifle."
"Oh, no, sir; that will not do. We shall return it."
"If you wish to remain in Paris longer I will loan you more money."
"Thank you, but we think it best to get back to the ship. Our leave has
not quite expired, but we shall feel better to be back."
The tickets were brought to them in due time. Late that evening the boys
presented themselves at the Gare du Nord, the station from which they
were to take a train for Boulogne. It was not yet train time, however,
so the boys strolled about watching the people.
"Guide, sir? Show you all about the city, young gentlemen?" questioned a
man in fairly good English.
Sam fixed him with a stern eye.
"Get out!" he commanded.
"Guide, sir?"
"No, sir; we do not need a guide," spoke up Dan.
"How much do you charge?" questioned Sam.
"Two dollars for two hours."
"Humph! I'll tell you what I'll do. If you'll stand up before me for two
minutes I'll send you two dollars as soon as I get back to the ship."
"Stand up before you?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"So I can knock your head off! I owe you fellows a thrashing."
"And so do I," broke in Dan. "You go away from here and let us alone, or
I'm liable to forget myself and give you a thumping that you won't
forget for the rest of the season. Now, beat it!"
"Yes, scat!" added Sam.
The guide gazed at them for one apprehensive moment.
The Battleship Boys made a threatening move in his direction, whereat
the guide turned and beat a hasty retreat.
Half an hour later, after much difficulty, the young sailors managed to
find their way to a second-class carriage on the Boulogne train.
At last they were on their way to their ship. The boys breathed a sigh
of relief.
"It has been a great experiment," said Dan.
"Fine!" laughed Sam.
"And we've seen a lot."
"And got 'done' a whole lot more," added the red-headed boy. "If there
is anything we haven't bumped up against I should like to know about
it."
Dan nodded reflectively.
"Let me see; we have visited pretty nearly every point of interest in
the French capital; we have had a battle with the Paris Apaches, got
arrested and locked up; got our names in the Paris papers; had two
government officials working on our behalf, and have been dined by the
ambassador of a foreign power. That's going some, isn't it, Sam?"
"Yes; but you have forgotten the most important part of it all."
"What have I forgotten?"
"That we got touched for our rolls, and went broke in Paree."
Dan laughed happily.
"The next question is, where are we going to sleep?"
"We shall have to sleep sitting up."
"Yes; these railway carriages, as they call them, are built on the bias.
I'd like to see a fellow try to sleep on these seats, divided off by
arms, without being crippled for life."
Dan was looking about the carriage. Sam observed that his companion's
face had suddenly lighted up.
"Made a discovery, eh?"
"Yes, and I have an idea."
"Good! Get it off your mind before you lose it. What's the idea?"
"I'm going to sleep in the upper berth."
"The upper berth?" wondered Hickey.
"Yes."
"I don't see any upper berth."
"Then watch me."
Dan proceeded to remove his coat and vest, collar and tie. Next he took
off his shoes, Hickey in the meantime watching his companion with
suspicious eyes.
Along either end of the compartment, over their heads, was a luggage
rack extending the entire length, or rather, width, of the compartment.
Dan grasped the rack, pulled himself up to it and lay down as snug as if
he were in reality in the upper berth of a sleeping car.
"Hooray!" shouted Sam.
"Can you beat it?"
"Not this trip. You're a wonder, Dan. That's almost as good as the
hammock on shipboard. Will the thing hold you?"
"I hope so. It seems secure. You try the other one."
"I don't know whether I want to trust myself in that spider web or not."
"It's made of woven leather strands. It holds me all right. Try it."
Hickey pulled himself up to the rack, lay down, then peered over the
edge, grinning.
"This isn't so bad, after all. But I dread to think what will happen to
me if I should have the bad luck to walk in my sleep."
"Don't do it. You must get used to it, for to-morrow night we shall be
sleeping in our hammocks again."
A few minutes later the boys were sound asleep, unmindful of the swaying
of the rapidly moving carriage, which was almost like the roll of the
ship. They did not awaken until daylight. The carriage had stopped and
they could hear talking outside.
"Breakfast time; get up!" shouted Hickey.
A guard opened the door and peered in.
"Hello, down there!" called Dan.
"Yes; is that the way you bolt into a gentleman's bedroom without
knocking?" demanded Hickey.
The guard glanced up with a puzzled expression on his face, then slammed
the door shut.
"We'd better get out of here, Sam, or they will have the police after us
again," muttered Dan, scrambling to the floor.
Hastily pulling on their clothes, they got out to the platform, having
recognized the station as Boulogne.
"We've got to go without our breakfast this morning, Sam."
"I suppose so," replied the red-headed boy ruefully. "My, but I've got
an appetite!"
"So have I, but it will keep."
"I guess it will have to."
Half an hour later the boys were standing on the quay. Off just outside
the breakwater lay the battleship "Long Island."
"Doesn't she look good?" breathed Dan. "I'm really happy to get back."
"I'd be happier if I knew there was a square meal awaiting me," answered
Sam. "How are we going to get aboard?"
"I'll show you."
Dan pulled out his handkerchief and began wig-wagging with it. After a
little a signal flag was observed on the forecastle. It was waving a
question.
"What do you want?"
"We want to come aboard," answered Dan.
About that time the officer of the deck had leveled his spyglass upon
the boys.
"Messenger!" he called.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Tell the captain that two men in citizen's clothes are on the quay
asking to be put aboard."
The messenger returned a moment later.
"The captain wants to know who they are, sir."
"Tell him they look to me like two of our men, Seamen Davis and Hickey.
I do not know why they should be in citizen's clothing, however."
Again the messenger hurried below with the information.
"The captain says it is all right, sir. He says have a cutter go out to
meet them, sir, and bring them aboard."
A cutter was launched, and a few minutes later was plunging through the
green seas, headed for the quay. Great seas were breaking over the dike,
drenching those in the cutter as they shot alongside the quay.
The Battleship Boys were taken off, and shortly afterwards they stepped
to the deck of the "Long Island," coming to attention as they saluted
the Flag.
"Home again," said Dan, his eyes glowing happily.
"You bet," answered Sam Hickey. "Got any real food aboard? I'm half
starved. No more French biscuit diet for mine!"