ROUNDING UP THE STRAGGLERS
"Halt!"
The men came to a quick stop in front of a resort where Dan thought he
might possibly find some of the absent sailors.
Instead of ordering his men to go in, he entered alone.
"Have you any American sailors here?" he asked.
The proprietor shook his head. He did not understand the words, perhaps,
but he had seen the detail of armed sailors halt before his place, and
well knew the meaning.
"You are sure you have none of our men here?"
"Non." (No.)
"Who went into that room there?" pointing to a door that had closed with
a bang as Dan pushed open the front door.
The proprietor shrugged his shoulders and turned away.
The boy's mind was made up at once. A few quick strides brought him to
the door in question. He threw it open and sprang in.
A pair of legs, clad in the blue of the Navy, were protruding from
beneath a table. Dan grabbed the legs, giving them a mighty tug. The
result was that a sailor was jerked out into the middle of the room.
"So you thought you would get away from me, did you, Anthony? Stand up."
Anthony did stand up. He sprang to his feet, launching a terrific blow
at Seaman Davis. Dan merely parried the blow, making no attempt to
return it.
"Anthony," he said, stepping back. "I have a patrol outside. Do you want
me to call them in?"
"I'll lick you first," growled the man.
"Stop where you are! You are not wholly responsible for what you are
doing or saying, but you know what will happen to you if you resist. I
came in here to get you, and I'm going to take you out with me."
Dan whirled at that instant. He had caught an expression in the eyes of
his man that told him something was going on behind him. The boy ducked
like a flash, thus avoiding a vicious blow that had been aimed at him by
the proprietor of the place.
"Don't you do that again!" warned Dan sternly. "You are facing the
United States Government now, remember. Stand aside!"
With this he grabbed Anthony by the arm. The sailor struggled to release
himself, but Davis' grip was too strong to enable him to break away
easily. Anthony swung his free hand. That was just what Dan wanted.
With a quick twist he brought both the sailor's arms behind the latter's
back, giving the fellow a violent push.
There was nothing for Anthony to do but to go ahead. He did so with a
rush, Dan running behind him and pushing with all his might. They struck
the swinging doors with a bang. The doors flew out, the Battleship Boy
and his prisoner landing with a bump against the astonished jackies of
the patrol, who were waiting outside.
"Two of you men take this fellow down to the steamer and tell those
aboard that he is under arrest. Tell the coxswain I shall hold him
personally responsible for the man's safe keeping. Hurry back. You will
find us up the street somewhere. Anthony, you had better go peaceably
unless you want to spend the next three months in the brig."
The two men detailed for the purpose led the ugly sailor away.
"Twos right, forward march!" commanded Dan.
The little company trudged up the street, many persons pausing to look
at the slim, well-set-up fellow who was plainly in command of the four
remaining men of the squad.
The part of the town in which they now found themselves was the location
of most of the sailor boarding houses in Boulogne. Somehow, Dan had an
idea that some of their men would be found there. He kept his eyes open,
slowing his men down.
"Halt!" he commanded.
Dan had espied a sailor from one of the trans-atlantic ships on the
other side of the street. He crossed over to the man.
"Good morning, shipmate," greeted Davis. "I'm looking for some of our
delinquents. Have you seen any of our men in this quarter within the
last hour or two?"
"You from the 'Long Island'?"
"Yes. Have you seen any of our fellows?"
"I guess I have. One of them gave me this black eye 'bout half an hour
ago. I'd have trimmed him proper if he hadn't had a gang back of him."
"Where was that?"
"Down the street a piece."
"Where is the man now?"
"See that two-story building down there?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's a sort of hotel; that's what they call it; but I reckon
it's a joint where they shanghai fellows for the long cruises. I
wouldn't go in there for the price of a round-trip voyage."
"Thank you. I'll soon find out."
"You ain't going in there, are you, shipmate?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"Why, they'll knock your block off, the first thing if you try to get a
man out of there."
"Don't be too sure about that," answered Dan, with a smile. "I guess
they had better not try it."
"Take my advice and take your men in with you. I see they have their
guns, and you'd better see to it that the guns are loaded, while you are
about it."
"Thank you very much. I will look out for myself."
By the time the young commander rejoined his squad the two men who had
taken their prisoner down to the ship's steamer had returned. Dan now
had six men that he could use.
"Forward march!" he commanded.
They continued on until they reached the place that the merchant sailor
had indicated.
"Men, I want you to wait here. Do not enter unless I give three short,
sharp whistles, then come quickly. But do not lose yourselves. Under no
consideration use your guns. It is not necessary. We have our fists if
it comes to a fight."
"Hadn't you better take a couple of us with you?" questioned one of the
men.
"No, it is not necessary. An armed force might stir up trouble."
Dan entered the place, and he saw at once that the sailor had not
overdrawn the character of the house. It was about the worst he ever had
seen. The place was thronged with tough characters, few of whom were
sailors; or, at least, they did not appear to be.
"I don't believe a man of them has ever smelled salt water unless he's
been out on the breakwater," thought Dan.
Glancing about, he failed to see any of the men for whom he was looking.
He strolled about, attracting as little attention as possible, though
several of the men regarded him suspiciously.
The front room was a sort of office and lounging room. A small desk, on
one side, was walled off by a rusty iron screen. Around by the lower end
of the desk was a door opening into a rear room.
Dan decided to investigate. He made his way as quietly as possible to
the end of the desk, pushed the door slightly ajar, peered in and
sneezed.
The odor of bad tobacco was almost over-powering. The boy blinked and
sneezed again.
"Shut that door, you lubber!" roared a voice from the rear room.
Davis shut it, but when the door closed he was on the inside, with his
back against the door.
It was with difficulty that he made out the faces of the men congregated
there. Not one of them paid the least attention to him.
"Ah, there's one of my men now," muttered the boy.
The man indicated was an ordinary seaman, who had been aboard but a
short time. His name was Kuhn. He was in deep conversation with a man
better dressed than most of the others. The older man appeared to be
seeking to convince the sailor of something that he was telling him.
Dan edged over near them and listened. Perhaps he suspected what was
going on, for Dan Davis was a shrewd lad, and he was learning many
things about the life of the sailor and the snares that are set for him.
A moment's listening convinced him that he was right. The well-dressed
stranger was trying to induce Kuhn to desert and join a ship bound for
China. A large increase in wages was promised, good grub and a real
berth to sleep in.
"But they'll come and get me and lock me up," protested Kuhn. "I'll be a
deserter."
"Nothing of the sort, my lad. How are they going to get you when you are
in China? Why, you'll never be heard from again. I'll tell you what the
skipper of the schooner is willing to do for a likely lad like you."
"What?"
"Sh-h-h, don't say anything about it, but he's promised to make you
first mate."
"He has?"
"Sure thing."
The sailor's eyes glowed with anticipation.
"All right; if you will get me out of this uniform, so I shall not be
recognized, I'll----"
"You'll come with me," finished a voice behind Kuhn, as a hand was laid
lightly on his shoulder.
The sailor leaped to his feet, his face flushing. An angry light flashed
to his eyes as he recognized the features of Gunner's Mate Davis
confronting him.
Dan had heard enough. He understood. He did not blame the young,
inexperienced sailor so much, but he felt rising within him a righteous
indignation toward the Englishman who was seeking to induce the young
fellow to desert the Flag under which he was serving.
"Come, Kuhn; it is time you were getting back to the ship," said Dan in
a quiet tone.
"I--I am not going."
"Not going?"
"No. I----"
"Never mind, Mr. Sailorman. The boy and me is friends. You just let him
alone. I'll see that he gets back to the ship afore you get there
yourself."
Dan turned upon the Englishman.
"Who are you?"
"I just told you. I'm a friend of the shipmate here."
"A nice sort of friend you are," replied Dan witheringly. "Are you
coming with me, Kuhn? You know what it means to refuse to return to ship
as you have just done. The ship is preparing to sail. If I have to use
force it will be the worse for you. I know what this man is trying to do
with you. He is a bad man, Kuhn. He is trying to induce you to
desert----"
"You go away and let me alone----"
"See here, young fellow," commanded the Englishman savagely, "if you
know what is good for you, you get right out of here, and don't you come
back again. It'll be the worse for you if you do. Understand?"
"Look out that you do not get into trouble yourself. Kuhn, you are
coming with me."
The Battleship Boy laid a firm grip on the arm of his shipmate and began
moving toward the door by which he had entered the room.
Suddenly Kuhn was jerked violently from his grasp. Dan made a spring,
recovering his prisoner.
All at once the Englishman uttered a series of short, sharp exclamations
in French. Like magic, nearly every man in the room was on his feet.
They appeared to understand perfectly what was wanted of them, and with
one accord made a rush for Seaman Davis.
"Stand back!" roared the young officer, boldly facing the mob. "You will
have to answer to your government if you dare lay hands on me."
They gave no heed to his warning, but threw themselves upon the lad. Dan
fought manfully, using his fists to good purpose, and many a hardy
stoker and sailor went down before Little Dynamite's sturdy blows.
Not daring to cease fighting long enough to reach for the boatswain's
whistle with which he had provided himself before leaving ship, he
uttered three sharp whistles with his lips, but in the din about him the
whistles failed to carry beyond the room.
The whistles did, however, have the effect of quieting the uproar. The
men interpreting them as some sort of a signal, hesitated, looked at
each other inquiringly, then at the cool, hatless young fellow who was
facing them, working his way determinedly toward Ordinary Seaman Kuhn.
The latter was standing with a half-frightened expression on his face.
He had begun to realize the enormity of his proposed act.
"Kuhn, come here!" demanded Dan sternly.
The sailor made a move as if to comply with the order. Ere he had taken
a step forward, however, the Englishman had fastened upon his arm.
"You're in it now. You can't get out. If you go back to the ship they
will put you in the brig. You just stay here till the ship has sailed,
and you'll be all right."
"But where--where? They'll come here and get me."
"We'll see to that."
Again Dan had forced his way to where Kuhn was standing, but before he
was able to lay his hands upon the young fellow a dozen men threw
themselves upon the Battleship Boy.
Davis struggled with all the strength that was in him. His struggles
were fruitless. Men of brawn and muscle had hold of him now. He was as a
child in their hands, though, had his hands been free, he would have
given a good account of himself.
Some one gave a few brief directions in French. The men picked Dan up,
bearing him through a door, into a long, dark hallway, down which they
carried him until they reached a door at the end. Opening the door, they
threw the Battleship Boy in bodily, slamming and locking the door.
"I've made a mess of it," groaned the lad, "but I'll beat them yet."