The great ship trembled with the vibration of the immense gun, and when
the smoke had cleared away and the gases been blown from the cannon by
the compressed air, Ned looked out of the turret, which had not been
completely closed on account of the heat, and cried:
"A hit, Frank! A hit!"
What he saw was a cloud of dust flung into the air, and slowly drifting
about in the wind.
"Well, I couldn't very well help hitting that," said Frank. "It was a
big enough target, and it was stationary and so were we."
As yet none but the officer who had given the direction for the training
of the big gun, and his superiors, knew why the hill had been shattered
by the shot.
"Another shell, sir?" asked the blue-jacket who, with Ned and some
others, had charge of the ammunition hoist.
"No, not from this turret. We're going to fire another, but from the
after one."
Frank and his mates were a little regretful, for there is a wonderful
fascination about working the big guns. But still he did not want to
monopolize all the glory, if such it can be called.
So Frank's crew cleaned the immense gun to have it in readiness for use
when it would again be needed, and went back to their usual positions. A
little later there was another terrific report, as the second
fifteen-inch gun in the after turret sent a second 1500-pound projectile
toward another hill back of Pectelo.
This time Ned and Frank and some of their friends had a good view of the
flight of the shell as it sped on its mission of destruction, if not
death. They were out of the turret now. Screeching through the air went
the projectile. It struck the hill squarely, the gun being aimed as well
as had the one Frank served.
An instant later there was a veritable fountain of earth and stones sent
into the air, and then dust hid the scene from view.
"I wonder what the game is, firing at those hills?" questioned Ned.
"Maybe just to give the revolutionists a scare," suggested his brother.
"Sort of expensive scaring," commented Tom Dawson.
"Well, we'll know in good time, I guess," was the opinion of Hank Dell.
The effect of the two big projectiles, other than that the tops of the
hills had been smashed, was not discernible from on board the
_Georgetown_.
But there was no mistaking the effect on the populace of the capital of
the little republic. Through glasses Frank and Ned could notice wild
excitement in the public square which came down to the water's edge.
Men, women and children seemed to be rushing about without any special
object in view.
"Maybe they think we'll bombard the town next," Ned suggested.
"The old man wouldn't do that," declared Frank. "It isn't a fortified
city, and by the rules of civilized warfare an unfortified town can not
be bombarded."
"That doesn't always hold--not in the European war," said a sailor. "But
the people here needn't worry. We won't send any shells among 'em. Why,
we could take the whole place without using anything larger than
one-pounders," he boasted.
"I wish I knew what it was all about," Frank said, and he wondered
whether there would be a chance for him and his brother to go on shore
and make some inquiries about their own and their uncle's fortunes.
"Though if this battleship is going to shoot up the place after the
inhabitants get out, I guess our chances for saving any of that money
will be pretty slim," he reasoned.
"I guess so, too," assented Ned. "I wonder what the situation is,
anyhow?"
But they continued to wonder, as no word came from the captain or other
officers regarding the situation in Uridio. That it was momentous might
be guessed from the fact that the commander and his officers still had
serious looks on their faces.
When the second gun had been cleaned after the one shot, and all made
ready for quick action, if need be, there was a period of waiting. Then
a few small boats put out from the town and approached the _Georgetown_.
Those in them seemed somewhat in doubt as to the reception they might
meet with, and it was noticed that all of them carried the national flag
of the little republic, and in addition a peculiar banner, made in
pennant shape, and colored red, white and green.
"I wonder what that flag is; revolutionary?" asked Hank.
"No, not if the cruiser that escaped from us was the navy of the
revolutionists," Frank remarked. "Their flag wasn't the same shape or
color as the flag on these boats. I guess these folks must belong to the
party that is fighting the revolutionists."
And this, later, they found to be the case. And as it was against the
revolutionists that the battleship had come to make a demonstration, the
other side was to be made welcome.
None from the battleship was allowed on board, however, and no shore
leave was granted that first day or night. No one who has not been kept
on board a vessel for several weeks, knows what a longing there is to go
ashore, especially when it is within viewing distance.
But orders had been issued, and no one was allowed to leave. Many of the
natives brought out fruit in their boats, and this was very welcome to
the sailors. A brisk trade wind was soon under way. Uridian seemed to be
a sort of Portuguese, that being the language of Brazil.
Toward evening a small launch containing some of the native officials
came up to the battleship. There was an exchange of signals, and a
ladder was lowered, a number of the dark-skinned, but brilliantly
uniformed, Uridian officials coming on board. They were taken to the
captain's cabin, where a conference was held.
"A whole lot of mystery about this," commented Hank Dell.
"Oh, I guess we'll find out about it in due time," Frank said.
"Double the number of sentries on guard tonight," was an order Frank
overheard after supper had been served, and the crew prepared to take
their ease before turning in. "And instruct everyone of them to be
unusually watchful."
"Is something likely to happen?" asked the officer who had received this
order.
"There is no telling. A rumor is afloat that the cruiser we chased is
coming back. And she does carry torpedo tubes. That much is certain."
"Well, as long as they haven't a submarine it will be pretty easy to
spot them."
"Yes, but take no chances."
It may well be imagined that a spirit of uneasiness and anxiety was
aboard the _Georgetown_ that night. An attack in the open is one thing,
but watching for the unexpected, especially when it may be a torpedo
that will rend the stoutest battleship in an instant, is very different,
and it gets on the nerves of even the bravest.
It is said that in the present European war the continual fear on the
part of the men of the different fleets that their craft may be
torpedoed so works on their nerves that some of them go insane. There is
no rest day or night, and even the most careful watching can not be
depended on to guard against the danger. A submarine gives very little
evidence of its approach.
Of course, in this case no such danger was to be apprehended, but no
chances were being taken.
So after the Uridian officials had departed, double sentries were posted
at all stations aboard, and the men were told to be on the watch for the
approach of any craft, or for any unusual disturbance in the water.
"It's a heap more fun to read about a condition like this than to
actually have to take part in it," remarked Frank, as he went on duty.
He had an early "trick," but Ned had to get out of his hammock at two
o'clock in the morning to go on guard duty.
However, the night was pleasant and not too warm, and after Ned was
fully awake he did not so much mind it. He paced up and down his part of
the deck, with ready rifle, on the alert to challenge and fire if he saw
anything suspicious.
Off about a mile lay the town, only a few lights showing. Ned wondered
how many Americans were there, and if they were in any danger. He
wondered, too, just how and where his own and his brother's fortunes
were invested, and what the chances were for recovering them. It was
very still and quiet, save for the occasional footfall of some of the
other sentries, or the little talk that went on as the guards were
changed.
Ned was beginning to get sleepy again, in spite of the fact that he
walked to and fro. His gun was feeling heavy. He wondered, after all, if
there was any need of all this precaution.
Suddenly he thought he heard, in the water just below him, a slight
commotion. At once his heart began to beat violently. Suppose it should
prove to be a submarine after all. Or an automatic torpedo, which would
presently burst and send them to the bottom. How had it gotten so near
without his having heard or seen it? And there was, all about the
_Georgetown_, a torpedo net, let down over the side to prevent the
deadly missiles from hitting the ship's plates!
Ned leaned over. Yes, something was moving in the water. He brought his
rifle to bear, and was about to fire and give the alarm, when a
searchlight was suddenly turned full on the very spot where there was a
ripple in the calm surface of the sea.
Then there came a swish, and a flurry, and in the gleam of the powerful
light Ned saw that it was a school of fish which had probably gathered
near the battleship to feed on the scraps the cooks tossed overboard.
"Ha! That's a good one on me!" Ned mused. "I'm glad I didn't give any
alarm."
The sentry in charge of the searchlight said he had also heard the
commotion in the water, and that was why he switched on the light. Of
course the officer in charge of the sentries saw the light and had to be
told why it was turned on. But there the incident ended.
"Shore leave will be granted!" was the unexpected order that was issued
next day, the night having passed without accident.
"Hurrah!" cried Frank.
"Great!" echoed Ned. "Now we'll have a chance to see what this country
looks like, and we may find out something about the missing fortunes."
Our heroes were among the first to be granted permission to land, and
soon they were speeding toward the town in cutters. There were only a
few small piers in what was a very small harbor, and not well protected
at that, so the battleship had to anchor out. Up to the public pier
raced the cutters, and out on shore leaped the eager sailors.