Frank Arden was so excited when he saw, caught by the binding ropes, on
the great warship'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 pass 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 battleship.
It was near enough the deck for Frank to scramble over the side and down
the great links of the chain. Some one passed him a rope with a hook on
the end--he was so excited he did not know who it was--and he managed to
catch the hook in the ropes wound about the box, and so haul it up.
How carefully he did it may well be imagined, for if the box had slipped
from the anchor and again fallen into the sea, the chances of recovering
it would have been very slight indeed.
Then, clasping close in his arm the tin case, dripping with water and
slimy with seaweed, Frank clambered back on deck. Ned was waiting for
him.
"Is it the same box?" Ned cried.
"I'm sure it is," Frank answered. "Isn't it the most wonderful thing in
the world?"
"It certainly is," agreed Ned.
The two brothers looked at their treasure-trove. About them gathered
their mates, some of whom had heard the story. And then word came from
the captain, demanding to know what the delay was about in getting the
anchor catted, so that the _Georgetown_ might proceed. A lieutenant came
forward, and to him Frank briefly told the story.
"Humph!" was the remark. "Well, I think I'd better take this box to the
captain, and let him supervise the opening of it. If it contains what
you think it does he will notify you."
Ned and Frank were eager to open the box themselves, but they realized
that discipline aboard a naval vessel must be observed, so they made no
objections. A petty officer carried the box to the captain's quarters
and the work of getting under way the big craft proceeded.
Frank and Ned were so excited they could scarcely perform their duties,
and their immediate superior, seeing this, and knowing what was at stake
for them, allowed them time off.
"Say!" exclaimed Ned, as he and Frank went to a quiet part of the deck,
"do you really think it's what we hope it is?"
"Well, I--hope so," his brother answered, slowly.
They did not have long to wait before hearing the good news. A messenger
summoned them to the captain's office. They had never been there, for it
is not often that the commander of a great battleship has a personal
interview with an enlisted man. So Ned and Frank spruced themselves up,
and went to the appointed place. They found Captain Decker and several
of his officers standing about a table, over which had been spread an
oilskin coat, and on this reposed the wet, open box. It had been full of
papers, which were scattered about the table. And so watertight was the
tin case that the documents were scarcely damp from their immersion.
"You are the Arden brothers, are you not?" asked the captain.
"Yes, sir," answered Frank and Ned, saluting in their best manner.
"Well, I have heard something of your story, and also something of the
strange way in which this box was found. I suppose, by some strange
trick of fate, we came to anchor near where it was thrown into the bay,
and it may have drifted upon our anchor.
"But what you are most interested in is whether or not the box contains
any papers that will prove your uncle's innocence, and restore to him
his fortune and yours; is that not so?" asked Captain Decker.
"That's it--you bet!" exclaimed Ned, impulsively, and then he blushed as
the officers laughed at him. No, Ned did not exactly blush, for he was
too tanned for the red to show. But he felt "blushy."
"Well, I am very happy to inform you," said the captain, trying to speak
formally, though there was a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his
eyes, "I am happy to inform you that I have examined the papers and from
what I know of the revolution and the rebels, I am sure that these
papers, so strangely recovered, will completely prove that your uncle
had no hand in it. There are also papers which show there was a
conspiracy against him fostered by Bernardo. I am sure when the federal
authorities see these documents they will at once free your relative,
and judgments in the damage suits against him must be reversed, because
he was in no way responsible."
"Good!" cried Frank, and this time he felt "blushy," for every one
looked at him.
"If you like, I will keep these papers for you," the captain went on,
"and put them in the proper hands."
"I wish you would," Frank said.
"And further, if you wish, you may prepare a cablegram to send to your
uncle," the commander continued. "I will give orders that it is to be
rushed through, and relayed by the government wireless if necessary. For
it will be some time before we reach the vicinity of Atlanta," the
captain went on.
"It is very kind of you, and we'll write the message at once," Frank
said.
"I am only too glad to serve you," the captain responded. "I have had
very good reports of the conduct of yourself and your brother in our
recent trouble, and it gives me pleasure to inform you that you two are
among those recommended for promotion."
The captain saluted formally, Frank and Ned, their hearts burning with
joy, returned it, and then, turning stiffly, and in the most approved
manner, they marched out.
Outside the captain's office they were provided with a cable blank, and
at once wrote a message to their uncle in the federal prison at Atlanta,
telling him the good news, adding that there was no doubt he would soon
be freed.
And then, this having been done, the great battleship proceeded on her
way back North, and to the waters of the United States. The revolution
had been put down, the rightful government was in full control, the
ringleaders, including the rascally Bernardo, were in jail, and the
American business men and residents were in no more danger. The
_Georgetown_ had accomplished her mission.
Of the journey up nothing of great moment occurred. The usual drills
were held, and they had an added significance, now that those who took
part in them realized how much they meant when actual conditions of
warfare were encountered. Of course, there were some sad hearts, for
gallant comrades had fallen in battle, but theirs was a glorious end,
and they had died fighting for the honor of their country. And the honor
had well been upheld.
The wounded recovered, and though Frank's leg pained him occasionally,
it was not of any seriousness. Ned's wound healed completely.
Once again the equator was passed, but there was only a mild
celebration. Every one had been initiated, and there was a feeling of
sadness as those shipmates were recalled who had taken part in the
former fun, but who now had been left behind.
A stop was made at Havana on the way back, and Captain Decker gave the
papers, establishing Mr. Arden's innocence, to a special messenger to
take to Atlanta in order that the prisoner might be more quickly freed.
Then the battleship proceeded, but before she reached New York, a
wireless message was received for Ned and Frank. It was from their
uncle, and read:
"Cleared. Leave for New York to-day. Will meet you there on arrival of
battleship. Can't thank you enough. Fortunes safe."
"Hurrah!" cried Frank.
"Two hurrahs!" echoed his brother.
"Count me in and make it three!" shouted Hank, the former bully, who was
now the battleship boys' firm friend. In fact, all their chums rejoiced
with them.
And now my story is almost at an end. The _Georgetown_ reached New York
in time to take part in a grand naval pageant on the Hudson River. There
she was anchored along with other sea-fighters, submarines and torpedo
boats, and received many visitors. She was an object of great interest,
because her part in the recent South American revolution was known
through published accounts.
And best of all, one day Mr. Arden came on board. He was a well-known
man from the moment he announced himself, and the captain entertained
him in his cabin. Thither Frank and Ned went and there clasped hands
with their father's brother, who had endured so much wrongfully, but who
had been freed largely through the hard work and the good luck of the
two battleship boys. For, after all, luck had played a big part in the
affair.
"And is everything all right, Uncle Phil?" asked Frank.
"Everything," was the answer. "As soon as the authorities received those
papers from the tin box they released me. I knew I was innocent, but it
was hard to get proof. The papers were the very documents needed.
"I had no idea this Bernardo was such a scoundrel, or I would never have
done business with him. However, all's well that ends well. And I cannot
complain of my treatment by the federal authorities. But I was worried
for a time, not only about myself, but about you boys."
"Oh, we made out all right," boasted Ned.
"So I hear," laughed his uncle. "Besides saving me you covered
yourselves with glory."
"We didn't think so the time we let those pickpockets rob us," remarked
Frank. "We felt like a couple of very foolish lads then."
"Did you ever hear anything of those rascals?" questioned the uncle,
with interest.
"Not a word. Fact is, we didn't get much chance to follow the matter up
after we joined the navy."
"I see. It is a pity. Such rascals ought to be placed behind the bars.
They are a constant menace to honest folks."
"Maybe the police captured those fellows while we were away," suggested
Ned. "I think I'll make some inquiries. They may have pawned dad's
watch. I'd like to get that back even if we didn't get our money. I'm
going to inquire."
And he did, with the result that he did recover the watch where one of
the thieves had pawned it. But the money was gone forever, and the
thieves were never brought to book for the crimes against Frank and Ned
for the reason that these two rascals were already serving a term in
prison in another state.
"Well, since our fortunes are recovered, we have plenty of money, boys,"
said Mr. Arden to his nephews one day when they had shore leave and were
out to dinner with him. "I can buy your discharge from the navy, if you
like."
"No, sir!" exclaimed Frank. "I'm going to serve out my four years at
least. Uncle Sam's navy is the finest place in the world, and I'm
learning more than I would at college. I'm going to stick!"
"So am I!" added Ned.
And stick they did.
THE END
The Webster Series
By FRANK V. WEBSTER
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End of Project Gutenberg's Two Boys of the Battleship, by Frank V. Webster