AUDIENCE WITH A KING.
The excitement that ensued was intense. There was a rush for the spot
by visitors, officers and crew. A chorus of screams from the feminine
visitors, a quick word of command, and an excited jumble of English and
Portuguese.
The crowd suddenly swayed, and a man in civilian clothing--a suit with
a loud check pattern--was seen to savagely force his way to the ladder
leading to the after deck.
A score of hands clutched at him, but he eluded them and gained the
top. As he paused for a second, bareheaded, disheveled, breathing
heavily, a cry came from the frantic mob below.
“It’s the Englishman!”
“Yes, the Englishman!” he flung back, fiercely. “I defy you, slaves of
a royal master. I have tried to strike a blow for your liberty, hounds,
a blow for the world’s liberty, and have failed. I----”
A bullet whistled past his head, but he never flinched. As the crowd
below surged up the ladder eager to tear him limb from limb, he
retreated slowly and with magnificent courage to the railing.
As the foremost of his pursuers reached the deck, he sent a curse at
them, then turned and sprang over the side into the swiftly moving
waters of the Tagus.
“After him! Quick! Five thousand _milreis_ to the man who captures him
alive!”
These words, in broken English, came from one of the royal suite.
A rush was made for the side, and eager glances were cast down toward
the river. A dozen excited sailors and cadets recklessly leaped into
the water and began a search, but nothing was seen of the desperate
fugitive.
The Tagus in the immediate vicinity of the practice ship was thronged
with vessels of all classes, attracted to the spot by the royal visit,
and it was observed at once that the assassin’s chances for escape, if
he was an expert swimmer, were good.
There was commotion on board the neighboring craft, and many false
alarms, but no certain sign of the Englishman’s presence.
When the excited crowd on the _Monongahela_ turned inboard again, they
found a group of officers and cadets surrounding Clif, who was calmly
standing in the center while the surgeon fastened a temporary bandage
round a bleeding cut in his right arm.
The king had been hurried to the cabin by his suite and Captain
Brookes. A moment later he emerged and joined the group surrounding
Clif.
“I want to see the brave American boy who saved my life,” he insisted.
“It was he who foiled that assassin and he shall have my heartfelt
thanks.”
“But, your majesty,” implored one of his military staff, in Portuguese,
“there may be other wretches on board. They may make another attempt on
you.”
“Then keep every one at a distance,” was the retort. “Act rather than
talk. It is strange you and your comrades did not prevent that man from
making his attempt. What has been done to capture him?”
“Word was sent ashore at once, sire. A launch is even now on the way
with instructions to the chief of police and the general in charge of
the district. The assassin will be in prison before dark.”
“See that he is!” exclaimed the king, imperiously.
Turning to Clif he extended both his hands and added in excellent
English:
“My brave lad, I thank you. I deplore the wound you have received in my
service.”
“It is nothing, sir,” replied Clif, simply.
“A king’s life nothing?” smiled his majesty. “Ah, that is a democratic
principle. It is American. I admire your cleverness and bravery. You
will hear from me.”
He turned away, after learning from the surgeon that Clif’s wound was a
mere scratch, and, surrounded by his suite, left the ship.
A wild cheer greeted him as he entered the barge, and there was every
sign of joy at his escape.
As soon as the barge was clear of the _Monongahela_, Captain Brookes,
ever mindful of his duty, gave orders to man yards and fire a second
salute.
In the meantime the search for the Englishman had been prosecuted with
vigor.
The news that a reward of five thousand _milreis_, about six thousand
dollars, had been offered for the fugitive, dead or alive, had spread
like wildfire.
In a remarkably short space of time the surface of the river in front
of the city was literally covered with boats, large and small.
As the minutes passed and no sign of the Englishman was discovered, the
belief that he had perished became prevalent.
When Clif went forward after an interview with the captain and officers
of the _Monongahela_--an interview that caused his heart to beat with
unaccustomed rapidity--he found an ovation awaiting him.
He tried to escape, and dodged down the forward ladder for that
purpose, but a number of new fourth class cadets, headed by the lanky
Joy, captured him, and he was borne in triumph about the decks.
“Hurray for the Yankee who saved a king,” shrieked little Nanny. “Three
cheers and--and a whole cageful of tigers.”
The cheers were given and the tigers, too, but in subdued tones. It is
not considered the proper thing to make much noise on board an American
war vessel.
“You make one good speech now,” insisted Trolley, grinning broadly.
“Not much,” was Clif’s flat refusal. “I draw the line at that. What’s
all this row about, anyway? One would think war had been declared at
the very least.”
“Something more important than that, dear boy,” drawled Toggles. “I’ll
wager anything the news is being cabled about the world this very
minute. And the name of Clifford Faraday, new fourth class plebe,
function, and rescuer of kings in general, will be in everybody’s
mouth before dinner. Clif, your fortune is made. I see you Lord High
Muck-a-Muck of Portugal before you are a day older.”
Clif laughed carelessly.
“I am content to remain a cadet in the United States Naval Academy,” he
replied. “That’s honor enough for me.”
“What did the girl say?” asked Nanny, slyly. “I saw you talking to her
after your great act.”
“If you want to know, youngster, she asked me to tea to-night and I
accepted the invitation. She also said she would like to have me bring
another cadet.”
A hubbub broke out at once. Every plebe within hearing was eager to be
selected.
Clif finally decided to take Joy, much to the disappointment of the
others. The liberty party was called away at one o’clock, and, shortly
after that hour, the two chums found themselves ashore.
They little suspected as they carelessly walked toward the main plaza
that they were destined to experience some very thrilling adventures
before they again saw the old _Monongahela_.