SUSPICIONS
Not much imagination is required to picture the confusion on board the
U. S. S. _Sherman_ when she was turned around and headed for Brest, the
port from which the craft had so recently sailed. And also it is easy
to guess something of the many and rapid questions that were fired from
all directions, without any counter-barrage in the way of replies being
given.
“What does it mean?”
“Aren’t they going to let us go home after all?”
“Have the Germans started another war?”
“Did we strike a mine?”
“Has a torpedo hit us?”
The two last were the questions most often asked, for it was easily
within the bounds of possibility that the craft might have been damaged
by some floating mine, nor was it out of the bounds of possibility that
she might have been torpedoed. Some German captain of a submarine, not
having heard of the signing of the armistice, or choosing to ignore
it, perhaps pleading ignorance later, might easily have taken this
method of revenge for the fancied wrongs to the “Fatherland.”
And so it was that on all sides arose the question:
“What has happened?”
But no one answered it. At least the returning soldiers, among whom
were Ned, Bob, and Jerry, had no one to answer it for them. They
“milled around” on the decks, surging this way and that until they
threatened the equilibrium of the vessel and the officers had to go
among them ordering them to remain quiet.
“But what has happened, sir?” asked Jerry of a captain with whom he was
on friendly terms.
“I don’t know, exactly. Something seemed to go wrong with the
machinery. But there is no danger. We are only a short distance from
shore. It is the duty of every one to remain calm.”
The boys did their best, but the questioning still persisted and at
length Jerry said:
“Fellows, I’m going to find out what the matter is.”
“I am, too!” exclaimed Ned.
“So’m I!” added Bob. “Maybe the galley is on fire, and----”
“That would be a terrible calamity!” laughed Jerry, and his laugh
seemed to ease the tension somewhat. Then he added: “You two boys had
better stay here. If three of us chase around we’ll be ordered to keep
to one spot. But if I go alone I may be able to manage it.”
“And as soon as you find out what it is come back and tell us,” begged
Ned.
“Sure thing!” promised his tall chum, as he moved away.
While Jerry is thus endeavoring to learn the cause of the sudden
turning back of the troopship, readers who are meeting Ned, Bob, and
Jerry for the first time will be told something more about the lads, so
they may seem more like old acquaintances.
To those readers who have the first book of this series, entitled
“The Motor Boys,” not much need be said. It need only be stated that
the present series, under the caption “Ned, Bob and Jerry,” is a
continuation of the same characters in new fields.
Ned Slade was the son of a wealthy department store-keeper. Bob Baker’s
father was a banker. And Mrs. Julia Hopkins, the mother of Jerry, was
financially interested in several institutions controlled by Mr. Slade
and Mr. Baker. The youths lived in Cresville, in one of our New England
states, and their interest in locomotion dated from the days of their
early boyhood, when they owned motor cycles. It was their activities
on these machines that gained them the appellation of “Motor Boys.”
They later secured an automobile, and in this they made a trip
Overland, to Mexico, and Across the Plains, as related in the books
bearing those distinctive titles.
Afterward the boys secured a motor boat and had many voyages, including
travel on the Atlantic, the Pacific, and in Strange Waters. Trips above
the clouds followed in airships of various makes, and, not satisfied
with that, the three adventurous lads descended to the depths in
submarines.
Following a series of exciting adventures, detailed at length, there
was a conference on the part of the parents of Ned, Bob and Jerry. It
was decided that the lads had better “buckle down” to some serious work
in life, and, accordingly, they were sent to college to complete their
educations.
In “The Motor Boys at Boxwood Hall, or, Ned, Bob and Jerry as
Freshmen,” is related the many jolly times they had and how they helped
to establish a reputation for old Boxwood Hall in athletics. At Boxwood
Hall the three had lots of fun, as well as doing good work in their
studies. The boys had many obstacles and difficulties to overcome but
how they won out in the end is set forth in detail in the book.
The three chums spent a summer on a ranch, and then the Great War
broke out. Ned, Bob and Jerry joined the army, and, in due course, they
found themselves fighting Germany. What happened to them is set forth
in the book immediately preceding this, called “The Motor Boys on the
Firing Line.” More than the details of many battles is in this volume,
for in addition to fighting for Uncle Sam the Motor Boys had also to
help their friend, Professor Uriah Snodgrass.
This doughty little scientist was the boys companion on their many
trips, and he not only enjoyed the companionship of the boys, but he
obtained much information by going with them, not to mention many
valuable, if not always pleasant specimens. For Professor Snodgrass
collected bugs, snakes and allied creatures for Boxwood Hall and other
colleges and also several museums.
He had gone to Europe with the boys on a double mission. One was to
find two young ladies--Dorothy Gibbs and Gladys Petersen--nieces of
Professor Petersen’s, and the other was to get photographs of the
effects of war noises on certain insects.
Professor Snodgrass found the girls, and, with the help of the three
boys, was able to send them back to the United States. He also got the
pictures he wanted, and he secured for himself a large sum of money.
This money had been left by Professor Petersen to Professor Snodgrass,
provided the latter discovered the whereabouts of the two young ladies.
Now, with the ending of the war Ned, Bob and Jerry had started back
home on the transport. Professor Snodgrass, having seen to it that
the nieces of his late friend were safely cared for, had turned his
attention to shipping back the moving and other pictures he had made
of the insects. The boys had lost sight of him in the confusion of the
preparations for sailing for home. Professor Snodgrass, however, had
said he might meet the boys on the transport. But, up to the time of
the turning back of the _Sherman_, no further word had been received
concerning the little scientist.
Now all was confusion on board the troopship. In spite of the orders of
the officers, the men kept moving here and there, each one seeking to
learn the cause of the trouble, to find out why they should be going
back to France when they hoped they had left it for good--and this was
saying or thinking nothing against the country that had given them such
a warm welcome in her hour of dire distress.
“It’s a fat chance Jerry has of finding out what the row is,” commented
Ned to Bob, as they retained their places near the crowded rail close
to one of the lifeboats--a position Jerry had assigned to them as a
rendezvous.
“What makes you think so?” asked Bob.
“Because I just heard our colonel telling the major he didn’t know what
was up.”
“Well, maybe it isn’t generally known yet,” said Bob. “If there’s been
an accident the captain of the ship is sure to know about it, even if
he doesn’t tell our colonel right away. You see the ship captain is in
full authority, once the vessel gets away from the dock. His word is
law, and the military authorities, that had the say on shore, don’t cut
any ice now.”
“Poetically speaking,” added Ned, with a smile.
“Exactly,” agreed Bob, also grinning. “You see the safety of the ship
depends on the captain, and you can stake your last doughnut that he
knows what’s up, even if he hasn’t told any of the military crowd,
which includes us--ahem!” and Bob swelled up his chest. “But you can
depend on it that if anything is to be found out Jerry will discover
it. He has a way with him!”
“Can he find out something our colonel can’t learn?” asked Ned.
“He might. The colonel couldn’t descend to asking information of a
stoker or a coal passer, but Jerry could, not being of the elect, you
know. Yes, you let Jerry-boy alone, and he’ll come home with the bacon.
And, speaking of bacon, I wish I had some right now, with some fresh
eggs, and have them with the sunny-sides up. The bacon nice and crisp,
and the coffee just right, with cream in a little pitcher on the side
and----”
“Thud!”
That was Ned giving Bob a thump on the back.
“What’s the matter?” indignantly demanded the stout youth.
“Cut out the imaginary eats!” was the answer. “Haven’t we got troubles
enough without that? But here comes Jerry. Now to see if he has found
out anything!”
The tall lad, on whose coat was the D. S. C., sauntered toward his two
chums. With a signal from his eyes--a signal they well knew how to
interpret, Ned and Bob moved to one side. Jerry had told them, without
the use of words, that he wanted to speak with them alone.
Just then, fortunately for their plans, there was a little commotion
farther up the deck, and in the rush that followed there was a clear
space left near the rail where the three boys now stood.
“Well, what is it?” asked Ned, as Jerry looked first at him and then at
Bob. “Are we sinking, Jerry?”
“Far from it. The hull is as sound as a dollar.”
“Then it wasn’t a mine or a torpedo?” asked Bob.
“Not this time. But there has been an accident to the machinery, and
we’re returning to the dock for repairs.”
“Only an accident to the machinery!” exclaimed Ned. “Then why, in the
name of Andy Rush, all this mystery and excitement?”
“Because,” answered Jerry slowly, “from what I heard, the accident was
a premeditated one, and it looks suspicious.”
“Suspicious!” exclaimed his two chums.
“Hush! Yes! But not so loud. That’s why I gave you the high sign to let
me have a word alone with you. There’s a rumor that some revengeful
German may have set off a time bomb in the engine room. So far the
damage is slight, but----”
Jerry paused, for another tremor ran through the ship and again the
vessel came to a sudden stop.