ALL’S WELL--CONCLUSION
“What happened to you?”
“And what happened to you? Did the _Sherman_ sink?”
It was Ned who asked the first question, Jerry who propounded the
second. And then he and Ned and Bob clasped hands while about them
stood a circle of cheering sailors and soldiers on board the war vessel.
A boat had been sent to bring the refugees from the _Altaire_, and
when Jerry and his chums were safe on board and the cruiser had moved
sufficiently far away to be out of danger, the derelict was blown
up. Afloat she would be a constant menace to navigation, and it was
impossible to salvage her.
It was following this necessary destruction of what had once been a
fine vessel that Ned and Jerry questioned one another.
Then came explanations. Jerry told how he had managed to get aboard the
derelict, and how he had been joined by Bob, the professor, and Judd.
And, in his turn, Ned described the life aboard the transport, his talk
with Dr. Hallet, and their transfer to the warship.
“Where is Dr. Hallet now?” asked Jerry.
“He’s shut up in his cabin, I imagine,” answered Ned. “Somehow, he
managed to get a cabin to himself. He seems to avoid me. I declare I
don’t know what it all means.”
At that moment a steward approached Professor Snodgrass, who was
standing in the group that included Ned, Bob and Jerry.
“Dr. Hallet wishes to see you,” the steward said to Professor
Snodgrass. “He has heard of your rescue.”
“Wishes to see me!” exclaimed the little scientist. “Dear me, this is
rather extraordinary! I don’t know whether to see him or not!”
“The surgeon told me to tell you, sir,” added the steward, “that Dr.
Hallet is perfectly normal again. All his trouble has gone, and he is
himself once more.”
“Oh, in that case of course I’ll see him!” exclaimed the professor.
“It’s all right, boys!” he added to Bob and Jerry. “He must have had
the necessary shock to bring back his reason. I hope it will never
leave him again. I’ll go to see him at once. I am rejoiced to hear this
good news!”
As the professor hurried away Ned looked curiously at his two chums.
Then he began to question them.
“Say, what’s it all about?” he asked. “What does the professor mean
when he says Dr. Hallet has recovered his reason? Has he been crazy?”
burst out Ned.
“Practically so, yes, though harmless,” said Jerry. “The professor
explained everything to us while we were on the _Altaire_. Did you
begin to suspect anything?”
“I didn’t know what to think, nor what to expect or suspect,” answered
Ned. “At one time Dr. Hallet seemed about to tell me everything, and
explain a lot of queer circumstances. Then something happened--I
think it was when our wireless got to working--and there was too much
excitement to think of anything but a rescue. Since we’ve been on this
warship the doctor has avoided me. I declare I didn’t know what to
think.”
“Nor did we until the professor explained,” said Jerry. “It seems we
were all wrong in our conjectures, but it wasn’t exactly our fault, for
the doctor’s trouble made him irresponsible.”
“Does that account for his talk against the professor in the
restaurant, and why he had a guard at his cabin?” asked Ned.
“Yes,” was the answer from Bob, while Jerry said:
“I’ll tell you the yarn, Ned. All our troubles are over now, I hope.
We had enough of them while they lasted, and at one time it seemed as
if we were all booked for Davy Jones’ locker. But here we are, and
we’ll soon be back home where we can live life as it ought to be lived.”
“We’ll have our meals on time, for one thing,” declared Bob.
“And the folks will be glad to see us,” added Jerry.
“And perhaps some others than just our _folks_,” put in Ned, with a
smile. He was thinking of girls, and, perchance, one in particular.
The story Jerry told, having had it from Professor Snodgrass, was to
the effect that Dr. Hallet had once been a colleague of the little
scientist with whom the Motor Boys had made so many trips. When the war
broke out and Professor Snodgrass went to Europe to study the effect of
battle noises on certain insects, Dr. Hallet made a like voyage to take
up another branch of science. In some lines he and Professor Snodgrass
were associated, working to the same end. In other lines they differed
radically, and often violently, though they were always good friends
and helped one another.
Dr. Hallet went too near the front toward the close of the war, and was
under fire. He suffered from shell shock, which affected his mind, and
among his hallucinations was one in which he imagined that Professor
Snodgrass was his enemy and was trying to obtain a certain scientific
secret from him.
In order to effect, if possible, a cure of his friend, Professor
Snodgrass, on the advice of the physicians treating Dr. Hallet, did
not dispute this false idea. On the contrary he even encouraged it.
The state of mind of the doctor accounted for his violent talk against
the professor in the restaurant, and his queer actions led Marie, the
pretty waitress, to give the queer scientist the name of “_le cochon_.”
Of course that was not deserved.
“Did Dr. Hallet try to blow up the ship?” asked Ned.
“Of course not!” exclaimed Jerry. “That time we met him with the
black box he imagined he was concealing some insects from the gaze of
Professor Snodgrass, and also from us. He included us in his fear, it
seems. There never was a bomb on the ship. All the accidents were due
to defects in the machinery--the bursting of steam pipes and the like.”
“Yes, I’ve since heard that,” Ned admitted. “But I didn’t know whether
or not Dr. Hallet might not have tried to set off a bomb.”
“Nothing like it!” laughed Jerry. “We were all wrong in thinking
him that sort of man. He did act queerly, but it was because he was
suffering from shell shock. And he made such a fuss about the chance
that Professor Snodgrass might steal some scientific secrets that
Captain Munson, at the doctor’s request and on the professor’s advice,
posted a guard in front of the stateroom. It was not needed, of course.”
“Well, how did it happen we saw Professor Snodgrass in there?” asked
Ned.
“He went in to see if he could not quiet the doctor, who had a sort of
hysterical fit,” explained Jerry. “The ship’s surgeon suggested this.
Professor Snodgrass also looked over some of the doctor’s papers and
examined his specimens, hoping, thereby, to get a line on something
that might turn his mind into a new channel. It was then we saw him.
But he did not see us. Dr. Hallet closed the door quickly.
“But nothing seemed to answer; though, after a while, the doctor
himself seemed to quiet down. He requested the guards to be taken away,
and this was done. Then came the crash, and what happened to him since
I don’t know. At the time the whales attacked us Professor Snodgrass
said he wished Dr. Hallet could see them. He thought perhaps interest
in them would give him the necessary shock which would bring back his
reason.”
“Well, something must have happened to him,” said Ned. “He acted almost
rational with me after you and the professor were lost overboard. As I
said, two or three times he was on the verge of telling me something,
but I can realize now that he was not normal. Then, after we were
transferred to this warship, he acted strangely again.”
“But he is all right now,” said Professor Snodgrass, who came on deck
again after a visit to his colleague. “His mind has cleared, and we are
again united friends. He realizes what he has gone through, but he has
no complete idea of how queerly he acted.”
“What brought back his mind?” asked Bob.
“I suppose the various shocks connected with the accidents to the
_Sherman_ and the search for the derelict all acted on him in a
beneficial way,” replied the professor. “At any rate, after having been
irrational, he is himself again, and the surgeon assures me there will
be no more trouble.”
Both Dr. Hallet and Professor Snodgrass were allowed on the troopship
because of exceptional services rendered the government during the war.
Professor Snodgrass had captured a number of Germans, as detailed in
the book preceding this. As for Dr. Hallet, he had discovered a method
of combating one of the German poison gases.
Professor Snodgrass, because of the mental attitude of Dr. Hallet,
had come on board the transport quietly, which accounted for the fact
that the boys did not see him for some days. And the professor was so
engrossed with various matters that he was not aware of the presence of
Ned, Bob and Jerry. Captain Munson knew something about the condition
of Dr. Hallet, and also the efforts Professor Snodgrass was making to
cure his friend, but he did not feel at liberty to discuss it with
the Motor Boys. That is why he spoke to Ned as he did when the doctor
started to make an explanation.
“But there will be nothing more to worry about,” declared the
professor, concluding his explanations.
Nor was there. Dr. Hallet, though a bit dazed by what he had gone
through and having very little real knowledge of his actions following
the shell shock, rapidly grew to be himself again. He and Professor
Snodgrass joined forces in making scientific observations while the
warship bore them and the others homeward. And from the time the
professor and the doctor resumed their old relations the Motor Boys
saw little of them. For the two scientists were constantly catching
specimens, from cockroaches to sea-leeches, and making learned notes
and observations regarding them.
“And to think all our theories about the doctor being a bomber were hot
air!” exclaimed Bob, as they stood on deck after the good news had been
scattered that another day would see them at New York. “We certainly
were barking up the wrong tree! It was Marie that gave the wrong idea,
in a way. But she didn’t mean to. Mighty fine girl, Marie!” and Bob
sighed.
“Here! None of that!” warned Jerry. “I’ll tell Helena.”
“All right! You do, and I’ll whisper something to Mollie Horton about
the French girl who tied up your sore finger!” countered the stout lad.
“Better call it a draw,” suggested Ned with a laugh.
And so, as the old proverb has it: “All’s well that ends well.”
And certainly matters ended well for the Motor Boys. The next day the
warship anchored off quarantine, and in due time Jerry and his friends
went ashore and were sent to a demobilization camp. There they obtained
furloughs and went home to Cresville, where an enthusiastic reception
awaited them.
They told of their parts in the Great War, but they liked best to
relate the story of the wreck of the troopship, for it was like some
wonderful romance, and the terrors of the battlefield were not involved.
“I’d like to know the story of the _Altaire_,” said Ned, one day. And
later he and his chums heard it.
The freighter was attacked by a submarine and her few passengers and
crew forced to take to the small boats. Then the Germans took what
they wanted in the way of supplies and were about to sink the _Altaire_
when they saw a United States destroyer looming on the horizon. The
submarine fled before being able to place any bombs, though her crew
partly wrecked the engine room and destroyed the wireless plant.
The destroyer picked up the crew of the _Altaire_, but soon after that
a storm came up, and there was no chance to salvage the vessel. It was
thought that she had sunk, but, fortunately for Jerry and his three
companions, she remained afloat. Thus the mystery was cleared.
“But there’s one thing I’m never going to do if we have another war,”
declared Ned, as the three chums found a moment to be by themselves
after a round of meeting old friends.
“What’s that?” asked Bob.
“I’m never going to be surprised at what a bug-hunting professor does,”
was the answer.
“Same here!” echoed Jerry.
And so, the three young soldiers were safe at home, though they had
come a perilous way to get there. And now we shall take leave--at least
for a time--of Ned, Bob and Jerry.
THE END
THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES
BY CLARENCE YOUNG
_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid_
[Illustration]
THE MOTOR BOYS
_or Chums Through Thick and Thin_
THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
_or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune_
THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO
_or The Secret of the Buried City_
THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS
_or The Hermit of Lost Lake_
THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT
_or The Cruise of the Dartaway_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC
_or The Mystery of the Lighthouse_
THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS
_or Lost in a Floating Forest_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
_or The Young Derelict Hunters_
THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS
_or A Trip for Fame and Fortune_
THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES
_or A Mystery of the Air_
THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN
_or A Marvelous Rescue in Mid-Air_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING
_or Seeking the Airship Treasure_
THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE
_or The Hut on Snake Island_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER
_or Sixty Nuggets of Gold_
THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA
_or From Airship to Submarine_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER
_or Racing to Save a Life_
THE MOTOR BOYS AT BOXWOOD HALL
_or Ned, Bob and Jerry as Freshmen_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON A RANCH
_or Ned, Bob and Jerry Among the Cowboys_
THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY
_or Ned, Bob and Jerry as Volunteers_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE FIRING LINE
_or Ned, Bob and Jerry Fighting for Uncle Sam_
THE MOTOR BOYS BOUND FOR HOME
_or Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Wrecked Troopship_
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THUNDER MOUNTAIN
_or The Treasure Box of Blue Rock_
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THE BOB DEXTER SERIES
BY WILLARD F. BAKER
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_This is a new line of stories for boys, by the author of the Boy
Ranchers series. The Bob Dexter books are of the character that may
be called detective stories, yet they are without the objectionable
features of the impossible characters and absurd situations that
mark so many of the books in that class. These stories deal with the
up-to-date adventures of a normal, healthy lad who has a great desire
to solve mysteries._
1. BOB DEXTER AND THE CLUB-HOUSE MYSTERY
_or The Missing Golden Eagle_
This story tells how the Boys’ Athletic Club was despoiled of its
trophies in a strange manner, and how, among other things stolen, was
the Golden Eagle mascot. How Bob Dexter turned himself into an amateur
detective and found not only the mascot, but who had taken it, makes
interesting and exciting reading.
2. BOB DEXTER AND THE BEACON BEACH MYSTERY
_or The Wreck of the Sea Hawk_
When Bob and his chum went to Beacon Beach for their summer vacation,
they were plunged, almost at once, into a strange series of events, not
the least of which was the sinking of the Sea Hawk. How some men tried
to get the treasure off the sunken vessel, and how Bob and his chum
foiled them, and learned the secret of the lighthouse, form a great
story.
3. BOB DEXTER AND THE STORM MOUNTAIN MYSTERY
_or The Secret of the Log Cabin_
Bob Dexter came upon a man mysteriously injured and befriended him.
This led the young detective into the swirling midst of a series of
strange events and into the companionship of strange persons, not
the least of whom was the man with the wooden leg. But Bob got the
best of this vindictive individual, and solved the mystery of the log
cabin, showing his friends how the secret entrance to the house was
accomplished.
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THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES
BY ROY ROCKWOOD
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_Stories of adventures in strange places, with peculiar people and
queer animals._
1. THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE
_or The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch_
The tale of a trip to the frozen North with a degree of reality that is
most convincing.
2. UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLE
_or The Strange Cruise of the Submarine Wonder_
A marvelous trip from Maine to the South Pole, telling of adventures
with the sea-monsters and savages.
3. FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND
_or The Mystery of the Center of the Earth_
A cruise to the center of the earth through an immense hole found at an
island in the ocean.
4. THROUGH SPACE TO MARS
_or The Most Wonderful Trip on Record_
This book tells how the journey was made in a strange craft and what
happened on Mars.
5. LOST ON THE MOON
_or In Quest of the Field of Diamonds_
Strange adventures on the planet which is found to be a land of
desolation and silence.
6. ON A TORN-AWAY WORLD
_or Captives of the Great Earthquake_
After a tremendous convulsion of nature the adventurers find themselves
captives on a vast “island in the air.”
7. THE CITY BEYOND THE CLOUDS
_or Captured by the Red Dwarfs_
The City Beyond the Clouds is a weird place, full of surprises, and the
impish Red Dwarfs caused no end of trouble. There is a fierce battle
in the woods and in the midst of this a volcanic eruption sends the
Americans sailing away in a feverish endeavor to save their lives.
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THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES
BY LESTER CHADWICK
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_
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[Illustration]
_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._
1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS
_A Story of College Baseball_
Tom Parsons, a “hayseed,” makes good on the scrub team of Randall
College.
2. A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK
_A Story of College Football_
A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick’s best style, that is bound to
grip the reader from the start.
3. BATTING TO WIN
_A Story of College Baseball_
Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on
Randall College team. There is a great game.
4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN
_A Story of College Football_
After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes
a touchdown that won a big game.
5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL
_A Story of College Athletics_
The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely
exciting.
6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS
_A Story of College Water Sports_
Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track,
gridiron and diamond.
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THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES
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BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS
_or The Rivals of Riverside_
Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to play baseball and
particularly to pitch.
BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE
_or Pitching for the Blue Banner_
Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding school and play on the
school team.
BASEBALL JOE AT YALE
_or Pitching for the College Championship_
In his second year at Yale Joe becomes a varsity pitcher.
BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE
_or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_
From Yale College to a baseball league of our Central States.
BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE
_or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles_
From the Central League Joe goes to the St. Louis Nationals.
BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS
_or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_
Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay.
BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES
_or Pitching for the Championship_
What Joe did to win the series will thrill the most jaded reader.
BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD
_or Pitching on a Grand Tour_
The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world.
BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING
_or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_
Joe becomes the greatest batter in the game.
BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE
_or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy_
Throwing the game meant a fortune but also dishonor.
BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM
_or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond_
After Joe was elevated to the position of captain, the team took on a
new spirit. But the old captain was jealous and tried his best to bring
Joe to grief.
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BY CLARENCE YOUNG
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_
_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_
[Illustration]
_Lively stories of outdoor sports and adventure every boy will want to
read._
1. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS
_or The Rivals of Washington Hall_
You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can’t help it. He is bright and
cheery, and earnest in all he does.
2. JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP
_or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_
This volume takes the hero to the great West. Jack is anxious to clear
up the mystery surrounding his father’s disappearance.
3. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES
_or Track, Gridiron and Diamond_
Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of school
games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field.
4. JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE
_or The Wreck of the Polly Ann_
How Jack was carried off to sea against his will makes a “yarn” no boy
will want to miss.
5. JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB
_or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail_
Jack organizes a gun club and with his chums goes in quest of big game.
They have many adventures in the mountains.
6. JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX
_or The Outing of the Schoolboy Yachtsmen_
Jack receives a box from his father and it is stolen. How he regains it
makes an absorbing tale.
_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
Transcriber’s Notes:
--Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).
--Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
--Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
--Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
--The author’s long dash style has been retained.
--The Chapter XXX title in the Table of Contents (All’s Well) was
changed to reflect the title within the contents (All’s
Well--Conclusion).
End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Boys Bound for Home, by Clarence Young