The guests of the _Kearsarge_ had no cause to complain of the measure
of Uncle Sam’s hospitality. If the scene of the banquet had been a
first-class hotel, the preparations could scarcely have been more
elaborate. The big battleship presented a spectacle of dazzling
splendor. From bow to stern, masthead to lower deck, her grim lines
had been beautified by a blaze of electric lights, flags, Japanese
lanterns, bunting, and flowers. The wardroom being too small to
accommodate the big dinner party, the spacious upper deck had been
converted into an open-air dining room. At tables set together so as to
form a huge horseshoe, covered with fine linen and laden with massive
silver, the guests were served with a feast of rare daintiness.
There were several women present at the banquet, for the officers
of the garrison had been invited to bring their wives, sweethearts,
sisters, and daughters. Gale had discovered that the girl next to him
was the niece of the commandant of the fortress, and he exerted himself
to be agreeable to her, not only because she was a young woman of
fascinating personality, but because, always having an eye for the main
chance, he foresaw that her relationship to the man in charge of El
Torro garrison might come in useful to him later on.
Although he kept up a sprightly conversation with her and appeared
to give her his entire attention, he was all the time keeping a close
watch on Virginia and Captain Reyes. That interesting pair, as luck
would have it, sat almost directly opposite to him, and he was able to
observe every move they made.
Just as the last course of the dinner had been served and the speeches
were about to begin, Gale saw the daughter of the American minister
lean back in the chair and half close her eyes, while a look of
distress came to her pretty face.
This action was not lost upon Captain Reyes. He bent toward her
solicitously. “What is the matter, señorita?” he inquired. “Are you
ill?”
“Maybe it will pass away soon,” the girl answered, apparently making
a brave effort to pull herself together. But she seemed to grow worse
instead of better, for presently she whispered, in response to an
anxious inquiry from the captain: “If my father were not down on the
program for a speech I think I should ask him to take me home.”
“There is no need to bother your father, señorita,” Reyes said
promptly. “If you wish to go home, I am at your service.”
“You are very kind,” Virginia said faintly, flashing him a grateful
smile; “but, of course, I could not dream of taking you away. I must
try to wait until my father has finished his speech. I wish he was
first on the list, but I am afraid----”
“I shan’t mind it at all,” her escort cut in eagerly. “In fact, I shall
be delighted to accompany you.” And his eagerness was not feigned, for
he was glad to exchange the terrors of the postprandial oratory for
the pleasure of a boat ride and automobile jaunt with this pretty girl.
“Well, if you insist,” said the latter, “let us try to leave as
unobtrusively as possible. I think the trip home will do me good.”
They left the table so quietly that few noticed their departure; but a
few minutes later, as they were stepping toward the port gangway, Reyes
became aware of a hand placed on his shoulder, and, turning, learned
that Gale had followed them out.
“A word with you,” the reporter whispered. “It is of the utmost
importance.”
The frown which came to the other’s face showed that he resented this
intrusion, but something in Gale’s manner caused him to draw back and
allow Virginia to go on alone.
“What is it?” he demanded sharply. “I must say, señor, that I am
beginning to grow very weary of this confounded interference----”
“Where are you going?” the _News_ man cut him short. “Tell me quickly:
Has she fooled you into going away with her?”
“Fooled me!” The Baracoan’s frown deepened into a scowl. “I do not
understand,” he said haughtily. “Miss Throgmorton is feeling indisposed
and I am taking her home.”
To his astonishment and indignation, Gale received this with an
ironical laugh. “I guess it is about time to open your eyes,” he said.
“I am wise now to the whole game.” He whispered a few words in the
army officer’s ear. What he said caused the latter to give a start of
surprise.
“This is astounding!” Reyes muttered. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I am not sure,” the reporter replied. “But you’ll see that I
am right.”
Virginia, noting her escort’s absence from her side, turned at the head
of the gangway, and a worried look came to her face as she saw with
whom he was talking.
“The launch is waiting for us, Captain Reyes,” she called out
impatiently. “Are you ready?”
The Baracoan hesitated a moment. Then, with sudden decision, he
whispered a few words to Gale, stepped to the girl’s side, and assisted
her down the ladder. As they got into the boat, Gale followed them.
“Guess I’m going ashore, too,” the reporter said, with a grin. “I have
some business which needs my immediate attention.”
Virginia glanced at her escort’s face. She observed with concern that
he did not seem to resent this intrusion.