CHAPTER XIII
HARRY BLUNT IS REBUFFED
Helen Blunt was grieved and hurt at Robert's strange action. It wasincomprehensible to her. The others expressed much surprise at hissudden leaving. After a few minutes Helen got the refreshments, but shewas much subdued for the rest of the evening, and it was only tooevident that the pleasure of the day had gone for her.
Robert hurried back to the Academy and was soon in his room.
"I can't report him," he reflected. "I know I'm going back on my rank,on my duty, on my principles, on what I've preached ever since I've beenat the Academy. The contemptible hound! He ought to be kicked out! It'sa shame that such a despicable person should have such a fine father andmother--and--and sister. It's outrageous that he should remain here. Buthis father saved my father--I can't report him; it would utterlydisgrace Captain Blunt--I'm full of gratitude to him--I suppose I haveno right to let that gratitude interfere with my duty; but I can't helpmyself."
For the next hour Robert indulged himself in many bitter reflections,but his conclusions were unchanged, and he deliberately determined tokeep to himself what he had learned, neither to report Harry Blunt norto tell even Stonewell what he had seen.
Stonewell came in a little before ten o'clock. "What's the matter withyou, Bob?" he asked almost roughly. "Do you think you treated the Bluntsvery politely? You spoiled Helen's evening, and I could see Captain andMrs. Blunt were concerned; they must have thought you acted veryqueerly, to say the least."
"I'm sorry, Stone--I couldn't help it. Please don't talk about it tome."
Stonewell glanced keenly at his roommate's worried face. "Look here,Bob, when you went out to the pantry did you see young Blunt? Has thatscamp been Frenching again?"
"Stone, except once, you have practically never discussed your personalmatters with me; I never insist on it, intimate as we are. Now this is apersonal matter of a kind that I just can't talk about; please don'texpect me to."
"All right, Bob; but it's my opinion you feel you ought to report Bluntfor Frenching and you feel you can't because you're under obligation oflasting gratitude to his father; and so you feel you're going back onyour principles, and so forth. Now you were not on duty; no reasonableman would expect you to violate your own feelings to that extent. Socheer up, Bob; I'll tell you right now that if when I'm not on duty Ifind young Blunt Frenching in his father's house, I most certainly shallnot report him."
To this Robert made no comment, but in his heart thought that if hisroommate knew what a scoundrel Blunt was, that Stonewell would be thevery first to report him.
Taps soon sounded, and before long Robert was in bed; but long hourspassed before sleep came to him. "What a lot of terrible rogues I'vebeen mixed up with," was one of the thoughts that came to his mind;"there was Hillman, Ramsay, Williams, and now this detestable Blunt.And of them all I fear Blunt is the worst."
The next afternoon Stonewell went to Blunt's room and found that youngman there alone. "Hello, Stone," greeted Blunt; "but now that footballis over perhaps I should say Mister Stonewell to the five striper."
"Never mind the 'Mister,' Blunt. I thought I'd drop around to tell youthat I think you are an unintentional cad."
"Your words are offensive, sir," cried Harry, getting angry immediately;"I'm not aware of any Naval Academy regulation that permits the cadetcommander to insult a third classman."
"I don't wish to insult you, Blunt, and I admit my words requireexplanation. The point is just this: Bob Drake, your company commander,is entirely upset about something. He will not talk about it to me, andhas no idea of my seeing you about the matter. He was out at yourfather's house last night, and I've a notion you were Frenching outthere and he saw you. You probably know he has very strict notions ofduty. My idea is that he feels he should report you or else go back onevery principle he ever had. And for a particular reason he cannotreport you."
"Oh," replied Harry disdainfully, "if the reason is that he is curryingfavor with Helen most people would say Drake is the cad."
"It isn't your sister, Blunt. It's your father, whom he owes a debt ofgratitude to."
"Why should Drake be grateful to my father?" exclaimed Harry in evidentsurprise.
"For personal reasons. I don't feel at liberty to talk about them,except to say that a couple of weeks ago a kind action on your father'spart saved Drake from resigning. You see Drake cannot report yourfather's son; and come now, wouldn't a man be a cad to force a man likeDrake to go back on his principles?"
"Good old dad," cried Harry impulsively; "I was a cad, but I'm glad yousaid unintentionally so. I'd have had no use for Drake if it had been onHelen's account. But really I didn't know Drake saw me last night. Areyou sure he did?"
"I have just imagined so; you ought to know whether he did or not. Hewas at your house last night; at half-past eight he went out in thepantry to get something and all of a sudden bolted out of the house. Hewon't speak of the matter even to me, but he has been miserable eversince."
"By Jove!" ejaculated Harry. "Perhaps he saw me in the cit's clothes;that would be a bilging spot,[2] wouldn't it?"
[Footnote 2: A report involving dismissal.]
"I shouldn't wonder," remarked Stonewell, drily.
"Stonewell, I'm obliged to you, and I'll tell you right now I won't giveDrake another chance to report me for Frenching; I'm awfully sorry thething happened. I'll tell him I'll do the square thing hereafter."
In the meantime Robert and Peters had gone aboard the "Nevada"; Lenn sawthem coming. "Come up above," he said to them; "I've something to showyou." When Robert saw what this something was he was delighted. Lenn hadfitted up the forward starboard six-pounder gun with the gun sights theyhad talked about.
"I've bore sighted the gun, Mr. Drake. Just train the gun on that whitestone on the shore over there; look through your peep-sight and get thegun exactly on it. All right. Now shift your eye to the bore; the boresights are in the gun. Now what do you say?"
"It's wonderful," cried Robert; "are these bore sights in the exactcentre of the gun?"
"Within a hair's breadth."
"Both the new gun sights and the bore sights are pointing at the whitestone. The stone is over half a mile away. That means the line of thegun sights is parallel to the axis of the gun, doesn't it?"
"It does, indeed," replied Lenn, much pleased with Robert's enthusiasticapproval.
"Let me see," insisted Peters, pushing Robert away from the breech ofthe gun. "Gee, but this is splendid," he called out a moment later."Say, Bob, if you keep this quiet you'll make the gunnery record nextJune."
"Lenn, can we prevent people from seeing these sights?"
"Surely. I'll take them down when you leave; it only takes a minute totake them off the gun. I'll keep them in my storeroom when you're notusing them; but, Mr. Drake, if you expect to make a good target recordyou'll have lots of work to do. You'll have to get your crew here dayafter day, for at least half an hour's drill. I'll be here to help you."
"Good. And thank you, Lenn; I'll start to-morrow." And the twomidshipmen left the ship.
"Now, Pete," said Robert, "we must organize to win the flag. Our companyis well represented in all forms of athletics; we have football andbaseball stars in it; now you and I and Glassfell and a couple of otherswill quietly drill with this gun. And at target practice we'll spring agreat surprise on everybody. Whom had we better put in the gun's crewwith us?"
"Well, let's see. There's young Blunt, he's a----"
"Don't speak of that fellow to me," interrupted Robert savagely.
"Why, Bob, what has he done; why are you so down on him?" inquiredPeters, utterly surprised at Robert's vehemence.
"I want nothing to do with him. I don't wish to talk about him."
"All right, old man, I'll think of some one else. Will see you later."
As soon as Robert saw his roommate later in the day, he began eagerly totell him of his plans. "I'm going out to win the flag, Stone. My companystands as good a chance, better, I
believe, than any other company towin it. But I'm going to make sure of it. Now you drill with my company,and what you individually do will count."
"Of course. And I'll do all I can. I want you to come out for the crew,Bob; you've pulled in two winning races----"
"I can't, Stone; now just listen to what I've done," and Robert toldStonewell of the new six-pounder gun sights and of what he expected toaccomplish. "You see I'll not be able to come out for racing shellpractice, and besides, you don't need me--my company is well representedin all athletics and if we win at target practice we'll get the flag."
Here the door was thrown open and Harry Blunt entered. Robert jumped tohis feet, and with flashing eyes and in angry tones asked: "What do youwant, sir?"
"Why, Drake," replied Harry, completely taken back by this hostilereception, "I just thought I would tell you that if any act of mine hasdisturbed you, if I have forced you in a false position, I extremelyregret it; I hope you will have no further concern because of me."
"Mr. Blunt, will you please leave my room? I despise you and I wantnothing whatever to do with you."
"This is decent of you, Blunt, and I thank you for coming in," suddenlyinterposed Stonewell. "I know your motive, and it's all right!"
Harry Blunt stood in the doorway utterly chagrined. Tears came into hiseyes and his chin quivered. Then without comment he left the room.Stonewell was extremely provoked. "He came in at my suggestion," heangrily said.
"I believe you," replied Robert calmly.
"I don't like the way you have acted. I don't understand you."
"Stone, I despise Blunt. There is a reason. You think you know it, butyou are mistaken. Now, old friend, I cannot talk this matter over withyou; I can but ask you to trust me, also to avoid discussing that youngman when I am around."
Stonewell was not inclined at first to be satisfied with this, but hesoon decided to drop the matter; and several months passed beforeMidshipman Harry Blunt was discussed between them.