CHAPTER X.
A NEW RECRUIT.
It was about an hour after luncheon, which, naturally enough, with allthat had to be related, had been a rather protracted meal. The party ofwhich the Boy Scouts and their naval friend had so unexpectedly becomemembers was foregathered beneath the stern awning in comfortable wickerchairs.
The ensign was relating to Mr. Grant, under pledge of secrecy, somedetails of the work which was expected to be accomplished on the lonelyisland. Mr. Grant, who was intensely interested, agreed to put theofficer and his young charges ashore at Charleston or some convenientport, provided the _Seneca_ could not be reached by wireless. The boyswere secretly hoping that this would prove impossible, that they mightprotract their cruise on the _Brigand_.
Donald and the boys had instinctively become chums. The millionaire'sson was a manly, self-reliant sort of chap, with crisp, curly hair, andblue eyes that could be merry or determined. Then, too, he was afirst-class Scout and deeply versed in Scout lore. In fact, the Eagleswere no more than a match for the knowledge of this young Wolf.
While the ensign and Mr. Grant chatted, they watched the youngsters withinterest. When Donald had carried them off to show them the _Brigand_from stem to stern, as he expressed it, Mr. Grant laid down his cigarand, turning to the ensign, said, with his customary abruptness:
"Could you use another Boy Scout on this work?"
"Well--I--really, I've hardly considered it," was the astonishedrejoinder.
"If you could, I have one for you."
"You mean your son Donald?"
"Yes. He is a manly, fine lad, but he has been a little bit coddled byhis mother and sisters. Now he and these other boys appear to get alongfamously, and they are just the sort of lads I should like my boy toassociate with."
The naval officer nodded.
"I never saw or heard of such another lot of lads as those comprisingthe Eagle Patrol," he said with emphasis; "although, of course," hecontinued, "there are probably many such enrolled in the ranks of theBoy Scouts."
"I don't doubt it. Donald is a different lad already since he joined theWolf Patrol. Now this cruise of mine will be dull at best to the lad.You see I am combining business with pleasure, and he will be thrownmuch on his own resources. He has seen the West Indies before, so therewould not be much that is novel to him in the scenery or the people.What do you say to my proposal?"
Cigar in hand, the great man of Wall Street paused for an answer,knitting his famous black eyebrows as he did so.
"Why, if Donald is anxious to go, I don't see why it could not bearranged," was the ensign's reply; "but why not ask the lad himself?"
"And your boys, too, of course," was the rejoinder; "they might objectto adding an outsider to their number."
"Not much fear of that," smiled the officer; "why, you would think theyhad been lifelong friends. Hark at that!"
A merry peal of laughter came ringing from somewhere about the ship.
At this juncture, a young man in a natty uniform came hastening up. Hebore a slip of yellow paper which he respectfully handed to the WallStreet magnate.
"Ah, Collins,--Mr. Hargreaves, this is our wireless operator."
The ensign nodded while Mr. Grant gazed over the message.
"So you picked her up, eh, Collins?" he said, handing the message he hadjust perused over to the ensign.
"Yes, sir. It appears that after missing the derelict in the fog the_Seneca_ cruised in circles looking for her. She is now within ten milesof us."
"So I see by this message," struck in the ensign; "we are fortunate notto have drifted further."
"What do you wish to do?" inquired Mr. Grant.
"Naturally, to be transferred to my own ship, if you will be so kind."
Mr. Grant nodded.
"Collins, get our exact position from the captain, signal it to the_Seneca_, and tell her we will lay off and on here till she arrives."
"Very well, sir," said the man of the wireless, with a bow.
He had hardly withdrawn when the boys came up, fresh from theirinspection of the _Brigand_. All were loud in praise of the craft,especially Rob and Merritt.
"Would you rather cruise on this craft or go on the duty for Uncle Samwhich lies before you?" asked Mr. Grant quizzically.
The Boy Scouts drew themselves up.
"Why, sir, our duty to our country comes before pleasure," declared Rob,acting as spokesman. "Cruising about is all right, but we Boy Scoutslike to be doing something useful for somebody else, but most of all forUncle Sam."
Rob paused, rather alarmed at his temerity at thus addressing one of therichest men in the world.
"So you think I am wasting my time cruising, eh?" said Mr. Grantamusedly glancing at the upright, slender boy before him from under hisheavy brows.
It was impossible to tell whether he was displeased or not. But Robdecided not to recede from his position. He knew that the Boy Scoutswere supposed to be manly, self-reliant, and upright under allconditions. So putting his fears of offending the man before him aside,he spoke up boldly:
"It's different for you, sir. Your life work has raised your monument;but I think, and I guess my Patrol agrees with me, that it is better forboys to be on active duty and," he added, his eyes flashing and hischeeks glowing, "especially such service as we are now going on.It's--it's glorious," he concluded breathlessly.
"I think you are quite right, my boy," was the magnate's reply, a verydifferent one from the rejoinder Rob had dreaded.
"I hope you don't think me presumptuous or impudent," replied Rob, "butyou asked my opinion, and you know, sir, we Boy Scouts must always tellthe truth. Perhaps it seems a poor return after you saved our lives,to----"
But Mr. Grant cut the boy short with a wave of the hand.
"Nonsense, all I did was to stand by and watch. If Donald had notunderstood those smoke signals, you might not be on earth now. But inreturn, I want to ask you to do something for him."
Rob nodded respectfully but said nothing. He wondered greatly what couldbe coming next.
"I want you to take Donald with you on this duty for Uncle Sam. Theensign here has agreed. Are you willing to make my son one of yourparty?"
"Are we willing?" stammered out Rob. "Why, sir, we've just beendiscussing what a shame it was that he had to go on a stupid oldcruise--I beg your pardon, on a cruise--when real work lay ahead,and----"
But Donald had danced up to his father cheering and throwing his hat inthe air. Then he rushed up to his newly-found comrades and ahand-shaking and "bear hugging" match ensued, such as is rarely seenexcept among lads who are real companions, bound together by a commonbond.
Suddenly above the tumult Rob's voice sounded.
"Boys, let's give the cry of the Wolf Patrol!"
Instantly savage growls resounded, and after that the Eagles joinedhands, formed a circle about Donald, and danced a sort of war dance ofjoy, concluding with the screaming cry of their Patrol.
Mr. Grant and Ensign Hargreaves smilingly watched this scene.
When something like order had been restored, the latter announced thecloseness of the _Seneca_.
This, too, was greeted with a cheer, which was cut short by thereappearance of Collins.
"I've been talking with the _Seneca_, sir, and he says that they areproceeding here at full speed."
"Good. That will do, unless you have any communications to make," saidMr. Grant, turning to the ensign.
"No, sir, none whatever," was the reply.
It was ten minutes later when Rob's sharp eye descried a trail of smokeon the horizon. A short time after, by the aid of glasses, the craft wasmade out to be the _Seneca_, bound at full speed for the yacht. On thelatter's signal-halliards up went a gaudy string of signal flagsannouncing her identity. The signal was answered from the DerelictDestroyer, which also fired a gun in honor of the recovery of thecastaways.
By midafternoon good-byes, warm and hearty, had been said, three ringingcheers exchanged between the crews of both craft,
and the _Brigand_ washeaded due south, while the _Seneca_ made in toward the coast. Longbefore sunset both craft had vanished from each other's sight.
"So that was one derelict that Uncle Sam did not have to destroy,"laughed Ensign Hargreaves to Lieutenant Murray as they stood side byside on the bridge.
"No," rejoined the other, "she committed suicide; but if it hadn't beenfor our young recruit, Donald, she wouldn't have gone to her gravealone!"