CHAPTER XV--WHEN THE FLAGSHIP WAS SIGHTED
In the morning, when Darrin and his chum came on deck, the sun wasshining brightly over Nu-ping.
Perhaps a hundred of the smaller houses of the place had been burned bythe fires started by the gunboat's shells the night before, but in awhole city full of small Chinese houses the loss was not especiallynoticeable.
"You wouldn't want to land over yonder to-day, Darrin," smiledLieutenant Warden, when Ensign Dave saluted him on deck.
"Why not, sir?"
"Soon after daylight the governor's troops marched into the city. Asnearly as we could estimate the strength of the force from this deck,there are about twelve thousand of the troops, and with them are threebatteries of field artillery."
"Are the batteries strong enough to be used against this craft?"
"The batteries might be able to give us a good bit of trouble tohandle, but there is no danger of their being employed. It would costthe governor his head to turn his troops against us, for that would bean official act of his, and a violation of China's peace with us. Ofcourse the pretended riot and rebellion of the populace was carried outby the governor's secret orders, but we could never prove that. Hisexcellency will be questioned by the Chinese government, but he canclaim that the rebellion started when his troops were in another partof the province. The governor will promise Pekin to punish theringleaders of the rebellion. He will then proceed to 'try' and beheada few of his political enemies, and Pekin will be satisfied. That willclose the incident."
A messenger came briskly up, with word calling the executive officerinto the presence of his commander.
Pembroke's confession, which Dave and the witnesses had promptlyreported to the Lieutenant-Commander the night before, was the talk ofthe officers this morning.
The wounded man was said to be in somewhat better condition. All of thewounded sailors, marines and civilians were reported as being in nodanger of dying from the injuries received in the spirited fighting ofthe day before.
Dave's eyes caught sight of Belle the instant she stepped on deck. Hehurried to her, looking her over closely to see how she had stood theexcitement and terrors of the day before.
"Do you think I shall ever be able to qualify as a naval man's wife?"Belle asked, laughing.
"You won't have to qualify," Dave assured her. "You've already passedall the necessary tests."
"There were times yesterday when I was dreadfully afraid," shudderedBelle.
"Then you have mastered the necessary secret of how to conceal yourfears," Darrin assured her. "There was many a time yesterday when I,too, was badly scared."
"You?" cried Belle, gazing at her husband, in astonishment.
"Yes," smiled Dave. "Did I betray myself?"
"You are jesting," Belle declared. "I saw you often, in the worst ofthe fighting and your courage and endurance were magnificent. Not oncedid you show any sign of faltering."
"None the less, I had my moments of scare," Darrin assured her.
"You surely _are_ jesting," asserted Belle.
"Not a bit of it, my dear. Every man who has to fight and who is honestabout it will admit that he is often badly scared."
"Am I interrupting a private conversation, Mr. Darrin?" asked theexecutive officer.
"Not in the least, sir," replied the young ensign, raising his cap.
"Then what I have to tell you is that our wireless picked up theadmiral's flagship a little while ago, and we have reported what tookplace here yesterday. We are under orders to sail as promptly aspossible, and the flagship will meet us at the mouth of the river. Theflagship will also try to pick up some coasting steamer, which willcarry the missionary party and others down the coast to Shanghai, whichis considered a safer place at present for Americans."
"Did the Admiral approve of what was done here yesterday, sir?"
"He expressed neither approval nor criticism, but will take ourdetailed report when we join. The ladies will be summoned to breakfastsoon, Mr. Darrin. Most of the officers will breakfast at second tableto-day, but on account of Mrs. Darrin's presence on board you will goto first table with her. You will take my place at the head of thetable."
"And, of course, as soon as the civilians are transferred to thatcoasting steamer I shall have to go with them," pouted Belle. "It maybe months before I shall see you again. I had hoped to be with you atleast a few weeks in Manila. Instead, I had to come here. I have had aday with you--and what a day!"
"It's hard, dear," sighed Dave, "but such is a naval officer's life.However, our turn will come. One of these days I shall be ordered toshore duty for a while, and then we shall be together, month aftermonth. We shall even be able to have a little home of our own. It maybe, dear, that my shore duty will be at Washington."
"Yes," groaned Mrs. Darrin. "And if you send for me to come and joinyou in Washington, by the time I arrive there I shall find out that youhave just been sent away on a three-year rescue cruise to find somelost explorer at the South Pole! That is the Navy!"
When the breakfast call came Dave led his wife into the wardroom,conducting her to her seat at table and seating himself beside her.
Before the meal was ten minutes under way the deck watch began to makeactive preparations for the start down the river. As the anchor wasbeing hoisted a large boat put out from the shore flying the governor'sbanner.
As it came alongside a great bale was hoisted on board, addressed,simply, "To the American Ladies."
An envelope bearing a similar address was brought aboard by an officerfrom the governor's yamen, as well as a second envelope addressed toLieutenant-Commander Tuthill.
The second letter was delivered at once. It contained an expression ofthe governor's "profound regret" over the occurrences of the daybefore, and stated that, the governor's troops having fortunatelyreturned, his excellency was now able to guarantee the safety of allAmericans who might condescend to honor the city by their presenceashore.
The governor's letter ended with the statement that he had endeavoredto express his apologies to the American ladies in a more tangible ifvery humble and poor form.
The American commander immediately dictated a letter thanking hisexcellency for his letter and assurances, but adding that, underorders, the American party was being taken to the mouth of theNung-kiang River.
"Get this letter over the side and signal the engine-room forhalf-speed ahead," Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill brusquely directed.
So, before breakfast was ended, the "Castoga" was steaming down themuddy river.
Not until the officers and male guests had been served at second tablewas any mention of the bale made by the busy executive officer. Thenthe ladies were once more summoned to the wardroom, while two sailorsundid the package that had come from the governor.
The contents would have made a gift fit, indeed, for a royal family.There were more than enough handsome furs to go all around. There weresilks, such as are never seen in America. Gold hair ornaments and rarejade jewelry were there in abundance, and many other articles dear tothe feminine heart.
"If this is a true expression of the governor's regret, then I wonderthat he could ever have permitted the rioting to start," said one ofthe women.
"But, under the circumstances, have we any right to accept suchvaluable gifts?" asked Belle Darrin.
"Shall I have them thrown overboard, then?" queried Mr. Warden,smilingly.
"No; of course not," replied another woman, "but I feel that thesemagnificent gifts should be returned."
"How?" asked the executive officer. "This gunboat may never enter theNung-kiang River again."
"It begins to look," laughed Dave, "as though the necessities of thecase compel the acceptance of these visible expressions of thegovernor's invisible regrets. There is no way to send the stuff back."
It took an hour's discussion to convince the women that they mustperforce accept. That point settled, they proceeded to divide the giftsby lot.
"Where am I going to put all this plu
nder?" Belle asked her husband asshe gathered up her own considerable share of the "expressions ofregret." "I haven't a single piece of baggage."
"I fear I shall have to place them in my chest, and turn them over toyou when we next meet," Dave suggested.
"And I may very likely be an old woman by that time," sighed Belle.
At noon Dave took the bridge until four o'clock. It was just before hiswatch was finished that the mouth of the river was made. Two miles offshore the flagship could be seen, steaming back and forth. A quarter ofa mile away a small ocean-going steamer followed a similar course.
"And I won't have a chance to cry on my husband's shoulder for a fewmoments," Belle complained, tragically, to another woman. "He's stuckaway up forward on the bridge."
"Your husband will be off duty in ten minutes," Lieutenant Wardenassured her. "He will have command of the launch that transfers theparty to the coasting vessel."
"In the Navy the smallest favors look like great ones," Belle observedto herself.
Watch changed just before the gunboat ran up behind the stern of theflagship.
Relieved of his duty on the bridge, Dave received his further ordersand immediately called the launch crew to quarters.
Launched and brought alongside, the motor boat was quickly filled withthe refugees.
Dave gave the order to cast off, then sat down beside Belle. Their timewas altogether too short. The halted coasting steamer received therefugees on board, Dave, too, going up over the side.
In the instant that he and Belle clung together she whispered:
"Shall I go to Yokohama and await the chance to join you?"
"That will be a fine idea, little girl!" cried Dave. Then with a finalkiss he went down over the side and into the launch.
"Cast off. Make back to the gunboat."
The coastwise steamer was already sounding her hoarse whistle, andmoving under slow way.
Once in the launch, Ensign Darrin stood up and waved his cap at thelonely little figure standing by the stern rail on the after-deck ofthe steamship.
Until the launch rounded up under the "Castoga's" quarter Dave wavedhis cap frequently. Through the mist that lay over his eyes he couldbarely see the answering fluttering of white on the deck of thesouthbound steamship.
"Let the crew remain in the launch," came from the officer of the deck."Ensign Darrin will report to the executive officer."
"Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill and Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell areordered aboard the flagship," announced the executive officer. "Mr.Darrin, you will make the necessary change in uniform."
Hastening to his quarters, Dave changed to full dress uniform for whichthe regulations now called. He girded on his dress belt, with his dresssword, and drew on white gloves. Then he gained the deck, saluting andreporting to the commander of the gunboat.
"We shall be called upon to make our report, Mr. Darrin, of the Nu-pingaffair. It is a good thing that we can do so with clear consciences,"smiled the Lieutenant-Commander.
"The Admiral may not approve of all that I did to His Excellency, theGovernor," remarked Ensign Dave.
"I think he will," replied the commanding officer. "In my opinion, atleast, you made the best possible use of your discretion."
"Thank you, sir."
Soon the three officers from the gunboat found themselves on thequarter-deck of the battleship "Katahdin," flagship of the AsiaticFleet.
Captain Tucker received them and then remarked:
"I have orders to conduct you at once to Admiral Branch."
The Admiral gave the three visiting officers pleasant if formalgreeting.
"This is my report, sir, in writing, of the affair at Nu-ping,"declared Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill, passing over a bulky officialenvelope.
"Quite so," observed Admiral Branch. "I will read it at once."
For more than five minutes the three officers remained seated, and insilence, while the Admiral slowly turned the pages of the report.
From time to time the fleet commander frowned. Dave, noting this,wondered to what features of his conduct in Nu-ping Admiral Branch mostobjected.
"Dave is surely going to catch it," reflected Dan Dalzell uneasily. "Iwonder if I shall come in for some of the scotching, too. But probablythere'll be no such luck. Dave was ranking officer ashore, and I actedonly on his orders. I wish I could take my share in the storm."
Having read the last page of the report, the Admiral slowly,thoughtfully folded it, laying it away in a pigeon-hole over his desk.
"Surely, Mr. Darrin, you found some new ways of treating a Chineseviceroy, or, I should say, governor," remarked the fleet commanderdryly.
"I tried, sir, not to subject him to any annoyance or indignity thatcould be avoided," Darrin responded gravely.
"And in a way that would have been impossible, had the governor beenattended by his usual number of troops," continued Admiral Branch."Under the circumstances, however, you treated him in a way that I, asa junior officer, often longed to handle many an important Chineseofficial."
Though the fleet commander spoke gravely there was an unmistakabletwinkle in his eyes. Dave's hopes began to rise.
"I shall endorse Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill's report as beingsatisfactory to myself," continued the Admiral, "and then shall sendthe report on through the usual channels. And I sincerely trust, Mr.Darrin, that the Navy and State Departments at Washington will alsoendorse the report. For myself, Ensign Darrin, I congratulate you onyour handling of a most unusual and highly difficult lot of problems. Icongratulate you, sir," continued Admiral Branch. "I shall be glad tohave you aboard this ship."
"On this ship, sir?" asked Darrin, as he took the Admiral'soutstretched hand.
"Yes; but that is another story, and perhaps I had better tell thatfirst. Some transfers have been ordered in the Asiatic Fleet. Amongother changes, Ensigns Holton and Brown, now on this ship, are orderedto duty on the 'Castoga,' and Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell are ordered tothe 'Katahdin.' I fancy, gentlemen," turning to the two youngerofficers present, "that very likely you have seen as much as you wishof China for the present, so you will be glad to know that this ship isordered to Japan, and that we shall likely be there for two months ormore. You will move your baggage over to this ship and report for dutyas quickly as possible."