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Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service, a novel by H. Irving Hancock |
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Chapter 13. Orders Change In A Minute |
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_ CHAPTER XIII. ORDERS CHANGE IN A MINUTE Able Seaman Runkle, bearing an important communication from Darrin to the Captain of the U. S. S. "Hudson," gets into serious difficulties.
Able seaman Runkle was within a block of the mole where the "Hudson's" launch was due to cast off at half-past ten o'clock, but he halted in his tracks. From a doorway, a little nearer to the mole, a head was thrust out slightly as its owner surveyed the sailorman. Then the man stepped out of the doorway to the sidewalk. He was a big fellow, with something of the slouch and swagger that are to be observed in the tough the world over. Now this stranger stood quite still, sharply regarding the pausing sailorman. "If there are less than six of that breed ahead of me," muttered Runkle, staring ahead once more, "then it doesn't make any real difference." Two more men slipped out of dark recesses further on, while, an instant later, Runkle became aware that two men, who had not been visible a few moments before, were now closing up behind him. "I wonder what these chaps think they're going to do," mused Runkle, his sailor heart quaking not at all, though he scented fight in the air. "Hullo!" Now a sixth man stepped out from a doorway just at his side. With a lusty push this sixth man sent Runkle out into the street. "Where are your manners, my man?" demanded Seaman Runkle, returning to the sidewalk. "And what do you mean by that?" Suddenly the muzzle of a revolver gleamed in Runkle's face, but the sailor did not betray any sign of fright. "Put that down!" ordered Runkle sharply, at the same time making a gesture to indicate his command. A reply was volubly given in Italian, of which Runkle understood not a word. In the few seconds that this was happening the five other swarthy men began to close in on the sailor. Runkle lost no time in discovering that fact. A gesture from the man with the pistol showed that he expected Runkle to hold up his hands. "You'd rather see my mitts aloft, eh?" asked the sailor, in a mocking voice. "All right, then!" Up went the sailor's hands, as high as he could raise them. A gleam of satisfaction shone in the eyes behind the revolver, but that look instantly changed to one of pain. For Runkle, while holding his hands high, also raised one of his feet. That foot went up swiftly, and high enough to land against the lower edge of the bravo's pistol wrist. In a jiffy the wrist was broken and the pistol came clattering to the pavement. "Much obliged," offered Runkle, snatching up the weapon. Then he raised his voice to yell: "If there are shipmates within hail let 'em hurry here to keep Jack Runkle from killing a few rattlesnakes!" Just in time to escape the points of two knives, Seaman Runkle backed against a stucco wall, thrusting out the revolver and his able left fist. The first two men who leaped at him went down under the impact of that fist. A third received a scalp wound from the butt of the revolver. Any court would have exonerated the sailorman for killing his assailants, but Dave's messenger was much too good-natured to kill while there was another path to safety. That kindliness undid Runkle's defense. As a man rushed him on each side a third bravo dropped low in front of him and seized the seaman's legs, upsetting him. "Foul tackle, with a dozen to one!" growled Runkle, as he felt himself going down. Still he laid about, freeing his feet and using them while he plied his left fist and struck out with the revolver. Even now he did not want to press the trigger of the weapon, which was soon snatched away from him. With hoarse cries, several of the bravos now held the sailor so that he could barely squirm. Swiftly moving fingers roamed rapidly through his pockets. Then one of the cowardly assailants snatched out of one of Runkle's pockets a letter, muttering a few words to his companions. Striking a match the thief glanced at the address on the envelope. Even if he knew no English he could discern that the envelope was addressed to Captain Allen of the "Hudson." With another quick word the thief vanished through a doorway. Up from the enraged sailor leaped those who had been holding him down. "Sheer off there! Belay! belay!" growled several hoarse voices. Rushing up, cat-footed, came a dozen or more fresh-faced, husky young jackies from the fleet. "Come on, mates! The maccaroni-eaters are sneaking away!" yelled the foremost of the rescue party, that had come from the mole in answer to Runkle's call. Only two of the Italians were slow enough to be overtaken and manhandled by the jackies. The rest of the assailants vanished swiftly into nearby houses, the doors to which were instantly closed and bolted. For perhaps twenty seconds the two captured bravos were badly used. Then, thoroughly cowed, they were allowed to slip away. "What happened to you, shipmate?" demanded one of the rescuers. "Enough!" growled Runkle. "They got my money." "Much?" "All I had." "Tough luck," declared one of the sailors. "The chap who has your money surely got away before we could reach him." "I've got to get aboard the flagship as soon as I can," exclaimed Able Seaman Runkle ruefully. "The launch leaves in ten minutes, mate," volunteered another. "Those of us who are going aboard will now do well to get back to the mole." So Jack Runkle departed with his rescuers, but his eyes flashed the vengeance he would take should he meet his despoiler again. On the way out to the flagship Runkle sat silent and out of the run of talk that was going on around him. Going up over the side of the "Hudson," Runkle reported himself on board, and then added to the officer of the watch, Lieutenant Totten: "I've a message for the Captain, sir, and have orders to report to him immediately on coming aboard." "Orders from an officer of this ship?" "Yes, sir." "I'll send an orderly to see if the Captain is still awake," replied Lieutenant Totten. "I beg your pardon, sir," Runkle persisted, "but I have orders to say that Captain Allen, by his own request, is to be called, if necessary, sir, in order to hear my message." "Very good," nodded Lieutenant Totten, and turned to an orderly, sending him to Captain Allen's quarters. "The Captain will see Seaman Runkle at once," the orderly reported a few moments later. Saluting Lieutenant Totten, Runkle turned and hastily presented himself before the door of the Captain's quarters. "You have something to report, Runkle?" questioned Captain Allen, seating himself at his desk. "Yes, sir. Ensign Darrin gave me a letter to bring to you, sir. It may interest you, sir, to know that on my way back to the ship I was attacked near the mole by a mob of cut-throats. One of them held me up with a revolver, but I got it away from him. Then they all attacked me, and soon had me down, sir. One of the rascals took all my money and a letter addressed to you." "Took Ensign Darrin's letter away from you?" demanded Captain Allen, looking, as he felt, a good deal disturbed. "No, sir; not Ensign Darrin's letter, sir," replied Able Seaman Runkle, with just a shadow of a grin. "It was a letter addressed to you, but I have reason to believe, sir, that Ensign Darrin's letter is still safe. If you'll permit me, sir, I'll look for the ensign's letter where I placed it, after leaving the ensign and before quitting the hotel." Captain Allen at once nodded his permission. Runkle partly undressed, then explored the place where he had concealed Dave's letter. "What was the other letter addressed to me that was taken away from you, Runkle?" questioned the captain, while the search was going on. "It wasn't really a letter, sir," the sailorman replied, this time with a very broad grin. "It was just an envelope addressed to you, and filled with blank paper." "Who addressed that envelope?" "I did, sir." "And why?" "Because I thought that Ensign Darrin's letter might be important, and I had an idea that some skulking sneaks might try to take it away from me." Then Runkle, having put his clothing in order, stepped towards Captain Allen, holding out an envelope. "I think, sir, you'll find that this is Ensign Darrin's letter, and that it's just as he gave it to me, sir." Captain Allen hastily broke the seal, took out the enclosure, and read rapidly, a frown gathering on his face all the while. "Runkle," cried the Captain, springing up and placing a hand on the sailorman's shoulder, "did Ensign Darrin suggest to you the ruse that fooled your assailants?" "No, sir." "You did it on your own initiative?" "I--I did it out of my own head, sir, if that means the same thing," replied the puzzled sailor slowly. "It does mean the same thing," continued Captain Allen, "and, Runkle, I'm proud of you. That's a good headpiece you have on your shoulders, and I shall make note of it on your record. You have shown good judgment. You have a head fitted to meet difficulties. You may look for promotion in the near future." "Have I your permission, sir, to ask if that was Ensign Darrin's letter and if it was in good order?" asked Runkle. "It was, my man, thanks to your intelligent and courageous performance of duty. Runkle, how much money did the bravos take from you?" "Eighteen dollars in real money, sir, and about two dollars in _lira_ money." Sailors sometimes call the Italian money "lira money," because the lire, which is worth about the same as the French _franc_, or twenty cents, is the common unit of Italian currency. "Lira" is the plural of "lire." "I am afraid you don't like the Italian money very well, Runkle," smiled Captain Allen. "I don't, sir, and I don't like the people of this country any better. Not after the beating I got to-night." "That wasn't the fault of the Italian people, Runkle," declared the Captain. "Toughs in New York would use you at least as badly as did the bravos ashore to-night. The Italian people themselves are very friendly to us, and the government does all in its power to show its friendship for our country. If I were to send ashore complaint of your being attacked to-night the police would dragnet the city in an effort to find the men who attacked you, and, if found, it would go hard with them. But for reasons that I cannot explain to you, no complaint will be made. I do not wish the Italian police to know what took place to-night. As to the money that you lost, I will have you make affidavit before the paymaster, to-morrow, and will see that the money is repaid to you. Runkle, you may tell your mates anything you like about the fight, but do not mention the fact to any one, that you bore with you and were searched by bravos for a letter from Ensign Darrin." "Very good, sir." "That is all, Runkle. You may go, but remember that I have you in mind as a man of good and quick judgment, and as one who has the courage to carry his duty through in the face of any obstacles." "Thank you, sir." Saluting, the sailorman left the Captain's quarters. A minute later Captain Allen sent an orderly to the Admiral. Three minutes later Admiral Timworth received the commanding officer of the flagship. Quickly Captain Allen placed Dave's letter in his superior officer's hands. "This is live news, indeed," cried the Admiral, as he laid the letter down. "Darrin and Dalzell are doing clever work." "But their work is suspected, sir, as the letter shows. Moreover, the fellow spies of Gortchky and Dalny are shadowing our two young officers ashore, for the messenger who brought this letter was attacked by bravos. Our messenger was robbed of his money and of a faked letter with which the sailor had provided himself." Captain Allen then repeated Runkle's story. "You have Runkle slated for promotion, of course?" asked Admiral Timworth. "Certainly, sir." "A man like Runkle, if he keeps to his present promise, should go as high in the Navy as it is possible for an enlisted man to go," declared the Admiral. "But, Captain, the organization and desperation of our country's enemies worry me. It is plain that some very desperate scheme is afoot for making trouble between England and our country. That would drag us in against all of the Entente Allies if the success of the plot should involve us in war with England at this time. The proposed sinking of a British warship is the inkling we have had, but the real scheme may be something else. The first clue of all that we had, even before Darrin and Dalzell came aboard at Gibraltar, came from the American Embassy at Paris. Our Ambassador, under orders from Washington, has our secret service at work there, which keeps our government directly in touch with many of the doings of international plotters. It seems to me highly important that Ensign Darrin should be detached long enough from this ship to be sent to Paris, where he should repeat to our Ambassador all that he knows, and give close descriptions of the spies with whom he has come in contact. Having made his report, Darrin can return to the ship at Genoa, which will be our next port of call in these waters." "Would you send Mr. Darrin alone, sir?" asked Captain Allen. "He might be trailed and again attacked. Would it not be far better for Ensign Dalzell to go with him?" "Yes, and perhaps it may be as well for Runkle to go, too, as their orderly," replied the Admiral, after a moment's hesitation. "There is a train leaving for Paris at four in the morning. Where is Lieutenant Totten?" "He will be off watch in an hour, sir." "Let Lieutenant Totten go ashore to carry my written instructions to Ensign Darrin. I will enclose the necessary funds in an envelope with my instructions. Totten, on his return to the ship, will be able to assure me that the communication reached Ensign Darrin safely, and that Darrin, after reading my instructions, which will be brief, tore up and burned my letter." "Shall I send Runkle ashore in uniform or in citizen's dress?" asked Captain Allen. "In citizen's clothes, as before," replied Admiral Timworth. "I will call my flag lieutenant. Kindly see that the paymaster is sent to me, Captain." Fifteen minutes later the Admiral's letter of instruction had been signed, and a substantial amount of money enclosed. On coming off deck duty at eight bells, midnight, Lieutenant Totten was instructed to order a launch alongside. Then, with the bulky envelope in an inner pocket, and accompanied by Seaman Runkle, Totten went over the side. A few minutes later the launch delivered them at the mole, then glided out into the bay. "I hope we shan't run into a gang of hoodlums again," said the sailorman respectfully. "I have my revolver with me," smiled the lieutenant. "The Italian police would feel grateful if I sank its six bullets into six bravos of Naples." _ |
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