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Uncle Sam's Boys as Lieutenants, a fiction by H. Irving Hancock |
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Chapter 17. The Thirty-Fourth Joins Hands |
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_ CHAPTER XVII. THE THIRTY-FOURTH JOINS HANDS Captain Foster, too just a man to condemn without a hearing, let his young officer explain at length. All through this the older man preserved an unchanged countenance. "Mr. Overton," spoke the captain, at last, "had I thought it likely that you would have such an experience, I would have given you leave to pursue in such a case. As I did not give such permission your conduct amounted to a breach of orders. At the same time, it was a breach very likely to be committed by a younger officer, and the intentions back of your conduct were unquestionably good and for the best interests of our mission here. I shall, therefore, neither approve nor disapprove of your conduct. I will add only the hint that, at another time, you will do well to stick literally to the orders you receive. To that advice there is only one exception. In spite of the orders you would have been fully at liberty to have moved your position had the lives of your men been needlessly and senselessly exposed by remaining. Such, however, was not the case." "May I speak, sir?" inquired Hal. "Certainly, Mr. Overton." "If my conduct amounted to a fault, sir, it was not a deliberate one. I debated with myself as fully as I could in the few moments that were left to me in which to come to any decision. It seemed to me, sir, that my duty lay in chasing that motor boat. I feel, Captain, that my greatest fault was in judgment, and I had no experience to guide me in the matter." "Your defense is a very manly one, Mr. Overton. I like you better for the way you have stated it." "I trust, sir, that the mistake I have made to-night will not lessen your confidence in me, hereafter." "It will not," replied Captain Foster heartily, holding out his hand. "And now, let us say no more about it. You were not able to make out the name of the boat, but you must have had a good look at her for descriptive purposes." "Not very, sir; the boat had canvas over its woodwork. I am afraid, sir, that, if I saw the same boat in daylight, I couldn't positively identify her." "We have duties to perform, now, Mr. Overton. Instruct your sergeant that he is, under no circumstances, to allow the tug to leave the pier, except under orders. Then come with me." A minute later Hal and his superior officer were walking briskly up the street. "There's a telephone cable under the river to Tres Palmas," explained Captain Foster. "You will therefore call up the operator there, and you will explain to-night's incident of the motor boat, and ask him to notify the Mexican federal authorities. That's all that's left to us now. While you are doing that I will telephone both up and down the river, calling on the state authorities to seize that fast motor boat, if they can catch it on the American side." The telephone messages were sent, and the two officers retraced their way to the tug. The message that went under the river to Mexico, as Captain Foster learned long afterward, did not reach the federal government of that sister republic, for the telephone office, for three hours that night, was held by a roving band of Mexican rebels who succeeded in intercepting many government messages and in learning the plans of the Mexican government for crushing these same rebels. "Mr. Overton," said Hal's superior officer, when they reached the boat, "you will find berths in the cabin of the boat. Get into one of them and sleep until breakfast-time unless you are called earlier. I will now make myself responsible for the watch along the river." It was full breakfast-time, at eight in the morning, therefore, when one of the soldiers touched Hal on the shoulder. "Captain Foster's compliments to Lieutenant Overton, who is directed to report on deck to the captain." "Mr. Overton," announced the superior officer, as soon as his "youngster" appeared on deck, "I am going up to the camp for the day, unless you send me word that I am needed. I have just breakfasted, and the cook of this craft will take your orders as to your own breakfast." "Have the men breakfasted, sir?" was Hal's first thought and question. A really good officer always thinks first of his men. "They have all breakfasted, Mr. Overton. I do not imagine you will have much to do in the day-time. You have only your boat guard of six men under Sergeant Raney. The water-front patrol I have called in and sent to camp." Hal ate his breakfast in leisurely fashion. He had slept well and was refreshed, but he believed that he had a long and dull day before him. And so it proved. The day passed on with absolutely nothing to do but eat and lounge, save for the one sentry who watched both boat and shore end. It was almost dark, and Hal had just seated himself in the cabin to eat his supper when the sentry hailed: "Lieutenant Overton!" Hal showed his head at the cabin door. "A detachment of troops approaching, sir." "Well, they're our own men, aren't they, sentry?" Hal inquired. "I think not, sir." Hal stepped back into the cabin, picked up and donned his cap, then stepped out on deck. The approaching troops were on the dock by the time that the young lieutenant had returned to the open. "Two officers and ten men!" flashed through Hal's mind. Then, of a sudden, he felt like giving a whoop of joy. Instead, however, he darted down the gang-plank, then caught himself and walked forward with dignity just as one of the approaching officers called out with military crispness: "Squad halt! Break ranks!" "Mr. Prescott! Mr. Holmes!" cried Hal, going up to the two lieutenants who had just arrived. "Hullo, Overton," responded both newly-arrived officers, extending their hands, while Prescott added: "By Jove, I didn't count on finding you here, though I heard that you had won your commission. Where's Terry?" "Up at our camp, Mr. Prescott." "Drop the formal 'Mr.,' Overton, do," urged Lieutenant Prescott. "We have known each other long enough not to stand on ceremony." "We've known each other in other times," laughed Holmes, "and in much more stirring times, I take it, than these are likely to be." "Don't be too sure about the present being tame times," urged Hal. "From what we have seen here so far I believe that we are right in the middle of a district that is heavily engaged in sending arms over into Mexico. We may have a fight with a lot of these desperate, fanatic Mexican rebels at any moment." "Let it come, then," laughed Holmes indifferently. "We need a bit of practice, now and then, to keep us in handy touch with our work." "But how does the Thirty-fourth happen to be down here?" Hal asked curiously. "Ordered away from Fort Clowdry. That's all I know," Prescott answered. "At least B and C companies were sent. We detrained at Spartansburg, eighteen miles from here. The two companies are now about six miles above, save for this little detachment, which was sent down to report to Captain Foster for some co-operation with you on the water." "Lieutenant," spoke a sergeant of B company, approaching and saluting, "may I ask, sir, whether the men are to eat field rations or whether they're to be fed on the boat?" "What do you say, Overton? How much food is there on the boat?" "I'll find out from the cook," Hal answered. "Sergeant Kelly, are you going to forget me in that fashion?" "You're an officer now, sir," replied Sergeant Kelly, saluting. "I awaited your pleasure, sir, about speaking." "I can't see that you've changed any, Sergeant," smiled Hal, extending his hand. "But for the difference in some of the stage-settings we might seem to be in the Philippines instead of in Texas." "This is 'God's country,' sir," replied Kelly, with an air almost of reverence. "There's nothing in the Philippines as restful to the eye as the meanest stretch in the United States." Only a few months before while Hal and Noll were still in the Philippines Kelly had been made a corporal. Kelly was one of the staunchest souls in the Army. Many a time had he, with Noll and Hal, braved death side by side when facing the treacherous Moros. Since that time he had won the higher grade of sergeant. "I'm heartily glad to see you again, Sergeant Kelly," Hal went on. "Not more, sir, I'll be bound, than I am to see yourself," rejoined the sergeant. Then, with a final salute, Kelly fell back, muttering to himself: "'Tis come, the time when I must be saying 'sir' to two broths of boys that I've cooked bacon and coffee with over the same fire. But I don't begrudge either boy his honors. The two of them, they're the best of fine soldiers and true." Hal hurriedly learned from the tug's cook that the provisions on board were equal to furnishing all the newly arrived soldiers with breakfast within an hour. "And can I serve the two officers now with you, if you want, Lieutenant," said the cook. "Then please do so." Hal led his two brother-officers to the cabin, where Prescott and Holmes, after having removed their swords and belts, made hasty toilets and seated themselves. "I imagine a good many more commands will be ordered into the field," Prescott continued. "Every few years a lot of discontented fellows over in Mexico start some kind of a revolution, but this present one appears to be the strongest one yet. Colonel North, I know, had a report to the effect that Mexicans enough were waiting on the other side of the river to organize a large army corps as soon as they can get guns enough from this side." "Any arms captured on this side, yet, that you know of, Overton?" "No," Hal answered. "But I guess a cargo got across all right. We got this boat, and a lot of cases on board, but the cases have been carted up to camp. If the cases have been opened yet I haven't heard what they contained." "Arms or ammunition, or both, undoubtedly," nodded Lieutenant Holmes. "The Mexicans would hardly go to the trouble of sending a cargo of anything else out in the dead of night." "Yes; I imagine they were arms, but I don't want to say so. Captain Foster did find war supplies in two of the cases that he opened, I ought to add. But I guess I've been rattled by meeting you two so unexpectedly." "Getting rattled is a highly unmilitary form of conduct," retorted Prescott, with a look of mock sternness. While the young officers were still at the table Captain Foster boarded and entered the cabin. "Keep your seats, gentlemen," directed Captain Foster, throwing himself into a corner seat. "I've just eaten. Mr. Overton, your present detachment will march ashore presently, when a sergeant and nine men relieve them here. The two companies of the Thirty-fourth are to watch the water front to the west of us. When you go on the water to-night you'll carry officers and men from both regiments. If you have to land anywhere within the territory guarded by the Thirty-seventh, Mr. Overton, you'll be in command. If within the territory of the Thirty-fourth Mr. Prescott is detailed by Captain Cortland to command on landing. While pursuing on the water, Mr. Overton, you will be in command at all times, as our regiment is furnishing the boat. Mr. Terry will accompany you also." "There's a Navy officer, Ensign Darrin, who was visiting at Fort Clowdry, and who accompanied us, sir," announced Lieutenant Prescott. "Mr. Darrin stopped up in the village for supper and to send a telegram or two. If Mr. Darrin reaches us here in time, sir, I request permission to take him on board as a passenger." "Who's taking my name in vain?" demanded a hearty voice from the cabin doorway. Ensign Dave Darrin, U. S. N., as fine a looking young naval officer as ever trod bridge or quarter-dock, stood looking in. "Come in, Darrin," cried Prescott, leaping up and moving forward. "Captain Foster, permit me to present Mr. Darrin, of the Navy." Captain Foster made Darrin wholly welcome in a few words. "Hullo, Overton. Where's Terry?" cried Ensign Dave. More greetings were in order. "Just as you announced yourself, Mr. Darrin," said Captain Foster, "Mr. Prescott was asking permission to take you on the water as a passenger to-night. I beg to assure you that you will be most heartily welcome to go anywhere with this very small slice of the Army." Darrin expressed his thanks. Readers of the third volume of this series are sure to remember Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell, then midshipmen, who visited Prescott and Holmes in the Rocky Mountains and took part in a famous hunting trip. Hal and Noll, then sergeants, then made their first acquaintance with Darrin and Dalzell. All readers of the "HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' SERIES" know full well that Darrin and Dalzell were famous members of the Dick & Co. of bygone school days, while readers of the "ANNAPOLIS SERIES" have followed Dave and Dan all through their days at the United States Naval Academy. "As all you youngsters know each other from old times I fancy you'll have a most agreeable time on the water to-night, if there proves to be nothing to do but swap yarns of former days," smiled Captain Foster. "Don't you go with us on the water, sir!" inquired Ensign Darrin. "No; I am on shore. Mr. Overton, however, will give the best account of my hospitality that the limited resources of this boat permit." "Where's Mr. Dalzell?" asked Lieutenant Hal, as he finished his coffee. "Why, he's up at Fort Clowdry--waiting--to--well, I guess I'll let Prescott tell it," finished Ensign Dave. For some reason Prescott blushed slightly, opened his mouth as though to speak, and then failed to do so. The reason for his confusion will appear later. By this time darkness had come on, and the cook, who was also the only cabin attendant, had switched on the electric lights in the snug cabin. The young officers, however, felt that they had so many matters to discuss that the deck would give them more room, so they adjourned. Some of the officers noted that Captain Foster frequently glanced down the river through the darkness, but none asked him his reasons. Finally, however, Sergeant Havens and ten men from F company marched on to the pier, followed by Corporal Shimple of H company and four men. In the wake of the two detachments walked Lieutenant Noll, who was soon shaking hands heartily with three of his brother officers of the United Services. "May I ask what you see coming, gentlemen?" inquired Captain Foster, suddenly, pointing down the river. "It looks like some pirate craft, sir," replied Hal, after peering hard through the darkness. "At least, that seems like a fair guess, for she's moving along without lights." "She's engaged in United States service of a somewhat stealthy nature," replied Captain Foster. "That's why the craft shows no lights. Mr. Overton, how do you like the idea that you're to command a gasoline boat yourself to-night, and one that is reputed to be exceedingly fast?" Hal Overton felt a sudden glow of exultation as the situation dawned on his mind. "I wired, last night, for a fast gasoline boat to be sent here to aid us," continued Captain Foster. "This coming craft is the answer to my prayer, and the nearest collector of customs informs me that she's the swiftest thing he could charter for the government in these waters." "Then, sir, if the Mexicans try to put their motor boat across the river to-night there'll be some real doings!" promised Lieutenant Overton. "Real doings," indeed! The border excitement was about to break loose in deadly earnest, but that was more than any of them knew at that time. _ |
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