CHAPTER III
AMBASSADORS ON THEIR TRAIL
The entire matter was laid before the Prefect of Police shortly afterthe Battleship Boys had been removed to another cell in theConciergerie. He listened gravely to all the facts, nodding his approvalof the work of his assistants.
At the direction of the police head a message flashed over the wire halfan hour later, as follows:
"Farnham,
"Commanding U. S. S. 'Long Island':
"Two men giving the names of Davis and Hickey, accused of having held up and robbed two women in this city to-night, claim to be sailors on your ship. Do you know them? Not only this, but they assaulted the officers who sought to arrest them. The prisoners are believed to be Apaches. The courtesy of a reply is solicited.
"Lepine,
"Prefect of Police."
Day had barely dawned, when another message was flashed over the wires.This one, however, came from Boulogne and was addressed to the AmericanConsul to France, instead of to the prefect of police. It read asfollows:
"Hamlin, Consul,
"Paris:
"Those crazy French police say they have two men, Davis and Hickey from my ship, locked up accused of highway robbery. Preposterous! They are two of my best men. Get the men out at once, please. No finer types than these two to be found in the enlisted force. Kindly acknowledge at once.
"Farnham,
"Commanding U. S. S. 'Long Island.'"
Consul Hamlin was a man of action as well as a diplomat. Urgent thoughthe captain's message was, however, international diplomacy would notpermit the consul to go direct to the office of the Prefect of Police.There were certain set forms that must first be observed. But the consullost no time. The wheels of the great government machine were set inmotion on the instant. The first move was to communicate with the Frenchforeign office.
"The American consul desires an immediate audience with the premier, ifpossible," was the message that the former's secretary telephoned to theforeign office.
This request being granted, Consul Hamlin entered his carriage and wasdriven to the foreign office, where an audience with the premier wasaccorded him at once. This meeting, though cordial, was extremelyformal.
"Your excellency," began the consul, "two of my countrymen are, I aminformed, held by the police department, charged with having held up androbbed two women last evening. Has the matter been brought to yourattention, may I ask?"
"It has not."
"Then I will give you such information as I possess in regard to thematter," said Mr. Hamlin.
The consul stated his case, adding that if the men under arrest were themen he believed them to be, a very serious mistake had been made.
The premier promptly put himself in communication with the Ministry ofJustice, and the latter in turn with the Prefect of Police. All thefacts in the possession of the police on this particular case werereturned through the same channel.
"I have the honor to inform you," said the premier, "that I have orderedthe release of the men Davis and Hickey. They will be turned over toyou, as you request, by the prefect in person."
"I thank you--my profoundest thanks----"
"No; it is for me to offer you an apology," interrupted the premierquickly. Then, with many expressions of good will on both sides, theconsul took his leave. Half an hour later Mr. Hamlin was received by thePrefect of Police with great ceremony.
"You are here," began the police official, "in behalf of the two youngmen whom we have in our charge----"
"Accused of the attempted robbery of two women last evening. I am,monsieur."
"And I am most happy to say that later investigations have made it easyfor me to grant your request that they be liberated. I am now wellsatisfied that they are not guilty of the attempted robbery."
"Naturally not."
"But of the assault on my officers there can be no doubt. They----"
"That was surely a mistake on their part, Monsieur le Prefect."
"Yes, yes; no doubt----"
"I am too glad to hear you say that, Monsieur le Prefect. These youngmen, I am informed by the commanding officer of their ship, are abovereproach. A grave mistake has been made."
The prefect bowed humbly.
"A thousand pardons."
"Will you be good enough to summon the young men here?"
"Certainly."
A few moments later the Battleship Boys were standing in the presence ofMr. Hamlin and the Prefect of Police.
"Well, lads, your appearance is certainly against you. Indeed, you lookas if you might be all they have accused you of being," exclaimed Mr.Hamlin with a laugh.
The faces of the Battleship Boys brightened. It was one of their owncountrymen who was speaking.
"What is your name?" he asked, addressing Dan.
"I am Daniel Davis, sir. This is Samuel Hickey. I am a gunner's mate onboard the 'Long Island,' he being a coxswain on the same ship."
Mr. Hamlin nodded affirmatively.
"How did you happen to get into the difficulty?"
Dan related in a straightforward way all that had occurred on theprevious night, not omitting their brief battle with the police, whom hesaid they had taken for the robbers attacking them again.
Mr. Hamlin and the prefect listened attentively until the narrative cameto a close.
"The way of the peacemaker is hard indeed," smiled Mr. Hamlin.
"But you see, sir, we were not exactly peacemakers," announced Davis.
"I am forced to agree to that. Monsieur le Prefect, I presume there isno objection to these young men accompanying me from this place at once,is there?"
"They may accompany you, certainly. That is in accordance with therequest of the premier."
"I thank you, Monsieur le Prefect. I hold myself wholly responsible forthese young men."
"Monsieurs, a thousand pardons," said the prefect, turning to theBattleship Boys with a profound bow. "You are at liberty to go where andwhen you please."
"Come, lads; I take it you have no desire to remain here longer?"
"I should say not," spoke up the red-headed Sam.
Dan saluted the prefect, but Sam hardly more than glared at the policehead as the boys left the office in company with the ambassador.
"Well, lads, what do you propose to do now?" questioned Mr. Hamlin, whenthey had reached the street.
"I think we shall finish our sight-seeing, sir," replied Dan.
"Very good, but you need clothes, both of you. Have you a change ofclothing with you?"
"We have only these uniforms, sir."
"Come with me, and I will see that you are fitted out."
"Thank you very much, sir. We have money; but, if you will be goodenough to show us where we can purchase clothes, we shall be under afurther great obligation to you," answered Dan.
Mr. Hamlin accompanied them to a store, where the boys were soonsupplied with shore clothes, hats and all. They presented a fardifferent appearance now. It was the first time they had worn citizens'clothes since they had entered the Navy, but they did not enjoy thechange as much as they had expected. They would have preferred to be intheir uniforms.
"Now, my lads, keep out of trouble. I do not believe you need advicefrom me. You seem well able to take care of yourselves. Yet, should youhave further difficulty, or if you wish to see me, come or send word tome at once. Here is my card."
"We thank you very much, sir. Will--will you tell Captain Farnham thatwe are all right?"
"Certainly. I shall wire him at once. By the way, where are you boysliving?"
"We have a room at 33 Place de la Concorde, sir. We have not sleptthere," added Dan, with slightly heightened color; "but we hope to do soto-night."
Bidding Mr. Hamlin good-bye, the Battleship Boys started away for theirlodgings. At about that time another gentleman called at the office ofthe prefect. The card that he send in read, "Guillermo Martinez,Ambassador."
He was the Spanish ambassador to France.
Senor Martinez's greeting was most cordial, but the ambassador lost notime in stating the object of his visit.
"You have two young men here, I believe, Monsieur--young men who aresaid to have robbed or attempted to rob two women in the Bois deBoulogne last evening?"
"Two young men were arrested," he replied.
"They were sailors?"
"I believe they are."
"English sailors?"
"No; American."
"Ah! It is well. I have come here, with the permission of the premier,to request that those young men be liberated at once."
"I have but now received a message from the Ministry of Justice,requesting that I receive you. I am honored, senor. May I inquire yourinterest in this matter?" questioned the prefect, shrewdly suspectingthe truth.
"Because I have reason to believe that a serious error has beencommitted."
"Indeed, senor! On whose part, may I ask?"
"I should say that it was on the part of your department, MonsieurPrefect--that a great injustice has been done to two very brave youngmen, who risked their lives to serve two women in dire distress."
The prefect smiled.
"If these men whom you have in custody are American or English sailors,I beg that you may quickly convince yourself of their innocence andliberate them. I ask this in my official capacity."
"The foreign governments appear to be taking a deep interest in the caseof these young men, senor."
"Why say you that, Monsieur le Prefect?"
"Because you are the second official who has been here this morningdemanding that they be set free," answered the police officer,smilingly. "It is most surprising."
"Indeed."
"They may not be, and probably are not, guilty of the robbery charge,but at least the men assaulted my officers."
"I am sure that feature of the case could be easily explained."
"You would have difficulty in convincing the officers who were assaultedof that," laughed the chief.
"Will you release the men?"
"It will give me great pleasure to serve you, senor, in any manner in mypower. Do you know the women who had such a narrow escape last evening,may I ask, senor?"
"Certainly."
"Would it be proper for me to ask their names!"
"They are my wife and daughter," announced the ambassador. "Both ladieswere positive of the facts as I have stated them----"
"That the men were sailors?"
"Yes. And when they read this morning that two sailors had beenarrested, accused of the attempted robbery, the ladies were greatlydisturbed. They insisted that justice be done, that I spare no effortsto obtain the release of the brave young sailors."
"Disturb yourself no more, Senor Ambassador."
"You mean?"
"That the men have been discharged. They are free."
The Battleship Boys in Foreign Service; or, Earning New Ratings in European Seas Page 3