CHAPTER I--TWO STRANGERS OF MANILA
"I am delighted to have had the privilege of meeting you, Miss Chapin,"said Ensign Dave Darrin, lifting his uniform cap and bowing low at theend of the brief conversation. "And my thanks to you, Captain Chapin,for having afforded us the great pleasure."
Ensign Dan Dalzell, U. S. Navy, delivered himself in similar fashion.
The two young naval officers turned and were about to resume theirstroll over the _Punta de Espana_, or Spanish bridge, which, crossingthe Pasig River, separates Old Manila from New.
Just as suddenly, however, the pair checked their progress, to stareacross the bridge.
On the opposite side, leaning against the rail, stood a Chinaman inrather rich apparel, with a decidedly sinister cast of countenance.
"Why is Old 'Burnt-face' staring so hard after Miss Chapin and herbrother?" muttered Dalzell.
"I'm blessed if I know," returned Dave Darrin. "I've a good mind tocross over and put your question to the Chinaman."
"I've a greater mind to throw him into the Pasig," growled Dalzell."I'm not strong on race lines or color, but I don't believe that anyyellow man has a right to glare like that at an American girl."
Dalzell took a step forward, as though to cross the bridge, but Darrinpromptly caught his wrist.
"Don't do anything rash, Danny Grin," urged Dave. "Throwing a Chinamaninto a river isn't approved by the American government that has beenset up in these islands."
"Then perhaps I'd better not hoist him over the bridge rail and let himdrop into the water," Dan conceded. "But I believe that I will crossover and have a look at him."
"Not a bad idea, and certainly not against the law," nodded EnsignDarrin. "Let us follow the Chapins a little way, cross the road, andthen come down on the other side so as to meet Mr. Burnt-face face toface."
The nickname that the American pair had given the yellow man was due toa patch of purple skin, of considerable area, under the yellow man'sright eye. Had that patch been absent, undoubtedly the Chinaman wouldnot have appeared so sinister.
"Odd that a fine girl like Miss Chapin should want to waste her lifeserving as a missionary in China, isn't it?" asked Dan.
"I wouldn't call it wasting her life," Darrin returned. "Neither, youmay be sure, does Miss Chapin herself so consider it. To her way ofthinking, she is devoting her life to one of the noblest ideals thatcan animate the human mind."
"I wouldn't mind so much if she were like the average girl," Danrambled on, rather vaguely. "But for a stunner like Miss Chapin--such adainty little piece of exquisite womanhood--"
"Oh," laughed Dave. "Then it isn't her services that you begrudge thenatives of China, but her good looks."
"Well, anyway," Danny Grin continued rather testily, "I'll wager thatChapin doesn't fully approve of what his sister is doing."
Captain Chapin was serving in one of the infantry regiments of the Armyline at Manila. Being stationed in the city, Chapin had the goodfortune to have his family, consisting of his mother, wife and twoyoung children, located in a cottage over in Ermita, just beyond themassive stone walls of Old Manila. Miss Lucy Chapin was visiting herbrother on her way to China, where a missionary post awaited her.Knowing Captain Chapin from the stirring days of service in Mexico, thetwo young naval officers, on meeting him here in Manila, the "Paris ofthe East," had been presented to that charming young woman.
Crossing the roadway near the Old Manila end of the bridge, Dave andDan strolled back. In the meantime "Burnt-face," as Dan had named him,had turned and was heading toward the Escolta, the Broadway of NewManila.
Both young officers wore the white service uniform of the tropics. Hereand there a soldier or sailor, in passing, brought his hand to his capin smart salute, a courtesy which both officers, in every instance,returned.
"That's our fellow," whispered Darrin, slowing down his step.
"Burnt-face," a man of somewhere near forty, if it be possible to judgea Chinaman's age, kept on his way at a pace neither hurried nor slow.Three different times parties of Chinese coolies passed him. Onperceiving "Burnt-face" they lowered their eyes to the ground inpassing.
Near the end of the bridge two much better dressed Chinamen passed theyellow man whom the young naval officers were now following. This pairmade deferential bows, then moved slightly aside in order not to compel"Burnt-face" to step out of his own course.
"Our man is a chap of some importance," murmured Darrin.
"He may be--to a Chinaman!" grunted Danny Grin.
Reaching the end of the bridge, the Chinaman paused, then started tocross the street as if to go to the famous Cafe de Paris.
Honk! honk! A touring car, going at about twelve miles an hour, rolleddown out of the nearby Escolta, heading for the bridge. With an agilebound "Burnt-face" leaped back to the sidewalk.
"Look at the scowl he's sending after that car," whispered Dalzell.
"His lips are moving, too," returned Darrin, quietly observant. "If itweren't for the look on his face I should say that our chap waspraying."
"In his case," muttered Dalzell, "he's more likely cursing."
"But say," Dave went on. "Just observe how 'Burnt-face' continues toglare after that car."
"Can he have anything against the people in the car?" Dan wondered.
"It is more likely that his hatred is directed against the car itself,"Darrin replied.
"But why should he hate a mere assemblage of mechanical units?" Dandemanded.
"I suppose that, being a Chinaman, he regards an automobile as the workof the Evil One," Dave smiled. "Your real, old-fashioned Chinaman isn'tstrong for new-fangled ideas. In some parts of China the appearance ofan automobile, even to-day, would rouse a mob to wild fury."
"Queer old place, China!" uttered Dalzell.
"Since we're waiting orders to go to China, you'll soon know," Daverejoined.
"I don't believe I shall like China," Dan declared prophetically.
Now that the road was clear, "Burnt-face" crossed the street. He didnot go to the Cafe de Paris, but stepped up in front of a drug store,where he halted and turned around.
In passing, Dave and Dan managed, without staring, to get a good lookat the yellow face. In addition to the purple mark under the right eye,"Burnt-face," with his lips parted, displayed one incisor tooth, thelower end of which had been broken off. At the left side of his chinwas a mark such as might have been made by a knife or a bullet.
"He's an ugly-looking customer," Dan muttered, when he and his chum hadpassed a few yards beyond the drug store.
"That face carries a history," guessed Darrin. "Nor do I believe thatit is a very savory history."
"I believe that the only real pirates left in the world," observed Dan,"are the Black Flags that every now and then infest Chinese waters. Iwonder if 'Burnt-face' were ever apprenticed to the Black Flags."
"Don't talk about him any more," murmured Dave, after a backwardglance. "The Chinaman is now returning our late courtesies by following_us_."
Attracted by the window display of a shop that dealt in Hindu curios,the two young naval officers went inside.
"I want to buy something pretty with which to surprise Belle," Daveexplained, as the chums roamed through the shop, inspecting thehundreds of quaint and artistic articles offered for sale.
"You expect her to reach Manila the 26th of the month, don't you?" Danasked.
"The 16th," Darrin corrected his chum.
"Due here in eleven days?" cried Dalzell, sharing his comrade'spleasure in the thought. "My, Dave, you're a very lucky young man!"
"It seems ages since I said good-bye to Belle," Dave went on musingly."Dan, it almost seems as if I had not seen my wife since she and I werehigh school sweethearts."
"I can take my oath that you've seen her more recently than that,"laughed Dan. "Yet I know that it must seem a long while between yourmeetings."
A Hindu salesman, wearing European clothes, topped by a real Hinduturban, now approached them.
"S
omething really nice for a lady," Dave nodded.
"Pardon, excellency," replied the Hindu, with a low bow. "Is thelady--ah--young?"
"Yes," assented Ensign Darrin.
"May I--ah--inquire whether the young lady be--ah--wife, sweetheart, orsister?" suggested the Hindu, with a second bow that was lower than thefirst.
"Why do you need to know that?" demanded Dave, frowning slightly."She's the finest girl on earth. Isn't that enough for you to know?"
"Then," declared the Hindu imperturably, "she is your sweetheart, andin that case I am certain that I know exactly what to show you."
"Oh, you do?" grimaced Ensign Darrin. "Then trot out the best youhave."
"Will your excellency condescend to step this way?" proposed the Hindu,with the lowest bow yet. "I shall exert myself to show you the veryfinest that we have suitable for distinguished presentation to asweetheart."
Down to a vault, at the rear of the shop, the salesman led the way.Opening the vault door he nimbly slipped out two trays of exquisite yeteccentric Hindu jewelry.
"Now, let the excellency gloat over these," begged the salesman,throwing out a bewildering array of rings, brooches, amulets,bracelets, neck chains and the like, set in a dazzling array ofprecious and semi-precious gems.
"How much is this chain?" asked Dave, picking up one of beautifulworkmanship.
"The price of that, excellency, is twelve hundred dollars, but as avery special favor to an officer in the Service I will allow it to goout of the store at eleven hundred."
Sighing, Dave laid the chain down.
"It is not fine enough, I know, excellency," glowed the salesman. "Now,look at this chain. Is it not handsomer?"
"Yes," Dave admitted.
"This chain, excellency, is a wonderful bargain at fifteen hundreddollars."
Dave sighed, but declined to examine the chain.
"Even if you had the money with you," remarked Danny Grin, "your wifewould hardly think you displayed good judgment in spending almost ayear's salary to buy her a chain."
"Oh, it is for your wife?" exclaimed the Hindu, in an almost shockedvoice.
"Yes," Dave assented.
"Oh, in that case, excellency--"
With incredibly rapid movements the Hindu put the articles back intothe two drawers, shoved them into the vault and closed the door.
"Here you are, excellency!" cried the Oriental, springing to a near-bycounter. "Here is a chain of considerable beauty, and it costs but sixdollars."
Giving a momentary gasp, Darrin eyed the fellow, then suddenly reachedover and took him in a tight collar grip.
"What do you mean, Mr. Insolence?" Darrin demanded sternly. "Do youwish to insinuate that a sweetheart calls for a handsome gift, but thatanything is good enough for a wife?"
"Er--ah--in _my_ country, excellency, when one buys for a sweetheart itis one thing. When he buys for a wife--"
"Then thank goodness that my country isn't your country," utteredEnsign Darrin disgustedly, while Danny Grin implored:
"Before you let him go, Davy, turn him around this way so that I mayregister at least one kick!"
But Darrin suddenly released the rather frightened fellow, sayingcrisply:
"Show me some pieces of jewelry at prices around fifty dollars."
At first the salesman displayed several pieces for which he asked fromseventy-five to a hundred dollars.
"You're wasting my time, but I won't waste yours," Dave suddenly brokein, turning away.
"Wait a moment, excellency. Do you realize, excellency, that you havenot, in any instance, attempted to bargain with me?"
"Do you mean that you expect me to work you down to a lower price?"asked Ensign Dalzell, lowering his voice.
"It is customary to bargain, excellency," replied the Hindu, with abow, though not so low as he had displayed at first.
"I'm not going to bargain with you," Dave declared quietly. "At anyprice you name for an article I shall either accept the price, and payit, or else refuse further to consider that article. And don't wasteany more of my time. At the first sign of it I shall quit your storeand not enter it again."
Still the Hindu tried high prices for a while, then suddenly held up anecklace set with small, beautiful bits of jade.
"Eighty dollars," he exclaimed.
"Mex?" broke in Dan quickly.
"Of course, excellency," confirmed the Hindu.
"See here, David, little giant," Danny Grin rattled on, "we've beengoing it a bit blind. We've been thinking of gold, or American dollars,while this man has been talking on the basis of the Mexican silverdollar."
In the Philippine Islands the Mexican dollar is still the basis ofcurrency. As this dollar is worth less than half of that amount ingold, the price charged by the Hindu, translated into American money,amounted to less than forty dollars.
"I'll take it," Dave announced, after a keen inspection of thenecklace.
Payment was made, and the necklace was placed in a box so small thatEnsign Darrin was easily able to drop it into one of his pockets.
From the curb outside a pair of glittering, bead-like eyes had peeredinto the gloom of the store.
Dave and Dan left the curio shop, the former feeling happier at thoughtof the pleasant surprise secured for Belle.
Further up the Escolta there now appeared a somewhat AmericanizedChinese youth, of perhaps sixteen years, who soon started indolently onthe trail of the strolling naval officers.
"Where now?" inquired Danny Grin.
"Have you anything that you wish to do ashore?" Dave asked.
"Nothing."
"Neither have I, so suppose we go down to the office of the Captain ofthe Port. Our launch should be in soon."
"Suits me," nodded Dan.
These two young officers are the same Dave and Dan whose fortunes ourreaders have followed through many volumes full of exciting adventuresand strange incidents.
Our readers first met them in the pages of the "Grammar School BoysSeries," in which Darrin and Dalzell appeared as members of that nowfamous group of six schoolboys who were collectively known as Dick &Co., taking that name from their leader, Dick Prescott. Theiradventures are further to be found in the High School Boys Series, andin the High School Vacation Series.
At the end of high school days Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes went tothe United States Military Academy at West Point. What there befell thetwo cadets is set forth in the pages of the West Point Series. Theprofessional careers of Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, once also of Dick& Co., are to be found in the exciting volumes of the Young EngineersSeries. Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell, as all our readers are aware, wereappointed midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis,and their lives in that famous training school are splendidly depictedin the Annapolis Series.
The present series, as our readers know, depicts the life of Dave andDan at sea as young officers. The first volume, "Dave Darrin at VeraCruz," deals with the famous events suggested by the title. In thesecond volume, "Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service," is told whatbefell our young friends in their efforts to frustrate an internationalplot of possibly grave consequence to this country. The third volume,"Dave Darrin's South American Cruise," which our readers have latelyread, deals with the adventures of the two young naval officers infoiling the outrageous plots of a South American ex-dictator, schemingto get back into power. And now, at last, we find Dave and Dan on theAsiatic Station.
Hardly had the naval officers turned out of the Escolta, at the waterfront, when Dan noticed that the sidewalk held at least fifty Chinese.
"This is the greatest of American cities, as far as Chinese populationgoes," smiled Dave. "Manila never has less than a hundred thousandChinese residents."
Out in the road stood a solitary member of the Chinese population. At asignal from the youth behind the naval officers, he said a few words inguttural undertone.
Quickly the Chinese came together, jabbering and crowding the sidewalk.
"Gangway!" cried Danny Grin, a
s he and Dave found themselves pressingthrough the yellow throng.
Slowly, rather indifferently, the Chinese made way for the two navalofficers to step through the crowd. Had Dave and Dan gone out into theroad to get around this crowd it would have been at the expense oftheir dignity in a city where no white man is supposed to allow cooliesto block his way.
"Gangway!" roared Dalzell.
The Americanized Chinese boy was now close beside the naval officers. Asmall, skinny yellow hand reached out.
"I'm sure Belle will be delighted with that necklace," Dave murmured tohimself.
Alas! That jewel box no longer rested in his pocket, for the yellow boywith the bead-like eyes, at that very instant, had filched the littlepackage. Nor did the picking of the white men's pockets cease at thatpoint.
Once through the throng, the two young ensigns were not long inreaching the building in which are situated the offices of the Captainof the Port. It is opposite this building, on the bank of the PasigRiver, where launches from naval vessels and army transports come inand tie up.
"Launch not in," announced Danny Grin.
"We'll have some minutes to wait," Dave answered. "Let's go over thereand get a soda."
"Over there" referred to a little white one-story building, in whichplain soda and similar beverages were sold.
Dave and Dan stepped inside, calling for soda water and drinkingthirstily.
"Tastes good," muttered Dan. "Let's have another."
So the second soda was ordered, and was finished more slowly. ThenDarrin reached into one of his pockets. Soon he explored anotherpocket.
"Why, that's queer!" muttered Dave, aloud. "I thought my money--"
"Never mind your money, chum," interrupted Dan Dalzell. "I'll pay for--"
A few seconds later Dan's expression changed to one of great amazement.
"Why, where _is_ my money?" he gasped.
"Don't look for it," returned Dave. "I don't believe you'll find it.For myself, my pockets have been completely cleaned out. I haven't eventhe necklace that I bought for Belle."
"Look here!" uttered Danny Grin, his lower jaw dropping low, indeed."Have we been robbed? Have our pockets been gone through just as if wewere a pair of rubes?"
"Our pockets have been picked all right," Darrin assented, with asmile.
"Then it was done while we were in that Chinese sidewalk mob!" saidDan, quivering with rage. "Just wait until I overhaul 'em, and--"
Dan sprang outside. His good intentions, however, came to naught, forthe crowd of Chinese had disappeared.
"It's a good joke on us," grinned Dave, though not very mirthfully.
"Oh, is it?" flashed back Danny Grin. "Then enjoy yourself! Laugh asheartily as you can. But I've been touched for two hundred and fortydollars. How much did you lose?"
"A hundred and sixty dollars, and the necklace," confessed Darrin.
"Say," muttered Ensign Dalzell, another strange look coming into hisface as he made another discovery. "I wish I could find thoseyellow-faced thieves."
"Why?"
"They overlooked something," almost exploded Dalzell. "They didn't getmy watch. It seems to me that it would be no more than honest to runafter them and hand them that, also."
Dan held up his gold watch.
"They left my watch in my clothes, too," nodded Dave.
"I wonder why?" murmured Dalzell.
"Over four hundred dollars, from the two of us," muttered Dave, staringgrimly up the road. "Not a bad two minutes' work for some one."
"It would make me feel more kindly to the poor fellow if only he'd comeback and take my watch and chain," declared Danny Grin. "I hate to seea poor thief overlook anything of value."
"I was wondering," Dave continued, "whether it would do any good tocomplain to the police. On second thought, I believe I shall write thechief of police after I go aboard ship. If there's a regular gangworking this part of Manila, then the police ought to know it, but I'veno idea that the police would be able to get our money back."
"That money has been under cover for some minutes," rejoined Dalzell."If you've any loose change you might settle our bill here."
"I haven't a cent," Darrin confessed.
But the proprietor of the little shop begged the young gentlemen toforget the little bit of small change that they owed him. This both Danand Dave refused to do, promising to pay him the next time they cameashore.
No sooner did they step outside than they were confronted by awell-dressed, tall young man under thirty.
"I hope you'll pardon me," said this stranger, with a rather decidedEnglish accent, "but I couldn't possibly help overhearing yourconversation inside. For that reason I know that you have had themisfortune to be robbed of your money by Chinese thieves. Now--nooffense intended, I assure you--could I be of any manner of use to you?Pembroke is my name, you know; Pembroke of Heathshire, England. I'm onmy way around the world. Now, if between one gentlemen and two others,you know, I could be of any--"
The Englishman paused, as if embarrassed; it was plain that he wastrying to offer a loan of money.
"I think I understand you, Mr. Pembroke," Ensign Darrin replied, with agrateful smile. "It is extremely kind in you, but the robbery has leftus embarrassed only for a moment. Both of us have funds deposited withthe paymaster on board ship, and after we go aboard it is only a matterof asking for what we need."
"You're not annoyed, I trust," murmured Pembroke apologetically.
"No; profoundly glad to find such faith in human nature as you havedisplayed," smiled Ensign Darrin.
"Oh, I don't trust the whole blooming human race," declared Mr.Pembroke gravely. "I'm not such a simpleton as that. But I know thatgood old Uncle Sam's officers are gentlemen, and between gentlemen, youknow, there is and should be a lot of jolly confidence."
In the easiest way in the world, Mr. Pembroke was now sauntering alongwith the two young Americans.
"Do you know much about the Chinese?" Dave inquired.
"Not enough to make me like 'em a precious lot," replied Pembroke.
"I wish I could understand their lingo," muttered Dalzell.
"And I'm positively proud that I don't!" glowed Mr. Pembroke.
They had halted at the water's edge, now, Dan turning his eyes in thedirection of the breakwater to see if he could make out the launch forwhich he and his chum waited.
"Here comes a fuzzy-fuzzy boat," announced Dalzell, at last. "But it'snot ours. Just as it happens, the craft is a Frenchman."
Pembroke cast a glance at the approaching launch, then went on chattingwith Darrin.
Presently the launch ran in alongside, a middle-aged French officerstepping up on the jetty not fifty feet from where Dave and hiscompanions stood.
The Frenchman started rather visibly when his gaze rested on Pembroke.Dave noticed that. And Pembroke saw the Frenchman, for one fleetinginstant. Then the Englishman turned his back squarely, while the Frenchnaval officer, holding himself very erect, and with a frown on hisface, returned the courteous salute of the young American officers.
"Do you know that gentleman, Mr. Pembroke?" Dave asked quietly.
"Never saw him before," declared Mr. Pembroke coldly.
"That's odd," reflected Dave. "If faces are books, and if glances maybe read, I should have said that the Frenchman didn't like our verycourteous Englishman."
The French officer was now passing out of sight.
"I see our launch," called out Danny Grin.
"I say, Mr. Darrin, by the way," spoke up the Englishman, "what is yourship?"
"The gunboat 'Castoga'," Darrin answered.
"Then, if you don't mind, I'm going to do myself the honor, someafternoon in the near future, of going out to your ship and calling onyou. I find it very dull here in Manila, you know, and I shall be gladto see more of you both."
"We shall undoubtedly meet at one of the clubs ashore," Dave smiledback steadily into the other's eyes. "In that case, I'll try tointroduce you to our commanding officer, and I've no do
ubt that he'llbe glad to extend you a cordial invitation to come aboard."
A few moments later the launch from the "Castoga" came gliding in atthe jetty. Dave and Dan extended their hands to Mr. Pembroke, thenstepped aboard the launch, leaving the Englishman to turn away.
Nor had he more than turned his back when Pembroke allowed a verydistinct frown to gather on his face.
In front of the office of the Captain of the Port, Pembroke came faceto face with the same French naval officer. The two men regarded eachother stolidly and passed on without speaking.
Dave Darrin on the Asiatic Station Page 2