CHAPTER XXVI.
BY ORDER OF THE KING.
Alice Beulow had been the first to see Frank as he jumped over the railof the _Alto_. As he rushed toward her captors she had sent up a ferventprayer of thanks. Various emotions were depicted in her face as the ladstruggled with the traitor who had almost succeeded in lying her lifeaway.
When the sailor had brought his rifle to bear on the lad, and the girlsaw him pull the trigger, her strong will had finally given way, and shefell fainting to the deck. She was revived at length and carried to hercabin, still under arrest.
Frank also had been arrested by command of Captain Johnson, andconfined. Half an hour later, however, the commander ordered him broughtto his cabin, and had the lad relate the full story of LieutenantTaylor's treachery and the details of the first British naval victoryoff Helgoland.
"I am inclined to believe your story," said the captain, when Frank hadconcluded. "I am now going aboard the _Sylph_ to pay my respects to LordHastings, and you and Miss Beulow shall accompany me. You will consideryourself under arrest, however, until I have seen Lord Hastings."
Half an hour later the three were ushered into Lord Hastings' cabinaboard the _Sylph_, where the little scout cruiser's commander laypropped up in bed.
A few words sufficed to clear up the situation so far as Captain Johnsonwas concerned, and then the latter took Frank by the hand.
"You are a gallant lad," he said, "and I am proud to know you. Myprophecy is that you will not long remain a midshipman."
Frank thanked the commander of the _Alto_, and, at a nod from LordHastings, which indicated that the latter desired to be alone withCaptain Johnson, Frank and Alice Beulow made their way to the deck.
Outside the captain's cabin they ran into Jack, who had been eagerlywaiting to learn what all the trouble was about. Alice soon explainedthe situation to him, and then Jack did a dance of enthusiasm about thedeck.
"So you killed the traitor, eh?" he said at last, coming to a stop inhis contortions. "Good for you! I should like to have done it myself.You are a brave chum, old man, and I am glad to have you for one."
"No more glad than I am to have you for a chum," replied Frank. "I havedone nothing you wouldn't have done had you been in my place. It wassimply luck, that's all."
"It was a brave action," put in Alice Beulow, "and for the second time Iowe you my life. The debt, I fear, can never be repaid."
"It was nothing any other fellow would not have done," protested Frankmodestly.
"But tell me how you happened to arrive so opportunely," demanded Alice.
"Well," said Frank, "after the battle, our first thought was of you. Wehad heard, just before our wireless apparatus was put out of commission,of your arrest, but, until after the battle, we could do nothing.
"Since noon yesterday we have been scouring the sea for the _Alto_, andwe were beginning to fear that we should not locate you in time. Theloss of our wireless came near proving fatal. It was early this morningwhen we finally made out what we felt sure was the _Alto_."
"He doesn't tell you, Miss Beulow," Jack broke in, "how he stood watchall that time without a wink of sleep; and that but for the keenness ofhis eye we should probably have missed you."
"Well," said Frank, "I could do nothing less. But that's all there is tothe story. Now, Miss Beulow, will you tell us your experiences aboardthe _Alto_?"
The girl complied, and the boys listened with the greatest of interest.
"The cowardly traitor!" exclaimed Jack, when she concluded. "I shouldlike to have got my hands on him!"
"He will bother no one else," said Frank simply.
A moment later Captain Johnson emerged from Lord Hastings' cabin. Beforeleaving the _Sylph_ he again approached Frank and shook hands with him.
"If I can ever be of service to you," he said, on taking his departure,"command me. I shall never forget that your bravery alone saved me fromputting an innocent girl to death!"
Frank thanked the gallant commander, and the latter disappeared over theside with a backward wave of his hand.
Soon the _Sylph_ was under way again, speeding swiftly toward the fardistant western horizon. For a long time, Alice Beulow, Frank and Jackleaned over the rail of the little cruiser, gazing at the swiftlypassing greenish water. Then the three were summoned to Lord Hastings'cabin.
The commander of the _Sylph_, still propped up in bed, greeted Frankwith a smile, and, beckoning the lad to him, gave his hand a heartyclasp, in spite of his apparent feebleness.
"Captain Johnson has told me of your gallant action aboard the _Alto_,"he said; "and I add my praise to his. It was a brave deed."
Frank passed the compliment off modestly, and Lord Hastings continued:
"I shall see that your conduct does not go unrewarded. But what Isummoned you all here to say is that we are returning to London."
"To London!" exclaimed Jack, in surprise.
"Yes. There the _Sylph_ will undergo the necessary repairs, whichprobably will take a week. At the end of that time I hope to haverecovered to such an extent that we shall be able to put to seaimmediately. I feel much stronger the last few hours."
"And then back to Helgoland," said Frank.
"No," replied Lord Hastings, "I think not. I believe that our nextcruise will be in the Mediterranean."
"The Mediterranean!" exclaimed Jack. "Why not the North Sea? Don't youthink there will be more fighting there, sir?"
"Not immediately," was the reply. "After the blow we have just inflictedupon the German fleet I believe it will be some time before the enemywill venture forth again."
"Then there is no likelihood of Admiral Jellicoe's forcing a battle bygoing in after the Germans?" queried Frank.
"I fear that would be suicide. The guns of a fortress, you know, are ofmuch heavier caliber than it is possible to mount upon a war vessel.Besides, the harbor is mined, and there would, I am afraid, be butslight hope of success for British arms in such a venture."
"And yet," said Frank, with a smile, "there was a certain Americanadmiral in the Civil War who said something about paying no heed to thetorpedoes when he steamed into Mobile Bay."
"Yes," admitted Lord Hastings, "and there was another American admiralwho also disregarded the mines at Manila. But don't you fret," hecontinued, "you will find that Admiral Jellicoe is of the same caliber,should he deem such a venturesome exploit essential."
"I am sure of it," agreed Jack. "From what little I saw of him the othernight, I am willing to bet that he is not the man to shirk a necessarytask because of danger."
"I agree with you," said Frank.
"I didn't call you here to discuss warfare," said Lord Hastings, aftersome further conversation along this line, "but rather to find out whatwe shall do with Miss Beulow."
"I am perfectly willing to abide by whatever decision you may reach,"said the girl, with a smile. "I am sure you will not find me hard toplease."
"What would you suggest, sir?" asked Frank.
"Well," said Lord Hastings, "as you boys know, I am a married man. I amsure that my wife would be glad to have Miss Beulow make her home withher until such time as she can get into Germany with safety."
"But I can impose no further upon your generosity," protested the girl."You have been too good to me now."
"Tut, tut," chided Lord Hastings, "it will be no imposition. Besides Iam sure it is only a question of a few weeks until some arrangement willbe made whereby German subjects in England and British subjects inGermany will be furnished means of returning to their native lands. Now,what do you say to my plan, Miss Beulow?"
"I am sure she will accept," said Frank eagerly.
For several moments the girl did not speak.
"Yes," she said at length; "I shall accept; and I thank you, LordHastings, for your kindness."
This matter having been settled, Lord Hastings announced that he thoughta good nap would do him good, and the young folks went on deck to enjoythe
sunshine. Later in the day Lord Hastings was also able to be ondeck, and, while the _Sylph_ slipped rapidly along through the water,entertained the others with accounts of his travels.
Toward sunset Frank made out what appeared to be land.
"What land is it?" he inquired of Lord Hastings.
The _Sylph's_ commander took his glasses and carefully observed the landthrough the hazy atmosphere.
"It must be the coast of Denmark," he replied, after a moment'shesitation, "although I did not realize that we were that far north. Wemust have sailed considerably off our course."
Night came on and still the _Sylph_ continued her homeward journeywithout interruption, although a watch for evidence of any German vesselwas being carefully kept.
It was while at supper that the peaceful calm on board was rudelybroken.
From on deck came the sound of scuffling feet, followed by shouts and atlength a shot. Then came the sound of running feet, a moment of silence,followed again by a volley of pistol shots.
Lord Hastings arose slowly to his feet and made his way on deck, closelyfollowed by Frank and Jack.
"What's the trouble?" demanded Lord Hastings, approaching a group ofsailors, who stood at the rail, firing into the water.
One of the men stepped forward.
"It's that traitor. Hardy, sir," he replied.
"Hardy!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "What about him?"
"He has escaped, sir."
"What!"
"Yes, sir."
"But I ordered him put in irons and carefully guarded."
"And he was, sir. I can vouch for that."
"Then how did he escape?"
"I don't know, sir; but he freed himself of his shackles in some manner.There he goes now, sir, in the motor. You can just make him out."
"How is it that you did not recapture him before he could get away?"demanded his lordship.
"Well, he came upon us all of a sudden like, sir. He knocked two mendown before we knew what had happened. Then he put the boat over theside and jumped in. I took a shot at him, as he jumped, but missed. Hemust have started the engine the moment he struck the boat, for he wasmoving in a jiffy. We all ran to the rail, and fired several shots athim, but it doesn't look like we hit him."
Here Jack broke into the conversation.
"Why can't I take the other boat and go after him?" he demanded. "I amsure I can overhaul him before he has gone very far. And, when Ido--well, I'll bring him back, all right."
Lord Hastings hesitated for one moment.
"All right," he finally said. "Take five men with you, and hustle."
"I am going, too," Frank broke in.
"Not much," said Jack. "You have had all the glory. It's time for me toget into this game."
In almost less time than it takes to tell it, the second launch had beenlowered and, with Jack at the steering wheel, was off in the darknessafter the traitor. The powerful searchlight on the little boat lightedup the sea for a long distance ahead, and at least a mile away Jackcould make out the craft in which Hardy was heading for the Danishcoast.
"Well," said Jack to himself, "it's up to me to catch him, and I won'tcome back till I do."
Lord Hastings had told him that the _Sylph_ would remain where she wasuntil he returned.
Under Jack's orders the launch was leaping ahead at full speed, andafter an hour it became apparent that the pursuers were gainingslightly.
"At this rate," said Jack to himself, "we won't overhaul him beforedaylight. But we shall keep after him as fast as we can."
And keep after him they did; but their efforts to catch the traitor weredoomed to disappointment, the two launches were so nearly matched.
The night now grew blacker, as it always does just before dawn, and nowthe headlight on the pursuing launch, besides showing Jack the escapingfugitive, also showed him the outline of the coast less than half a mileahead of the fugitive.
With the first sight of the coast Jack uttered an exclamation of dismay,although he did not slacken the speed of the launch, which continued tocreep closer and closer to the fugitive.
As the first, faint streak of dawn appeared in the sky, Hardy ran hisboat close to shore and, standing erect, jumped headlong into the water.A moment later and he reappeared and struck out for land.
Now that his quarry was safe ashore, Jack approached more cautiously,for he was not minded to run his little craft upon a rock. But when thepursuers were finally able to land Hardy had disappeared in thedistance.
Jack turned to his men.
"You will stay here until I return," he informed them. "I may be gone along time--there is no telling. Wait for me an hour after nightfall, andif I have not then returned you will go back to the _Sylph_. Do not comeashore, for this is neutral ground," and the lad hurried in thedirection in which the fugitive had disappeared.
"If I can catch him before we are discovered," he told himself, "he'llcome back all right. If not, well, I don't know. If discovered I supposewe shall both be disarmed and interned," for Jack was not unfamiliarwith neutrality laws, and he realized that if discovered he wouldprobably not be allowed to leave the country until the war had ended.
But if Jack had expected to overhaul the fugitive and take him back tothe _Sylph_ without trouble, he was doomed to disappointment. As hehurried on through the little woods there was the sudden sound of ashot, and a bullet whistled over his head.
The lad sprang behind a tree and quickly drew his revolver.
A moment later there was a second shot, and Jack saw a flash from behinda tree scarcely a hundred feet away. He aimed quickly at an arm whichextended from behind the tree and fired. A howl of pain rewarded him;but Jack was too wary to step from behind his shelter, although helooked cautiously in the direction of his enemy.
As he surmised, it was the traitor Hardy who had shot at him. Thefugitive now lay sprawled on the ground, and even from where Jack stoodhe could hear the man's moans. The bullet had struck him in theelbow--on the "crazy bone."
Jack stepped quickly from behind his tree and rapidly crossed thedistance that separated him from his wounded enemy. As he came close,Hardy suddenly sprang to his feet and, unable to bring his revolver tobear quickly enough, struck a savage blow at the lad.
Jack dodged the blow and promptly sent his fist between the other'seyes, knocking him to the ground in a sprawling heap.
"I guess that will teach you I am not to be fooled with," he saidangrily.
The lad stooped over and lifted his unconscious enemy to his ownshoulders.
"Now to get back to the launch before I am discovered," he said, and,turning, he started off rapidly in the direction from which he had come.
But he was not to carry his task to a successful termination so easily;for hardly had he gone fifty feet, when he was brought to an abruptpause by the sound of a harsh command:
"Halt!"
Turning, the lad dropped his burden to the ground and, after a moment'shesitation, threw his hands above his head.
"This is what I call tough," he muttered.
For, not fifty yards behind him, and approaching at a run, came anofficer with leveled revolver, and behind him a squad of soldiers.
The Boy Allies on the North Sea Patrol Page 26