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Page 45
The two Captains and the Colonel went below, while the men
crowded the rail and watched the boats, now at the side of the
distant submarine. It was a long time before they started back.
The men could see that they were loading the boats with something
that looked like rolls of cloth. Finally they returned.
The officers, coming back to the decks, were greeted by volleys
of deafening cheers, boots, calls, laughter. Every man who could
got near the railing was there. They were packed solidly,
looking down at the boats below. Those who could not reach a
point of vantage swung up on their companions' shoulders.
Everybody hooted and laughed. Presently there was a break in
the line, and four strapping sailors made their way through with
a burden which they laid none too gently on the deck. Another
and another, and still they came, until at the Captain's feet
there was a row of fourteen unconscious figures, wound and
strapped with rope until they resembled mummies. Captain Greene
bent closely above the figures. Two of them wore the uniform of
German officers; but one and all were unconscious, and tightly
roped.
"What does this mean?" demanded Captain Greene. He looked up
just as a stifled cry came from the Captain of the Firefly. On
the other side of him, Colonel Bright staggered and would have
fallen, had not a friendly hand steadied him. He as well as the
Captain of the Firefly were staring with bulging eyes at the
figure that was just emerging from the crowd at the rail. As
they stared, apparently unable to speak, another figure joined
the first.
Covered with dirt, unkempt, dressed in what seemed to be cast-off
fragments of all the uniforms under the sun, the two figures
stood looking around with broad grins, on their pale and smudgy
faces.
A bloody bandage half hid the face of one of them, the other
nursed a hand bundled in rough, soiled cloths.
Colonel Bright tried to speak. Words failed him. He gulped
feebly, and waved a hand at the apparitions. They stepped
forward and wearily saluted.
"Yes, Sir, it's us!" said the scarecrow with the bandage.
Porky and Beany had come back!
CHAPTER XIV
THE TWINS BEGIN THEIR STORY
With scarcely a look at the still trussed-up figures on the deck,
Colonel Bright rushed forward, and in a second had the two boys
in his arms.
"Please, Colonel, can't we go down to your cabin? I rather guess
we are all in." Porky swayed against the Colonel's broad
shoulder.
The Colonel beckoned to a couple of his men who were standing
near. They dashed forward, and almost carried the exhausted boys
down into the Colonel's roomy cabin.
"Not a word now, boys, until we get you comfortable. Are you
hungry?"
The boys looked at each other.
"I guess we are starved," Beany managed to pipe in a small voice.
Captain Greene went to the door and gave a quick order. A couple
of men got them out of their rags and into fresh pajamas. Then a
light meal came in.
Porky heaved a sigh. "I suppose you want to know about it," he
said.
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