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Page 56
"Yet not a line of the fellow's face changed. It was just sheer
intuition. When the mate left the room, the Captain got hold of
the doctor, who was the only one we were really trusting then,
and tipped him off. He in turn came to me and I did my part by
declaring loudly that I was dead tired and was going to turn in.
"Well, boys, at four this morning we caught our bird. The mate,
of all men on the ship! They caught him red-handed, as they say,
at the Captain's locker, and the doctor laid him out with a neat
little tap from a billy, and when he came to we put him through
the third degree. And we overhauled his things and found enough
information to get him a string of German crosses a yard long.
"He was meek as could be; but I know now that was because he
thought he had a good chance to got away somehow. We are near
shore; and it seems he can swim like a duck--a long-distance
champion and all that. He was so very meek about it that we were
a little careless. I know it taught me a lesson. There are only
two places where a spy is safe: in his grave, or in irons; and
he's not very safe then. He watched his chance and when he got a
second's show, he moved like a whirlwind. He knocked his guard
down and grabbed his revolver, all in one jump, shot full at
Captain Greene, missed him but winged me and killed the captain
of the Firefly, poor fellow!
"Then he made for the door with Captain Green after him; and you
know the rest."
"Gee!" said Porky.
"Sakes!" added Beany.
There was a silence. The Colonel looked at his watch. There was
a sound of tramping from above.
"They are getting the men ready to go ashore," he said. "This is
to be the last daylight disembarkation. Better go up and take a
look around, boys. It is worth seeing. Are your things all
ship-shape?"
"Yes, sir; all ready to pick up," said Porky, "Can't we do
something for you?"
"Not a thing, thank you! This arm does not even burn now. When
you see me on deck, just fall in, and don't let me have to look
for you." He smiled and dismissed them with a nod as the doctor
entered.
"Doc," he said as the young man proceeded to put a dressing on
the wounded arm, "there go two, of the most remarkable boys I
have ever known. I expect great things of them sooner or later
if their lives are spared."
And with this prophecy, which was to be fulfilled far sooner than
the Colonel dreamed, the subject was closed.
On deck the boys, with their bags beside them, watched the
orderly rush of disembarkation with the keenest delight. They
were as glad to go ashore as they had been to go aboard in that
far, fair America that they were so proud and happy to call home.
Load after load of men left the side of the great ship, and the
empty boats came dancing back from the great distant docks for
other loads. The men were all happy and excited. The air was
clear and clean as though it had just been washed, as indeed it
had by a heavy rain the night before.
Overhead a couple of great planes circled above the harbor. The
thought that they did not know where they were lent a touch of
unreality and, romance to it all. The boats full of men went
gayly off, the soldiers singing, calling, and whistling back to
their mates still on board.
"Well, we are here!" said Porky soberly.
"Yep!" answered Beany. There was a long silence. Then, "We are
here all right!" he repeated.
"Yep!" said Porky.
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