Launched and brought alongside, the motor boat was quickly filled with the refugees.
Dave gave the order to cast off, then sat down beside Belle. Their time was altogether too short. The halted coasting steamer received the refugees on board, Dave, too, going up over the side.
In the instant that he and Belle clung together she whispered:
"Shall I go to Yokohama and await the chance to join you?"
"That will be a fine idea, little girl!" cried Dave. Then with a final kiss he went down over the side and into the launch.
"Cast off. Make back to the gunboat."
The coastwise steamer was already sounding her hoa.r.s.e whistle, and moving under slow way.
Once in the launch, Ensign Darrin stood up and waved his cap at the lonely little figure standing by the stern rail on the after-deck of the steamship.
Until the launch rounded up under the "Castoga"s" quarter Dave waved his cap frequently. Through the mist that lay over his eyes he could barely see the answering fluttering of white on the deck of the southbound steamship.
"Let the crew remain in the launch," came from the officer of the deck.
"Ensign Darrin will report to the executive officer."
"Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill and Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell are ordered aboard the flagship," announced the executive officer. "Mr.
Darrin, you will make the necessary change in uniform."
Hastening to his quarters, Dave changed to full dress uniform for which the regulations now called. He girded on his dress belt, with his dress sword, and drew on white gloves. Then he gained the deck, saluting and reporting to the commander of the gunboat.
"We shall be called upon to make our report, Mr. Darrin, of the Nu-ping affair. It is a good thing that we can do so with clear consciences,"
smiled the Lieutenant-Commander.
"The Admiral may not approve of all that I did to His Excellency, the Governor," remarked Ensign Dave.
"I think he will," replied the commanding officer. "In my opinion, at least, you made the best possible use of your discretion."
"Thank you, sir."
Soon the three officers from the gunboat found themselves on the quarter-deck of the battleship "Katahdin," flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.
Captain Tucker received them and then remarked:
"I have orders to conduct you at once to Admiral Branch."
The Admiral gave the three visiting officers pleasant if formal greeting.
"This is my report, sir, in writing, of the affair at Nu-ping,"
declared Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill, pa.s.sing over a bulky official envelope.
"Quite so," observed Admiral Branch. "I will read it at once."
For more than five minutes the three officers remained seated, and in silence, while the Admiral slowly turned the pages of the report.
From time to time the fleet commander frowned. Dave, noting this, wondered to what features of his conduct in Nu-ping Admiral Branch most objected.
"Dave is surely going to catch it," reflected Dan Dalzell uneasily. "I wonder if I shall come in for some of the scotching, too. But probably there"ll be no such luck. Dave was ranking officer ash.o.r.e, and I acted only on his orders. I wish I could take my share in the storm."
Having read the last page of the report, the Admiral slowly, thoughtfully folded it, laying it away in a pigeon-hole over his desk.
"Surely, Mr. Darrin, you found some new ways of treating a Chinese viceroy, or, I should say, governor," remarked the fleet commander dryly.
"I tried, sir, not to subject him to any annoyance or indignity that could be avoided," Darrin responded gravely.
"And in a way that would have been impossible, had the governor been attended by his usual number of troops," continued Admiral Branch.
"Under the circ.u.mstances, however, you treated him in a way that I, as a junior officer, often longed to handle many an important Chinese official."
Though the fleet commander spoke gravely there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes. Dave"s hopes began to rise.
"I shall endorse Lieutenant-Commander Tuthill"s report as being satisfactory to myself," continued the Admiral, "and then shall send the report on through the usual channels. And I sincerely trust, Mr.
Darrin, that the Navy and State Departments at Washington will also endorse the report. For myself, Ensign Darrin, I congratulate you on your handling of a most unusual and highly difficult lot of problems. I congratulate you, sir," continued Admiral Branch. "I shall be glad to have you aboard this ship."
"On this ship, sir?" asked Darrin, as he took the Admiral"s outstretched hand.
"Yes; but that is another story, and perhaps I had better tell that first. Some transfers have been ordered in the Asiatic Fleet. Among other changes, Ensigns Holton and Brown, now on this ship, are ordered to duty on the "Castoga," and Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell are ordered to the "Katahdin." I fancy, gentlemen," turning to the two younger officers present, "that very likely you have seen as much as you wish of China for the present, so you will be glad to know that this ship is ordered to j.a.pan, and that we shall likely be there for two months or more. You will move your baggage over to this ship and report for duty as quickly as possible."
CHAPTER XVI-THE MEDALLION MYSTERY
"Hullo, Darrin; come over here just a moment. I want you to see something that is rather unusual, even in j.a.pan."
Two young men, who had just entered the American Club in Tokio, turned when this hail to one of them was heard.
The hail came from a group in which sat four Americans, one Englishman and three young j.a.panese. The latter three were in the uniforms of lieutenants of the Emperor"s infantry.
"Come over with me, Dan," urged Dave in a low voice, as Dalzell held back slightly.
"I wasn"t invited," murmured Dan.
"You simpleton, that"s because Carter doesn"t know you. I can introduce you, and that will set you straight."
"How are you, Carter?" asked Dave, as he went straight up to the young man who had hailed him and held out his hand. "I wish to introduce my friend, Mr. Dalzell, same service and same ship." In turn Dave and Dan were presented to all in the group.
The American naval officers wore blue civilian suits. Carter belonged to the diplomatic service, and was now stationed in Tokio. Dave had first met him in Washington. One of the other Americans was in business in Tokio, and the other two were tourists.
"Mr. Katura was showing us something so wonderful," Carter explained, "that I asked his permission to call you over to see it. Will you show that wonderful medallion again, Katura?"
The little lieutenant, who appeared to be very shy and diffident, flushed slightly as he bowed. Then, from an inner pocket, he drew out a small lacquer box, from which he took out and pa.s.sed to Dave a filigree gold plate on which appeared the delicately tinted face of a beautiful j.a.panese woman.
"I never saw anything so wonderfully exquisite," gasped Darrin, in genuine admiration. "I didn"t know that such beautiful work could be done."