"Ensign, what happened?" demanded the captain.
"Briefly, sir, those two lads made the most heroic rescue that I ever either saw or heard of. Especial credit is due to Ordinary Seaman Davis for his wonderful and heroic efforts."
The young officer related all that had occurred out on the mine field, to which the commanding officer together with a group of other ship officers listened with grave faces.
"Orderly."
The captain"s voice was full of decision.
"Go to the sick bay. Run! Tell the surgeon to send the boy to my cabin."
"Davis, sir?"
"Yes, and, Ord"ly."
"Yes, sir."
"Tell the surgeon I wish the boy to be put in my bed. Tell the surgeon to report to me as soon as he has examined the boy."
CHAPTER XXIV-CONCLUSION
"You say the boy is out of his head?"
"Yes, sir; he is in a high fever," answered the surgeon.
"Nothing more than exposure is it?" questioned the captain.
"He had a broken wrist when he went out this morning. I understand he broke it again in getting into the whale boat this morning. I advised that he go on binnacle list for the day, but Davis refused. He said he had duties to perform, that he must go."
"You should have declined to permit it."
"I could not well do so, sir. I admired the boy"s spirit too much to order him on the list."
The captain nodded reflectively.
"The Secretary of the Navy shall be informed of this at once. Mr.
Coates!"
The executive officer approached.
"Never in my experience have I known of such unselfish heroism as those two lads have shown to-day. Kester is the man with whom young Davis and Hickey had difficulties, is he not?"
"Yes, sir."
"And to-day the boys save his life. By the way, surgeon, how did the lad break his wrist in the first place?"
"I believe it was through a fall from his hammock."
"I looked into that matter, sir," spoke up the executive officer. "I learn that Davis"s hammock lashings had been cut during the night, or some time earlier. At least he did not observe the fact and got his tumble after he had been asleep several hours."
"Find the man who did that. He shall be dismissed from the service instantly."
"Yes, sir."
"What is the boy"s temperature?"
"One hundred and four," answered the surgeon.
"You have a nurse with him?"
"Yes, sir."
"See that nothing is omitted that will make for his comfort. Mr. Coates, you see to it that the affidavits of the witnesses to that heroic rescue, are taken at once. Have them ready for my signature at the earliest possible moment as I wish to forward them to Washington no later than to-morrow morning, with especial recommendation for Ordinary Seaman Davis."
"Ordinary Seaman Hickey requests permission to sit with the man Davis, sir," announced a messenger.
"Permit Ordinary Seaman Hickey to do whatever he wishes on this ship so long as his requests are not in violation of regulations," replied the captain, with emphasis. "There is a divan in my bedroom that he can sleep on. Keep me informed, doctor, on the lad"s condition."
"Very good, sir."
"Is Kester in a serious condition?"
"I think not. He should be around in a few days at the most. He is too tough to be downed thus easily."
"Davis downed him the other night," laughed the executive officer.
For two days Dan Davis raged in delirium; then on the morning of the third day, as the ship was riding easily at anchor, the sun peeping through the portholes of the cabin, the Battleship Boy opened his eyes.
He gazed about him wonderingly.
"What place is this?" he asked.
"This is the captain"s cabin."
"Am I the captain?"
"No, but you have been very ill," the nurse informed him. "Lie still and keep quiet."
Dan closed his eyes blissfully. Such luxury as that with which he was surrounded exceeded his fondest dreams.
From that moment, Dan improved rapidly. He was able to be up and dressed on the fourth day, and in another twenty-four hours he was on deck, where he was provided with a chair near the stern of the quarter-deck.
Sam took great pleasure in winking at his shipmates when they pa.s.sed him, he having remained with Dan constantly. Sam was enjoying himself hugely.
One morning, soon after, Dan reported that he felt fit for duty, and asked to be permitted to return to his post. Sam advised him not to do so, but in this Dan persisted. However, he did not return to his post that day, nor for several days thereafter.
That afternoon a muster was called on the quarter-deck. The Battleship Boys were surprised when informed that their presence was required on deck. Upon arriving there, they were lined up in front of the captain and executive officer, as if they were to be sentenced after a court-martial. On each side of them stood their shipmates, erect, shoulders thrown well back, each brown face reflecting a poorly-disguised smile.