"It is very kind of you, and we"ll write the message at once," Frank said.
"I am only too glad to serve you," the captain responded. "I have had very good reports of the conduct of yourself and your brother in our recent trouble, and it gives me pleasure to inform you that you two are among those recommended for promotion."
The captain saluted formally, Frank and Ned, their hearts burning with joy, returned it, and then, turning stiffly, and in the most approved manner, they marched out.
Outside the captain"s office they were provided with a cable blank, and at once wrote a message to their uncle in the federal prison at Atlanta, telling him the good news, adding that there was no doubt he would soon be freed.
And then, this having been done, the great battleship proceeded on her way back North, and to the waters of the United States. The revolution had been put down, the rightful government was in full control, the ringleaders, including the rascally Bernardo, were in jail, and the American business men and residents were in no more danger. The _Georgetown_ had accomplished her mission.
Of the journey up nothing of great moment occurred. The usual drills were held, and they had an added significance, now that those who took part in them realized how much they meant when actual conditions of warfare were encountered. Of course, there were some sad hearts, for gallant comrades had fallen in battle, but theirs was a glorious end, and they had died fighting for the honor of their country. And the honor had well been upheld.
The wounded recovered, and though Frank"s leg pained him occasionally, it was not of any seriousness. Ned"s wound healed completely.
Once again the equator was pa.s.sed, but there was only a mild celebration. Every one had been initiated, and there was a feeling of sadness as those shipmates were recalled who had taken part in the former fun, but who now had been left behind.
A stop was made at Havana on the way back, and Captain Decker gave the papers, establishing Mr. Arden"s innocence, to a special messenger to take to Atlanta in order that the prisoner might be more quickly freed.
Then the battleship proceeded, but before she reached New York, a wireless message was received for Ned and Frank. It was from their uncle, and read:
"Cleared. Leave for New York to-day. Will meet you there on arrival of battleship. Can"t thank you enough. Fortunes safe."
"Hurrah!" cried Frank.
"Two hurrahs!" echoed his brother.
"Count me in and make it three!" shouted Hank, the former bully, who was now the battleship boys" firm friend. In fact, all their chums rejoiced with them.
And now my story is almost at an end. The _Georgetown_ reached New York in time to take part in a grand naval pageant on the Hudson River. There she was anch.o.r.ed along with other sea-fighters, submarines and torpedo boats, and received many visitors. She was an object of great interest, because her part in the recent South American revolution was known through published accounts.
And best of all, one day Mr. Arden came on board. He was a well-known man from the moment he announced himself, and the captain entertained him in his cabin. Thither Frank and Ned went and there clasped hands with their father"s brother, who had endured so much wrongfully, but who had been freed largely through the hard work and the good luck of the two battleship boys. For, after all, luck had played a big part in the affair.
"And is everything all right, Uncle Phil?" asked Frank.
"Everything," was the answer. "As soon as the authorities received those papers from the tin box they released me. I knew I was innocent, but it was hard to get proof. The papers were the very doc.u.ments needed.
"I had no idea this Bernardo was such a scoundrel, or I would never have done business with him. However, all"s well that ends well. And I cannot complain of my treatment by the federal authorities. But I was worried for a time, not only about myself, but about you boys."
"Oh, we made out all right," boasted Ned.
"So I hear," laughed his uncle. "Besides saving me you covered yourselves with glory."
"We didn"t think so the time we let those pickpockets rob us," remarked Frank. "We felt like a couple of very foolish lads then."
"Did you ever hear anything of those rascals?" questioned the uncle, with interest.
"Not a word. Fact is, we didn"t get much chance to follow the matter up after we joined the navy."
"I see. It is a pity. Such rascals ought to be placed behind the bars.
They are a constant menace to honest folks."
"Maybe the police captured those fellows while we were away," suggested Ned. "I think I"ll make some inquiries. They may have p.a.w.ned dad"s watch. I"d like to get that back even if we didn"t get our money. I"m going to inquire."
And he did, with the result that he did recover the watch where one of the thieves had p.a.w.ned it. But the money was gone forever, and the thieves were never brought to book for the crimes against Frank and Ned for the reason that these two rascals were already serving a term in prison in another state.
"Well, since our fortunes are recovered, we have plenty of money, boys,"
said Mr. Arden to his nephews one day when they had sh.o.r.e leave and were out to dinner with him. "I can buy your discharge from the navy, if you like."
"No, sir!" exclaimed Frank. "I"m going to serve out my four years at least. Uncle Sam"s navy is the finest place in the world, and I"m learning more than I would at college. I"m going to stick!"
"So am I!" added Ned.
And stick they did.
THE END