The courtroom was a large, cool chamber, protected from the hot sun by green latticed blinds. The judge proved to be a humorous-faced American dressed in white ducks. As the boys were marched into the courtroom, a great hub-bub was set up by a group that they recognized as the party whose luncheon had been so rudely interrupted by Blue Lightning’s charge. “So you lads are from the fleet?” the judge asked, as the boys were formally arraigned at the bar of justice, which, in this case, was a plain kitchen table with a big jug of ice-water on it.
“Yes, sir, from the Manhattan,” responded Ned respectfully.
“Hum! These people charge you with assault and battery. What have you to say about it?”
[217]
“I guess Blue Lightning could tell you all about it, sir, if he could talk,” put in Herc, despite Ned’s nudgings to keep silent.
“And who may he be?”
“It isn’t a him, sir. It’s a goat,” explained Herc.
“A goat!”
“Yes, sir, our mascot.”
“Ahem! He doesn’t appear to be much of a mascot if he got you into this trouble. Since the United States annexed these islands it has been the aim of the Government to keep friendly relations between the natives and the Americans.”
“Yes, sir,” said Herc meekly, “but if you will let me explain, I think I can show that it was an accident. I was trying to save these people from being butted into the middle of next week, when——”
“That will do, Herc,” exclaimed Ned. “Will you let me explain, sir?”
“Certainly, my lad, go on.”
[218]
Ned gave a concise account of all that had happened. Then came the turn of the natives, who spoke through an interpreter. Their testimony agreed with Ned’s. The magistrate explained to the boys at the conclusion of their depositions that the natives said they would be satisfied with a settlement.
“How much do they want?” asked Ned.
A great pow-wow ensued, and finally the spokesman of the natives said that two dollars would be ample. It was paid smilingly by the boys, who were then told that they were free to go.
“And I would advise you to stop your mascot’s shore leave in the future,” smilingly said the gentleman who officiated as magistrate.
“We will, sir,” declared both boys.
They had some pleasant conversation with the magistrate about the fleet and its great world cruise, after which it was time to take their train. They spent the night in Hilo and rejoined the ship the next day.
[219]
“Well, lads, did you have an interesting time ashore?” asked the captain, as he passed them soon after their return.
“Yes, sir,” responded Taylor saluting, “especially at the end of a rope.”
Of course this called for explanations and Herc told the whole story with much graphic illustration.
“I see there is no killing you two lads,” laughed the captain as he walked on, “but in the future be more careful. What ended as a joke might have had a more serious side.”
Once more the fleet was at sea. Everything was ship-shape and “man-o’-war fashion,” the days spent at Hilo having been devoted to putting the big battle fleet in tip-top condition after the buffeting it had gone through in the big storm. Officers and men were all a-tip-toe with anticipation at the prospect of the next stop, which was Yokahama. The Dreadnought Boys particularly[220] were anxious for a sight of the Flowery Kingdom.
Ned’s duties having called him, one calm, peaceful evening, to the after part of the ship, he was passing the wireless room on his return forward when he caught the sound of a message being sent out from the flag-ship to the rest of the fleet. The boy had been keen to learn everything connected with his profession, and the study of wireless had been included in the curriculum he had set himself.
He spent spare moments when he could in the wireless room and under the operator’s tutelage had become quite a fair hand at the key. He paused and listened to the dots and dashes as the flame leaped and crackled between its terminals, sending out into space a message to the long line of ships behind the Manhattan.
Ned listened till the message was complete and then, with sparkling eyes, he resumed his journey.
[221]
“I guess there’s going to be a surprised bunch of blue-jackets on board before morning,” he said to himself, as he hurried along through steel-walled corridors and metal-enclosed casements. “I’m glad I caught that message. Forewarned is forearmed.”
Herc noted his comrade’s suppressed excitement at supper that night and tried to find out the cause for it, but he was unsuccessful. Ned, however, could not forbear giving him a hint a little later.
“Sleepy, Herc?” he asked.
“No, but as soon as I get into my downy hammock, it doesn’t take me long to slip off into dreamland.”
“Well, don’t sleep too soundly to-night.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t tell you. But I’ve got information that something out of the ordinary may happen.”
“Pshaw! Why can’t you tell me what it is?”
Herc was all on fire with curiosity.
[222]
“I’m not at liberty to. I came by my information in a sort of confidential way.”
“Humph! I suppose the old man asked you into his cabin and gave you all his plans for the next twenty-four hours.”
The night wore on. Lights gleamed out; watches were set as usual. The bugle sounded taps and the Jackies were all wrapped in their usual sound slumbers. Ned alone lay awake waiting for the signal that he was sure would not be long in coming. On the bridge the captain paced back and forth and almost all the officers were out, none of them having retired.
It was past eight bells, midnight, when a sudden voice sounded loud and sharp above the monotonous vibration of the big propellers. “Bos’un’s-mate!”
“Aye! aye, sir!” came the voice of Shorty Shea, who had the watch.
“Turn out the crew! Sound stations. Shake a leg now!”
[223]
“Aye! aye, sir!”
A shrill screech on his pipe followed as he tumbled forward on his duty.
Presently his voice boomed through the forecastle.
“A-l-l hands on deck! D’ye hear that now? A-l-l hands to s-t-ations!”
Buglers, hastily aroused, began sounding the “assembly!” Instantly the sleeping ship galvanized into what appeared to be a pandemonium. High on the masts the red and green “Ardois” lamps were winking and flashing the signal to the ships. The wireless was fretting and whining. “The idlers,” cooks, messmen, stewards and boys took their places below in the magazines. The Jackies tumbled out of hammocks and slipped into uniforms as if by magic. Officer............