ROUNDING UP THE STRAGGLERS
"Halt!"
The men came to a quick stop in front of a resort where Dan thought he might possibly find some of the absent sailors.
Instead of ordering his men to go in, he entered alone.
"Have you any American sailors here?" he asked.
The proprietor shook his head. He did not understand the words, perhaps, but he had seen the detail of armed sailors halt before his place, and well knew the meaning.
"You are sure you have none of our men here?"
"Non." (No.)
"Who went into that room there?" pointing to a door that had closed with a bang as Dan pushed open the front door.
The proprietor shrugged his shoulders and turned away.
The boy's mind was made up at once. A few quick strides brought him to the door in question. He threw it open and sprang in.
A pair of legs, clad in the blue of the Navy, were protruding from beneath a table. Dan grabbed the legs, giving them a mighty tug. The result was that a sailor was jerked out into the middle of the room.
"So you thought you would get away from me, did you, Anthony? Stand up."
Anthony did stand up. He sprang to his feet, launching a terrific blow at Seaman Davis. Dan merely parried the blow, making no attempt to return it.
"Anthony," he said, stepping back. "I have a patrol outside. Do you want me to call them in?"
"I'll lick you first," growled the man.
"Stop where you are! You are not wholly responsible for what you are doing or saying, but you know what will happen to you if you resist. I came in here to get you, and I'm going to take you out with me."
Dan whirled at that instant. He had caught an expression in the eyes of his man that told him something was going on behind him. The boy ducked like a flash, thus avoiding a vicious blow that had been aimed at him by the proprietor of the place.
"Don't you do that again!" warned Dan sternly. "You are facing the United States Government now, remember. Stand aside!"
With this he grabbed Anthony by the arm. The sailor struggled to release himself, but Davis' grip was too strong to enable him to break away easily. Anthony swung his free hand. That was just what Dan wanted.
With a quick twist he brought both the sailor's arms behind the latter's back, giving the fellow a violent push.
There was nothing for Anthony to do but to go ahead. He did so with a rush, Dan running behind him and pushing with all his might. They struck the swinging doors with a bang. The doors flew out, the Battleship Boy and his prisoner landing with a bump against the astonished jackies of the patrol, who were waiting outside.
"Two of you men take this fellow down to the steamer and tell those aboard that he is under arrest. Tell the coxswain I shall hold him personally responsible for the man's safe keeping. Hurry back. You will find us up the street somewhere. Anthony, you had better go peaceably unless you want to spend the next three months in the brig."
The two men detailed for the purpose led the ugly sailor away.
"Twos right, forward march!" commanded Dan.
The little company trudged up the street, many persons pausing to look at the slim, well-set-up fellow who was plainly in command of the four remaining men of the squad.
The part of the town in which they now found themselves was the location of most of the sailor boarding houses in Boulogne. Somehow, Dan had an idea that some of their men would be found there. He kept his eyes open, slowing his men down.
"Halt!" he commanded.
Dan had espied a sailor from one of the trans-atlantic ships on the other side of the street. He crossed over to the man.
"Good morning, shipmate," greeted Davis. "I'm looking for some of our delinquents. Have you seen any of our men in this quarter within the last hour or two?"
"You from the 'Long Island'?"
"Yes. Have you seen any of our fellows?"
"I guess I have. One of them gave me this black eye 'bout half an hour ago. I'd have trimmed him proper if he hadn't had a gang back of him."
"Where was that?"
"Down the street a piece."
"Where is the man now?"
"See that two-story building down there?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's a sort of hotel; that's what they call it; but I reckon it's a joint where they shanghai fellows for the long cruises. I wouldn't go in there for the price of a round-trip voyage."
"Thank you. I'll soon find out."
"You ain't going in there, are you, shipmate?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"Why, they'll knock your block off, the first thing if you try to get a man out of there."
"Don't be too sure about that," answered Dan, with a smile. "I guess they had better not try it."
"Take my advice and take your men in with you. I see they have their guns, and you'd better see to it that the guns are loaded, while you are about it."
"Thank you very much. I will look out for myself."
By the time the young commander rejoined his squad the two men who had taken their prisoner down to the ship's steamer had returned. Dan now had six men that he could use.
"Forward march!" he commanded.
They continued on until they reached the place that the merchant sailor had indicated.
"Men, I want you to wait here. Do not enter unless I give three short, sharp whistles, then come quickly. But do not lose yourselves. Under no consideration use your guns. It is not necessary. We have our fists if it comes to a fight."
"Hadn't you better take a couple of us with you?" questioned one of the men.
"No, it is not necessary. An armed force might stir up trouble."
Dan entered the place, and he saw at once that the sailor had not overdrawn the character of the house. It was about the worst he ever had seen. The place was thronged with tough characters, few of whom were sailors; or, at least, they did not appear to be.
"I don't believe a man of them has ever smelled salt water unless he's been out on the breakwater," thought Dan.
Glancing about, he failed to see any of the men for whom he was looking. He strolled about, attracting as little attention as possible, though several of the men regarded him suspiciously.
The front room was a sort of office and lounging room. A small desk, on one side, was walled off by a rusty iron screen. Around by the lower end of the desk was a door opening into a rear room.
Dan decided to investigate. He made his way as quietly as possible to the end of the desk, pushed the door slightly ajar, peered in and sneezed.
The odor of bad tobacco was almost over-powering. The boy blinked and sneezed again.
"Shut that door, you lubber!" roared a voice from the rear room.
Davis shut it, but when the door closed he was on the inside, with his back against the door.
It was with difficulty that he made out the faces of the men congregated there. Not one of them paid the least attention to him.
"Ah, there's one of my men now," muttered the boy.
The man indicated was an ordinary seaman, who had been aboard but a short time. His name was Kuhn. He was in deep conversation with a man better dressed than most of the others. The older man appeared to be seeking to convince the sailor of something that he was telling him.
Dan edged over near them and listened. Perhaps he suspected what was going on, for Dan Davis was a shrewd lad, and he was learning many things about the life of the sailor and the snares that are set for him.
A moment's listening convinced him that he was right. The well-dressed stranger was trying to induce Kuhn to desert and join a ship bound for China. A large increase in wages was promised, good grub and a real berth to sleep in.
"But they'll come and get me and lock me up," protested Kuhn. "I'll be a deserter."
"Nothing of the sort, my lad. How are they going to get you when you are in China? Why, you'll never be heard from again. I'll tell you what the skipper of the schooner is willing to do for a likely lad like you."
"What?"
"Sh-h-h, don't say anything about it, but he's promised to make you first mate."
"He has?"
"Sure thing."
The sailor's eyes glowed with anticipation.
"All right; if you will get me out of this uniform, so I shall not be recognized, I'll——"
"You'll come with me," finished a voice behind Kuhn, as a hand was laid lightly on his shoulder.
The sailor leaped to his feet, his face flushing. An angry light flashed to his eyes as he recognized the features of Gunner's Mate Davis confronting him.
Dan had heard enough. He understood. He did not blame the young, inexperienced sailor so much, but he felt rising within him a righteous indignation toward the Englishman who was seeking to induce the young fellow to desert the Flag under which he was serving.
"Come, Kuhn; it is time you were getting back to the ship," said Dan in a quiet tone.
"I—I am not going."
"Not going?"
"No. I——"
"Never mind, Mr. Sailorman. The boy and me is friends. You just let him alone. I'll see that he gets back to the ship afore you get there yourself."
Dan turned upon the Englishman.
"Who are you?"
"I just told you. I'm a friend of the shipmate here."
"A nice sort of friend you are," replied Dan witheringly. "Are you coming with me, Kuhn? You know what it means to refuse to return to ship as you have just done. The ship is preparing to sail. If I have to use force it will be the worse for you. I know what this man is trying to do with you. He is a bad man, Kuhn. He is trying to induce you to desert——"
"You go away and let me alone——"
"See here, young fellow," commanded the Englishman savagely, "if you know what is good for you, you get right out of here, and don't you come back again. It'll be the worse for you if you do. Understand?"
"Look out that you do not get into trouble yourself. Kuhn, you are coming with me."
The Battleship Boy laid a firm grip on the arm of his shipmate and began moving toward the door by which he had entered the room.
Suddenly Kuhn was jerked violently from his grasp. Dan made a spring, recovering his prisoner.
All at once the Englishman uttered a series of short, sharp exclamations in French. Like magic, nearly every man in the room was on his feet. They appeared to understand perfectly what was wanted of them, and with one accord made a rush for Seaman Davis.
"Stand back!" roared the young officer, boldly facing the mob. "You will have to answer to your government if you dare lay hands on me."
They gave no heed to his warning, but threw themselves upon the lad. Dan fought manfully, using his fists to good purpose, and many a hardy stoker and sailor went down before Little Dynamite's sturdy blows.
Not daring to cease fighting long enough to reach for the boatswain's whistle with which he had provided himself before leaving ship, he uttered three sharp whistles with his lips, but in the din about him the whistles failed to carry beyond the room.
The whistles did, however, have the effect of quieting the uproar. The men interpreting them as some sort of a signal, hesitated, looked at each other inquiringly, then at the cool, hatless young fellow who was facing them, working his way determinedly toward Ordinary Seaman Kuhn. The latter was standing with a half-frightened expression on his face. He had begun to realize the enormity of his proposed act.
"Kuhn, come here!" demanded Dan sternly.
The sailor made a move as if to comply with the order. Ere he had taken a step forward, however, the Englishman had fastened upon his arm.
"You're in it now. You can't get out. If you go back to the ship they will put you in the brig. You just stay here till the ship has sailed, and you'll be all right."
"But where—where? They'll come here and get me."
"We'll see to that."
Again Dan had forced his way to where Kuhn was standing, but before he was able to lay his hands upon the young fellow a dozen men threw themselves upon the Battleship Boy.
Davis struggled with all the strength that was in him. His struggles were fruitless. Men of brawn and muscle had hold of him now. He was as a child in their hands, though, had his hands been free, he would have given a good account of himself.
Some one gave a few brief directions in French. The men picked Dan up, bearing him through a door, into a long, dark hallway, down which they carried him until they reached a door at the end. Opening the door, they threw the Battleship Boy in bodily, slamming and locking the door.
"I've made a mess of it," groaned the lad, "but I'll beat them yet."