“And I won’t have a chance to cry on my husband’s shoulder for a few moments,” Belle complained, tragically, to another woman. “He’s stuck away up forward on the bridge.”
“Your husband will be off duty in ten minutes,” Lieutenant Warden assured her. “He will have command of the launch that transfers the party to the coasting vessel.”
“In the Navy the smallest favors look like great ones,” Belle observed to herself.
Watch changed just before the gunboat ran up behind the stern of the flagship.
Relieved of his duty on the bridge, Dave received his further orders and immediately called the launch crew to quarters.
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.