The minutes ticked away slowly by the cabin clock while the lad waited for the wording of his doom.
“Mr. Perry,” the admiral at length began in his usual calm voice, “this is the second time that you have placed me in a most embarrassing position, but I want to say right here,” and his eyes snapped, “if I had a son, and he had committed this breach of naval discipline in order to save the situation, I would be mighty proud of him.” As he finished he put out his hand to the surprised but happy midshipman, who grasped it joyfully.
Phil was so surprised that he could not find voice to utter a single word. He stared dumbly at the admiral, his tear-dimmed eyes eloquently speaking the words he could not utter.
Commander Hughes jumped up and grasped the midshipman by the hand, showing in his face the keen pleasure the admiral’s decision had given him.
“This correspondence I shall keep in my safe,” the admiral said, a twinkle in his eyes, “in case I have trouble in explaining our young friend’s crime. It may also serve us in the future with this foreign Judas Iscariot.
“And now, young man,” he added, his kind face beaming with good nature, “I think after a few months I shall have to deprive your captain of your services. I am going to put in commission a number of small gunboats for duty against the Philippine insurgents, and I have decided to give Mr. Perry command of one of them with Mr. Monroe as his executive officer, and I suppose,” he suggested with a smile, “that you will want O’Neil as the chief boatswain’s mate.”
Phil could hardly believe his ears. Instead of censure, here was the admiral offering him a ship of his own.
As one in a dream he thanked the admiral and accompanied by Sydney, withdrew from the cabin.
By order of Peking Hang-Ki was made viceroy and he at once took steps to safeguard all foreigners throughout the provinces.
The allied gunboats within the hour anchored off Ku-Ling, and before the day was over the foreign concession had taken up the thread of business where it had been so rudely interrupted. Commander Hughes detailed a force of mechanics from the American war-ships to repair the damaged launches of the faithful Emmons, and before a week had passed the launch trade was flourishing as of old.