Phil slapped the sailor on the back in sign of agreement with his views, while O’Neil brought the “Phœnix’s” lights, now close aboard, broad on his beam in order to round to for a landing at the gangway, and in answer to a hoarse challenge from the gunboat, he sang out in his clear voice:
“Aye! Aye!”
“We’re still midshipmen,” Phil corrected; “you should have answered ‘No! No!’”[2]
“That’s all right, sir,” the sailor returned with a grin. “It ain’t who you are; it’s the news you bring. If I’d said, ‘No! No!’ they might not have waked ‘Bucko,’ and I know he’d want to see you as soon as you put foot on board.”
A few minutes later Phil led the way up the gangway ladder and soon found himself in the enthusiastic embrace of the officer of the deck. Although it was after twelve o’clock many of the officers were awake and a glance about the ship told the midshipman that careful preparations were being made to protect the vital parts of the gunboat from the shells of the enemy.
They were told that Commander Hughes was in the cabin and as yet in ignorance of the return of the hostages.
“I sent down word just now by the orderly,” the officer of the deck said with a smile, “that some commissioned officers were coming alongside in a launch, so I suppose he’s awake, for it’s not often that we receive callers this time of night.”
The three Americans and Emmons went hastily to the captain’s cabin, where they found the orderly awaiting them, while Commander Hughes was seated at his desk. Phil was shocked at the change in his captain’s face. His buoyant expression had been displaced by a haggard look and as he turned his eyes toward the door, the lad noticed, with a twinge of pity, that their expression was one of worry, while the dark circles below them told only too plainly the story of sleepless nights.
It was not until Phil had advanced almost to his side that Commander Hughes realized who his visitors were. Then the mask dropped from his face and he sprang eagerly to his feet with a glad cry.
“I was just thinking,” he exclaimed joyfully as he embraced one after another of the men returning to him as if from the grave, “that for a glimpse of you safe on board here again I’d give ten years of my life.”