Two Boys of the Battleship Part 23

"Give it up, unless there's going to be a fight between the revolutionists and the regulars."

"I wonder if we'll be in on it."

"Say, are you looking for trouble?" asked Frank, with a laugh.

"No, but if it's coming our way, I'm not going to dodge it very hard,"

Ned answered, grimly.

The two battleship boys strolled about the town a little longer, and then made their way to the boat landing, for it was nearly time to start back for the _Georgetown_.

"This looks like an American quarter," said Frank, as they pa.s.sed a place where several signs, in distinctly American names, were to be seen.

"It is," said a petty officer, who was walking along with them. "And if there's any trouble going to happen it will happen right here, in this quarter."

"What do you mean?" asked Frank, quickly.

"Oh, nothing," was the evasive answer. It was evident that the petty officer had said more than he intended to. "It's just as well to know,"

he went on, "where the American quarter of any foreign city is located.

There's no telling when one may need the information."

Something in the officer's words and manner impressed Frank. Dropping a little to the rear he whispered to his brother:

"Ned, open your eyes and take a good look around this place."

"What for?"

"So you'll know it again. I have an idea we'll need to know it. Maybe we'll have a sc.r.a.p in it sooner than we expect."

"A sc.r.a.p? You mean a fight?"

"That's just what I mean. There's trouble brewing, and it isn't far off!"

Ned did as his brother advised, and made a mental map of the streets of what might be designated the "American quarter" of Pectelo. It was not large, and was only a short distance from the water front.

A large number of the citizens of the South American city gathered to witness the departure of the blue-jackets for their battleship. And here again, in spite of the fact that some of the inhabitants cheered while others scowled, Ned and Frank could not help noticing that there was that same curious air of expectancy-as if something was about to happen.

But there was nothing out of the usual as the sailors took to the cutters and began steaming back to the _Georgetown_. They had had their sh.o.r.e leave and felt all the better for it.

Frank noticed that all the officers reported to the captain as soon as they got on board, and he wondered if that had anything to do with the expected happening.

Again that night, after hammocks had been slung, and the men had enjoyed their period of rest, were double sentries posted. It fell to the lot of Frank to have an important station on the side of the battleship nearest sh.o.r.e where he could plainly see the flickering lights.

It was nearly midnight when, as he patrolled his post up and down the deck, he saw on sh.o.r.e a series of lights suddenly flash into view. At first he paid no attention to them, thinking they indicated some celebration near the beach. But as they continued to flash he took more notice of them.

"It looks like a signal," he said; "a signal to us. I wonder if there can be any trouble? I'd better notify the officer of the watch."

It took but a moment to do this.

No sooner had the officer seen the flashing lights than he exclaimed:

"Arden, I'm glad you called me. I wasn't expecting that signal so early.

The revolutionists must be at it."

"You mean-" began Frank.

"That's a signal call, telling us that the revolutionists are again rioting against the United States citizens in the town," said the officer. "We'll have to land a party to protect them without delay."

"Then there'll be something doing all right!" exclaimed Frank.

"I should think there would be!" was the grim answer.

Instantly the officer gave the signal. Bells began ringing throughout the great battleship. The general call was sounded, and blue-jackets swarmed from their hammocks.

"It's a riot!" cried a commanding officer, as soon as he had read the message flashed by the signal lights. "It's what we've been expecting!

The revolutionary party is stirring up a riot against the American residents!"

"Man the boats! Get a landing party ash.o.r.e. Infantrymen and light artillery guns! We'll show these chaps what it means to fight Americans!

Lively, boys!"

Across the dark waters on which sparkled the reflections of the signal lights, came hoa.r.s.e cries and shouts, as well as the reports of guns.

In an instant the battleship was astir. The men sprang to their stations, and Ned and Frank were among the first. Into the boats they piled, well armed, and in other boats that accompanied them were the light field pieces. They were on their way to quell the riot.

But what it was all about, the cause of it, and how it would affect them and their uncle, Ned and Frank could only guess.

CHAPTER XXI-UNEXPECTED NEWS

Great searchlights from the battleship illuminated a scene that was one of great activity. Boats were pulling away from the side of the _Georgetown_, boats filled with eager, excited men and youths, including our two friends. Every one was armed, and each had plenty of cartridges in reserve. There were also light field pieces taken apart for transportation, but which could easily be set up. The men had been drilled for just such an emergency as this.

Several motor launches towed the cutters filled with the blue-jackets.

There was no time for rowing, with the growing excitement on sh.o.r.e ever on the increase.

"Say, it sure is a row!" exclaimed Ned, for as they came nearer they could hear shots and shouts and yells.

"It's a regular riot!" said Frank.

"That's what it is," said a petty officer in the boat containing Frank and Ned. "It's a riot, and that's what we're going ash.o.r.e for-to end it!"

In the path of the illumination from the battleship's searchlights the boats sped on. Now could be seen a dark ma.s.s of men fighting near the sh.o.r.e.

"They're going to dispute our landing," observed Tom Dawson.

"Well, they won't dispute it very long," said Frank, significantly, as he tapped his rifle. "We're ready for them."

Up to the beach, through surf that was not heavy, went the boats. Before they grounded the men and youths leaped out into the water and fairly raced up the shingle. In an instant they formed in line and waited for orders from their officers. There were nearly three hundred of them, for the _Georgetown_ carried over a thousand men, though of course many of them were not available for fighting duty on sh.o.r.e. However, several hundred more could be sent in case the impending conflict should go against the first men who landed.