CHAPTER XIX--ASHORE

The great ship trembled with the vibration of the immense gun, and when the smoke had cleared away and the gases been blown from the cannon by the compressed air, Ned looked out of the turret, which had not been completely closed on account of the heat, and cried:

"A hit, Frank! A hit!"

What he saw was a cloud of dust flung into the air, and slowly drifting about in the wind.

"Well, I couldn't very well help hitting that," said Frank. "It was a big enough target, and it was stationary and so were we."

As yet none but the officer who had given the direction for the training of the big gun, and his superiors, knew why the hill had been shattered by the shot.

"Another shell, sir?" asked the blue-jacket who, with Ned and some others, had charge of the ammunition hoist.

"No, not from this turret. We're going to fire another, but from the after one."

Frank and his mates were a little regretful, for there is a wonderful fascination about working the big guns. But still he did not want to monopolize all the glory, if such it can be called.

So Frank's crew cleaned the immense gun to have it in readiness for use when it would again be needed, and went back to their usual positions. A little later there was another terrific report, as the second fifteen-inch gun in the after turret sent a second 1500-pound projectile toward another hill back of Pectelo.

This time Ned and Frank and some of their friends had a good view of the flight of the shell as it sped on its mission of destruction, if not death. They were out of the turret now. Screeching through the air went the projectile. It struck the hill squarely, the gun being aimed as well as had the one Frank served.

An instant later there was a veritable fountain of earth and stones sent into the air, and then dust hid the scene from view.

"I wonder what the game is, firing at those hills?" questioned Ned.

"Maybe just to give the revolutionists a scare," suggested his brother.

"Sort of expensive scaring," commented Tom Dawson.

"Well, we'll know in good time, I guess," was the opinion of Hank Dell.

The effect of the two big projectiles, other than that the tops of the hills had been smashed, was not discernible from on board the _Georgetown_.

But there was no mistaking the effect on the populace of the capital of the little republic. Through glasses Frank and Ned could notice wild excitement in the public square which came down to the water's edge. Men, women and children seemed to be rushing about without any special object in view.

"Maybe they think we'll bombard the town next," Ned suggested.

"The old man wouldn't do that," declared Frank. "It isn't a fortified city, and by the rules of civilized warfare an unfortified town can not be bombarded."

"That doesn't always hold--not in the European war," said a sailor. "But the people here needn't worry. We won't send any shells among 'em. Why, we could take the whole place without using anything larger than one-pounders," he boasted.

"I wish I knew what it was all about," Frank said, and he wondered whether there would be a chance for him and his brother to go on shore and make some inquiries about their own and their uncle's fortunes.

"Though if this battleship is going to shoot up the place after the inhabitants get out, I guess our chances for saving any of that money will be pretty slim," he reasoned.

"I guess so, too," assented Ned. "I wonder what the situation is, anyhow?"

But they continued to wonder, as no word came from the captain or other officers regarding the situation in Uridio. That it was momentous might be guessed from the fact that the commander and his officers still had serious looks on their faces.

When the second gun had been cleaned after the one shot, and all made ready for quick action, if need be, there was a period of waiting. Then a few small boats put out from the town and approached the _Georgetown_.

Those in them seemed somewhat in doubt as to the reception they might meet with, and it was noticed that all of them carried the national flag of the little republic, and in addition a peculiar banner, made in pennant shape, and colored red, white and green.

"I wonder what that flag is; revolutionary?" asked Hank.

"No, not if the cruiser that escaped from us was the navy of the revolutionists," Frank remarked. "Their flag wasn't the same shape or color as the flag on these boats. I guess these folks must belong to the party that is fighting the revolutionists."

And this, later, they found to be the case. And as it was against the revolutionists that the battleship had come to make a demonstration, the other side was to be made welcome.

None from the battleship was allowed on board, however, and no shore leave was granted that first day or night. No one who has not been kept on board a vessel for several weeks, knows what a longing there is to go ashore, especially when it is within viewing distance.

But orders had been issued, and no one was allowed to leave. Many of the natives brought out fruit in their boats, and this was very welcome to the sailors. A brisk trade wind was soon under way. Uridian seemed to be a sort of Portuguese, that being the language of Brazil.

Toward evening a small launch containing some of the native officials came up to the battleship. There was an exchange of signals, and a ladder was lowered, a number of the dark-skinned, but brilliantly uniformed, Uridian officials coming on board. They were taken to the captain's cabin, where a conference was held.

"A whole lot of mystery about this," commented Hank Dell.

"Oh, I guess we'll find out about it in due time," Frank said.

"Double the number of sentries on guard tonight," was an order Frank overheard after supper had been served, and the crew prepared to take their ease before turning in. "And instruct everyone of them to be unusually watchful."

"Is something likely to happen?" asked the officer who had received this order.

"There is no telling. A rumor is afloat that the cruiser we chased is coming back. And she does carry torpedo tubes. That much is certain."

"Well, as long as they haven't a submarine it will be pretty easy to spot them."

"Yes, but take no chances."

It may well be imagined that a spirit of uneasiness and anxiety was aboard the _Georgetown_ that night. An attack in the open is one thing, but watching for the unexpected, especially when it may be a torpedo that will rend the stoutest battleship in an instant, is very different, and it gets on the nerves of even the bravest.

It is said that in the present European war the continual fear on the part of the men of the different fleets that their craft may be torpedoed so works on their nerves that some of them go insane. There is no rest day or night, and even the most careful watching can not be depended on to guard against the danger. A submarine gives very little evidence of its approach.

Of course, in this case no such danger was to be apprehended, but no chances were being taken.

So after the Uridian officials had departed, double sentries were posted at all stations aboard, and the men were told to be on the watch for the approach of any craft, or for any unusual disturbance in the water.

"It's a heap more fun to read about a condition like this than to actually have to take part in it," remarked Frank, as he went on duty. He had an early "trick," but Ned had to get out of his hammock at two o'clock in the morning to go on guard duty.

However, the night was pleasant and not too warm, and after Ned was fully awake he did not so much mind it. He paced up and down his part of the deck, with ready rifle, on the alert to challenge and fire if he saw anything suspicious.

Off about a mile lay the town, only a few lights showing. Ned wondered how many Americans were there, and if they were in any danger. He wondered, too, just how and where his own and his brother's fortunes were invested, and what the chances were for recovering them. It was very still and quiet, save for the occasional footfall of some of the other sentries, or the little talk that went on as the guards were changed.

Ned was beginning to get sleepy again, in spite of the fact that he walked to and fro. His gun was feeling heavy. He wondered, after all, if there was any need of all this precaution.

Suddenly he thought he heard, in the water just below him, a slight commotion. At once his heart began to beat violently. Suppose it should prove to be a submarine after all. Or an automatic torpedo, which would presently burst and send them to the bottom. How had it gotten so near without his having heard or seen it? And there was, all about the _Georgetown_, a torpedo net, let down over the side to prevent the deadly missiles from hitting the ship's plates!

Ned leaned over. Yes, something was moving in the water. He brought his rifle to bear, and was about to fire and give the alarm, when a searchlight was suddenly turned full on the very spot where there was a ripple in the calm surface of the sea.

Then there came a swish, and a flurry, and in the gleam of the powerful light Ned saw that it was a school of fish which had probably gathered near the battleship to feed on the scraps the cooks tossed overboard.

"Ha! That's a good one on me!" Ned mused. "I'm glad I didn't give any alarm."

The sentry in charge of the searchlight said he had also heard the commotion in the water, and that was why he switched on the light. Of course the officer in charge of the sentries saw the light and had to be told why it was turned on. But there the incident ended.

"Shore leave will be granted!" was the unexpected order that was issued next day, the night having passed without accident.

"Hurrah!" cried Frank.

"Great!" echoed Ned. "Now we'll have a chance to see what this country looks like, and we may find out something about the missing fortunes."

Our heroes were among the first to be granted permission to land, and soon they were speeding toward the town in cutters. There were only a few small piers in what was a very small harbor, and not well protected at that, so the battleship had to anchor out. Up to the public pier raced the cutters, and out on shore leaped the eager sailors.