CHAPTER XXXI.
A SURPRISE FOR DACRES.
"SAY, Dacres, old man, here's something that will interest you,"remarked Vaughan Whittinghame, handing his comrade and able assistanta letter that had just been delivered by a marine orderly.
Dacres took the missive. The familiar heading on the envelope, "OnHis Majesty's Service," recalled the days not long since when he wasone of the officers of the ship whence the letter came.
Drawing out the enclosure Dacres, with considerable difficulty,deciphered the crabbed handwriting of Rear-Admiral Maynebrace. Thatofficer had written requesting the pleasure of the company of CaptainWhittinghame and Mr. Basil Dacres on board the flagship at three p.m.
"Well?" asked Whittinghame in his usual manner. "Going?"
"I hardly know what to say, sir. I suppose you will accept theinvitation?"
"Yes. If it were a mere formal affair I would decline, but I havereason to believe that the Admiral wishes to consult us withreference to the submarine plans. It's not a matter of etiquetteexactly, but an affair of national importance, so I think you'dbetter decide to go with me."
The "Meteor" was lying afloat in Zandovar Harbour. Beyond thelow-lying spit of sand that narrowed the entrance to less than threehundred yards could be seen the British warships lying in the openroadstead.
Two days had elapsed since the fall of Naocuanha. A provisionalgovernment had been set up in Valderia, and Senor Juan Desiro, adistant relative of the late President San Bonetta, had beennominated as acting president. The terms imposed by the BritishAdmiral had been accepted, and the Valderians regarded the inevitablechanges with comparative equanimity. The garrison of La Paz had takenthe oath of allegiance to the new ruler, and with amazing rapiditythe republic settled down to make the best of a hard bargain.
Ex-President Diego Zaypuru, after being officially deposed, was gladto avail himself of an offer by the British Admiral to be given apassage to a far-distant land, where, with the bulk of the riches hehad amassed, he would be able to live in comparative peace andplenty.
Antoine de la Fosse, with his two sons, also shook the dust ofValderia from his feet. Henri had made rapid progress towardsrecovery. His wounds were healing satisfactorily, and as no signs offever were detected, the British medical officers expressed anopinion that he could with safety undertake a sea voyage.
So the de la Fosse family, well rewarded for the parts they hadplayed so well in the capture of the Cavarale, had been given agenerous grant and a free passage to Cherbourg, and had left earlythat morning by a Peruvian mailboat en route for Panama.
Already a wireless message from the British Admiralty had been sentthrough the Admiral expressing thanks and due appreciation to thegallant captain of the "Meteor," and Rear-Admiral Maynebrace hadcommunicated the news in person. Now, following his official visitsto the Dreadnought of the Air, came an invitation for CaptainWhittinghame and Dacres to repair on board the flagship.
At half-past two the Admiral's motor-barge was observed to beentering the inner harbour. In the sternsheets was a flag-lieutenantresplendent in full-dress uniform, his duty being to escort theAdmiral's guests to the "Repulse."
As soon as the boat came alongside the "Meteor," Captain Whittinghameand Dacres, in their neat and serviceable uniforms, went over theside and took their places in the waiting craft.
The visit was understood to be a purely unofficial one, but theBritish bluejackets, always eager to recognize a brave act, were notto be denied. As the barge approached the flagship the shrill trillsof the bos'n's whistle rang out. In a moment the upper decks andsuperstructure of the warship were black with humanity, and thewaters of Zandovar Bay echoed and re-echoed to three deep, heartycheers that only Britons can do full justice to.
Dexterously the barge was brought alongside the "Repulse's"accommodation ladder. Whittinghame stepped out of the barge, and,followed by his companion, ascended to the quarter-deck. As Dacresmounted the steps he could not help recalling the previous time hevisited the flagship. Then it was with heavy heart and thewell-founded presentiment that there was trouble in store for him.Now he was the guest of the very man who had "broken him."
Then to Dacres' surprise the "pipe side" was sounded by the bos'n'smate, and a serjeants' guard drawn up on the quarter-deck presentedarms. These marks of respect were, according to the King'sRegulations, to be given to captains of H.M. ships in uniform. Why,then, had the regulation been officially ignored?
After being received by the Commander and the officers of the watch,Whittinghame and Dacres were shown below to the Admiral's cabin.
Rear-Admiral Maynebrace was not alone. The other occupant of thecabin was Dacres' old chief, Captain Staggers.
"Sit down, my dear Whittinghame, and you, too, Dacres," exclaimed theAdmiral genially, as he drew a green curtain over the cabin door inorder to balk any curiosity that the marine sentry without mightdevelop. "We may as well proceed at once to business. I believe,Captain Whittinghame, that on the eve of your departure from Englandyou were given honorary rank of captain in His Majesty's fleet?"
"I believe that was so," he replied.
This was indeed news to Dacres, but it was only one of a series ofsurprises.
"My Lords also stipulated, should events justify all that was claimedfor your wonderful aircraft, that they would be entitled to buy the'Meteor' into the Royal Navy?"
Again Whittinghame nodded assent.
"It is almost needless to say," continued Admiral Maynebrace, "thattheir expectations have been fully realized. The amount agreed uponhas been deposited at your bankers, Captain Whittinghame. Moreover, Iam empowered to offer you a full commission as commanding officer ofH.M. Airship 'Meteor.'"
"I am afraid Their Lordships are a bit premature," said Whittinghame."If I remember aright the terms of the proposal were that the'Meteor' was to be purchased on her return from a successfulmission."
"But surely you consider the part you played in the Valderianbusiness a successful piece of work?"
"I suppose so," admitted the captain of the "Meteor."
"Then why hesitate?"
"Because I have not yet completed the work on which I am engaged. The'Meteor' came to Valderia for three objects. Firstly, to co-operatewith the British fleet and destroy the 'Libertad.' That has beendone. Secondly, to liberate my brother from Zaypuru's power. That,also, is an accomplished fact. Thirdly--and from a national point ofview, the most important object--the recovery of the stolen plans ofthe submarines. In that respect my work is still unfinished."
"I trust you will be equally successful, Captain Whittinghame. Whendo you propose to resume your quest?"
"Almost at once. Allowing for the slow method of travelling acrossthe Voyocama Desert, Durango ought to be on the verge of it in twodays' time. I propose to take the 'Meteor' to Salto Augusto to-morrowand watch developments."
"But that is Brazilian territory," objected Admiral Maynebrace.
"Quite so," admitted Whittinghame, "but Durango is an outlaw. Threedays ago I received intimation that the British Ambassador at Rio wassuccessful in obtaining permission from the Brazilian Government forhis arrest. Directly Durango sets foot in Salto Augusto he will bedetained by the authorities, extradited, and placed on board the'Meteor' to be brought back to England."
"I hope it comes off," said the Admiral.
"So do I, sir, especially if we find the submarine plans in Durango'spossession."
"To get back to the subject of the purchase of the 'Meteor,' CaptainWhittinghame. I presume you are still willing to sell her to thegovernment as soon as Durango is made a prisoner?"
"Certainly," replied Whittinghame rather stiffly. "I never go back onmy word. But there is one point I should like to raise--how will myofficers and men be affected by the change of ownership?"
"That is just what I was about to mention," said Rear-AdmiralMaynebrace, glancing at Dacres. "I have here a copy of the Admiraltywireless message. The proposal is, should you be willing to acceptthe proffered commission, Captai
n Whittinghame, that your crew shouldbe transferred en bloc to Admiralty service, provided that they areagreeable. I presume Mr. Dacres has informed you of the circumstancesunder which he left the Navy? I thought so. Well, Mr. Dacres, apartfrom the great personal service which you rendered me, your conductduring these operations has been praiseworthy. I regret most deeplythat I took the drastic step I did when you played a somewhat unwisejoke upon the midshipmen of the flagship. Had you expressed regret,Mr. Dacres, I might have overlooked it, or let you off with a severereprimand."
"But I wasn't asked to express regret, sir."
"You had the opportunity," remarked the Admiral drily. "However, Ihave tendered my apologies in front of Captain Staggers and CaptainWhittinghame, and I trust that you will accept them."
"I do, sir."
"I propose sending a further report to the Admiralty on the subject,"continued the Admiral, "and asking whether they will give orders foryour name to be restored to the Navy List. I trust that will beagreeable to you, Mr. Dacres?"
"One minute, sir," interrupted Whittinghame. "I am about to impart apiece of information of which Dacres has hitherto been in ignorance.His name was never removed from the Navy List."
"What!" ejaculated the Admiral and Dacres simultaneously.
"Fact," exclaimed Whittinghame. "I brought the case before the noticeof Admiral Sir Hardy Staplers on the eve of our dash for the NorthPole. Sir Hardy transmitted my request to the Admiralty, and I wasinformed that Mr. Dacres' resignation was to be annulled, and he wasto retain his rank while serving in the 'Meteor.' Thus, before theremoval of Dacres' name from the Navy List was notified, hiscommission was restored. Owing to my fear that I might lose theservices of a very able assistant I suggested to Sir Hardy thatDacres should for the time being be kept in ignorance of what hadtranspired, and to this he agreed."
Dacres tried to speak but failed. There was a strange sensation inhis throat. He felt tempted to dance for sheer joy even in thesanctity of the Admiral's cabin. He was still entitled to wear theuniform of the Royal Navy.
"Allow me to congratulate you, Mr. Dacres," said the Admiral, risingand extending his hand.
"And me, also," added Captain Staggers. "I wish for some reasons thatyou were reappointed to the 'Royal Oak.'"
"I had a good time under you, sir," was the sub's non-committal formof reply.
"There is yet another point," continued Whittinghame. He was enjoyinghimself. His face beamed with satisfaction. To heap pleasurablesurprises on others was one of his chief delights. "According to theterms offered by My Lords, of which you have just informed me, myofficers and men were to be transferred to the Royal Navy, providedthey were willing to serve."
"That is so," agreed the Admiral, tapping a folded document on thetable.
"Without reduction of rank?"
"Certainly; that is expressly stated."
"Then, take for example the case of Dacres. He is my chief officer, arank, I take it, that corresponds to first lieutenant in the Navy."
"It's rather rapid promotion," remarked the Admiral. "Scores of menhave waited years to obtain that rank. But, by Jove, Dacres! youjolly well deserve it. I am afraid, though, yours is a special case.I shall have to raise the point."
"If Mr. Dacres is not promoted to that rank I'm afraid I shall havesomething to say very strongly on the subject, sir," declaredWhittinghame. "Perhaps I had better delay the acceptance of mycommission pending definite information as to Mr. Dacres' status."
"I do not doubt that it will be all right," said the Admiral.
"I prefer to wait, however," added Whittinghame firmly.
"Very well," asserted the Admiral, "we'll leave it at that. I don'tsuppose for an instant that there will be any objections raised bythe Admiralty, but, you see, I haven't authority to act in the case.For the present, then, Mr. Dacres is still a sub-lieutenant in HisMajesty's Navy."