Chapter FORTY-TWO

As soon as the launch came up alongside the cruiser “New Orleans” it was fastened to the block and tackle of its davit and hoisted up until it was level with the main deck. When this had been done it was pulled inboard, and from this position the wounded pirate was lifted out under the supervision of the surgeon and carried down to the ship’s hospital.

Redmond and the two officers had previously got off the launch and had gone up the accommodation ladder. Captain Moore was on deck to meet them.

“Well, I guess our job’s done, captain,” said Redmond.

“Yes,” replied the commander. “We were very lucky in many ways, especially in the fortunate arrival of our airplane squadron. The government owes you a great deal, though. If it hadn’t been for your splendid work, the pirate would have still been operating.”

Redmond flushed under the praise, stuttered a moment and changing the embarrassing subject, said:

“How is the pilot of the ship which we brought down?”

“Ah! there’s where we were unlucky,” replied Captain Moore. “That pilot was the commander of the squadron, and he’s in very bad shape suffering from shock.”

“I’m sorry to hear that indeed. He certainly had his nerve attacking the way he did. Who is he?”

“Commander Fitzgerald.”

“What!” exclaimed Redmond in astonishment.

The captain looked at him, surprised at the manner in which he spoke. “Why, do you know him?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Redmond sharply.

“Well he’s on the quarterdeck now, resting easily the last time I saw him. Miss Ingleton is nursing him. Do you want to see him?”

Redmond pondered a moment before replying. The news imparted to him innocently enough by Captain Moore had brought him back from the realm of action and excitement into that of sentiment. For several seconds his mind was prey to a score of bitter thoughts. Again he fought with himself as he realized that another man stood between him and the possibility of his future happiness. The knowledge enraged him, and for the first time in his life he experienced the violence of hatred.

He hated himself as well, and in his mind he railed at the fate which had led him to the altar of love and then dashed happiness from his grasp. He was more than ever convinced that Mary and Fitzgerald were betrothed. The words uttered many weeks ago by the Base Commander at Honolulu, which clearly indicated it, came back to taunt him as he struggled with his conflicting emotions.

Finally his better nature began to exert itself. At least, he argued with himself, Mary would be happy now, and after all that was the most important thing. He turned to Captain Moore and said:

“I guess I’ll go over and see him.”

The two started aft. As they reached the quarterdeck Mary Ingleton happened to glance up from the cot on which Fitzgerald was lying. She jumped to her feet and rushed over to him, holding her hands out to Redmond.

“Oh! I’m so glad to see you, Howard,” she exclaimed. “I was worried to death about you while that dreadful fight was going on.”

Redmond was completely overcome by the warmth of her greeting, which he did not expect. He took her hands in his, but managed to hold himself in check.

“I’m so glad you’re glad, Mary,” he said.

His quiet reply dampened her enthusiasm, and she looked at him somewhat puzzled. Captain Moore had already gone ahead toward Fitzgerald, so they were left standing together. Redmond was the first to speak again.

“I was sorry to hear about Fitzgerald,” he said.

“Yes,” replied Mary, “he is seriously hurt.”

“It must have been a great blow to you, Mary. I hope he will soon get well because you deserve happiness after all you have been through.”

“Why, Howard!” she exclaimed. “How strangely you speak! I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Aren’t you and he engaged?” queried Redmond.

“Why no,” laughed Mary. “Whatever put that silly notion in your head?”

“You’re not?” he exclaimed in surprise.

She heartily laughed at his astonishment, then she replied.

“No! I’m not engaged to anyone,” she said with a taunting air.

“Oh! Mary,” he gasped haltingly.

“Yes, Howard.”

“Oh! What can I say? I love you with all my heart. I’ve been dying to tell you for a long, long time, but I thought you were already engaged, and I didn’t dare.”

“Why you poor silly boy. I’ve known it for weeks,” she said gently.

“Can you love me too?” he pleaded.

She looked at him teasingly, with laughter in her eyes, watching his evident anxiety. Then as the lines upon his face deepened she lowered her glance and said:

“I do.”

Transcriber’s Note:

Obvious errors in punctuation have been silently corrected in this
version. Typos in proper names have been silently corrected. Minor
inconsistencies and archaic forms have been retained as printed.

In addition, the following changes have been made:

On page 16: bells to belles -From the moment of her debut she had
been one of the reigning _belles_ in Washington society

On page 21: too to to -Mary began _to_ eat

On page 21: magicent to magnificent -They saw the magnificent rivers

On page 25: persistant to persistent -In a subtle but persistent
manner

On page 26: occassionally to occasionally

On page 30: upfolded to unfolded -the scene unfolded below her

On page 51: hyherically to hysterically -Mrs. Ingleton began to cry
hysterically.

On page 52: reolver to revolver

On page 53: gave to have -He must have got tangled up

On page 61: may to my -Therefore my plan is this

On page 65: quadron to squadron

On page 68: recieved to received

On page 78: absoutely to absolutely -that absolutely confirms

On page 81: horiozn to horizon

On page 86: navval to naval

On page 94: obsolute to absolute -when they got an absolute sight on

On page 94: desdescent to descent -The battle was continued
throughout the maneuvre of descent

On page 95: possibe to possible

On page 108: there to three -at a point approximately three hundred
miles

On page 110: coversation to conversation

On page 110: sqadron to squadron

On page 114: occured to occurred

On page 114: manufacurer to manufacturer

On page 114: availabl to available

On page 116: aparently to apparently

On page 117: meteorogical to meteorological

On page 127: an to any -would pass up any chance to protect himself

On page 135: orginal to original

On page 141: possibilties to possibilities

On page 142: particuarly to particularly

On page 153: pursuade to persuade -She tried to persuade him

On page 155: unconscius to unconscious -How long I was unconscious

On page 159: buring to burning -lights burning

On page 162: vigilence to vigilance

On page 166: it to is -It is this

On page 175: us to use -it’s no use quarreling

On page 180: vaccuum to vacuum -vacuum of the container

On page 180: here to her -enable her to get away

On page 183: sincerety to sincerity -show of sincerity

On page 185: schoner to schooner

On page 199: were to where -at the cove where we land

On page 220: arange to arrange

On page 222: accomodation to accommodation

On page 226: waveleangth to wavelength

On page 226: cary to carry -it could easily carry his voice

On page 230: conjections to conjectures -depressing thoughts
concerning Mary and gloomy conjectures regarding her safety.

On page 235: [double of removed] -to keep a sharp watch for sight of
land.

On page 238: scurity to security

On page 250: expectently to expectantly -she strolled expectantly to

On page 253: contenntment to contentment

On page 253: tumultously to tumultuously

On page 259: would to wound -Without further ado Johnston bent over
and examined the injured leg. The Kanakas had been bathing the wound
under the feeble instructions Levanter had been able to give them.

On page 263: visa versa to vice versa

On page 263: [double to removed] had to be in one hand

On page 265: preceeding to preceding -The next day passed as had the
preceding one

On page 266: preceds to precedes -such as oftentimes precedes events

On page 273: stoodly to stood -while the men stood meekly by

On page 277: monotoonus to monotonous

On page 277: persistant to persistent

On page 292: too to to -higher altitude which the pirate climbed to

On page 295: his to this -the fight continued in this manner

On page 296: fllash to flash

On page 296: thundrous to thunderous

On page 296: suddeness to suddenness

On page 297: incicated to indicated -his expression clearly indicated
the relief he felt.

On page 300: devise to device -Ours are fitted with a safety device

On page 304: oficer to officer

On page 305: It to If -If it’s any satisfaction to you

On page 305: cooly to coolly -said Redmond coolly

On page 306: waiting to awaiting -standing by awaiting further
instructions.