“What does it mean?”
“Aren’t they going to let us go home after all?”
“Have the Germans started another war?”
“Did we strike a mine?”
“Has a torpedo2 hit us?”
The two last were the questions most often asked, for it was easily within the bounds of possibility that the craft might have been damaged by some floating mine, nor was it out of the bounds of possibility that she might have been torpedoed3. Some German captain of a submarine, not having heard of the signing of the armistice4, or choosing[10] to ignore it, perhaps pleading ignorance later, might easily have taken this method of revenge for the fancied wrongs to the “Fatherland.”
And so it was that on all sides arose the question:
“What has happened?”
But no one answered it. At least the returning soldiers, among whom were Ned, Bob, and Jerry, had no one to answer it for them. They “milled around” on the decks, surging this way and that until they threatened the equilibrium5 of the vessel6 and the officers had to go among them ordering them to remain quiet.
“But what has happened, sir?” asked Jerry of a captain with whom he was on friendly terms.
“I don’t know, exactly. Something seemed to go wrong with the machinery7. But there is no danger. We are only a short distance from shore. It is the duty of every one to remain calm.”
The boys did their best, but the questioning still persisted and at length Jerry said:
“Fellows, I’m going to find out what the matter is.”
“I am, too!” exclaimed Ned.
“So’m I!” added Bob. “Maybe the galley8 is on fire, and——”
“That would be a terrible calamity9!” laughed Jerry, and his laugh seemed to ease the tension[11] somewhat. Then he added: “You two boys had better stay here. If three of us chase around we’ll be ordered to keep to one spot. But if I go alone I may be able to manage it.”
“And as soon as you find out what it is come back and tell us,” begged Ned.
“Sure thing!” promised his tall chum, as he moved away.
While Jerry is thus endeavoring to learn the cause of the sudden turning back of the troopship, readers who are meeting Ned, Bob, and Jerry for the first time will be told something more about the lads, so they may seem more like old acquaintances.
To those readers who have the first book of this series, entitled “The Motor Boys,” not much need be said. It need only be stated that the present series, under the caption10 “Ned, Bob and Jerry,” is a continuation of the same characters in new fields.
Ned Slade was the son of a wealthy department store-keeper. Bob Baker11’s father was a banker. And Mrs. Julia Hopkins, the mother of Jerry, was financially interested in several institutions controlled by Mr. Slade and Mr. Baker. The youths lived in Cresville, in one of our New England states, and their interest in locomotion12 dated from the days of their early boyhood, when they owned motor cycles. It was their activities[12] on these machines that gained them the appellation13 of “Motor Boys.” They later secured an automobile14, and in this they made a trip Overland, to Mexico, and Across the Plains, as related in the books bearing those distinctive15 titles.
Afterward16 the boys secured a motor boat and had many voyages, including travel on the Atlantic, the Pacific, and in Strange Waters. Trips above the clouds followed in airships of various makes, and, not satisfied with that, the three adventurous17 lads descended18 to the depths in submarines.
Following a series of exciting adventures, detailed20 at length, there was a conference on the part of the parents of Ned, Bob and Jerry. It was decided21 that the lads had better “buckle down” to some serious work in life, and, accordingly, they were sent to college to complete their educations.
In “The Motor Boys at Boxwood Hall, or, Ned, Bob and Jerry as Freshmen,” is related the many jolly times they had and how they helped to establish a reputation for old Boxwood Hall in athletics22. At Boxwood Hall the three had lots of fun, as well as doing good work in their studies. The boys had many obstacles and difficulties to overcome but how they won out in the end is set forth23 in detail in the book.
The three chums spent a summer on a ranch,[13] and then the Great War broke out. Ned, Bob and Jerry joined the army, and, in due course, they found themselves fighting Germany. What happened to them is set forth in the book immediately preceding this, called “The Motor Boys on the Firing Line.” More than the details of many battles is in this volume, for in addition to fighting for Uncle Sam the Motor Boys had also to help their friend, Professor Uriah Snodgrass.
This doughty24 little scientist was the boys companion on their many trips, and he not only enjoyed the companionship of the boys, but he obtained much information by going with them, not to mention many valuable, if not always pleasant specimens25. For Professor Snodgrass collected bugs26, snakes and allied27 creatures for Boxwood Hall and other colleges and also several museums.
He had gone to Europe with the boys on a double mission. One was to find two young ladies—Dorothy Gibbs and Gladys Petersen—nieces of Professor Petersen’s, and the other was to get photographs of the effects of war noises on certain insects.
Professor Snodgrass found the girls, and, with the help of the three boys, was able to send them back to the United States. He also got the pictures he wanted, and he secured for himself a[14] large sum of money. This money had been left by Professor Petersen to Professor Snodgrass, provided the latter discovered the whereabouts of the two young ladies.
Now, with the ending of the war Ned, Bob and Jerry had started back home on the transport. Professor Snodgrass, having seen to it that the nieces of his late friend were safely cared for, had turned his attention to shipping28 back the moving and other pictures he had made of the insects. The boys had lost sight of him in the confusion of the preparations for sailing for home. Professor Snodgrass, however, had said he might meet the boys on the transport. But, up to the time of the turning back of the Sherman, no further word had been received concerning the little scientist.
Now all was confusion on board the troopship. In spite of the orders of the officers, the men kept moving here and there, each one seeking to learn the cause of the trouble, to find out why they should be going back to France when they hoped they had left it for good—and this was saying or thinking nothing against the country that had given them such a warm welcome in her hour of dire1 distress29.
“It’s a fat chance Jerry has of finding out what the row is,” commented Ned to Bob, as they retained their places near the crowded rail close[15] to one of the lifeboats—a position Jerry had assigned to them as a rendezvous30.
“What makes you think so?” asked Bob.
“Because I just heard our colonel telling the major he didn’t know what was up.”
“Well, maybe it isn’t generally known yet,” said Bob. “If there’s been an accident the captain of the ship is sure to know about it, even if he doesn’t tell our colonel right away. You see the ship captain is in full authority, once the vessel gets away from the dock. His word is law, and the military authorities, that had the say on shore, don’t cut any ice now.”
“Poetically speaking,” added Ned, with a smile.
“Exactly,” agreed Bob, also grinning. “You see the safety of the ship depends on the captain, and you can stake your last doughnut that he knows what’s up, even if he hasn’t told any of the military crowd, which includes us—ahem!” and Bob swelled31 up his chest. “But you can depend on it that if anything is to be found out Jerry will discover it. He has a way with him!”
“Can he find out something our colonel can’t learn?” asked Ned.
“He might. The colonel couldn’t descend19 to asking information of a stoker or a coal passer, but Jerry could, not being of the elect, you know. Yes, you let Jerry-boy alone, and he’ll come home with the bacon. And, speaking of bacon, I wish[16] I had some right now, with some fresh eggs, and have them with the sunny-sides up. The bacon nice and crisp, and the coffee just right, with cream in a little pitcher32 on the side and——”
“Thud!”
That was Ned giving Bob a thump33 on the back.
“What’s the matter?” indignantly demanded the stout34 youth.
“Cut out the imaginary eats!” was the answer. “Haven’t we got troubles enough without that? But here comes Jerry. Now to see if he has found out anything!”
The tall lad, on whose coat was the D. S. C., sauntered toward his two chums. With a signal from his eyes—a signal they well knew how to interpret, Ned and Bob moved to one side. Jerry had told them, without the use of words, that he wanted to speak with them alone.
Just then, fortunately for their plans, there was a little commotion35 farther up the deck, and in the rush that followed there was a clear space left near the rail where the three boys now stood.
“Well, what is it?” asked Ned, as Jerry looked first at him and then at Bob. “Are we sinking, Jerry?”
“Far from it. The hull36 is as sound as a dollar.”
“Then it wasn’t a mine or a torpedo?” asked Bob.
“Not this time. But there has been an accident[17] to the machinery, and we’re returning to the dock for repairs.”
“Only an accident to the machinery!” exclaimed Ned. “Then why, in the name of Andy Rush, all this mystery and excitement?”
“Because,” answered Jerry slowly, “from what I heard, the accident was a premeditated one, and it looks suspicious.”
“Suspicious!” exclaimed his two chums.
“Hush! Yes! But not so loud. That’s why I gave you the high sign to let me have a word alone with you. There’s a rumor37 that some revengeful German may have set off a time bomb in the engine room. So far the damage is slight, but——”
Jerry paused, for another tremor38 ran through the ship and again the vessel came to a sudden stop.
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1
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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torpedoed
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| 用鱼雷袭击（torpedo的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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armistice
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| n.休战，停战协定 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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6
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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7
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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9
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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caption
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| n.说明，字幕，标题；v.加上标题，加上说明 | |
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11
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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15
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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16
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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athletics
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| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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25
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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26
bugs
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| adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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31
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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33
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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35
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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