Waist deep in water the seamen4 had waded5 out to greet the heroes of the moment. Shoulder high they bore their three comrades through the shelving tunnel, making the confined space ring with cheers and shouts of boisterous6 delight.
At the upper entrance Burgoyne and his companions were met by Captain Blair.
"So you pulled it off all right," exclaimed the Old Man.
"Yes, sir," replied Alwyn.
"And Miss Vivian?"
"Safe in Sydney," declared Burgoyne. "But where's Colonel Vivian?"
"Here I am, Mr. Burgoyne," replied the Colonel, making his way through the press. He seized the Third Officer's hand and wrung7 it. He could say no more.
"Miss Vivian is quite all right, sir," reported Burgoyne. "She is now with relations of mine at Sydney."
Very briefly8 Burgoyne related the story of the adventures of the life-boat and their rescue by the Titania. Mostyn, surrounded by another mob, was similarly engaged, while Minalto was holding forth9 to a group of eager listeners as he sung the praises of Alwyn Burgoyne and his companions, while Swayne and O'Loghlin came in for a full share of appreciation10 and attention on the part of the former captives of the secret base.
The appearance of a lieutenant11 of the Armadale interrupted the demonstrations12.
"When you've finished with your jamboree, gentlemen," he observed pleasantly, "the Commodore would like to see the officers of the three captured ships."
"Say!" exclaimed Captain Davis, "can't he give us time to have a hair-cut and shave?"
The lieutenant laughed.
"He won't mind," he replied. "'Sides, you might catch cold, skipper, if you took all that lot off at once."
The conference was of a brief yet important nature. The captains of the three merchantmen were asked where they wished to be taken—whether to Honolulu or to Sydney. Captain Blair and most of the officers of the Donibristle chose Honolulu, whence they could obtain a passage to Esquimalt, and from there to Vancouver. The skipper of the Kittiwake declined both offers, saying that he preferred to sail in his own craft, and Angus and Withers13 offered to fill vacancies14 in the Kittiwake's engine-room staff. Finally the Alvarado's Old Man expressed a belief that he, too, could recondition his ship and take her back to 'Frisco.
"Good man!" exclaimed the Commodore. "If I were in your place, by Jove! I'd do the same. We'll be here for another six or seven days, so if you want any assistance my artificers are at your disposal."
"And if—" added Captain Davis to the skipper of the Alvarado. "And if you aren't ready by that time I'll tow you across to Hilo or Honolulu."
When the conference was over the Commodore asked Burgoyne to remain.
"Mr. Burgoyne," he began without any preliminaries, "are you fond of the Merchant Service?"
"I am, sir," replied Alwyn. "It's a life afloat."
"You would prefer the Navy, I take it?"
"Yes, sir; but that is——". He broke off, unable to express his thoughts.
"Out of the question, eh?" added the Commodore. "I think not. How would a commission in the Australian Navy appeal to you?"
Burgoyne's eyes sparkled.
"If it could be managed, sir," he replied.
"I think it can be," said the Commodore. "We'll leave it at that for the present. I can offer you a passage back to Sydney, and I think you will do well to accept."
"Then you think there is a chance, sir?"
"Most certainly. Apart from the valuable services you have rendered to the expedition, the fact that you have been trained for the British Navy is in your favour."
Burgoyne thanked the Commodore and withdrew, feeling as if he were walking on air. If the "stunt15" came off he would be once more an officer of the Royal Navy, although in a branch that displays on its ensign the Southern Cross.
During the next few days the utmost activity prevailed on the island. Demolition16 parties blew up the gun-pits and levelled the defences. The store-houses were overhauled17, and the plunder18 carefully examined and labelled with a view to restoring it to its lawful19 owners. Work, too, proceeded at high pressure on the Kittiwake and Alvarado, and both vessels20 soon looked like being able to get away under their own steam.
At length the day fixed21 for the departure of the Australian Squadron arrived. In the morning there was a ceremonial parade ashore22, attended by every available man of the warships23 backed up by the crews of the three merchant vessels.
Amidst the ringing cheers of the officers and men, the union Jack24 was hoisted25, and the secret base taken over as a dependency of the Commonwealth26 of Australia.
The few surviving members of Ramon Porfirio's mob were then embarked27 on board the seaplane carrier. A garrison28 of fifty volunteers from the squadron was left to take charge of the new acquisition, together with a few of the merchant seamen, who, curiously29 enough, showed no immediate30 desire to quit the island.
One of the destroyers was ordered to Honolulu to take the survivors31 of the Donibristle's crew. Colonel Vivian and Mr. Tarrant had accepted the Commodore's offer to give them a passage to Australia.
Phil Branscombe eyed his chum curiously when Burgoyne told him of his intention to return to Sydney.
"I think I know why you're shaping that course, old bird," he remarked sagely32.
"I bet you don't, any old way," rejoined Alwyn.
"Oh, anyone would know that," continued Phil. "There's a lady in the case. Look here, I'll bet you a hundred Havanas that you'll be engaged to Miss Vivian within the next three months?"
"Done," agreed Burgoyne. He was none too certain that Phil would lose; on the other hand if Branscombe won, he, Alwyn, would pay up most cheerfully.
"Right-o!" exclaimed Branscombe. "And the best of luck to you, old bird. Send 'em along to me care of the Company's agent at Vancouver."
At noon the Kittiwake and the Alvarado, having raised steam, weighed anchor and proceeded, escorted by a destroyer conveying the majority of the Donibristle's crew.
An hour later the Armadale and the rest of the squadron got under way, and soon the island—the secret base no longer—vanished beneath the horizon.
During the voyage Colonel Vivian mentioned to Alwyn that he had had enough of the sea to last him for a good many years, and that he proposed buying a property somewhere in the neighbourhood of Sydney.
"Quite a sound scheme, that, sir," observed Burgoyne.
"I think so," agreed the Colonel. "And, of course, we may see a good deal of you, especially if you get a berth33 on a liner calling at the principal Australian ports."
Three weeks after the Armadale's arrival at Port Jackson, Alwyn Burgoyne received his papers appointing him, as a full-blown lieutenant of the Royal Australian Navy, to the light cruiser Brisbane.
He received the official notification at 11 a.m. At once he proceeded to Penrith, where Colonel Vivian had purchased a small but picturesque34 house. At ten in the evening, looking absolutely pleased with himself and the world at large, Burgoyne was writing an order for a hundred choice Havanas to be sent per registered post to an address in far-off Vancouver.
The End
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1
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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7
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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8
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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12
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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13
withers
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| 马肩隆 | |
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14
vacancies
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| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
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15
stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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16
demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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17
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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warships
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| 军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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25
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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