Two Boys of the Battleship Part 5

"Matters down in that South American republic are more and more complicated," he wrote. "They are accusing me of all sorts of things, such as stirring up revolutions, and supplying arms to the enemies of the government. I tell you this so you will be able to discount any stories you may read of me.

"I think your plan of going to New York, and trying for work is a good one. Certainly there will be more opportunities than in Ipswhich. But take good care of yourselves. I can do nothing for you, and I can only say, over and over again, how much I regret investing your money as I did, with my own. But at the time, it seemed perfectly safe, and it would have been but for treachery. I was betrayed, and if I could get the evidence I could prove it, and regain our money. But that is too much to hope."

"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Frank.

Following the receipt of this letter the two boys sold their motor boat, and with the money thus received, and with a small supply they had on hand, they laid their plans.

The dear old house was closed, save for one room where the legal officer in possession remained, "camping out," as he expressed it. He was to stay until the property was sold for the benefit of those who claimed damages from Mr. Arden. But the sale could not take place for some time, as there were law technicalities to be observed.

The servants left, bidding good-bye to the lads. And there were tears in the eyes of good Mrs. Brun, as well as in the eyes of Ned and Frank, as she said farewell.

Their best possessions, which could not legally be included in the seizure, the boys stored with friends in town. Then they selected the most useful of their clothes, and packed them in valises for the trip to New York.

"We've got enough to live on for a few weeks, while looking for work,"

said Frank, as he looked at the roll of bills which meant so much to them now.

"That is if we don't try to live very high," agreed Ned, with a smile.

"No expensive hotels or taxicab rides for us."

"Not much!"

So one warm June morning Frank and Ned set out for the station of the Long Island Railroad, and took a train for the metropolis.

"Some change in our prospects from what we looked forward to a couple of weeks ago," remarked Ned, as he settled in his seat.

"That's right. I'm going to miss that motor boat a whole lot; aren't you?" Frank asked.

"Don't speak of it," and Ned's voice was a trifle husky. "Remember how we were out in that storm?"

"I should say so! That's the day uncle got the bad news."

"Yes. And that's the day we saw the battles.h.i.+p plowing along the big waves, and had an idea we might get on one. Well, I guess that idea has gone overboard and is in Davy Jones' locker by this time."

"Oh, I don't know," said Frank, with a somewhat mysterious air.

"What do you mean?" asked Ned, quickly, as the train gathered speed.

"Tell you later," his brother responded. "I've got an idea in my head, that isn't altogether worked out."

"Well, don't crowd yourself too hard," and Ned laughed.

Really, they were in better spirits than they ever hoped to be after they had heard the bad news. But youthful spirits are very elastic, and easily bound back after being depressed. Which is a very good thing.

Ned and Frank were familiar with New York, as they spent a great part of their time there when college was in session. So it was no novelty to them to enter the metropolis. Their thoughts were busy with various matters as the train speeded along over the flat and not very interesting Long Island plains.

At Jamaica an electric locomotive replaced the steam one, and they were soon shooting along through the East River tunnel, swallowing rapidly to overcome the pressure on the ear drums caused by the low level and the air compression in the big tube.

"Well, I'm glad that's over," Frank said, as they ran into the big Pennsylvania Station at Seventh Avenue and Thirty-third Street.

"In little old New York once more!" remarked Ned. "What's the first thing on the programme, captain? I'm going to let you lead this expedition as long as you behave yourself."

"Oh, I'll do that," promised Frank. "I should say the first thing was to look for a stopping place, and then get some dinner. It will soon be noon."

"I'm with you. Oh, say, while we're at it, let's pay a visit to the aquarium at Battery Park. I was reading about some new big fish from Bermuda they've just put in the tanks, and I want to see them."

"We'll have plenty of time to see the sights of New York; don't fret yourself about that," said his brother, with a laugh. "We aren't going to get jobs right away, unless this turns out more of a fairy story than any I've read."

"I'm not worrying," was the answer. "But come on, let's take in the aquarium."

"All right. But first let's check our grips in the station. No use carting them around with us," said Frank.

This done, they took an elevated train for lower New York, and soon were at the entrance to the aquarium, which is located in old Castle Garden, once the landing place of immigrants, before the Ellis Island station was established.

CHAPTER VI-ROBBED

"Now for that big fish of yours-where is it?" asked Frank of his brother, as they prepared to enter the circular building which forms one of the finest educational features of New York.

"We'll find it when we get inside," was the answer. "It's a porpoise, and the accounts of it in the papers said it cut up all manner of tricks. Porpoises are very playful, you know."

"I thought it was a dolphin," Frank remarked.

"Well, maybe dolphins are playful, too, but this is a porpoise I want to see."

"A ham sandwich and a cup of coffee would be more in my line," was the other's comment. "Don't be too long at this fis.h.i.+ng game, Ned."

"I won't. Then we can come out and get a bite. There are plenty of restaurants around here."

Together they entered the aquarium, and were soon gazing with interested eyes at the porpoise, which was kept in one of the large central tanks.

Around the walls of the place were other tanks, with the light coming in from the top in such a way that the fish were plainly visible. There was a new exhibit of fishes from Bermudian waters, and looking at them after having watched the porpoise for some time, Ned remarked:

"Well, Frank, if we are ever lucky enough to get on a battles.h.i.+p that's sent to Bermuda, I suppose we'll see such fish as these in their native waters."

"Yes, it would be great!" agreed Frank, and as he spoke he noticed that a man standing near him and his brother looked at them in a peculiar and sharp manner. Frank did not like the looks of the fellow, and he was even less pleased when the man moved a little nearer and addressed them.

"Are you lads from some s.h.i.+p?" he asked. "If you are, shake! I'm from the _Kentucky_ myself, on sh.o.r.e leave, and it does my heart good to meet a couple of the boys in blue. What's your berth?"

"We haven't any," Frank said, hoping to pa.s.s the matter off lightly and leave the man, for he did not like his face or manner.

"Excuse me," the fellow went on, "but I thought I heard youse say something about a battles.h.i.+p-"

"Oh, that was just talk," broke in Ned, more open and ingenuous than his brother. "We've been talking of getting on a battles.h.i.+p for some time, but I don't suppose we ever shall."

"Well, it's a great life, believe me!" exclaimed the man. "I've put in eight years of it. Hard work, but lots of fun, too. I've seen these fish swimming around so thick that you'd think there wasn't enough water for 'em," and he waved his hand-not a very clean hand, Frank thought-toward a tank of angel fish.