Dave Darrin and the German Submarines Part 12

"And you have not looked upon Jordan as an enemy?"

"No, sir."

"What has been your opinion of Jordan as a seaman?"

"He always seemed to know his business, sir."

"Did he perform his duties cheerfully?"

"I thought so," Ferguson replied.

"Now, Ferguson," Darrin went on, "you two have chatted quite a bit, haven't you, when on station side by side?"

"Yes, sir, whenever we found the time hanging heavy on our hands."

"What did you talk about?"

"Sometimes, sir, we talked about the fun that can be had on sh.o.r.e leave, but more often about submarines and the war, sir."

"And what was Jordan's att.i.tude toward the war?"

"I don't know that I understand you, sir."

"Did Jordan speak as if he believed the United States did right to enter the war?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"He talked, did he, like what you would call a good American?"

"Yes, sir; always, when the subject was mentioned."

"And you believed him loyal to the United States?"

"Yes, sir; up to last night."

"What happened then?"

"Why, sir, Jordan got me to look off to starboard, and my back was turned to him for a moment. I felt, rather than saw, that he had dropped something overboard. I looked quickly astern at our wake. I now feel pretty sure, sir, that I saw something glowing floating on the water astern. You may remember, sir, that at this time last night there was a heavy phosph.o.r.escent wake. And we were making faster speed last night, too, and our propeller turned up more of the phosph.o.r.escent stuff in the water, if that is the right way to express it, sir."

Darrin nodded his comprehension of the description, and went on:

"Last night was the first time you had any suspicion of Jordan?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he do anything further last night to arouse your suspicion?"

"No, sir."

"Did you watch him?"

"Yes, sir; like a hawk. But I'm pretty sure that he didn't know I was watching him."

"Did you report your suspicions to any officer?"

"No, sir."

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't have anything but a hazy suspicion to report, sir, and I wouldn't like to carry tales or rouse suspicion against a chap who might be altogether decent."

"Then your previous fights with Jordan didn't cause you to dislike or suspect the man?"

"Certainly not, sir. I don't fight that way. When I've a bit of a sc.r.a.p with a mate, sir, the fight is over, with me, when it stops."

"Yet you felt that you should keep an eye on Jordan to-night?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you believe that Jordan dropped this bottle overboard into our wake?"

"I'm positive that he did, sir."

"Did you see him do it?"

"No, sir," Ferguson replied, without hesitation.

Dave Darrin had followed a style of questioning that is common to the Army and the Navy when one enlisted man makes a report against another enlisted man. Dave's first object was to make sure that there was no really bad blood between the men, and that the charge wasn't merely a matter of getting square. Secondly, Darrin was trying to make up his mind as to Ferguson's keenness and reliability as a witness. By this time he had made up his mind that Seaman Ferguson was telling the truth according to his best knowledge of what had happened, and that he had spoken without prejudice.

"Ferguson," said the young destroyer commander, promptly, "I am satisfied that you have answered me truthfully. I also commend you for your prompt action to-night. As to your failure to make a report of your suspicions last night I believe that you have justified yourself."

"Thank you, sir. If I may, I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander a question."

This way of putting it, addressing Dave in the third person, is quite in keeping with the custom of the service.

"You may ask the question," Dave nodded.

"Then I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander, sir, if I would have done better to have reported my suspicions last night?"

"It is impossible to answer that question for every case that might arise," Dave told him. "Navy men, whether enlisted or commissioned, dislike tale-bearers. In war-time, however, and under peculiar conditions where extreme peril always lurks, and where the act of a spy may destroy a s.h.i.+p's company in a twinkling of an eye, it is usually permissible to report even vague suspicions. The officer to whom such a report is made will quickly discover that it is probably only a vague suspicion, and then he will not be unduly prejudiced against the suspected man."

"Thank you, sir."

"Do not talk this over with your mates, Ferguson. The less that is said about the matter for the present the better I shall like it. That is all for the present. You have done a good bit of work, Ferguson."

"I thank the lieutenant-commander."

At a nod from Darrin the seaman saluted and withdrew.