E-text prepared by Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by the Digital Library of the Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University (https://digital.library.villanova.edu) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 57396-h.htm or 57396-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/57396/57396-h/57396-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/57396/57396-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through the Digital Library of the Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University. See https://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:487932 Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics. An additional transcriber’s note is at the end of the book. [Illustration: AS HERC SPOKE THE BRIGHT RAYS ENVELOPED THEM. --Page 53.] THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ABOARD A DESTROYER by CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON Author of “The Boy Aviators Series,” “The Dreadnought Boys on Battle Practice,” etc. etc. New York Hurst & Company Publishers Copyright, 1911, by Hurst & Company CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE FOREIGN AGENT 5 II. A WILLING TOOL 20 III. AT SEA ON A DESTROYER 31 IV. MAN OVERBOARD! 44 V. THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS’ FORTUNE 55 VI. THE SECRET OF THE DERELICT 68 VII. AN INSULT TO THE FLAG 84 VIII. THE BOYS MAKE AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY 98 IX. ON SPECIAL DUTY 110 X. A BATTLE IN THE DARK 121 XI. ON SECRET SERVICE 133 XII. PLAYING WITH EDGED TOOLS 147 XIII. PRISONERS OF WAR 161 XIV. A DRUM-HEAD COURT-MARTIAL 172 XV. A SHELL FROM THE SEA 182 XVI. THE BOMBARDMENT 195 XVII. UNDER THE GOLD-STARRED FLAG 206 XVIII. A BOARD OF STRATEGY 220 XIX. THE SEA FIGHT OFF SANTA ANNA 232 XX. TORPEDOES 245 XXI. VICTOR AND VANQUISHED 257 XXII. AN ORDER TO HALT 266 XXIII. WITH THE COSTAVEZAN CAVALRY 276 XXIV. NED’S HEROIC DEED 288 XXV. HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION 304 * * * * * The Dreadnought Boys Aboard a Destroyer CHAPTER I. THE FOREIGN AGENT. “Pardon me--but surely I am not mistaken,--you two young men are brave sailors on board the _Beale_?”