Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

394 Even though it be possible, I pray that you co not start until I return.” He had left them! He had gone over the side like a monkey and was down in Hemmett’s motor-boat and backing away from the long, thin destroyer. Somewhat dazedly Hemmett watched him go, wondered just where he might be heading, observed that he was making directly for his own docks, and turned to find that the destroyer’s crew, on their own initiative, had moved forward in a body! ‘““What did you say to them, Steve?” Hemmett asked. ‘“T told them that we were going to sea, and that they were under my or- ders—and they hardly made a sign, one way or the other! One of the devilish little petty officers laughed and shrugged his shoulders, and that was about all.” “And if they try anything rough, there’ll be three of us to handle thirty or forty of them, providing that Alvarez gets back!”’ Hemmett muttered. He turned and peered through the thickening twilight to the harbor mouth and the Atlantic beyond. ‘The stern of El] Fuego was just vanishing as she head- ed down the coast, and behind her lay a heavy trail of black smoke. It may not have been a sob that escaped Hemmett; it was at any rate a sound that caused Girton’s hand to rest rather suddenly on his arm and Girton to say: “Don’t let yourself think about it, I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s the only way to keep from going mad just now. When I looked at that crew and saw the way some of them were looking at me, and considered the way a Guanaman crew ought to look at one of us-—why, for a second or two, I was on the very verge of puiling the gun, wiping out such of the little rats as I could, and then going down in a fight with the rest. That’s the sort of mental state we'll have to avoid, old man, if we're ever—if we’re ever—” He himself had to pause for a mo- ment. Hemmett breathed deeply. THE ARGOSY. “Well, we’re going to bring the girls back or we’re not coming back ourselves, if that’s what you mean,” he said. “This little pest-hole of a country has never beaten us yet, Steve, and it can’t beat us now.” “But it’s closer to it at this minute than it has ever come before!” Girton snfiled bitterly. Side by side they gazed through the gloom toward the “Alvarez dock. The speed-boat had disappeared long before this, and the smoke-clouds overhead were growing very dense. In a very few min- utes the gages below would show a head of steam; and if Alvarez had not reap- peared when there was pressure enough to send the engines into action, there would be two men against the crowd in- stead of three! Although, from the thick evening mists near the Alvarez dock, that gentleman, himself certainly seemed to be returning now. The foggy white spot was the spray of the speed-boat, but the spray and the motion of the craft behind it were dif- ferent now. Ordinarily Mr. Hemmett’s marine wonder almost soared over the surface of the water—whereas it was al- most wallowing now! Its owner and his friend stepped to the other rail and strained their eyes. ‘“‘She’s loaded down, Steve!” mett muttered. ‘““'‘Yes, and with men,” breathed the retired: secretary of war. ‘“‘ Look at it! There must be fifteen of them jammed up forward—and there are as many more aft.” Silently they watched, and, be it ad- mitted, thrilled a little! If it was a relief expedition, Alvarez was a wonder! He had been gone, all told, perhaps eight minutes, and now he was coming along- side again, the high-speed engine ham- mering viciously under its unusual load. And now it had ceased. hammering, and the crew of the Pavoroso were Streaming aft; and Alvarez, before them, threw out his hands and smiled a glori- fied smile. Hem- comicloool C©