Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

398 “We'll send one shot across their bows!” he announced. ‘“ What is this affair—three-inch rifle?” “Yes, the new type,” Girton assented. “ Five charges in the small magazine at the base and probably a couple of hun- dred more below.” “One will do for us. your job, Steve. Can range?” “In a minute or two,” said Girton, without great enthusiasm. He could not forget that Mercedes Tesoro was a prisoner aboard El Fuego; he could not drive from his mind the fact that this was the ocean, and that his really deep artillery study of recent years had been all upon land. ' Up at Las Almas, in the training days of the army, both as an example and because the practise interested him deeply, the secretary of war had per- sonally piled up a score at the targets which still stood unmatched; but this— well, this was different. Still, he went to work, and Alvarez at his side watched every move absorbedly, drinking in each little detail with that overwhelming interest that had gone so far toward making his own success. “Ready!” Girton announced simply. “Tet her go!” There was a flash and a roar and a shock that set the slender bow of the Pavoroso to quivering—and six hands clasped at the rail while six eyes darted down the path of the search-light to El Fuego. And a cry escaped three mouths, for there was. a splash and a spurt of white water just ahead of the other destroyer—and El] Fuego, even when they had stared, hardly breathing, through an- other minute, showed no signs of coming to a standstill! “ Didn’t they see it?’”? Hemmett mut- tered wonderingly. Firing her is you get the “They saw it fast enough, but Jones is aboard that boat,” said Girton. ‘“ We needn’t stop at that. I’ve got the range business down to a hair’s breadth.” “Well?” THE ARGOSY. “The next one goes through her engine-room, Ned!” “To sink her?” gasped Mr. Hemmett. “She will not sink,’? Girton smiled. *¢ She’ll stop, though, and they’ll shut her water-tight compartments in a hurry, and by the time they’ve been shut we ought to be alongside and boarding her.” Alvarez, all enthusiasm, all faith, was even now drawing out another shell and another firing charge; and although the very notion sent chills up and down Hemmett’s spine, he offered no objection. Teeth set, he watched Girton tinker his range-finder delicately, almost unbreath- ingly—and the wireless man was beside them with a fluttering bit of paper. “They have answered, senor!” he cried. “I have sent as you requested, and they have replied.” Edward Hemmett snatched the paper from him and held it in the faint reflected light from the search-light. It was ad- dressed to himself and it read: ‘‘'The women are lashed to the after- deck. The boats and every man on board are ready to leave. If you wish to sink Fl Fuego, sink her!” CHAPTER XVI. JONES COMES ABOARD. “ You are ready, senor?” Alvarez was saying tensely. “You watch the spot beside their engine-room and you'll see—” Mr. Girton was just beginning. “Well, don’t!” Hemmett shouted. ‘’You—you—here, wireless! Get back there and say—say nothing at all until I give the word!” Girton turned somewhat blankly from his gun. ‘What now?” ‘“ Jones says that all hands are ready to leave, Steve—which means that if you put a hole through her they won’t bother with the compartments. And the women are lashed down tight!” The gunner’s enthusiasm cooled ab- CO DOOK AMUC C©