Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

AMERICANS have to take the women over to the Pavoroso first and then come back for the rest—and great luck if some of us don’t have to make the trip swimming!” Alvarez wrung his hands. _“ El Fuego sinks?” he shrieked. sinks! Then I—I have—” . He said no more. Off where the Pavoroso lay the ocean seemed to open wide and belch forth flame and smoke! A roar that shook the deck and seemed fairly to beat them down came within the ‘« She second, and there was.a queer, loud hiss. . And the moon, coming at last from be- hind the cloud, shone on the spot where the Pavoroso had been. There 'was only curiously turbulent water now, with a great surging white pall of smoke over- head! ‘So shall all Guanama’s traitors die!” said Alvarez between his teeth. Mr. Girton’s head was just settling back on his shoulders after the blast. ~ “ Yow re—responsible for that?” he gasped. “With a time-fuse, senor, I kindled the magazine before we left!” the aston- ishing Alvarez cried brokenly. “It was right! It was just; for such as they, even this death was too merciful! Yet had I known—” , ‘Yes, had you known that you were likely to drown the whole crowd by doing it, ‘you wouldn’t have done it!’’ Hemmett thundered, his own senses returning. ‘Why, you confounded little lunatic—” He choked. He felt that he, too, was going mad! For here came Polito, stroll- ing toward them, cigarette and all, and smiling! ‘“ The vessel, senor, will not sink!” the Pavoroso’s officer reported placidly. “ The—the sea-cocks!” Girton stut- tered. “Yes. They have been closed, of course, by the levers which lie in the upper balcony of the engine-room,”’ Polito smiled. ‘‘ Otherwise, I have also started the pumps which run by the aux- iliary power astern, senor, so that in an hour or so we shall float quite easily. AFTER ALL. 406 And by way of reaching the shore, since the fires are dead and the engines flood- ed, we shall use the auxiliary electric gear, I think—the storage-battery plant in the water-tight compartment astern, provided for the emergencies of battle. It is slow, yet we shall effect a landing in Parilla before two o’clock, I believe.” Girton moved limply to his side. “ Polito,” he managed, with a queer, Shaky smile, ‘maybe you’re—you’re some good after all.” CHAPTER XIX, PUTTING THINGS THROUGH. BE it admitted that Edward Hemmett, even now, had not readjusted him- self. He had bathed and shaved and breakfasted; he had slept three good hours after their return by rail from Parilla, and since Fernandez’s cavalry had been around the house he had slept soundly. So that he was thoroughly rested and fit for business again, but the calm of Guanama’s big senate chamber was almost disconcerting after the things that had happened last night! And it was calm! Gazing down from the speaker’s desk at the hundred or more faces, Mr. Hemmett reflected that never in all its history had this hysterical gathering of Latins been so utterly calm. Here and there faces were pale, here and there faces smiled, tried to laugh, gave it up. The air was downright thick with Suspense—and for cause! So many things had happened since this time yesterday that sorting them out in any kind of sequence was downright impossible as yet. Alvarez, the indefati- gable, the avenger, had reported them verbally, as Hemmett and Girton break- fasted; Alvarez had not slept, and showed no signs of wanting to sleep; for his country was to be saved, and the two Americans served in the tremendous task that had descended upon. them suddenly as any thunderbolt. comicloool C©