Sea Fighters

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THE MACMILLAN COMP ANY NE W Y OR K BOS TON CHICAG O D ALLAS ATLANTA S AN FRANCIS CO

I m N m A A co. M CM LL , ' ' ‘ LOND ON 0 BOMBAY CALCU I I A ME LBOURNE

H E A MI AN F AN ADA T M C LL CO. O C TORONTO sE A F I G H T E R S NAVY YARNS OF THE GREAT WAR

BY E L WARR N H . MI LER

Namarl: E THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1920

All Right: Reserved COPY R IGHT, 1920, B r THE MACM ILLAN C OMPANY

t and electrot ed Published ctober 1920. Se up yp . O .

1 0 E ( 59 70 ( l H fb ; 570 %o

CONTENT S

PEAS E OF TH E NAVY

BR OTH ER TO I CARU S

TH E S ALU TE

H IS B IT

— 10 0 S . C. 3

TH E D EF E N S E

TH E H A N DS OF TH E CAP TAI N

L IVE B AI T

TH E PLAI N PAT H OF DU TV

S EA FIGH TERS

PEAS E OF TH E NAVY

P afe a TH E eases N v y people . Ever since Congress P m voted Commodore ease ten nu bers for gallantry in ’ 43 e action at Vera Cruz in , ther have been several n of them in the service in every generatio . During the one o f Civil War, them went down in the ill

. . . umrl n the fated U S S C be a d before the ram of

‘ Merrimac uns as , ﬁring his last g the waves surged S over them ; while another led the van on the U . . S . Varuna when Farragut forced the forts before New “ ” P Crink Orleans . During the Spanish War , a ease , y by Annapolis nickname , in command of a converted “ yacht or spit kit as they were facetiously termed in in the Navy, engaged and sank four Spanish gunboats

o ff Crink P an action the south shore of Cuba . y ease came out o f that fight in great gusto— his decks all combed with the machine gun and rifle fi re— a thir

' teen- pounder shell through his engine room missing the main steam pipe by just three inches— happy as

a one o f . lark, without having lost his men

and After the Spanish War, his two sons , Rodman

a o Willis , both went to Ann polis , as the only p ssible 4 SEA FIGHTERS

a P d d school for ease . Roddy, the el er, graduate at the

“ foot o f his class and the head o f his football team

- and went right into the torpedo boat service , a specialty that he took to like a duck to the water ! t Willis , the younger, passed high in his s udies and was a ssigned to engineer duty . P Later, in the hilippine ruction , Roddy was there —it was a way he had o f being generally on hand when opportunities for a ﬁght came up— and far down in some forgotten ismland where the Moros were hold ing a stockade, he ca e upon the Tenth Infantry about to assault the fort and carry it by storm . It did not take Roddy half an hour to get permission to cable “ ” his admiral fo r orders to assist in the ﬁght— in

o f point of concrete fact , to land a detachment blue jackets with a machine gun and help “board the fort

in a seamanlike manner . Sawing a hole through the

stockade with the gun , after herculean labor in haul

a ing it up the hill , he and his bluej ckets , plus as many

o f the Army as could crowd in , charged into the gap ,

and hot out , after a ﬁght , cleaned every Moro in the

enclosure . One huge black hurled an assegai at

Roddy , just as the latter shot him down with his serv

ice Colt , and after the row , Roddy went back to pick

up the assegai as a keepsake . In due course of time it

’ Crink P s went to y ease study, somewhere in Cali

fornia a en , where the old captain was ending his d ys

retrait , and was hung up on wall amid chortles of ‘the

parental joy , while the mother looked on with proud PEASE OF THE NAVY 5

o f a tears mixed nxiety and satisfaction . Roddy got three numbers from Congress and was mentioned in

the . ! dispatches by admiral A material sea dog , no less “ ” Meanwhile , Willis was accumulating a molly

o f reputation in the Bureau Navigation , which directs

o f f o f the destinies o ficers , earning that sort mingled pity and contemptuous respect which the fighting man accords the scientist with no fight in him . Whatever P else he was , he was not a typical ease . Took after

one o f his mother, most likely ; those little , insipid per “ ” sons whom a Navy man is apt to fall for during his

rink infrequent social ventures ashore . What C y could ever have seen in her was more than ' his classmates

n could fathom ; she was considerable of a musicia , that was probably it . Willis played , too ; his most popular moments aboard ship were those when , seated “ at the wardroom piano , he would render My Old ” “ ” or Kentucky Home Old Black Joe in great , soul i ful , tragic chords , while the homes ck wardroom

w. gathered around to sing and gro sentimental

’ “ Willis s absurd Annapolis nickname , Mike , stuck to him and followed him all over the service . That he had no nerve , that he could be made to blush to the

o f tips his big red ears , that any sudden scare would send this blush mantling to his face like a girl , Annap

was . olis not slow to discover And when the blush was on him it made him look so absurdly like the

o f ﬂorid , red countenance the big Irish boxing master that to name him after Fighting Mike was the simul 6 SEA FI GHTERS taneous inspiration o f a dozen wags among the ” alias plebes . Willis , Mike , was never known to ” feem drag a at any of the class hops ; his awkward attempts at class athletics were pathetic ; and , in spite o f an eager willingness to do his part , he was soon dropped as impossible . This drove him to the bosom of the grinds , and as these latter have no bosom , properly speaking, he became a lonely ﬁgure , that

’

o f . despised all students , a professor s pet After graduation his nervousness and lack o f

‘ s av oir- faire made him an impossibility aboard a fight ing ship . Rigid Navy etiquette , where every act of the least midshipman must be carried o ff with a cer tain fluency under the eyes of fussy captains and f watch o ficers , the essential necessity of a certain ease of deportment when on foreign station or when a visiting fleet entailed social obligations— in these Wil lis was totally lacking and such affairs simply scared

o f him into a misery awkwardness . The fact that he

’ Crink P son was slender and good looking, also y ease s , at ﬁrst caused his various captains to send him on little

o f errands courtesy , such as to be entrusted with some f verbal message to o ﬁcer friends in the ﬂeet , and these poor Willis invariably managed to muddle up so hopelessly that a return of some other youngster

own back to his captain was needed to straighten the

out matter . He was even known to forget to salute

on acknowl the ﬂag coming aboard ship , or to fail to

ofﬁcer edge the of the deck , through sheer nervous PEASE OF THE NAVY 7

so ness , and , in due course o f time , whenever the ques

o f tion assigning Willis to a ship came up , it was a matter o f course to put him on some collier o r beef “ ” boat where his opp ortunities to run with the ball

vould y be infrequent .

o f Then came the Great War . Like millions other

- P a t red blooded citizens , the eases chafed in silence our o f o f long months swallowing insult , glozing over

’ o f the nation s plain duty to its pledged word , evading a ll the ordinary obligations o f manhood until it seemed as i f God had forgotten the United States altogether

o and did not care very much i f we existed or n . But “ ” WAR the at last the great word went forth , and

o f m rink P load sha e and dishonor was li fted . C y ease hurried to Washington and assumed a departmental desk , releasing some younger man for a ship ; and soon thereafter Roddy disappeared from the ken of friends and relatives to turn up later on a crack destroyer in European waters .

o f Willis , hoping that at last the exigencies war would give him a real ship , opened his orders with trembling ﬁngers . He read in the usual curt , num bered paragraphs : Detached from shore duty

n 2 P with the Inla d Academy . ( ) roceed at once to the

. Iceb r 3 fo r U S S e g . ( ) Report engineer duty on same . His eyes ﬁlled with tears as he dashed the d letter on the ﬂoor and groun it under his heel , hastily

out as picking it up again and smoothing it , he realized that it bore certain indorsements on its back and 8 SEA FIGHTERS w e ould require still others before it ﬁnally r turned to a pigeonhole in the Bureau o f Navigation ! ! “ A beef boat ! A Supply ship The mess kit , the

ﬂeet was sure to nickname her , when attached to the squadron ! Middies right out o f the Academy would

o f get at least the steerage ﬁghting ships , while he , a

P o ease , an ensign four years graduated , would g into

on ! she n the Great War a beef box True, mou ted four

o r - ﬁ rers submarine guns , and two three quick and

’ a t - so n i aircraft weapons , but he wouldn t get much as

u o f a look over their m zzles , but , down in the bowels t he U — vessel , a prize target for boat torpedoes , he “ would be one o f the also rans .

o f P e Well , it was the part a eas to shut his mouth

and . make no kick Others might raise a howl , or “ ” sick a congressman on the department ; he could even appeal to his father to p ull wires for a better ’ P berth ; but that wasn t the ease way , either . He

she sea ﬁ ht reported . At least would go to with the g ing squadrons ! But for months thereafter the Iceberg went with

on our own patrol squadrons coast , a most humdrum

out and peaceable occupation , doling tons of beef from the hatch nets , keeping her freezer engine going, issu

’ ing millions o f dollars worth of supplies o f every con ceiv able character from a Spit kit to a steam launch she was no more than a ﬂoating Bureau of Supplies and Accounts . And meanwhile Roddy and his destroyer were being heard from ” in Europe ! PEASE OF THE NAVY 9

But at length the home army was trained and the Iceberg was attached to a convoy squadron going to

France . Navies travel on their bellies , as well as

’ so old the armies , and the beef box was ﬂeet s most

cherished possession , and the one most likely to be

downed by a Hun submarine , for next to sinking a

o f ship full soldiers , sinking the supply ship and put ting the naval convoy ou a diet o f ship stores would be the enterprise most attractive to the Teuton mind -as producing the maximum o f results at the mini mum risk ! Willis felt that if there was to be any

excitement , his ship was tolerably certain to be in the

o f thick it , i f being the target of a submarine can be ! accorded that enviable position Also , that his part

not o f in it would , most likely , be the joy smashing

’ U sk sea periscopes p there in God s blue y and , but

instead , sudden extinction down in the dark electric

lit engine room , with the blinding glare of the torpedo and the avalanche of incoming sea as his last glimpse

o f li fe .

And so they dipped and rose over the cold , gray

Atlantic in the early spring gales , the long double line

o f ﬁghting cruisers surrounding the army transports , ’ all with their prows pointed to France , the world s l ﬁe d of glo ry for centuries past .

R ossak to the mast ! They made a funny group on the quarter- deck o f

th S . Iceber six e U . S . g , human beings , solemnly fac 10 SEA FIGHTERS

’ ofﬁcers ing each other. On the side , the captain in

bo redl at the center, y twirling his mustache ; his right f n the executive o ﬁcer, Lieutenant Comma der Hugh

o f Adams , choking back gusts merriment that threat t ened o engulf discipline ; at his left , Ensign Willis

P f o f ease, the accusing o ﬁcer, in a blue funk nervous

to his ness , trying remember part in the regulations , like a schoolboy who has forgotten his piece . On the

’ R o ssak enlisted men s side stood , the accused , in the

o f center, a great hulking Teuton , his face a ﬂood

on frightened tears ; his right , Jimmy Legs , the mas

- at- o on ter arms , thickset, stern , and impers nal ; his left the witness , Bill Barlow , ﬁrst class machinist , whose turn at the mast would come next— for the mere matter o f trying to brain R ossak with a spanner wrench because the latter had said that the Americans

Maine on blew up the to bring the Spanish War . “P P ” roceed , Mr . ease, muttered the captain dryly. “ Willis P ease blundered on unhappily : M- Mister Barlow 9 “ ” There is no such person on the ship ! interrupted the captain angrily.

o f Hugh Adams suppressed a snort laughter . Take

” ’ your time , Mike , he whispered behind the captain s back .

Willis blinked back tears o f exasperation . Why was he so damn nervous when in the least called upon ! to assert himself in public , anyhow “ sawB R o ssak n I arlow chasing around the mai

12 SEA FIGHTERS

’ ’ ’ ’ — an v e man I d gotten him , too , i f Kopke hadn t tripped me foot

“ ’ That ll do , Barlow , interrupted the captain . ” - - at . Master arms , Kopke to the mast P resently the Jimmy Legs returned , escorting

- Kopke . A smooth , blue eyed , beery customer was

Kopke, his Teuton descent sticking out all over him .

o f He was the model machinist the engine room , quiet ,

f one o f e ﬁcient, deferential , considered the best

o ff recruits the receiving ship . “ Kopke , did you overhear any conversation between ” R s k os a and Barlow ? queried the captain . “ Oh , it was nothing, captain , replied Kopke easily, J ust one of those arguments that we men occasion ally have ” was ? Do you recall what said

sir Maine Not exactly , ; something about the , I believe

“ ’ ca t in w He was right dere , p , broke in Barlo

“ ’ e an hoid woid . agerly, he every “ ! ’ Silence Kopke , it s beyond belief that any Ameri can sailor could have overheard such remarks as have been reported with such indifference as you seem to ” display . State just what you heard .

“ ’ I really wasn t paying much attention , cap tain began Kopke smoothly . “ ” Did you trip up Barlow ? — h No e stumbled over my foot. PEASE OF THE NAVY 13 The case is dismissed !” declared the captain “ - at- hopelessly . Master arms , release the accused . He turned on his heel and the party left the quarter P deck . Ten minutes later Ensign eas e stood silently

’ a ef re b o him in the privacy of the captain s stateroom . “ P “ Mr . ease , barked the captain angrily , how are we to preserv e the dignity of a trial at the mast i f you are going to conduct yourself as you did this morn ing ? Your grandfather would have turned in his

grave , your father would have spanked you out of hand, ymour brother Rodman would have held his head P in sha e for the ease name , i f any of them could have witnessed you this morning — at a mere mast trial

— enlisted men what is the matter with you , sir n glared at the slender ensign under his

brows .

’ n , I don t seem to make good at this life , P “ ease impulsively . The family sent me to

o f as a matter course , and I have been the

le Navy ever since . I get so nervous

on sa or to y do the least thing, that I

’ ” a u it— b ! lways b ngle . I cannot help it s orn in me

The captain regarded him in silence for some time . I suppose we cannot help it i f you are not a regular P ” ease like your brother Rodman , Willis , he said at “ length . I know your father well . We were ship

mates several times , and a braver and more gallant ofﬁcer never breathed ! It ’ s not your fault that you

’ did not take after him . Let s do the best we can . 14 SEA FIGHTERS

” tWho i s Kopke P he broke o ff in a more kindly tone a s if to change an unpleasant subject .

’ “ ’ ” i sir ! i l s . W l s eyes brightened He s a jewel , he exclaimed enthusiastically . The best man in my watch . Always neat and accurate , nothing ever

’ wrong with the engines when he s about— never had to report him for anything whatever

“ ’ Y e- es nice ; he s too damned , you know , returned “ ’ the captain warily . Now , for God s sake , Willis , ’ o f don t add innocence to the rest your shortcomings . Y ou heard him deliberately kill that trial this morn

’ i n ? g , didn t you I could do nothing, with only one witness against this R ossak — and you know damn well

’

was . that he could have told all that necessary We d

’ have had both o f them in the brig— that s just the reason your paragon found his memory suddenly so

. P watch very poor Now , Mr ease, you that man from ’ nowou— that s an order, sir ; do you hear it “ Yes , sir ; but I sincerely hope you are wrong “ ’ ” That ll do , interrupted the captain , waving h out of the stateroom impatiently.

or Willis stood irresolute for a moment two , a

out then bowed himself . He went at once to his st

’ room and tried to reﬂect on the captain s adm

. S o as concerning Kopke far he could recall ,

one irre seemed faultless , his error , a serious and p

one ri rable though it was , having been satis facto explained away . This mistake happened when the Iceberg was PEASE OF THE NAVY 15

sea dry dock some months before , overhauling for duty . Among other things about the engine room it h ad devolved upon Kopke to repack the stufﬁng box

’ o f the ship s screw shaft . Where this great bar of

’ out o f steel projects the ship s stern , carrying the pro f peller, there is a stu ﬁng box inside to prevent the water coming in along the shaft . It is packed with huge

o f turns greasy black packing as big as a hawser , four

r o ﬁve turns being packed in the box around the shaft .

Kopke had cut them all short, explaining that the shaft had a larger diameter inside the box than in the shaft bearings and he had cut the packing to fit the d shaft as measure in the bearings , and so , when he put it in the box , they all came a trifle short , but he hoped that the compression o f the bushing would make it tight . It did nothing o f the sort ; for when the Iceberg was floated , a small but steady leak began into the it was too afterpeak, and late to remedy it without putting the ship back in dry dock again . For so small a leak as it seemed— it amounted to about nineteen

o f tons water a watch , though , when measured later the captain would not ask the department for a redock

n ing , co tenting himself with a severe reprimand for

so to both Willis and the machinist , and they had put sea to m. Since then they had keep the afterpeak pump o o f h g g most t e time , but nothing suspicious had

the o f happened after that , except ﬁnding waste rags in the suction pipe of the afterpeak on two occa 16 SEA FIGHTERS

sions when at sea en route for France . Both times

o f the pump refused to suck, and one them happened

to be in a hurricane , when the whole shaft tunnel became ﬂooded with water before the trouble could

be located .

Now that Willis thought it over, that packing might

not have been cut short , nor that waste have b

dropped in the afterpeak by accident . These

a n on war times , and if anyone needed eye t

R o ssak in his watch it would be the two Teutons ,

Iceber the incomparable Kopke . The g was the ner pail of the ﬂeet , Willis reﬂected ; next to on

she the transports , would be the one ship that “ man Admiralty would try particularly to get . surer way to be rid of her, he realized with a sudd

u s o ff electric thrill , than to have a tr sted py slack t bolts of the screw stufﬁng box— and sink her ! Wil could picture that scene: some black hour afte

- - w— night in the twelve to four atch his watch

o f traitorous member their own crew , even , in the dim darkness of the afterpeak— once the

a woul two bolts were unscrewed , that le ky packing blow out like a cork— and nothing on earth coul

Iceber save the g from foundering.

Two nights later Willis was awakened by a

r unusual occurrence , the cessation of the regular th

n of the e gine . He jumped o ut of his berth room . Outside his porthole he could PEASE OF THE NAVY 17

out shouts , and , looking over the black racing waters ,

saw he here and there twinkling lights that ﬂashed

signals . The destroyer convoy ! Somewhere out in

off o f the Atlantic , the broadside the French coast, t P hey had met their destroyer escort . resently a launch ranged alongside and an ofﬁcer went up the

gangway . Under the glare of a searchlight Willis

watched the two seamen holding the grim , gray , iron

’ shell of the warship launch off the ship s sides with

long boat hooks . The forward man , a tall , rangy

in Middle Westerner , with no chin , and barefooted

o f to the spite the freezing weather , hung tenaciously

‘ pole , meeting the surge of the sea with powerful

o f n thrusts his body . Aster , a short , stocky, hook

nosed sea dog , also barefooted , with his pants rolled

-k up nearly to his knees , jammed his boat hoo into a ’ big iron ring in the ship s skin . Willis could not have

out e lived ther ﬁve minutes without his overcoat on ,

’ but these men were true barnacles of Neptune s trident , f o . own real men the sea Yet his brother , Roddy , was

’ a n im h lmost as rugged . Why hadn t Nature give

’ s mrink P ! o e of C y ease s iron stamina The swash o f waves told o f a destroyer ranging

- alongside . She passed at half cable length and seemed I ’ to stop a little in front of the ceberg s b ows . Looking

saw astern Willis a second destroyer in line with the

set o f the ﬁrst , while between them a ﬂoats showed

line of the torpedo net , spread like a screen , protecting

’ m . e the Iceberg s sides fro submarine attack Som 18 SEA FIGHTERS

l where out yonder over the dark waters were , no doubt ,

the ﬂanking destroyers , with their ready depth bombs , guarding the net trailers ; he wondered i f Roddy was

o n one of them .

’ The Iceberg s engines began to throb again and she

o f took her place in the line ships proceeding to France .

Willis could hardly sleep with excitement , and it seemed but a minute before the machinist o f the eight to - twelve watch was poking him in the ribs with the ” a sir ! nnouncement , Twenty minutes to twelve , He dressed hurriedly and went on deck before going k below to ta e over his watch . The range lights

Iceber showed the g in the transport line , with a double

so th line of destroyers to port and starboard , that e whole convoy pushed on to France steaming down a

guarded lane . Far out over the waste o f waves was mthe ﬂeet , its searchlights scouring the seas for sub arines , while the ﬂanking destroyers patrolled

adjacent waters within torpedo range . Willis w

, below looked at his ﬁres , felt his bearings , and rel

McInt r - - e, t y the ensign of the eight o twelve . “ ’ Everything s O . K . but the afterpeak ” “ plugged again , grinned that worthy . Wish you luc ” o f it !

This time Willis found the shaft tunnel awash and f the suction pipe clogged with a solid ball o waste ,

evidently rolled that way by human hands , and he was now convinced that someone on board was bent on at least jeopardizing the ship ’ s safety by putting

20 SEA FIGHTERS

P ing a s he ran to his battle station . resently the clash o f a sword against iron railings announced Lieutenant

McInt re Andrews , the chief , followed by y of the “ ” - - eight to twelve . I brought you down yours , Willis , laughed the latter nervously , handing him his sword .

“ ’ ou It s battle stations , y know , and you had best put

’ — — o u . yours mind the Blue Book , old top it s reg , ” you know ! A cheer from up on deck ﬂoated to them amid the

o f f sea barking guns and the thud o others ﬁred far at , ’ s P ‘ . S felt through the ship s side uddenly aine , an oiler, came running down the four ladders which led from the cylinder tops to the engine room ﬂoor . We ’ P ” “ ’ h . . t ink they ve got her, Mr ease , he gurgled It s a see two ! lmost dawn and we could destroyers make

and— ! for where the periscope was last seen , say , it was ﬁne— they dropped depth bombs and you could

‘ s ee - sub d the spouts , a dozen of them how any coul live under such ﬁre seems impossible !”

“ ’ P o f Thanks , aine, but get out here ; you re not supposed to come down here at all ; and i f the chief sees you P e ain vanished, and Willis went around back of

- the main condenser to test the air pump bearings .

Kopke should have been on duty here , but he was

e nowhere to be seen . With a ﬂash o f suspicious recol lection , Willis dashed on aft to the shaft alley . Sup pose those devils

s et m He down the s oky torch outside the tunnel and! N 2 1 PEASE OF THE AVY .

d crept along the planks in pitchy arkness , feeling for the rolling shaft with his left hand . A dull glow a hundred feet aft down the long iron cavern— someone was in the afterpeak ! Willis crept on , catlike . Two dim ﬁgures were working over the f b x stu ﬁng o , a lurid torch giving a faint light from the platform at the end o f the planking . The water still

the out swashed below , for pump had not yet cleared the peak .

had and Nearer. They each a wrench were work ing feverishly at the huge ﬂange ! It h ad a ring of

- — at twenty four bolts in it , Willis knew least ten

o f — wn minutes fast work to unscrew them all , but he

two o ff! the last came

“

Nearer . He was now in the afterpeak itself , ten of feet behind the workers . A ring bare boltheads stared at him ; only four nuts left , and the wrenches went round and round as fast as hands could turn !

Willis called on his gods for courage , and silently drew his sword and fastened the sword knot securely around his wrist . It had been the fashion to sneer

’ at this bodkin in the wardroom , as an obsolete weapon of no use compared to a good pine baseball bat— but

ow! n

off Two more nuts came , and now the water came

in — spouting in a great ring shaped shower , squirting around the sufﬁng —box ﬂange and dashing into the “ ” o f . hn ll li win faces the workers S c e ! Gesc d ! ordered

one o f . them , working furiously at his bolthead 22 SEA FIGHTERS

” Halt ! Willis was surprised at the force o f his ’ own — it Crink P voice sounded more like y ease s than! the gentle lisp in which he was accustomed to give his orders .

r The two turned suddenly , facing him with thei ! ’ ” backs to the ship s stufﬁ ng box— and the lamplight ﬂickered on the faces of Kopke and R ossak ! “ ” Drop those wrenches ! ordered Willis . ” P ' uite . Not q yet , Mr ease , retorted Kopke grimly ” memen ov we have business for them . An arm

was behind his back appraised Willis that he stil

‘ working secretly at the last nut .

“ ’ ’ S ! or ou top Don t move , I ll kill y in your tracks, !” Kopke shouted Willis , sp ringing forward with his sword at point . “ N ot P the Kopke , Ensign ease , said other suavely;

Armh r ee but Lieutenant von , of the Imperial Ger

at . Rossak n s man Navy , your service , ﬁnish those ut , ” a while I ttend to this crazy Yankee , he grunted , and;

who brandishing the wrench , he sprang at Willis , found his poor skill with the sword at once put to the utmost proof .

ou Arm y heer wd Willis lunged again , but arde with

— a deft movement of the wrench oh , he knew single

- n stick , all right, Willis noted and then he beat dow ’ Willi s mik s acel e guard with a smash of the wrench .

o f The blow glanced , but the mere touch it on his shoulder hurt cruelly and it roused in Willis a savage PEAS E OF THE NAVY 234

a d H nger that he never reamed lay in him . e struck!

a ! back ﬁercely , and just as he lunged , with mighty P ong ! the ﬂange blew off and a deluge o f sea water

R ossak d t drove hea long into them . The sword wen

right through his fat body, but Willis and von Arm wso o f thatl heer ere transported with the fury battle t r hey hardly noticed him o the water either . Striking. in! and stabbing at each other, they were borne back

a u o f sea r sh foam , like two men in the grip of the, l surf . The water rose around them and the tunne

h c extin planks ﬂoated crazily underfoot . With t e

uishin o f but :g g the torch it had become pitch dark, ; ’ still Willis could feel his adversary 3 steel . He stabbed

nowmedin . blindly, the swirling waters p g his arms I H e felt his point strike bone ; he heard a coughing!

’ Armh r l t ee s groan and a sudden plash , hen strokes ceased to seek him out in the inky blackness ! He!

wa on s m , borne down the tunnel with the racing cur

en and a few n s an r t , moments later his ha ds truck

— iron wall . It was the bulkhead but they had closed

- a the sliding water tight iron gate . He was lone; t d a d n rat— and swstead rappe like row ing iftly, ily

he t water rose.

e the n was t his s Upon the bridg captai s raining eye

e d wthe o f the h ov r the gray awn , striving ith roll s ip in to hold the destroyer the field o f his binoculars . f “ ’ Suddenly she flew a line o signal flags . Submarine s 24 SEA FIGHTERS

” sunk, sir ! said the grizzled quartermaster, reading “ ’ P m. hle the It s the S c y, Lieutenant Rodman ease commanding.

“ ’ ” that ! e acu Thank God , we didn t get torpedo j P ! lated the captain fervently . Roddy ease , eh ! ! Always right there Gad , what a boy I wish Willis

Just then the engine- room speaking tube screeched and the quartermaster jumped to answer it .

A hideous expression o f fright went over his face .

“ ’ ’ dl mi — ur God e ht ca t n s o g y, p the ship s inking under !” feet he gasped .

“ ’ The ship s sinking ! Who says it ! ’ Lieutenant Andrews , sir He says the water s pouring in out of the shaft alley in a ﬂood “ Tell him to close the water- tig ht bulkhead door

“ ’ ” sir ! It s being done ,

Let me at that tube . The captain questioned the

“ ’ chief excitedly . Here s a ﬁne mess , Adams , he

at f growled the executive o ﬁcer, who had come over

“ ’ from the port side o f the bridge ; the ship s sinking

’ under us ! Andrews says the shaft alley s full of water . ’ ’ He s getting the bulkhead door closed , but there s no telling how long the shaft will run before it works the

’ o il out and the bearings gum fast . Where s Ensign P ease he asked , turning to the tube again . Not there ! P ut him under arrest when you

ﬁnd him . He was supposed to be on duty In the

’ engine room . I m coming below at once ! PEASE OF THE NAVY 25

” e d a ! the n Tak the bri ge, Ad ms ordered captai “ ’ ! hastily . I ve got my hands full below And when

P e s — Roddy eas come aboard quartermaster, signal the S chley to board us as soon as he can— send him on ” down to the engine room . A racket o f pumps greeted the captain as he reached

The the top grating around the big cylinder heads .

on din engine throbbed endlessly , but above its orderly b o f o f . rose the shrill click dozens pumps It oded ill ,

- he and hurried down the four ladders , past the ﬂying

crossheads and the whirling connecting rods , down to the iron platform at the level o f the spinning crank

shafts . “ ” a ll the ? Why pumps , Andrews shouted the cap

tain above the noise . “ Can ’ t get the bulkhead door shut tight !” yelled the

ne chief. Some o has j ammed a cold chisel in the n bottom o f the guides and we dare ot open it again . We have the tank manholes open and are pumping out ” all that comes— Look !

- He pointed at the shaft alley bulkhead door, from “ ' under which gushed a ﬂat stream o f sea water. We ” r wn is a he can just about hold ou o until a plug m de ,

added . ’ Where s Pease ’ ’ ” he on d ? Haven t seen him . Isn t eck somewhere

The captain stepped to the bridge speaking tube .

the Tell Mr. Adams to have my orderly search ship

for P and . Ensign ease report , he ordered 26 SEA FIGHTERS

o f rascinated They watched the ﬂow water, n A “ ’ e machinist came up to Andrews . Sh s gaining on the ” pumps , sir, he saluted . “ on — Hook the evaporator pumps , then and report , “ ’ barked Andrews . We ll have a wooden wedge made to stop it soon, captain ; but we can hardly hold her ” a now s it is . ’ P resently the o rderly came down . Can t ﬁnd ” P sir . Ensign ease anywhere , , he reported

The captain looked blankly at Andrews . What in ? the devil do you suppose this means , Andrews Is ” li e— could in there! h he be he gasped oarsely , point ing to the shaft alley .

’ Not and still be a live— it s full o f water !

’ No demurred Andrews , shaking his head . it isn t there must be air trapped along the roof o f the tunnel

— when the equilibrium of pressure is established , you know he corrected . “ ” God ! one jumped the captain suddenly . Some

’ ” is tapping on the inside o f that bulkhead ! It s he I They both rushed to the door and put their ears

it. d against The tapping came from insi e , but high up , about where the top o f the shaft alley would come . “ ’ ” Listen ! He s signaling Morse !

T - r e They put their ears to the steel plate . ap sc ap ta t - r - - a sc a e ta ta ta ! . p, p p , p p p went the signals The captain and chief translated the letters together : “ P — ” m ease drill hole here with breast drill ! A achin ist was hurried to the spot , and swiftly the small bit

28 SEA FIGHTERS

air surgeon . How long can a man live under the pressure that must be above the water in that tunnel , doctor ?”

The surgeon shook his head . An hour , at most . Divers come out o f the bell bleeding at the ears and

’ - nose after a half hour shift . For my part , I d rather open the door and let the ship go , if we can dash in ” and save him .

The captain demurred sadly These are war times , doctor . Thousands of lives depend upon this ship . I f f I have to sacriﬁce an o ﬁcer to keep her in the line,

— it wr on it shall be done is a , no less than the battle ” ﬁeld .

’ n The captain s orderly touched him o the sleeve . P ” sir . Lieutenant Rodman ease , , he announced saluting.

“ ’ ’ e The captain whirled around . I m afraid you r : ” here at a very solemn occasion , my boy , said the cap

’ tain , interrupting the other s greeting and query con

’

. 0 a t cerning Willis N , your brother s not under rres

’ ’ — he s covered himself with glory instead— but it sJ ” o touch and go whether he comes ut o f it alive . “ P !” “ ’ Trust a ease for that laughed Roddy . What s ” the hero stunt ? Willis was never much on heroics . “ ” - ! Engine room heroism broke in Andrews , with

“ ’ ' e shining eyes . Captain , it s my turn to sp ak . Your,

‘ brother never had any chance for grand - stand plays

’ with the whole ﬂeet looking on , Rod , such as you fellows who escape engineer assignments are always PEASE OF THE NAVY 29

getting ; but he has j ust fought two spies single- handed

who tried to sink the ship , killed them both “ w” “ ” Wo ! . ! yelled Roddy Willis incredulously . ” ‘ ! Willis kill anybody Well , good for him ! “ — f r Let me ﬁnish , please and is now ﬁghting o his

own h wo ! li fe , not against men with weapons can be

a th seen and beaten in the open , but gainst e pitiless forces o f cold science “ ” N0 ! Where ? ” In— there! said Andrews , pointing solemnly at

- e the shaft alley bulkhead , and he rapidly sketch d the

“ ’ situation— and darned i f I know how the boy s going ” “

out . be to get himself , he concluded There must three feet o f water above that shaft— yet a man might treach a nd on it with his feet , push the ﬂange back

’ now again , that the water s quiet in the shaft tunnel , but where would he get the nuts to hold it on with

’ And , I m sorry to add , that whatever he does will

have to be done quickly , for no man can live under that ” pressure , put in the doctor .

- Roddy looked at them , aghast . This cold blooded d eath , alone , ﬁghting , not men , but cold engineering

o f — facts air pressure and water alone in the dark , iron tunnel— it was not the way he hoped to meet his

! o r end Rather, far rather, the swi ft bullet the burst

in g shell , with Old Glory ﬂoating in the rigging amid

o f the roar battle , up in the smoke and clouds and the blue sea— tha t was the death he cherished ! This

clammy iron grave made him quail . SEA FI GHTER S

’ i ? h e Can t we chance the bulkhead door, capta n , “ ’ queried tremulously . I ll be the ﬁrst to dash inside, ” “ ” m- — m- m to rescue y his voice shook y brother !

. O The captain shook his head N , Roddy , this ship: he th means too much to our country , and would be e

it— he so ten first to order us not to try did , not ! ’ m en minutes ago , in fact Here s where we fighting have to drop out and let brains fight science . Chief,

’ ’ ” it s up to you ; can t you do something ?

They all turned appealingly to Andrews . “ I f we had an air compressor aboard ship I could hook her in and blow the water out Of that tunnel ; but , doc, you say he could not live long under such ” pressure anyhow . “ out Long enough to get the door Open and get him , “ ’ a md o e anyway, burst in Roddy . C n t you try it s how 5 e u The chief bowed his head. W have no suc

5, thing a s an air compressor a board this ship “ !” Dammit shouted Roddy . Somebody think of ! ’ ! something I m going to speak to him , anyhow He pulled the cork out of the hole and shouted Willis !”

No answer. “ ” illis ! W he yelled .

No answer.

They waited hopelessly ten minutes more , Roddy going more and more wild with anxiety . “ ” ou mus t ! Captain , y open that door he raved . I PEASE OF THE NAVY 31 demand it ! What are a few hundred tons of water to ’ ! out ou can a ship like this I ll get him , and then y catch up with the pumps- hook in the main condenser air pump , i f necessary

Suddenly— Tap- tap- tap !” Roddy jumped to the plug . Hello , Mike he yelled . “ ! ? Hello That you , Roddy Did you get the ” sub?

! ou Yes ; dammit , never mind that How are y hold ting out ?

“ ’ on and s hored ! I ve got that ﬂange , Tell them to ! Open the door Get all tank manholes open , as there will be a lot of water

’ ” Open the door ! He s got her s hared ! yelled “

i the . O en Roddy, danc ng about engine room p her , I say ! A machinist sprang up the stairs to the winch

. whis handle Andre s sent men scurrying to open all

ﬂoor- tank hatches so as to drink down all the water

Th . the pumps could not take . e door slowly rose A huge ﬂood Of sea water poured out into the crank pit . The cranks took it and whirled it in showers all over

O of the engine room . ther machinists brought turns it packing, ready to dash into the alley and drive

- around the ﬂange o f the stufﬁng box for a stop gap .

on s o f e and The water poured in , into the bilge engin b n oiler room , and surged against the iro plates with

e o f . e in e the r ach roll the ship More cam ov r ﬂoo , 32 SEA FIGHTERS

c l and the aptain looked grave , for it on y had three feet more to rise to reach the boiler ﬁres . But the chief reassured him , and the din of the pumps redoubled . Clouds o f steam wafted through the engine room like huge vaporous genii , and through it all went on the

o f ceaseless throb the engine , the ceaseless whirl of

u - - the crank shaft , and the endless p and down of the f pistons and crossheads . The deck O ﬁcers quailed under this appalling mani festation of forces far beyond their ken— ﬁ v e thousand horsepower let loose in that lurid engine room ! And before them stood yawning the open door o f the o ut O f bulkhead , of which belched a foam sea water and great gulps of compressed air. Roddy .

o f holding aloft a torch , dashed in at the head the

o f rescue party , stemming the current water up to his

o f waist, dodging the whirling ﬂanges the main shaft as best he might . On and on , through the darkness

out he pressed , until he finally made a dim figure standing beside the stuffing box on a single plank which had lodged across the iron beams as the water

o f had settled . A spray salt ocean still spurted out all around the shaft , but already there were two bright nuts over the boltheads , and Willis was busily turn

on ing another. !” Dive , boys , dive for them he called cheerily. Thank God we don ’ t need the shores now !”

They looked aloft , and from the dim roof o f the e tunnel two planks , ﬁrmly wedg d against the iron PEASE OF THE NAVY 33

e f gussets , reached down to the flang of the stu fing “ ” box , shoring it firmly in its place in the stern bear ing . Two machinists plopped down into the depths O f the afterpeak and came up with a missing nut in either hand . Willis and the others caught them from their hands and turned them swiftly on the boltheads .

By the time a dozen O f them were in place , it was safe to knock away the shores and complete the circle o f boltheads . Then other men from the engine room started driving in packing between the flan ge a nd f the bearing, which , while by no means as e ficient as l the regu ar packing in its proper place in the bearing, would suffice to hold the water at bay until the ship r n eached Fra ce .

rmn o f The captain laid an a o the shoulder each of “ ” P - P ! the two eases . A true blue ease , Willis he com “ f o f mended , patting them a fectionately . Chip the old ! see Crink P e block , Roddy I wish I could y eas

’ ‘ o f two in when he reads the admiral s mention you orders !” Willis carefully unwound the gold sword knot from his wrist and wiped the dull blade o f his dangling weapon preparatory to r eplacing it in the scabbard . “ ” sir ! Some bodkin , he smiled at the captain through his clenched teeth . But the savage glint that still smoldered in his eyes was that O f ﬁghting Crinky P ease ! BROTHER TO ICARUS

TH a wo f E sea was smooth and oily ; thick rack d u mugginess hung over the easy groun swell rolling p‘

from the northeast . The Lion was purring, but the;

men who sailed over him trusted him not in the least .

. . N ottin h m c a on The U S Destroyer g , patrol man u

vers , clipped over the oily seas , rolling easily as she;

on d took them her starboard bow . The water seeme

to race past her slim sides , and the ship herself to be,

so o f standing still , silent and smooth was the action |

her turbines . Commander Elmer Bradshaw , U . S . N

e h ff ! paced her bridg uneasily . The air e sni ed seemed too hot and close ; like a proper sailorman he smelled “ ” and a o f weather, fter the mild southwest gale the

a last few days , this sleek calm foretold big we ther,

ahead .

on a nd d at A messenger came up the bridge stoo , “ ’ ” sir salute . Barometer s , he announced . ! “ ” so ! I told you , Jim the commander called across

. a . the bridge to the exec , who was also n vigator “ ’ ’ We ll have some real sporty doin s a round these parts soon . “ ” Looks nice ! observed that gentleman sarcastically . ’ ! Falling barometer, after that little sou wester

’ Ought to be piling up on us pretty soon . You wouldn t 34

36 SEA FIGHTERS

tlt eheadpiece and handing it to the commander . Brad shaw slipped it over his head and clapped the listening

tubes in his ears . “ ” T ? . hat you , Les he called ’ ? ” ! P a . Sure Hello , What s up came back the

’ “ P ws a a a younger brother s ca reless voice . his te sing

o nickname for the commander , a c mprehensive denial of his parental rights as elder brother . “ ’ ? ” What s up retorted the commander sternly .

o ! out— Lo k at your barometer , man You clear hear

’ ? a me All halleluj h s going to break loose down here , ! !” in shiploads The glass is now , and falling “ ” ’ Aw ! GO run a steamboat ! jeered the Kid s voice . ’ What s a barometer - reading in my young life ! We

’ ” use t em to tell alti ude by, son . “ sea Well , you know what means at level , 'don% you ? ”

“ ’ ! Low- “ ol Sure pressure hard climbing , but this

’ boat ll zoom up ten thousand feet if I want her to “ ” N O ! N o ! Doggon e it ! The commander pounded

“ ’ o his ﬁst d wn on the instrument desk . You don t nu derst nd bi a a ll . h these g circular storms at , Les T is is going to be a hurricane , Kid , a regular night — ’ blooming swozzle and it ll take that kite Of yours

o ff and twist it int splinters at the very ﬁrst pu . Clear

’ gout and make for your shore station at once— that s ” a n order ; do you understand ?

A messenger touched him on the shoulder . Barom ’ eter s sir ! BROTHER TO ICARUS 37 The commander waved acknowledgement and went “ On : ? at the transmitter Fly up over it Doggone it , ’ ! 11 u ‘ Les , you can t You get shut p in it, and you

’ ’ haven t gas enough to stay up three days — you couldn t

s to t tay up ten hours . The only thing do is o clear| Th out and on b . e o , do it the dou le glass is d wn, ”

n w. here o “ ! See here , Elmer , I have my orders from the shore

’ station , and I ve had no recall yet began Leslie, hufﬁl y. “ ’ ! n Dar your orders ; I rank you , and I ll take all

— responsibility . Start for shore right away you can get there in three hours . And say , boy , i f this thing does ou le t hit y , face the wind and turn to the f ; other

’ wise you ll be going right into the cyclone center get me ? ” ” — I ! ‘ Yea got you came back the teasing tones .

’ Only , you old sea turtle , I ll j ust zoom up over it , and let her rip a hundred miles an hour out o f here for home— while your Old tin pot will be hammering her way through it at a hundred feet an hour !

’ ” — - b . ! Good y, you dry dock Le s go “ !” Well , beat it , anyway, foolish laughed the com

- he mander good naturedly , seeing that had won his

“ ’ ’ ’ it s point . Don t linger ; this storm s traveling , and ” going to hit us any minute now . He took o ff the receiver and got up from the elec

’ trician s sea chair . An o minous slap of a heavy

’ against the destroyer s quarter brought him on deck 38 S EA FIGHTERS

' ou . the run The wind was still faint and variable , almost a ﬂat calm , but out of the northeast huge swells w i ere piling up , one after another, each more majest c than the last . The destroyer was beginning to roll

she . lviciously , as turned in a long circle to face them The comman der wrestled his way forward past

on trim pairs of torpedo tubes their swivel mounts ,

fi r m eroo p ast the ventilator cowls of the , and the four slim smokestacks , all camouflaged in j azz paint . f u He stopped to speak to his gunnery O ficer , a yo ng ensign seated on the iron stool atop a pair o f torpedo

on tubes , his hat jammed with the visor backward , his eye glued to the sighting telescope , his hands e maneuvering the training wh el . “ o ff w Knock torpedo drill , Barlo , and sound ‘ !’ Secure he ordered . Lock every gun and torpedo tube fast ; clear away and stow all gear ; and lash on ’ the canvas covers- we re going to have a bit Of ” weather presently .

He worked forward to the bridge , as the staccato “ ” bugle notes o f Secure ! rang out and the crews

off . knocked torpedo practice . Jim Sloan , the exec ,

O f met him at the gangway , his face full concern . “ Glass has dropped to skipper .

’ Great cats ! The bottom s dropping out o f the Sk !” “ y groaned the commander . And Les is up in it somewhere ! Have you got everything all secure ? T‘ h u e wind o ght to hit us any time now . “ ” ! N O ! Your brother , the aviator , up in it cried BROTHER TO ICARUS 39

’ Sloan sympathetically . Yes , sir , I ve got nearly

— everything stowed cleaning up Odds and ends now . The commander looked aft along the reeling decks O f the three hundred feet O f Slender steel warship that

was ( his charge . His torpedo tubes were swung inboard and secured fore and a ft ; his guns were f mu ﬂed in their canvas covers , his cutter boats double ' and lashed, stanchions rails taken down and stowed ;

even the bare awning rafters over the quarter- deck

‘ N o ttin hamfor had been sent below . The g was ready

the gale .

But he was now more than ever worried over Leslie .

lair The boy had a f for aviation , and he knew all “ ” in about motors and air waves , and seaplane dope

eneral ‘ and g , he was supposed to know something Of nav rg ation and seamanship ; but the latter was but book knowledge read over at the training school , and n o doubt a glorious jumble o f half - remembered facts t ’ ’ . w a in the youngs er s mind In his man s y , the com

mander loved Leslie , with the rough , domineering

n tenderness of a fussy a d critical elder brother . Since A Colonel Bradshaw , C . S . . , had died Elmer had been in loco ar ntis p e to Leslie . The commander was a typical sea dog ; he loved his ship and all on board

’ o f her with a man s comradeship , and they occupied most o f his thoughts ; but his family affections were centered on his mother and Les— that slim young

ﬁgure in its sprack aviation uniform , with its smooth ,

re solute , boyish young face , its laughing , teasing 40 SEA FIGHTERS

o brown eyes , its ﬁnely penciled eyebr ws , its regular aristocratic features , its air of insolent daring, care

’

O f . less death and danger For Les was a man s boy , one that an Older man could love for the very qualities that he himself lacked . Supremely conﬁdent in him “ ” and self his boat , callous to a thousand dangers that would worry and beset an older man , Les had the youth and the nerve that are required to win a com

ﬂ er mission as a seaplane y .m And every time the com ander thought of him , he saw - , through him , that pretty little white haired lady “ ” a love who was always de r , jolly, capable Muz to

o f . them both . Les was the image his mother He

the . was her darling , her baby , baby of the family A scene indelibly stamped in the commander ’ s memory

Was that ﬁnal parting on the great white - columned porch o f the plantation manor down in South Caro

she lina , when had kissed them both farewell , and the war had called Elmer to his ship and Les to the training school . She loved Elmer , her ﬁrst born , as only a mother can love— but She worshipped Les !

Elmer had felt , then , more than ever like a father to him when he had stood aside at that war- time separa tion and she had fondled Les like a baby and had wept over him as i f he were still a toddler in skirts . And that responsibility weighed heavily on him now. The commander glanced to windward where the smooth , mountainous seas swept down on them

out o f endlessly the inexhaustible northeast . The B ROTHER TO ICARUS 4 1

slim destroyer bucked and plunged like a race horse , cleaving the sleek hillocks O f water with her Sharp

prow , and rolling incredibly , her crew hanging on like grinning monkeys to stay and stanchion to keep from

being pitched bodily overboard . Bradshaw clung to

s ee the bridge rail , half determined to go below and i f

Les had really gotten away . “ !” Then Listen he exclaimed , hand cupped to ear . ‘Hear it ? Here comes the wind ! From far down over the western horizon came a low moan from under the characteristic white arch

‘ o f f o f a hurricane ; then the remote , mu ﬂed gnashing

angry seas , coming nearer and nearer ; then a serried

line of tumbling white , stretching under black skies

across the horizon from north to south , spread over the sea and rolled swiftly toward them ; and then a foaming front o f roaring water swept down upon

o f them , obliterating everything in ﬂying sheets white Spindrift that drove past them in blizzards o f pelting

— sea foam a Hatteras cyclone of prodigious strength .

N ottin h m a The g bore northwest , plunging across it , a s Sheets o f spray and rain beat against the chart

one house portholes . One by , driven from the outer bridge , all but the lookouts , who were swathed in

be glistening Oilskins , dashed for its iron door , to h o f urled bodily into the room , propelled by Sheets s olid water . o The wind gauge jumped to eighty miles an h ur,

— a to a hundred , to a hundred and twenty t one hundred 42 SEA FIGHTERS

the and ﬁfty its needle ﬁnally quivered , as commander

O f - stared unbelievingly . The vibration wind riven

steel hummed and trembled all over the ship , rising to a high - pitched whine that heightened steadily in key . Outside , the wind blew with such force that to make way against it the commander had to drive him

O i self forward with all the strength heel and foot .

n r aided by the pull o f his grip o rail o stanchion . It

o f sub combed at him as i f made some solid , gluey

in stance , stopping the breath his nostrils , beating like a drum in his ears , tearing at cape and greatcoat with

ﬁerce invisible ﬁngers . The two starboard boats stove in and splintered by the smash of boarding seas , went by the side with

o f the ﬁrst blast the gale , and their planks and ribs were whisked off to sea without a sound o f their

o f destruction audible above the roar the storm . Iron

was deck gear, presumably lashed fast, ripped up and

on went overboard , noiselessly as a movie screen , for the crash and grind o f ﬁxtures torn adrift made not the slightest impression in the deafening shriek of the cyclone . n The comma der, going inside , peered aft through a chart house porthole , to watch eight seamen untying the lashings o f a narrow strip of awning that had not Th . e yet been secured instant it was loose , the wind wou f a hipped it t o their h nds as i f they had been children , and nailed it ﬂat down on the wet topsides , where the strength of four of them together could

44 SEA FIGHTERS d Bradshaw laughed cordially. He love every man

a and so j ck on his ship , far as he could , he let dis cipline adjust itself to the ingrained democracy o f the “ “ Navy . Sure , Bill , said he , most of us will be tied

’ ’ up in bowknots— and our in ards ll be braided— by the ” time we get ashore ! Wow ! Look at tha t one ! The whole top o f a roller forty feet high was being whipped o ff a s by the gale he spoke . It Sleeted over the destroyer, the water rattling against her steel plates like ttin m N o ha Shrapnel bullets . The g staggered under it , shook o ff the water in sheets from her steel sides and then rose like an elevator up the Slope , her stern buried

o f in the foam her wake . “ ’ P rickl A dam good old packet is the U . S . S . y ” H ea t! drawled the exec . admiringly , watching this

’

s . performance . She rides a lively as the ship s gig ”

! . ! Whoops Grab , boys Here comes another one

The commander, worrying again over Les , picked “ o m t up the telephone the wireless roo . Ayres , get

’ ” on Ensign Bradshaw s bearings the compass receiver , he ordered . He hung it up and grabbed for the brass

to P rail as the destroyer rolled her beam ends . res ently it buzzed , and he braced heel against foot on the “ slanting deck as he put the receiver to ear . Seventy ? Seven degrees , thirty minutes , eh What does he say for himself ? Up nine thousand feet and doesn ’ t know where he ? ’ !” is Well , we ll soon Show him He shot a glance h over at the exec . as he started to hang up t e receiver. BROTHER TO I CARUS 45

h Hold him , Ayres , just a minute , he added throug the instrument . Then he took up the parallel rulers

AS and laid them on the chart . the little black rubber

out o f o bar reached across the chart , a look h rror gathered in his eyes . His jaw dropped ; his breath choked in his throat ; his eyes popped under their bushy brows . “ ” H e—ell ! boys he almost screamed , staring at the “ ”

. ou i line , aghast Do y know where the Kid s ?

The bridge looked up . It was not O ften that they

“ ’ heard the commander swear . Hope he hasn t got ” a n himself into y trouble , said Sloan concernedly , coming over to the chart frame . “ Trouble ! echoed the commander excitedly .

’ ” was ! — on Here s where he indicating a pin prick the “ — — — chart . And this bearing puts him right square ” — in — o i ! the center the cyclone he groaned , looking “ at them solemnly . He must have turned to the right hit instead Of the left when the wind him . Take the

’ ” bridge , Jim . I ve got to go below and talk to him .

He groped his way hurriedly through the corridors , and entering the wireless room snatched the receiver ’ “ ? ” mb . ou fu from Ayres hand That y , Les he called , “ in ling with the head piece . What the devil did you ” bear to the right for ? DO you know where you are! he thundered .

“ ’ P a I had to , , came Leslie s voice , still using the nickname with which he teased his older brother . “ The wind hit me from the southeast ; to go to the 46 SEA FIGHTERS

l eft as you said would land me clear out in the

Atlantic . “ From the s outheast! choked the commander. My God !” “ ’ P a— ? What s the matter, swearing You seem all !” het up gibed Leslie . ’ ” bo — tra ed ! Matter , y you re pp fulminated Brad “ s Shaw , glancing at Ayres with tragic eyes . Thi

’ ’ damn thing s a huge funnel , maybe ten miles high ,

’ ’ we — and ! t for all know you re inside of it It can

be over twenty miles wide at the base , Since you struck

S on o f s O f outheast wind your Side it , and in tead ﬂying ’ out it— ou n et , you went right into and now y ca t g

’ ! ou w t out I told you y didn t kno anything abou

! be u cyclones Kid , it must a regular maelstrom p there “ ” is ! L e and It rather sporty came back esli , calm cherubic with the conﬁdence o f youth— nothing seri

“ ’ o us ! all could ever happen to him And I m skied ,

! is o f right Below me a whirling sea clouds , and all

a o f round the horizon is a wall them , driven along

’ ’ 1 ‘ ﬂat by a wind that I can t force the 0 boat through .

Been across it already . Easy ﬂying, but some gusty,

’ ’ - . it low in here Can t zoom up over pressure s too . ’ on nown e u h Got top speed her , and in tho is as hig ’ ” o as she ll g . “ ” ot ? How much gas have you g left , Les asked the

o f commander shakily, visions having to face a heart BROTHER TO I CARUS 47

k e t e — wt L — ﬂoatin bro en littl mo h r ithou es g through

his mind . “ ’ !” Oh , bout four hours chuckled Les . Scared , ” P a ? “Aw ” ou , y make me sick ! exploded the older

“ ’ ’ brother. For Heaven s sake , i f you don t value your

’ own e f — o lif , think your mother you ll break her

’ ’ ! o f heart You ve got to get out this , Kid , and I ve ” ot t — g o help you somehow .

Might drop down through the bank below me ,

’ — ventured Les . But what d the sea be like eh “ ” I tell you what it would be like ! snarled the com

“ ’ mander. That center circle s just a tumbling mass o f — chops seas three times as high as this Ship , bang

‘ ing up ag a inst each other from every point o f the compass . Neither you nor I would live there ten ’ ” minutes . They d tear you up like a matchbox .

“ ’ ” — be in ! . Well , I ll there four hours cut in Leslie

’ down out This kite s coming when the gas gives

’ ” b liev e me ! n — The comma der swore savagely . Yes dammit

’ ’ you ll be there ! And you ll last about as long as a

’ in o f baby a pack wolves , unless there s a reception

’ committee waiting for you ! This packet s going into that storm center after you— but the point will be for you to ﬁnd us “ ! ! ’ i ! Gee owie ! My M . G s gumm ng chirped

’ “ B - b L . eslie s fresh young voice , interrupting y y, 4 8 SEA FIGHTERS

P - rrrrrr And the telephone trailed off into an i unintellig ble blur, growing fainter and fainter , until d ’ no more sound came to the comman er s ears . ff Bradshaw took o the head piece helplessly , and ! !” turned to Ayres . Trapped , Ayres Skied he

on n quavered , leaning the sympathy of the electricia “ ’ as an old man totters to some support . My brother s got himself into the danger circle Of this cyclone !

— m P u icture it , Ayres p in a da n , fool machine that is

or ! e sure to kill its man sooner later And this outsid ,

' - wav in his here g hand at the roaring spume that beat against the portholes all around him !”

“ ’ ’ ” It s turr ble ! th mi e s athet , Sir muttered man y p

“ ’ ” . s ir ? cally And his telephone s give out on you ,

“ ’ Yes ; the motor generator s gummed or something.

’ ’ out on It s the airplane wing, you know , where he can t ” get at it to ﬁx it alone .

’

sir he can . Well , even i f he can t send , , receive

’

. two ms ir You kin give him orders Here s aerogra s , , ” from the base .

He passed them to the commander silently.

’ ’ ommd r C To Elmer Bradshaw , U. S . N .,

. . . N ottin hamt On board U S S g ( e layed) Where is Leslie ?

U S A N EM B ERT A A S P ON B R DS H W.

The commander stared at it stupidly . The admiral himself could not have sent a more peremptory mes sage ! Evidently the wires were busy back home ; and BROTHER TO ICARUS 49

S he , hearing about the cyclone , had telegraphed the commandant , and they had relayed it . He laid down the slip Of paper , and leaned back , with his eyes closed,

o f o f bracing himself , as for the shock a deluge icy “ ”

. is ! . water Yes , mother where he he shivered “ one— There will be no answer to that just yet, ” Ayres , he said quietly . He read the next one To all Naval Forces on P atrol Evolutions Commanders will abandon maneuvers and return to base Immediately . Acknowledge .

H AY F OR TH J . F . ,

Aide to the Commandant , by direction .

w. f Bradsha hesitated This was o ﬁcial , and required an immediate answer . I f he gave the Situation as it was , some capable idiot would be sure to telegraph

Mrs . Bradshaw , worrying her into hysterics , and more over some other donkey in authority would be sure to an n h m veto y permission to take the N otti g a into f the cyclone center , for fourteen o ﬁcers and eighty seven men are a big crew to risk for one lost aviator

with practically no chance to ﬁnd him , even i f the destroyer Should survive . The commander began to have such thoughts him “ ’ self , but he put them away resolutely. I reckon we ll “ go it alone , he decided . Ayres , just answer that ‘ ’ ” one R eceiv ed , , and Sign it with my name He “ P — stepped to the bridge phone . ut her hard a s tar ” board ! , Jim he ordered as the exec . answered it . 50 SEA FIGHTERS

” ’ ! out What yelled Sloan . Why , we ll be of this in a couple o f hours more !

“ ‘ a — I said Helm hard starboard , growled Brad “ ’ rufﬂ It s for . shaw g y . Leslie , Jim “ I understand you , old man , came back the exec . “ ’ — to ! feelingly . We re with you the limit Hard

’ ” a - starboard tis !

N ottin ham The commander could feel the g pitch

and ing reeling, yawing wildly under the pounding d seas , as bit by bit the quartermaster nurse her around and she chopped in a wide semicircle across the white

a mountain ranges . She was an able boat , compara tiv el y new destroyer, and She took the waves on her port bow with the same life and leap that she had on the starbwoard , only now they seemed to be getting rougher ith every turn of her screws as she headed

a back across the storm . The chart room looked t the ff commander a ectionately as he entered . Everyone on

not the ship seemed to understand ; a word was spoken ,

but they were with him . An hour passed— ah hour of thrashing and plung

the out ing that threatened to snap rivets of her plates ,

O f w screaming ind that thrummed every stay like a harp string and blew the smoke from the funnels

ﬂat o f on the water , boarding seas that smothered the

in ham o f N ott two g in a Shroud white and smashed the

port boats as they had the starboard ones . Then

little by little the whip of the gale grew less ﬁerce , and the wind veered and whirled until the funnel smoke

52 SEA FIGHTERS

u s s down pon her, mothering her under green sea ; if

out she slewed down a hollow , it was to be buried of

Sight in it , like some cockleshell canoe under a water fall . She fought and gasped like a drowning man , staggering Slowly ahead , scarce minding her helm .

“ ’ ” n Speed s down to four knots , a nounced young

Howatt , come back into the chart house after a tour

— astern to read the log. Four knots and the destroyer

do - could thirty one , and had sixteen thousand horse power driving her that very moment ! They all looked at the commander anxiously .

“ ’ ” ’ — Well we re here ! he said uneasily . And it s up to us to spot the boy —I doubt i f he could make us ” o ut buried as we are in the seas .

’ The clouds aren t more than a few hundred feet ” “ over our heads , ventured the exec . When he does

— come down through them , even if we live , and the

’ —it seas don t reach up and get him , will be touch and ” go i f he ever ﬁnds us .

“ ’ e Mayb he s already down , and circling about over ” “ the seas looking for us , suggested Howatt All hands at lookout for us !”

Ten minutes of strained watching passed , while the

o destroyer wallowed in the ch p , and the creak and whine o f her frames came up from below in a j angle of complaining sounds— the very soul o f the ship cried out ! Then the engineer ofﬁcer came into the “ chart house , his face grave with foreboding. We BROTHER TO ICARUS 53

’ sir can t hold the steam , , he told the waiting com

’ To o s mander. much water s coming down the funnel

’ to hold the ﬁres . They re hissing with quenched coals

s a it is . “ ? ” Can you give us ten minutes more , chief asked “ ’

his . e Bradshaw , face drawn with anxiety We r here

— n but dashed i f I see the Kid a ywhere . Hope he

’ hasn t— already He gulped and did not ﬁnish

the sentence . “ ’ about Just ten minutes , sir ; then we ll have to cut

’ ’ ” and run for it— o r I sha n t answer for my ﬁres ! f “ declared the engineer o ﬁcer Shortly . Excuse me ,

’ ’ ”

a o . Sir, I ll h ve to g below and keep after em

He departed , and the commander bit his lip , waver

“ ” “ ’ in ? g . Anyone got any ideas he implored . We ve

’ mk us a e . got to him see , somehow Let s assume that the boy is already cruising around this area looking for us 7, “I f he only had his wireless began Sloan as

for n o f spokesman the group , no e whom seemed able ff to o er a solution .

Bradshaw waved him silent . Ayres has been send

’ ’ ing right along, telling him we re coming . I ve thought of ﬁring a gun— o i sending up a rocket

o f t even ﬁring a timed torpedo o make a spout , a

’ ” geyser ; but they d all be futile— in this !

a His shipm tes stood about him consolingly, think

— ing hard and still the minutes passed , with no hail 54 SEA FIGHTERS from the lookouts ; and still the ship groaned and f labored . She could not stand the bu feting much longer. “ ” ? S a Well said loan interrogatively, t length . Some one had to make the distasteful move to give it

— up and he was next in command .

The commander closed his eyes , his face grim and

- w r sorrow stricken , as the group aited , the qua ter “ ” his a- ! master cocking ear for the order, Hard port “ Then , hollowly , as i f speaking in a dream , The 'Lord is in the tempest ! His voice is in the storm ! ” P raised be the name o f the Lord ! boomed the com “ rt our s mok scr n mander solemnly S ta y e ee ! ” — ! one watch and pray came the order , as from who heard in a trance . “ ”

! . The very thing shouted the exec , springing to “ - . ! O ! the engine room speaking tube Chief h , chief Start your smoke screen as quick as you can do it !

’ n Gad , fellows , we ll spread a black smudge ﬁftee miles ’ ’ long that the boy can t help but see ! And we ll be ’ O f ! at the upper end it , all right Skipper , you re sure !” boss , when it comes to a pinch hit

P o f w resently dense billows black smoke ere rolling out from the four funnels of the destroyer , that thick crude - Oil smudge that has screened many a battle

in ﬂeet in an impenetrable veil . The wind swept it great clouds across the wave tops , in dense , heavy , solid curls from the funnel tops— a mark that could

for a be seen by an aviator miles . Hope began to d wn BROTHER TO ICARUS 55

on the faces in the chart house . The commander

out on dashed to join the lookouts the outer bridge .

He could hardly stand up here, and the white spray Sleeted over him as he pulled the hood o f his great coat up over his head and held it there with both

. n hands Five minutes passed , then ten , and hope bega

n to wa e, and his heart sank again , for it would not be much longer before the destroyer would have to put back. Then the port lookout crawled over and touched “ P !” him on the Shoulder . lane ho he shouted in the ’ “ ?” commander s ear. See it , sir

“ ’ ” No — I don t— where is he ? demanded B radshaw

’ eagerly . He followed the lookout s finger , but could “ ” ~ ir see . s nothing Yonder , , grinned the starboard lookout , coming over to join them and pointing with a horny finger that j utted out from a flapping yello w sleeve . “ ” n a ! Dam my eyes , nyhow exploded the com

“ ’ own mander wrathfully. I d give a lot to as good ” ones as you boys have ! There— J see him !

Low . over the horizon skimmed a tiny black speck It was some time before he could make out the faint

aif lane horizontal lines above it that proclaimed it an p ,

on but it was coming fast , and soon it soared over head , while Bradshaw barked out orders for hand lines .

on Men staggered out deck , facing the swirling seas with coiled lines in their hands , while the plane banked and circled , and ﬁnally Shot down and 56 SEA FIGHTERS

plunged into the breast of a great , sloping wall o f a water. The comm nder held his breath as its long

o f wings turned over and over, and a rabble foam

. P out o f raced down the wave slope upon it resently,

o f sea saw the tangle foam and plane gear, he a human ﬁg ure , its arms striking out valiantly over the

. N ottin ham rim of a white ring buoy The g veered over doggedly toward it , as Simmons spun the wheel ; and she yawed majestically, high in the air, as a dozen life lines shot out from her sides . The commander sawone Leslie grab of them and make it fast around the ring buoy, and then he disappeared in spouts of

’ Spray that leaped out from the destroyer s sides . But

on three stout tars were hauling away the line , and with the next roll they had him aboard and hurried him below into the wardroom .

The commander dashed into the chart house . Hard ” a- ! port, quartermaster he ordered , his eyes ﬂashing

o f — with joy . Jim , you take her out this see you later !” And he hurried down the ladder and raced aft along the corridors to the wardroom . Leslie was waiting for him , very wet , very cheerful , entirely at

“ ’ — I m home already . Some one gimme a butt half !” dead for a smoke he was saying to the eager , ques tionin f g watch O ﬁcers as the commander entered . “ ” P a ! . Hello , he grinned as Elmer rushed forward Who thought of the smoke screen ? That was a life !” saver , men “ ” mo h ! t er Your , son choked the commander as

’ he wrung the youth s hand . BROTHER TO I CARUS 57

” wMother ! Is she in on this too ? laughed Leslie onderingly as he blew smoke through his nostrils .

“ ’ ” Where d She get into the sketch ?

“ ’ son— I don t know, but you can thank her for !” your life , and not for the ﬁrst time , either retorted

“ ’ Elmer seriously . You know , I don t believe in telep athy an d all that rot— but this I do know : We were

’ to a nd at our wits end know what to do , were about

— s awher to give you up , when I closed my eyes and I ,

! on Kid She was her knees , praying for you , pray

1n I a th g n an gony , as Jacob wrestled with God in e

P B o dim tract of enuel . y , I wish you could have

! son sa seen her face And then , , plain as I y them now , something whispered into my mind these words— I

‘ r n ar u mo — hea d so : S t t o r s ke s creen them , y watch and pray !’

’ That s all I know . There was a silence as Leslie listened with downcast eyes , staring unseeingly . Then he li fted his head and “ looked the commander in the eye . I believe you , ” s ir ! he said very respectfully , and he stretched forth his hand , a new , an Older look in his face . The commander took It and slapped him on the

’ back , his eyes sparkling . Gad , boy , but I m glad to

’ see ! S how that ome day you ll realize much you mean

on to those who love you. Get some dry clothes and

’ to w come up the chart house ; I m going to ire mother ’ ” you re safe ! THE SALUTE

DM IRAL CKW D the A RO OO , commandant of navy 1 . 0 o f yard , pressed button No on the edge his “ broad desk and summoned his orderly . Give my

o compliments to Lieutenant Haw rth , and ask him ” to step in , he ordered .

N . Jack Haworth , lieutenant senior grade , U . S . , Th retired, opened the door and stood at salute . e admiral arose and Shook hands warmly with his

o f veteran aide . A splendid ﬁgure a man , Jack

Haworth , big and portly in his service blouse , his

- ﬂorid , weather beaten tan skin showing far up under

o f the roots his scanty gray hair, his heavy spade heard o f , formal cut , accentuating the ﬁrm , dogged

’ o f lines his jaw . Jack s fine brown eyes beamed as f ’ he accepted O ficial papers from the admiral s hand , “ ” out ou ! and rolled a rich , Good morning to y , sir in his heavy bass voice . “ me This will be your last day with , old barnacle the admiral announced with affectionate regret in 1118 “ tones . Here are your orders , detaching you . To duty on f secret service , to Spain . The Detail O fice phoned ” a me they had selected you several days g o .

Jack bellowed joyously as he took the orders . ” Queer things going Ou in Spain ! he grunted cheer ‘ 58

60 SEA FIGHTERS

P resently the new aide came in . Lieutenant ”

! . Samuel Haworth , sir he announced , saluting “ Very good ; Show him in . Here comes Sammy , ” Jack .

S am Haworth , junior lieutenant , fleet reserve , ffl stepped in and saluted sti y to both of them . Long f and tall , the ordnance o ficer looked very like a twelve I! inch , Mark gun himself . His keen gray eyes bored at one over lower eyelids that arched upwards , giving them a particularly hostile and glittering aspect . He shook hands grimly with the admiral and then slapped

Jack heartily on the back , his eyes ﬂashing at him like dancing diamond points . “ P luto ! To the repair Ship mused the admiral , ’ f reading his orders . You re to be gunnery O ﬁcer aboard of her , I hear .

“ ’ sir Yes , . I hope you ve had her camouflaged , sir she ’ s got a battery abroad of her that can blow some o f these damned Hun raiders out o f water i f you ” sir only give it a chance , . “ ” is ff She camouflaged, smiled the admiral a ably , ” 3 take a look at her . He indicated the No . dock out o f f P luto the O fice window, where the could be seen , painted like Jezebel of Babylon , a scandal for all the k high seas . Splashes of black and s y blue slashed her

n sides and slapped up o her funnels ; curves of black , on

- r a sea green backg ound , turned her bow into a wave form and Set her visible stern forty feet forward of THE SALUTE 6 1

— an the true position o f her rudder abortion , a sea ! monster, no less “ ﬂeet- Even a reserve man , jeered Lieutenant Jack , ought to be ashamed to put to sea in such a looking

’ ’ ’ She isn t honest— she isn t even decent— she s

‘ ’ brazen hussy , ﬁt only for a poached egg to com mand !” “ I had to get special orders to paint her out o f war

“ ’ gray , broke in the admiral . But you re going over

nv o ed S ole and y only by that new destroyer, the y, 11 join the Grand Fleet alone , under sealed orders . !” f “ I like her grinned the gunnery o ficer . To look ’ at her, now , you wouldn t suspect she had a tooth in her head ! P roblem : find the twenty fiv e- inch rifles that I know she mounts !”

’ P luto s The painters had done a ﬁne j ob . The

broadside of ten ﬁv e- inch rapid - ﬁ rers had completely

so disappeared . The guns themselves were splotched and camouﬂaged that they simply melted into the side

for of the Ship , and at two miles she would look all the world like some neutral g rain boat— when she looked like a boat a t all ! “ ou Curious about y two , observed the admiral ban “ rin l Y ou to g y . , Jack , ought be an admiral yourself this time i f some fool hadn ’ t come along and

that worsted yarn color test . You can tell

— rom or , a starboard light as far as you I

’ c c it , but you can t tell red from green 62 SEA FIGHTERS w! — ! P ! a retir orsted Color blind ish Wh t a thing to a capable Ofﬁcer from active duty on !” “ No wonder Jack ’ s pet abomination is worsted ” any form ! broke in Sam laughingly . They say that the mere sight o f a sweater on a gob drives him into a

he notable rage . And here is , back in his third war, still a senior lieutenant !” “ too And you , , Sam , continued the admiral , i f ’ I you d stayed in the service , instead of going nto c life as manager of the Nazareth Ordnance W ’ now0 you d have been a captain by , instead

’ lieutenant in the ﬂeet reserve . It s a pity ! retired men are treated Jimmy Haworth , the on

— regular left in your family , ranks you both now y ’ ” o f he s the kid your tribe , I understand . “ ” “ Some kid ! gurgled Jack . Has won ten number

- in the torpedo boat service already . Hope he gets thi ” S ole to y boat which is going convoy you, Sam . “ ” “ Might ! ventured Sam succinctly . The De

Of to w ﬁce is just likely run its ﬁnger do n the colu ’ o f H s and order all three o f us to something in on

“ ’ a nothe fell swoop , he argued . Jimmy s looking for

su Off boat now , since that last Hun b blew his bows

- I know that much .

ofﬁcia The talk ran on , while the admiral signed

o Observ papers , now and then t ssing over a quizzical

H orth aws . tion at the two

i nd After a time , the a de entered again a stood salute . The admiral turned and acknowledged THE SALUTE 63

t ” Lieutenan Commander James Haworth , sir ! he

announced imperturbably .

fawo f A guf laughter went up . Raining ” H aworths ! d the i , these days chortle adm ral . How in the world did the old clear o f a bureau ever contrive it ?

The door opened , and Lieutenant Commander

. H aworths Jimmy Haworth stepped in The two older ' ou stood rigidly at salute , an ironical , quizzical smile

“ ’ t O sa ! heir faces . h , I y It isn t fair for you two ” to have to do that ! protested Jimmy with ﬂushed face

Y ou as he turned from greeting the admiral . ,

e o f Cousin Uncl Jack , veteran three wars , and you , f

o f Sam , veteran two and hero o f Siboney besides ’ ” it n ? a is t right , is it , admiral he ppealed , turning to

the commandant . “ ” ! sardoni Return salute , Sir ordered the admiral

“ ’

It s . cally, reg ’ - J immy s white gloved right hand went to his visor , n and instantly the two veterans dropped theirs . The

everyone laughed . 1 Jimmy ﬂushed . rank you both , and yet you are

e veterans o f two and ev n three wars , while I am in veteran o f none , unless what little I have done ” “ this one counts . ( That little was merely sinking

two Hun submarines already, and getting his bows for blown Off by a third , which left him Shipless the nonce !) “ a ou Admir l , y know that Uncle Jack ought to be 64 SEA FIGHTERS

and S an admiral himself now , by rights , am a captain it makes me feel like a blooming bilger to have them ! salute an insigniﬁcant , untried kid like me , sir The admiral pointed to the blue- and- gold and blue

’ - H awo rth s and red service bar on Sam blouse, his Spanish War and Sampson Medal ribbons ; and then to the Civil and Spanish War service bars pinned across Lieutenant Jack ’ s gorilla chest “Those bars are worth all the silver stars and gold leaves that you man wea . we land I ill ver r, youngster Every Navy ’ It s an Who sees them understands. honor to receive ’ nd s n at , a salute from them ; a , o , wh is more it s up t emta e a to you to win the right to make h k salute ” 5 in kind . m l ful Jimmy s iled broadly under his tan , and a gui e

“ ’ look came into his eyes . Admiral I ll bet you a n sir o f Airedale pup , , against a box your justly

d o famous cigars , that I win it and before this war ” o ut sir ! is , u Now , an Airedale p p is the true and short way

’ who straight to the admiral s heart, as anyone knows “ ’ ”

. ! him will tell you I ll take that bet , youngster

“ ’ - old sea beamed the white haired dog. Let s see ” c your orders .

he the He Opened them as spoke . To command

’ ’ ” S ole - ! y what d I tell you , men barked the admiral “ Y on she amid the gust of merriment that went up .

NO . 2 is , over in Basin , a ﬁne new destroyer, just

’ o ver from the Squantum yard . There s your chance , THE SALUTE 65

youngster ; put it all over your esteemed relatives— or

’ I ll never bet another box o f cigars on you again ! ” ! o ff Have a chair he broke abruptly .

They seated themselves , and for some moments the

a l H aworths dmira regarded the three in quizzical “ ” . and ! silence Then , Bear, Tiger, Wolf he gibed ,

poking a ﬁnger in turn at the burly , hairy ﬁgure of f Jack ; the long , muscular frame and savage eyes o

S o f am ; and the keen , aggressive , capable face Jimmy . “Damned i f you three aren ’ t the human counterparts ” o f those identical amiable animals !

H aworths an d . The three grinned cheerfully , Jimmy

a s . the youngest , rose to pay his respects and depart “ ” Some game chicken Jack ! approved the admiral

a disa dmiringly as Jimmy s short, thickset ﬁgure p

eared f sea p through the o ﬁce door , its rolling gait

using up nearly the whole door for gangway . Jack

waggled a cheroot luxuriantly under his tongue .

“ ’ out o f . You ll never win an Airedale that boy , admiral But he ’ ll have to go some before we let him get his box ” o f ? cigars , too , eh , Sam “ ” Aye , aye , nodded Sam soberly , his gaze still fol lowing Jimmy down the corridor which led from the ’ f “ l commandant s o ﬁce . The service demands the rea ” stuff o f its youngsters !

’ l 7 That week in May, , Hampton Roads , which

sees and has seen many notable naval Spectacles , observed three perfectly commonplace events : the pas 66 S E A FIGHTERS sage of one Spanish liner outward bound for Corunna the unnoticed departure of a bedecked and bedizened i object that might be a wave and aga n might not , so

O dd did it look against a sky line ; and , still more unnoticed , with only her screened speed lights showing,

- a long, low, black gray serpent that slipped and slithered over the waves , rolling incredibly, casting smoke from her four funnels as a sower sows grain , and swiftly disappearing into the gray wastes O f the Atlantic before one had really gotten the binoculars

H rth . so awo s trained on her And passed the three out to sea .

’ f the With Sam s captain as senior o ﬁcer present, two naval vessels and their merchant consort rolled and dipped across the far- ﬂung belt of the Fortieth P I arallel . Sometimes the s abel was far down to the f south , with only the tops o her masts visible above the horizon ; sometimes her wireless alone told o f her whereabouts , a few inches , as distances are measured

’ on sea navigator s charts , over the rim which bounds ’ one s visible world . But , taking her by and large , the

P luto managed to keep in handy distance of her, until the point of departure was reached and the three ships

to Isa bel were go their several ways ; the to Spain ,

to Jimmy to his patrol station , and the P luto rejoin the Grand Fleet . t As for Jimmy the Wolf , throughout the rip he ff was all over the ocean , now dashing o to investigate a picked- up wireless ; now running over to the Is abel

68 SEA FIGHTERS

O S ! S calls . It would not do for them to be taken “ A- B a s The next signal was , Abandon ship fast ’ o f as possible , and in a quarter an hour s time that steamer load Of men , women , and children found

’ on themselves adrift the huge seas in the ship s boats , with what water and provisions could be hastily assembled . Cursing, they started rowing the two

- f P hundred mile stretch to the shores o ortugal . Jack

f o f Haworth , as a naval O ﬁcer, was put in charge the

’ o f w ﬁfth boat, there being but four the ship s atch

Ofﬁcers available for boat command . Before their eyes the good Old Is abel was set on ﬁre and sunk by gun

one o f ﬁre . A pathetic spectacle , which there can be no conception except by those who have seen a good

o f ship done to death , and all that product human

' skill and energy wantonly destroyed by human hate and barbarism . The inﬁnite grace and sweetness of

she O f a ship , the beautiful embodiment that is human

u o f a tri mph over the forces wind and w ve , all that goes to make a ship feminine in the eyes O f mankind

see to this deliberately smashed by spiteful gunﬁre , torn to pieces and sunk beneath the waters— the veri

o f table odium woman murder lies in the tragedy .

on And then , alone , the endlessly heaving waters , with nought but human muscles and ash oars to ﬁght the infernal seas rolling out of the Bay o f Biscay with

- the boats crowded with half clad , shivering, hungry

on women and children ; to row day after day , with

— umo f scant rations and less water this was the s THE SALUTE 69

ff human su ering to which those two signal ﬂags , the

- - blue and white and the red burgees , condemned the

’

Is abel s . people And , j ust to help them along , the Hun sent a few playful Shells scudding amongst them . Then , having won her ﬁrst victory over an

and unarmed defenseless merchantman , the brave

o f sailors the kaiser bore j auntily to the northeast , l passing them at ful speed with band playing, looking

a for nother victim . Jack Haworth found that his boat contained mostly

n O f the o f pirates . Seame crew , every nationality

- squareheads , bluenoses , lime juicers , swarthy Barce

P — lonians , hardy ortuguese made up his personnel .

o f Most them were armed with knives , pistols , here a nd there a cutlass as Jack drew his Civil War sword a nd examined its keen , heavy blade , he conceived that rarely had he commanded a more adventuresome lot o f salt herrings .

AS wO ff e the other boats gradually dre to the ast ward , the dark suspicion that the raider had gone

’ east for the sole purpose O f waylaying the Isabel s boats and following with them the Hun custom of “ ” s urlos v ersenkt to p , made him decide turn to the n o f r orth . According to the laws sc ew propulsion , the P luto should not be more than thirty miles to the n now orth Of them by , nor more than a few hours , I l steaming behind the s abe . To try to pick her up seemed safer than to risk the tender mercies of a Hun

on — ! convoy , with a e pounder shell for his ultimate fate 70 SEA FIGHTERS

n s A d so , signaling the other boat his decision and advising them to follow at a safe distance , they rowed

- with double banked oars to the north .

Having looked his last on the Is abel disappearing over the horizon to the southward , Lieutenant ( j . g . )

Sam Haworth , standing beside the captain on the

’ P lu o t s bridge , whiled away the time before muster with idle glances out over the empty waste of tum

- bling, blue black seas . They were in the roaring forties , with the trade winds of the whole west Atlan tic piling the white plumes over the sparkling, deep blue waves . Splotches of gulfweed streamed past ; now and then a flock of flying fish would burst out of a wave side and skim far over the rollers , their white bodies flashing under the sunny southern skies .

o f It was a day to gladden the heart any sailorman , with the sea a smother o f sparkling blue and white

a nd P luto on hillocks , the old standing now her head , nown o one her tail , lying down ﬁrst on side and

on then the other with even regularity . Out from the bugler ’ s station under the bridge f ﬂoated the rapid staccato notes o First Call . The ’ on ship s company ran to their formations the double ,

and presently stood in rigid lines , division by divi f sion , each with its O ﬁcer in front , reporting muster

f - to the executive O ﬁcer . It was a well drilled lot . The

repair ship carried lathes , planers , drill presses , shapers , THE SALUTE 71

’ and a whole foundry and cupola in her tween decks ,

o f and most her people were machinists , but that had not prevented the gunnery ofﬁcer from making ﬁght

o f ing men them , too . The rigid lines stood silent at

and f attention , while the captain his executive O ﬁcer

a nd passed slowly up down the line , subjecting each tar to the minutest scrutiny .

’ Followed the long shrill o f the bosun s pipe and “ ” T- u- r- r- n ! for the hoarse hail O f his mates , to The n mations broke ranks at sharp comma d , and then came “ ” Gun ! the bugle call that the crew loved best , Drill Sam H aworth had mustered every machinist o f the lo t into his gun crews during the trip over, and by nowa i had full complement for each battery , dr lled to the minute and able to hit a ﬂoating potato barrel

ﬁv e- as far as it could be seen over the waves . Each t inch riﬂe had its pointer , its trainer, its Sight setter, mn owder e : two its plugman , shellmen and three p nine

to one men the gun , hundred and eighty men to her

- o f twenty gun main battery , and that more than half h t ese were machinists , used to the ﬁne , exact work

- wa s l o f machine shop practice, no smal asset in their adaptability as gunners . “ !” At the command , Stations each man took his

the a llotted position around the guns , pointers at the

so elevating wheels , the trainers at the training gear a s to swing the gun from side to side , the sight setters

- at their a zimuth bars , plugmen at the breech operating 72 SEA FIGHTERS

rmn i owde e mech anism, and shellmen and p on each S de to pass the great brass cartridges and slam them into the breech .

P luto A barrel was hove adrift , and the made a big half circle to bring her starboard battery to bear on it . Using subcaliber tubes , the whole battery could n play o it until demolished , the tiny white splashes of the bullets correcting the range and gun pointing so long as the mark could be seen . In the midst of which— up on the bridge came run ning the messenger from the wireless ofﬁcer ! The

n one captai gave the yellow Slip glance, and then “ stepped quickly to the engine- room telephone Eight ” ” een ! ! knots Must have it he bellowed . Music ! “ he ordered the executive . Sound quarters ! The ’ ” Is abel s being attacked !

Immediately the bugle sounded , Retreat from ” Drill ! followed by the rollicking notes o f general quarters . Under their feet the P luto was already churning and throbbing from the pulsations of speed ing engines , while the quartermaster turned her in a vast circle to the southward . At the bugl e call the

Ship became a tumbling mass O f white - forked human beings , each man running to his station on the double

. quick Full gun crews fell in beside their pieces , double watches tumbled below to the engine room ,

- ﬁ re out - hose lines were run and tested , water tight

’ doors secured : a melee of orderly activity ! “ ” The still sterner call , Clear ship for action ! rang THE SALUTE 73

ut. o Down came the ventilator cowls , searchlights

set were dismantled and sent below , lifeboats adri ft , ammuniwtion passed to the guns and the main battery loaded ith real shells , while the long range ﬁnder on the hurricane deck swung slowly on its pivot as a

, ’ keenly excited young gunner s mate peered into it , calling test ranges into the ﬁ re- control telephone trans

P luto ! - O I mitter . The Old was ready aye , ready

o f An hour feverish racing southward passed . The

O Is abel S S . calls from the had ominously ceased, W hile rolling gunﬁre came mufﬂed over the sea from ” nev er ! the south . Would the Old hooker get there stamped Sam Haworth , thinking of Jack . Then a ! harsh hail from the lookout cage , Sail ho Two ” points O ff starboard bow ! A smoke on the horizon ! Slowly the raider rose

the sea on . p ut of , bows He appeared , as yet , nought o f but a blob of g ray under a pall black smoke , but the range finder already had him at nine thousand P luto wanted , that camouflaged yards . He evidently fr mhiS u i f that black smoke pouring o f nnels meant anything ! At five thousand yards he Sheered broad “ ” - — u? m side to and flew VG What ship are yo fro his signal yard .

The P luto said nothing, but Sam Haworth from his ﬁre- control station amidships pressed the key o f his salvo - latch electric circuit to make sure that all his guns were properly connected in . Salvo ﬁring was one the lesson that he had more than drilled into 74 SEA FIGHTERS those machinists above all others— to keep the whole

on broadside trained rigidly the mark , while a single key under his thumb would ﬁre them all Off at regular intervals . Like an ov erconﬁdent puppy prancing up to a coiled rattler, the Hun raider bore down upon them . Three

out thousand yards ! She broached to , broke the Ger

’ n a P luto s man ensig , ﬁred gun across the bows , and n ran up those two hateful little Signal ﬂags , Aba don ship !” Sam Haworth smiled grimly and glanced up at the

n un captain o the bridge . Every g in his starboard bat ter y was trained dead on her, and the muttered hails from the swinging range ﬁnder were being passed to

i — h s sight setters . Every trainer and pointer plain

a e - had American m chinists , if you pleas his eye glued to his telescope , with the cross hairs constantly: g on o f w- vital points the enemy, while the slo ly rev olv ing gear wheels turned under their careful hands . NO . ! defenseless merchantman was this , frantically sending

out . S O S over the empty ocean , but a United States

to auxiliary cruiser whose stern order Jimmy, ’ H aworth s patrol destroyer to report for immediate duty had already ﬂashed out from her wireless masts! But a third- class protected German cruiser against a

— U . S . converted repair ship it was at best an unequal ! ﬁght One lucky shot , and the good Old P luto would be done for ! Would the captain nev er give the order to ﬁre ?

76 SEA FIGHTERS

- bow She long, eight inch and stern riﬂes that mounted swinging behind their gun shields . Through the binoculars their threatening muzzles already stared at P them . resently they would ﬁre

“ ’ For God s sake concentrate on that forward eight !” inch riﬂe , Sam shouted the captain down from the “ !” bridge . One punch from her and we are gone

saw Sam passed the hail , and the next salvo a ﬂock of ﬁv e- inchers pounding the gun Shield and ripping up

NO ff everything portable in its vicinity . answering pu came from that cannon , but the stern gun boomed and

’ — its Shell tore through the P luto s side just where the! camouﬂage said her stern ought to be ! It did no par- t

" ticular o ff six stanchionS ' like damage , merely cut deck a bar shear and smashed up a perfectly good planer into an unrecognizable mass o f cast- iron fragments !

“ ’ set l Sam his teeth . We l attend to you “ e h gritted . One more salvo at that forward piece: ” ” ought to ﬁnish it, pressing the key again as he spoke .

’ At the third belch o f ﬂame from the German s a fter

- gun , her eight inch shell came roaring, fair and true ,

P luto right at the . It was a sure hit , Sam instinctively

o f felt, and at the stunning, blinding crash it, which knocked him bleeding against the superstructure , he

on o f picked himself up to ﬁnd, rubbing his eyes clear

— the acrid smoke , the whole bridge gone swept clean , ‘ oﬂicer captain , executive , quartermaster, and steering ! wheel utterly obliterated A stunning blow , cruel

o f beyond measure , a loss good shipmates that made THE SALUTE 77

’ Sam s heart ache and a lump to rise in his throat , but

e was ther no time now in the heat of battle to give

o them s much as a thought . The command of the

nowo n ship devolved him , and , shouting an order for

O f th general battery ﬁring , he ran aft to take charge e

emergency steering wheel . At all costs he must keep

to e her broadside , for , once bows on , his broadsid

to battery would be unable train . A couple O f quartermaster ’ s mates had already beaten him to the gear and had cast off the canvas

covers over the great hand wheels , while the repair

w - cre hurriedly unshackled the steam steering engine

' on six o f Exposed a high grating , the deck crew manned the wheels; while already the whining zip and

’ spatter o f small arms bullets from the enemy s snipers

- clipped about the quarter deck .

“ ’ ’ ” ! - ! S Bless em Dod gast em gleefully howled am,

o f dancing about in the rain bullets , his binoculars

“ ’ ot crammed into his eyes . They ve g that infernal ” after eight- inch ! A ﬂock o f shells had buried it in

o f o wn clouds O f smoke , to the rolling thunder his

f o r own guns below , the machinists , left to their

one devices , had turned on it with accord . There was

a l on . ull from the German . Not a gun her was ﬁring

Sam scanned the northern horizon anxiously . At the rate his boys were pounding away at her , and with the

o f ! aid the patrol destroyer, they still had a chance

’ A salvo from the enemy s 4 7- inch broadside guns

- ﬁ re a cut loose . They had gotten up their rapid mmu 78 SEA FI GHTER S

An o f nition at length . ominous cessation his own ’

. P s engine told him that one of the Hun A . had got

P luto unbeliev home , and at once the began to roll

. ably , yawing about the seas like a wild thing His gunﬁre dropped to steady crashes on the downward

P luto roll of the ship , while inexorably the began to swing , bows on , as the wind carried her head around . “ one Sam bit his lip and cursed . Oh , for just pivot ” “ ' s gun on this old packet ! he growled . Here where !” we get raked , good and proper i u An oiler from the eng ne room came running p. S olid shot through the intermediate eccentric gear,

” “ ’ ir s ! he announced . Chief says he ll have her dis connected and will run on high and low in about half ” an hour, Sir, he saluted .

“ ’ i t o ! Very good . Tell him he can t do t o quick

’ Meanwhile tell him we ll try to blanket thei r broad

” ’

S the . side, barked am , fairly shoving man for d “ on A messenger touched him the arm . Destroyer, ” S ir two ! , points abaft port beam

Sam heaved a sigh of relief . All hands , man head ” s ! ails he shouted .

The German turned to face the new menace , while Sam put every available man and deck winch at break

out so ing the storm trysails , as to get steerage way on

a his ship gain . Up out o f the north came the

- destroyer, surely an unequal antagonist t o a third class

so she protected cruiser , little looked a long black s now i aurian , in sight , now buried beh nd the waves , THE SALUTE 79

n lw t n n l but comi g, a ays coming, her four gray u e s fairly ripping themselves away from their black

she smoke , so heavily did roll . The Hun raider yawed

one nervously , ﬁring ﬁrst broadside , then the other at

sea her , the white shell spouts rising like geysers all

Not she n around her . a further shot did waste o the

P ut o too l o . This destr yer was altogether fatal a menace .

“ ’ I ll court - martial and shoot that young Jimmy ” out ! scoundrel i f he dares back declared Sam , his eyes glittering under the visored cap as he watched the steadily narrowing space between the two .

on But the destroyer came straight . Already her own - deﬁ n — fourteen pounders were barking a ce David

— not wa s racing to meet Goliath but yet the fatal stone in the sling loosed ! Again Sam strained his glasses on the enemy to

“ ’ ’

own . ! watch his Shell ﬁre Bless em ! Bless em

who on Dear mechanical kids , told you to concentrate !” “ his stern he chortled . Those infernal machinists ” ou ! are damned geniuses , I tell y he yelled at the highly appreciative quartermasters at the steering wheels . I f they shoot away his steering gear in time ’ ” we ve g ot her !

- A salvo Of inch Shells burst over the destroyer .

A hug e cloud o f black crude - oil smoke arose from her on , but still She kept . She seemed less buoyant now , though , and was evidently ﬁlling fast , but indom “ itabl ! y She bore on . Suddenly The torpedo 80 SEA FIGHTERS

” The torpedo ! yelled a keen - sighted quartermaster at

- the wheel . It shot from her forward deck gun , it

o f leaped for the waves , it Shot across the back a huge roller and plunged through another unswervingly for the mark ! A second and a third torpedo followed it , and then the destroyer, her work done , settled by the

. head , to be seen no more e A vast pyramid of black smoke , arising lik a roll

o il . ing cloud from an ﬁre , enveloped the Hun cruiser Like a Shot alligator She reared her bow high in the e air . Her p ople tumbled at random from deck and; ea superstructure out into the s . Men worked fran tically at li fe rafts high up among her ventilmator o f h cowls . A rush forward wild , terriﬁed u an

— ram beings and in three minutes more her steel pointed to the skies and Slowly She sank from sight . ’

Sam felt a surge of pity for both antagonists , but his glasses soon told him that one set o f survivors were still devils , for presently a life raft, bearing a

o f f fo r knot O ﬁcers and four men rowing, set out where a few heads from the destroyer ’ s crew were

still bobbing in the waves . It would seem that, at a

sailo rmn e time like this , would forget animosities and devote themselves to saving lives from their common

sea O f on enemy , the , but the ﬁendish purpose those A l i the raft was only too evident . s the P uto still obst

natel a y refused to swing , Sam snatched a riﬂe from

o f gun rack , and , calling a handful men , raced forward

to the forecastle .

o f t When he got up in the eyes her, a strange sigh THE SALUTE 81

met his gaze . The Huns were already devilishly saber

rmm swm ing the g survivors of the destroyer , but ,

rowing up from the southeast , with full banks of oars ,

’ n out Sam s asto ished eyes made a lone gray cutter .

she Is abel That might be a survivor from the lost , he scarce dared hope , but a burly ﬁgure in the bows bran dishing a shining sword reminded him irresistibly of ff Jack Haworth . The raft left O its murderous o ccu

u a nd patio turned to meet the newcomer . Sam and his men opened ﬁre in the few minutes that were still left before they came together , and then withheld their

sea e n bullets , to watch a fight as savag as any betwee men Since the ancient Romans met to battle the Car thaginians with short swords on the high seas . The Hun commander was evidently a skillful broad swordsman , but he was no match for that flaming i falch on that cut , thrust , and parried him in the hands ’ o f the burly officer in the cutter s bow . His sword glittered and fla shed in the sunlight , and at each rise on the waves which brought them into sight , the two were still at it . Then the German , the last survivor on his raft , fell , pierced through the throat by a fright ful lunge , and a few minutes later the cutter turned

P u o and headed for the l t . “ ” Man the accommodation - ladder falls ! shouted f Sam to his midshipman deck O ﬁcer , the last thing in “ ! gold braid that still survived on his ship . Music ’ Side boys ! I ’ m going to give this fellow an admiral s honors when he comes aboard ! n Slowly the cutter drew near . Back in her ster 82 SEA FIGHTERS

o f out sheets a group men could be made , bending

ostrate . over a still , p form in blue A glint of gold on his cuff told that it was an Ofﬁcer— perhaps a sole

self~ sacriﬁcin survivor from the intrepid , g destroyer . “ ” P luto Boat ahoy ! hailed a sentry on the . ” ! . Aye , aye answered some one on the cutter

‘ ’ Commissioned naval ofﬁcer below rank o f captain “ muttered Sam Haworth to himself perplexedly . It

o f~ must be Jack , then ; and we are within a few miles ” Is a b where the el went down . “Way ’ nough l”

f bow She tossed oars , and thwe burly o ﬁcer in the , bandaged about the head ith a bloody handkerchief and with two broad blood - stained gold stripes o f a

on senior lieutenant his sleeve , stepped from the cutter

a and came running up the accommodation l dder. ” H ello ! , Sam he greeted . His tone was melan chol o f y, not a trace joy shone in his face . Then ,

’ hearing the bosun s pipe and noticing the side boys , ” Not ! For for me , Old man , I beg he added hastily .

— on the Kid , below in the cutter, i f you wish dead ,

o f the ﬁeld honor . “ ” is ? S was l It Jimmy, then asked am, who stil hoping against hope .

— our our Yes ; the Kid Kid , Jimmy . choked Jack “ . o ff Haworth I recaptured him that infernal raft . “ ” “ ! a ! Jimmy echoed Sam tr gically , God in heaven ” What W lll his mother say to us !

’ the re l Slowly , carefully , cutter s c w bore the sti l

84 SEA FIGHTERS

- w the quarter deck in steamer chairs , ith Jimmy propped up in his bandages between them . “ !” Nice ﬁght , Sam ejaculated the Bear, rolling a weed luxuriously under his tongue . “ ” The Wolf smiled wanly— S - some salute ! he “ !” laughed . But I sank the Hun , all righty

The Tiger said nothing, but his savage eyes glared balefully over the dark, racing waters . HI S BIT

TH E dreadnought Alas ka thundered out the last

o f salvo the practice cruise . The great ship rocked

o f with the recoil it , and a mountain of black smoke , Split with long red ﬂashes from her fourteen - inch

out on turret guns , rolled from her Sides . Far the

o f horizon a ﬂock tall , white Shell spouts rose out of

’ o f ﬂeet s the blue sea , and then the last the targets crumpled up in a geyser of sea foam . Young Mid

’ shipman Wright , in charge Of the for d upper turret , “ ” u ow! o f u ! o t W . s let a j oy That gets the E , I reckon he crowed as the plugman threw on the compressed air blast which drove out the i nﬂammable gases from the gun bores . Chief Gunner ’ s Mate Nolan looked up from the

’ “ sir gun pointer s telescope . Another direct hit , ” a s ! ﬂagship indeed , bedad , well as in name Nolan was the “us” who had made the hit and won the E

Alas k for a . It was back in the top - notch efﬁciency days o f 1912

- that the Atlantic Fleet made its record breaking, battle

Alas ka practice cruise , and the proved herself not only

’ the bearer o f the admiral s ﬂag but the peer also of

Cali every other dreadnought in the squadron . The ’ farnia had run her a close second ; without Nolan s 85 86 SEA FIGHTERS

’ ﬁnal smash , in which all three guns of the for d lower 15 turret had knocked out a between them , the white E would have gone on her turrets instead of the

’ ’ Al k o f as a s . It was the greatest day Nolan s life , ” n ! that bright mor ing in May , for after Secure had been sounded , the secretary of the Navy had come

o f n over the side , to the bark saluting ca non , the

and bosuns piped , the drums bugles rolled the required f ’ ru ﬂes , and the Ship s company, all in white , stood at parade rest while the admiral an d the captain o f the winning Ship had escorted the secretary , in his frock coat and polished high hat , past the proud lines of as

the . ﬁghting a crew as Navy had ever produced And ,

o f on o f proudest all , stood Nolan , the right ﬂank “ ” his division , blessing inwardly his turret byes who had S O well rewarded his months o f labor in training them .

. P . O . Before them all , Nolan , in his C uniform ,

O f with the eight gold stripes thirty years , continuous

service , and the gold chevrons of an enlisted man

’ out wounded in his country s service , was called , to receive the gold E on his Sleeve and the eﬂi ciency medal on his breast . There were strong, appreciative

words spoken to him by his captain , in the presence

o f the secretary and the admiral , words that made a lump to rise in his throat and ﬁlled his heart to over

at o f o f ﬂowing the goodness life , at the appreciation his shipmates and the respect o f his superior ofﬁcers .

still And then came a more momentous ceremony , to HIS BIT 87

o f Nolan , that retirement into the ﬂeet reserve ; for that day saw also the attainment of the sixty- two ’ years o f li fe s span which involuntarily retires every person in the service of the Navy . Still standing at attention , Nolan heard read the orders which retired him , spoken by the ﬂag lieutenant in a voice that shook with emotion ; and again his beloved captain , himself grown gray in the service , stepped forward , and in the presence of the whole Ship ’ s company presented Nolan a gold watch in token of the esteem o f all the

f o f l o ﬁcers and men the A as ka . Nolan bore all these honors with the quiet philos

O h o f p y of him who has seen much life , who has more than deserved well O f the republic . The kindly view point o f a P rospero was his : he knew men ; he knew the service ; and neither in a long li fetime had ulti mately disappointed him .

After the ceremonies , a photograph of Nolan , standing beside the youngest apprentice recruit on the ship , was taken . Many a captain of the old days still treasures that photograph among his mementoes .

With his snowy white hair, his heavy , drooping white mustache , his gentle , kindly air, yet under it the stern

o f f lines absolute reliability and e ﬁciency , amply

’ attested to by the thi rty years service stripes covering

o f his Sleeves , Nolan was the ideal what a chief petty ofﬁ cer may rise to before age requires his retirement .

The full life O f the service , a whole profession in itself , w o f ith its seamanship a thousand ships , its rigid 88 SEA FIGHTERS military forms and ceremonials its gunnery and engi

’ neering ; reaching in Nolan s own recollection back to

- — muzzle- loaders and low- pressure side wheelers all this was part and parcel of the experiences that lined ! that serene Old face . What memories wewre his Beginning with raw apprentice days on the old ooden ships under Farragut and P orter— extending on through the period when the White Squadron was the admiration of the world ; twining proudly around the gray ship days of the Spanish War , when Nolan saw the sea power of Castile go down to utter annihilation before our Old battleships with their low - velocity 13 inch guns ; and then on through the years when the modern dreadnoughts rendered the battleships Obso

’ lete and the world s efﬁciency in gunﬁre a nd seaman

m' n ship was won by the ﬂeet that stea ed rou d the world— Nolan had seen them all ; had seen midship men from the Academy grow to grizzled captains as

his shipmates , serving under them in various ships

and many cruises . He was the whole Navy himself ,

o f in miniature , the enlisted man , bone and backbone the service !

The year the Great War broke out found Nolan liv

ing in retirement , in a little harbor town , just as close

to the edge of salt water as he could get . Where a tiny tide —water creek made the bay Shore was a sandy

point , grown up with tall , white seaside clover , and

o f back it a small ﬁeld , surrounded with pine forest . HI S BIT 89

Here Cap n Nolan had built him a white barnboard cottage , kept as neat and clean as its owner . It was overrun with gorgeous trumpet vines , which extended their shelter to a few outhouses , where a ﬂock of ’

Minorcas kept the Cap n in eggs . A Sharpie , anchored to a stake in the creek , provided her owner with a craft in which to cruise and ﬁsh ( much of the catch

o r being salted down smoked for the winter ) , and a garden in the cleared ﬁeld furnished fresh vegetables , potatoes , and roots for the winter seasons . With his

’ pension , the Old Cap n was far from want , and always quite busy enough to keep happy . F o r further revenue a chain of lobster pots received

’ Nolan s assiduous attention , and for customers he had

on but to go up Commodore Hill , with one huge , wiggling green crustacean in either hand , to receive a cordial welcome from the stately ladies who lived min F or Co the great houses overlooking the blue bay . mo re o f do Hill , sacred in the eyes the townsfolk, ought in really to be made a National Monument . Here ,

to 1812 these old houses dating back , have lived for generations the families o f retired admirals and com

mr . , odo es o f the service Here Bainbridge , Truxton f and Hull passed the evenings o their days , looking out over the sea which was their life and their glory .

o f Here lived Purviance , Foote , Ammen , and others so t the famous commodores o f Civil War times , hat the salt sea might never be far from their eyes . There is even a tradition o f one Old commandant who never 90 SEA FIGHTERS failed to take a sextant sight at high noon until the ! day of his death And , as for clocks , there is no such landlubberly invention anywhere on the hill : the time

’ Of day there is measured by the rapid strokes o f Ship s ! chronometer bells , no less

On the day that the United States entered the war , Nolan was perspiring his way up the green slopes o f on f o f e o the ancient mansions Commodore Hill , a pair of particularly lively and immense lobsters held

’ in either hand . On the greensward , in an invalid s

sat old chair, a grand dame , the widow Of Admiral

De ourtn C ey. “ ” is ? she This Nolan , is it not inquired austerely ,

she hearing his labored breathing approaching, for was totally blind . “ ’ mi ’ ” o rn n ! True for ye , ma am ; good to ye replied

“ ’ ’ An for Nolan cheerily . tis two ﬁne wans I have ’ P ” ye , ma am , fresh from Rocky oint . “

. ou Very good , my lad Have y heard the grand news ? Those grannies down at Washington have at last come to their senses and declared war on these ! ’ ” barbarous Huns It s about time ! sniffed the old lady scornfully . Admiral DeCourtney would have blown their cowardly submarines out Of water long

’ ag o ! P atience ! Don t talk to me of patience ! Since when has any power dared to ﬂout the United States as Germany has ! In my time it meant war to so much as take a single seaman from an American clip !” w per The Old wido ran out of breath and Shook

92 SEA FIGHTERS

w , hites ; black ribbon ties ; and , most cherished of all

P 0 . the blue C . . coat with its eight gold bars , each representing four years of continuous service in the

Navy , the gold being for wounds received in the line of duty . Well he remembered that day at Guantanamo when the marines went ashore , and the fleet bom barded the blockhouse on McCalla Hill to the tune of rifle and shell fire from the Spaniards !

Slowly and painstakingly he dressed , and then , sat isfied that the uniform looked as well as ever , albeit a trifle wrinkled , he took whatever money he could find in the cottage and set out for the train to the city .

’ It went through a commuters district ; here and there a factory , mostly little parklike developments

’ o f - the real estate agent s art , inhabited principally by clerks and small business men . At a certain station the train passed a large cemetery , the plaza in front of its office adorned with a flagp ole g uarded by two ( u - r sty three inch rifles on naval mounts . The cheap commercialism that would attempt to appeal to bereaved military families by a display of naval ord

n nance , bought from some second ha d dealer , always

so gravelled Nolan . More yet , the dishevelled and unkempt appearance of these weapons of war , with their locks stolen by mischievous boys , and the muzzle o f one gun pointing vacuously to the sky and that of the other nosing ingloriously into the daisies of the ﬁ eld— Nolan had served under captains who would have masted any gunner ’ s mate caught with so much HIS BIT 93 as one gun of the battery the least inch out of exact

. horizontal He squirmed now , as he passed them , and cursed the Jew management o f the cemetery for a lot of abandoned landlubbers .

A hot walk past innumerable city stores , and then Nolan labored up a dark staircase under the blue recruiting ﬂag with the gold letters of the Navy , and rolled his way into the station . The place swarmed with bluejackets . Their alert ways and the general shipshape air of the place told him that the service had not deteriorated . A young yeoman came up and respectfully inquired his business . ’ Tis th’ commissioned ofﬁcer in charge I wish to ” see , me lad , beamed Nolan , mopping his face with a red bandanna . ” In the there , directed the sailor with a thumb at

f . glass door of the o ﬁce , and skipped away

to Nolan pushed open the door and stepped inside , confront an ensign whose heavy frame and middle a e g appearance indicated that he , too , was recently from the ranks . “ ’ ! !” Well , I m blowed Barton chortled the old chief

“ ’ gunner joyfully . Me boy , tis I that am glad to

’ see ye ! Sure wasn t ye Jimmy Legs on the ould Texas en I was last shipmates wid ye— a mere lad with

’ crow on yer arm at all ! An now ye hav wan gold ’ ! an a star , begorrah thumped him affectionately as he shook f Yep . Got up to warrant o ﬁcer , and, when 94 SEA FIGHTERS

war out o f this broke , they made a lot us ensigns , he explained proudly .

“ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ f too . re ortin An tis a ﬁne o ﬁcer ye ll make , I m p

’ r — from th ﬂeet rese ve for active duty sir Barton ,

’ ‘ ’ ’ d ye mind that sir from the like o f me to th likes ” to of ye ! chuckled Nolan , brimming over with bliss be back with the Navy people once more . “ ’ Barton appraised him carefully . We d love to have

’ you back , you old barnacle ; but man , dear , you haven t “ a tooth in your head he demurred . Old Sawbones will never pass you .

Nolan bristled ﬁercely . Blow my dogvanes , but ten years agone I ’ d have knocked ye mto th’ scuppers

‘ ’ — l I . for less , me lad mean sir , he corrected hastily

“ ’ insi n darlint Arrah , g , , sure I m as sound as a cherry

’ ’ - tathe old l ye ll not be lettin a few bar Nolan , wil

P- n ye him wid thirty years , continuous service o ” record , sir.

“ ’ Come upstairs and strip , and we ll see what ” “ can do , said Barton sympathetically . Maybe I ” ﬁx it up with the doc . Nolan went into a room crowded with husky you in the glory of primal nakedness . Most o f them w so green that they saluted his gold bars at sight ;

aweso were convinced that he could be nothing less than an admiral . In an obscure corner Nolan dive his uniform and took his place in the long

or naked youngsters , all waiting f their turn

’ o f f the glass doors the surgeon s o ﬁce . After a

96 SEA FIGHTERS

k ou kindly . Sorry ; we cannot ta e y with those teeth , even from the ﬂeet reserve . There is nothing to

on . bridge , either n The judgment was ﬁnal . Nola returned to his

surre ti clothes pile with a bitter heart . He was in p

on tious tears before he again put the cherished coat , realizing that now he had no right to wear it . Barton , all sympathy, took him up to the senior surgeon , who looked the record over through severe eyes . “ ” - ld What ! Sixty ﬁv e years o ! he frowned . ! ! Tut , tut and not a tooth in his head We cannot

ou accept him , even for retired duty . Why did y bring ? ” him to me , Barton “ f sir ff We surely can use men o his training, , o ered

Barton , pointing to the gold service bars .

“ ’ Not in this war . I m afraid we can do nothing, ensign , pronounced the surgeon , after some delibera ” y tion . Good day, my lad , he smiled professionall on Nolan , dismissing him with a gesture .

Barton and Nolan turned away in silence . He

’ gripped Nolan s hand hard as they parted at the re

- cruitin ofﬁce . g door, but he dared not look in his eyes

old out As the chief gunner went , a fresh apprentice

. piped up What did the dear old gentleman want , ? ” anyway cawed the youth raucously .

‘ ’ ” in leman t ! Dear ould g , avick snorted Nolan to

’ himself as he went down the stairs— couldn t the young jackanapes see the gold E on his arm ! I f he only had the right to that uniform . HIS BIT 97 That night the misery of the rejected reigned in

s a the little white cottage by the e . Nolan tossed and fretted restlessly . Never for one moment did he blame

- — the service , his beloved Navy but surely the Gov

rnmn l e e t o d as needed him , he was , when raw boys with only a few months ’ intensive cramming in the naval reserve were getting ratings it takes a regular years to acquire ! It did not seem fair that he should

out o f be left because a few teeth , when mere gobs not able to so much as bore - sight a six- pounder would

’ so the get gunner s ratings in the reserve , great was

’ ﬁtful country s need . He ﬁnally sank into a sleep , where the fancies and memories of thirty years in the

o f . Navy jumbled , a chaos nightmares , in his brain Next morning he awoke with a dull sense o f injury and old a tired , aged feeling throughout his vigorous

. sea body Then , like a blissful wave , washing his soul

o f . clean all frets and worries , came the Big Idea He

and ! could still do his bit , do it magniﬁcently Those guns in front o f the cemetery -he had it now !

’

He sprang out of bed and dressed radiantly. A pot o f coffee and a couple o f fresh - eggs went on the oil stove in the cottage kitchenette , and , betimes in the

was o ff . o ff morning , Nolan to the train again He got f at the cemetery station and waddled up to the o ﬁce , imposing in his gold- striped uniform and row of

o f medals . Lefkowitz , the superintendent the ceme ter on y , thought that at least an admiral was calling

ff o f . him , and hastened to pro er his best box cigars 98 SEA FIGHTERS

Nolan seated himself in the ofﬁce an eyed him ’ I’ m severely . Tis bonds for the First Liberty Loan ” ’ man d callin on ye for to take , me good , he opene

. craftily , after the usual preliminaries

The Jew smiled a yellow , deprecating smile and “ ” O — o ! o offered another cigar . y y he alm st wept , ! shooting out his hands , I should buy bonds Listen ,

— ! Not captain times is hard , you understand me now ,

awul will so ! but soon , I , help me Business is f , you

— not understand me , admiral a corpse has passed that gate in two “ ’ H a brew ! e Avast Tis no excuse ye hav , me y

’ ” ’ ’ mint fri nd Gov , retorted Nolan magisterially . Th

’ ’ ’ — h — h No an particularly t Navy needs t money . ” ix im t . for two ? wan is p Shall I write ye down bonds Confronted with the actual necessity o f spending real money, Lefkowitz broke down and cried . His children would starve , his business would be ruined,

’ — er he told the unsympathetic Nolan . Couldn t the “ o ff ? admiral let him this once Listen ; come again , “ next week , admiral , he begged earnestly . Some one should die , maybe , and I should have by then a corpse , already h’ . t Nolan played his trump card In lieu av cash ,

“ ’ ’ ’ th o min i t th G t acc he decided pompously , v will p

— two guns that ye hov most lubberlyﬂ trained wid ’ ’ th h imiter . their noses in grass out in front av t c y ’ Thim an their mounts I will sind for to - morrow— in

’ ra turn me ilf. y for which I will sind ye th two bonds s l OO SEA FIGHTERS

an w n Nati onal Ensig . Here Nol orked happilymall the wo un r n i t mo ni g , digg ng holes for concrete g e place i w n h wit men s an d ll t ﬁ i g t em h cement m xed ith his

t t o and own n . un ha ds The g s arrived hat af ern on

s the their moun ts were soon in place , re ting on wet , wt i fresh concrete , i h the foundat on bolts properly

x sun k in the mi t ure . That night Nolan and McCarty worked long and late over the mis sing levers from the breech mecha

' s wwt i ni mthe s s . Cap n ho ing i h many draw ngs just ho w be an d by the they were to made , , the time con

mi n l wet s as s crete , the si g parts had been forged , ﬁ ed , and ﬁtted .

two w For more days Nolan orked blissfully at mak ing canv as covers for the g un s and at cleaning the ff i oceans o f rust o bore and act on . Then he went

d ammun i again to the cimty an procured some dummy a i tion from a ilit ry goods dealer , return ng with

was the which , he ready to put Big Idea into action .

ni the The mor ng of Big Day , Nolan got up early and dressed with unusual ca re . He put on the forbid P i . . the den C . O uniform with gold str pes and the gold E un der the grand old crow surmountin g his gold

. w chevrons He looked proudly do n at the crossed

- cannons , just as he had nearly gotten cross eyed look ing at them when they bore but the single red chevron

’ n Kea r of a gu ner s mate , third class , a kid on the old s a e! s i the g He stumped ponderou ly out nto yard , ran

o ff up the Colors at precisely eight bells , took the can HIS BIT l Ol vas gun covers , and then put up a large blackboard on a tree in the yard , bearing the legend :

. V L U . S N A A TRA I N I N G S TAT ION

’ RE CRU I TS TRA I N ED H ER E F OR GuN N E R s M AT E RAT I NGS WEL CO M E !

’ The Cap n sat him down in a chair under the shade o f the tree , but he had not long to wait . P resently an urchin came skipping by , whirling a pair of tights by their string , on his way for a swim . He stopped ,

- open mouthed ; Then he whirled about . “ !” Hi , Freckles he called to another coming down

“ ’ ’ the road , Cap n Nolan s going to train gunners for

’ mint ov the G he yelled .

’ Freckles couldn t get there fast enough . The yard certainly looked as military as a fort , with the two trim three - inch riﬂes on their naval gun mounts and the Flag ﬂying lazily overhead . A group of urchins gathered like magic , and then , the swim forgot , they

off . were like hawks for the village , shouting the news A knot of loafers forthwith pried themselves off the village hotel veranda posts , and another group of louts lying in the grass around the railroad station n sat up and wanted to know what was going o . Then

’ ’ they all set off for Cap n Nolan s cottage .

They found Nolan standing, very erect , very mili

d . tary , very igniﬁed , beside the ﬂagpole When quite a crowd had gathered he addressed them . Ye byes th ’ who want to enlist in Navy , why not go in with a 102 SEA FIGHTERS

’ r o f a n W good atin instead apprentice se me , hich is no

’ more than a landlubber if ye want plain talk . I m here to train any group of lads that wants to be gun

’ ’ ’ ’ ners— an ye all do ! An up at th recrootin station

’ ’ kn o in wan w n u they ll be glad to get ye , ind of a g

' ’ i u ’ from the other, an they ll g ve ye a g nner s mate

’ ’

h . ratin , t ird class Tis my bit for our grand and

’ ’

an . glorious Navy , glad it is I am to be after doin it ’ i Come in an look over thim guns . We nade s x lads ” to start the ﬁrst gun crew .

was . th There a rush inside the gate Nolan seized e h psyc olog ic moment, and , intuitively picking his men , soon had six selected and had shoved the rest outside

the the yard where they hung over fence , eying the guns enviously . “ !” Then , Fall in he commanded , stepping to the

scuﬂle six front . There was an awkward , and the stood in a straggly line , facing him . Nolan straight “ — ened it . Then , Right , dress shoulder to shoulder .

div v ils— ! ye close up , there , you second on the left

’ ” Front — turrn yer eyes lookin straight fo rrd ! He an walked up down , inspecting each lout severely . “ !” “ ” Stations barked Nolan . You , lad , to a tall , “ - serious looking youth , to the breech mechanism ’ ” you re plugman , gun captain . You , young feller , to “ a husky young oysterman , put your shoulder to that

’ ’ recoil pad an your eye to the sights— you re gun ” pointer , and with a few deft shoves Nolan had him th un in correct position beside e g mount .

104 SEA FIGHTERS

’ s a re points , for tis to port that both ship steaming ” load ! he ordered . There was an awkward series o f bungles between the plugman and the shellman . The breech refused to come open with military smoothness and the shell seemed to get in everyone ’ s way as it was passed for ward . Nolan was everywhere , showing the plugman how n to pass the ammunitio with the least possible

“ ’ o f motion and the most precision . Don t be afraid ”

! . it , lad he yelled to the ﬁrst shellman Shove it well

’ ’ e — th ! hom breech won t catch your ﬁngers You ,

’ second shellman , have that next load ready ; an you , ’ im i th t t third man , stand by to catch p y shell when

’ ’ ’ out th comes of gun an pass up a new wan . Tis like a football team , byes ; ivry man must do his part like

’ ’ ’ an th clockwork , no wan git in other fellow s way commence ﬁring !”

The plugman pressed the cocking lever, and the

o f sharp snap the hammer followed . Instantly the plugman pulled the lever and the shell ﬂew out in the

’ third shellman s hands , Nolan forcibly yanking the

first shellman out of the way to permit the evolution . Again and again the gun was fired with dummy ammu nition , until the crew came to have something of the “ wan clocklike regularity of Navy standards . Range , !” thousand yards shouted Nolan , and the sight setter learned to change the range while the gun was firing . “ ” a turrn he d T ke thim three buoys in , lad , shoute HIS BIT 105

’ to the pointer . Swing to thim an catch yer sights before the boys gets the new shell in !” k It was fast wor , and for half an hour the crew drilled steadily until the pointer showed by his steady piece that he was on the mark before the hammer came down . “ ” n Secure ! ordered Nola . Fall in for muster ! and under his skillful direction the boys learned how to secure the gun in a ﬁxed horizontal position and

’ stow the ammunition in the rack he had provided for the purpose , ﬁnally dressing in line and facing him under the orders of their own gun captain .

” ’

: ! . All right , gobs Rest he addressed them Th ’ ri lar - - g Navy three inch is semi automatic , byes ; that

to sa is y , it opens its own breech by a spring when

’ it is ﬁred , an ye have to work fast to keep up with it ,

’ ’ th wo rrd . w with real loads Slo an easy is , until ye hov ivry motion down shipshape . Drill yer crew

no m . we , lad , while I start another wan Recruits for

’ ” th other gun ! he called over the fence .

There was a mad dash of candidates , and in a few minutes o f pushing and sorting he had another picked crew . The sharp commands o f his ﬁrst crew going

’ ’ a i w into ct d ﬁ ere music to Nolan s ears as he watched

' o f n them out o f the tail his eye , shouting a correctio now and then while he busily drilled his new crew . ! His bit , indeed In an hour more he had both crews at work under 106 SEA FIGHTERS

own d their captains , while he supervise them both , f for all the world like a division o ﬁcer aboard ship , and the climax of the morning came when he called , “ ” v Secure ! for the last time and then ga e the order , Muster the sections !” P roud was Nolan to be doing a commissioned ofﬁcer ’ s work !

They fell in , a long line , each with its chief petty officer on the right of his section . Nolan stood rigidly f in front , while the two petty o ficers reported their ’ f ’ sections mustered . Tis to the division o ficer I m ” - reporting, explained Nolan as he about faced , and , “ !” saluting a tree , Sir , the division is mustered he ’ ’ th’ announced . Tis aboard ship we are , byes , an

’ l facin . ines is to starboard Fall in , in two lines , now ,

’ f ins ictin for inspection , for the o ﬁcer will be after p

! on us . Open ranks , march dress me , you there in ” the rear line , he added , coming around later to his

’ ’ ’ ’ . th f ou proper post Th tree is o ﬁcer, an I ll give y ‘ — — u his orders Hand , salute p with yer hands , ye

’ ‘ ’ div v ils ! Hold em there until I order Two ! thin drop ’ in i s cts . thim an stand at attention while he p us Now, ” “ ’ ’ thin , after a suitable pause , he s through , an I hope ye had each an ’ ivry detail av yer uni form spick an ’

’ ’ ! Nowhe s span , or ye d git a bad mark back in front

’ — — o f . P e us again Listen Close ranks , march arad ,

’ ’ — - rest tis done That s all for to day, boys ; this ” afternoon I will drill crews Three and Four, he added ,

“ ’ turning to the crowd . Ten to twelve o clock , Crews ” One and Two ; three to ﬁve , Crews Three and Four.

108 SEA FIGHTERS

pockets from the town ship chandlery , and the two crews began to make the place take on the appearance

- of a real naval gunnery school .

o o f and Then a peri d slackness set in , , after some

out . pondering, Nolan ferreted the trouble Those boys wanted the guns to go o ff; to hit something when the hammer came down . He had no money to buy sub

so caliber tubes and their ammunition , after deciding

on to put a mortgage the cottage to raise the money , Nolan set out with much inward trepidation fo r the town bank . The shrewd Yankee who was president o f it heard

sir him out , and shook his head emphatically . No , ,

Captain , this bank has stood by the Government in

. think three wars , and will do it now We could not o f letting you risk your home in your old age for any such purpose . How much will these subcaliber tubes and their ammunition cost P”

Nolan named the modest ﬁgure . “P lease accept this as the bank ’ s donation to the gunnery school , then , Nolan , smiled the president, d fo r a rawing a check the mount .

Nolan cashed it with a relieved and thankful heart .

How good the world was ! At sixty- ﬁv e one can appreciate it !

A busy day followed , spent by the crews in anchor out ing targets , and then , with the sharpie acting as guard boat , the crews began to see how really accurate

’ - they were with a three inch riﬂe . The little .45 s spat HI S BIT 109 foam round the targets and soon direct hits began to occur with refreshing regularity

Nolan got his reward a week later, when the cap tains of the two ﬁrst crews took him aside and told him , conﬁdentially , that their boys wished to enlist in

. saw the service Nolan their parents , as a matter of form , and then gleefully entrained with them for the f city recruiting station . When he came into the o ﬁce with his twelve recruits , all in sailor whites , Barton

wa s . amazed

“ ’ o ld — What s this , scout and why are you in that ”

P . uni form he inquired , drawing Nolan aside

“ ’ ! ! on th Shush Speak easy, me lad Soft uni !” ’ form came back Nolan in a stage whisper . Tis ” in i n two ﬁne gun crews I have for you s g . “ Gun crews ! Where were they trained ? Where did they enlist P Why in thunder did you bring them here P ”

“ ’ ’ me ilf— s Sure , I trained em here , l ave me at that ’ ’ — insi n darlint six pounder in the station , g , an I ll show ” — 1 ye Stations ! he called to the captain o f the No .

six - crew . Instantly white clad rookies fell in beside

on the naval gun , kept for instruction purposes the

— . station ﬂoor , while Barton looked on , open mouthed “ !” a Load ordered Nolan . His plugm n threw open

o f old- the breech with the precision an timer, and the shellman passed a shell which lay handy on a rack .

wa s his Already the pointer at post and the sight 1 10 SEA FIGHTERS !” setter at his az imuth head . Commence ﬁring went on Nolan before the astonished ensign , and his crew on drilled, while critical bluejackets looked with “ !” appreciative eyes . Then , Secure and the gun was

and the put back , shipshape Bristol fashion , while shell was stowed in its rack . !” Barton grinned feebly. Go on he murmured , ” they ’ ve got me hanging to the ropes ! Nolan put the other crew through their paces and then had them muster their own sections and report to him . Barton , n falling in with the game , took them through divisio drill to parade rest - never had recruits like these “ !” come before him . Take them up to the doc he ’ f e ordered to his chief petty o ﬁcer . Nolan , I ll rat

’ every man jack of them he passes , g unner s mate , ” s econd class !

’ o f That was the beginning Nolan s triumph , but it

did not end there . All summer he worked , drilling

e raw country boys and baymen , and steadily the scor 16 Gun rose on the blackboard until it bore the legend , !” ’ Crews Trained Here for the U . S . Navy Nolan s

fame went far throughout the hinterland . Boys even came by train and bicycle to get trained for a rating was before enlistment , and Nolan , in his gold stripes ,

who the happiest and proudest retired enlisted man

ever wore the service uniform .

out Then Fate , with her customary blindness , struck

at him and laid him in the dust . Down the road came

112 SEA FIGHTERS

to and The a dmiral placed his ﬁngers tip tip , regarded the unhappy Nolan with a cold stare . It was

’ a blazing hot day , and the admiral s toupee felt hot and n sticky , and the perspiration dripped dow his face

m . see fro every brown curl of it He could not the

cov situation at all , nor did he recall any regulations ering it in the Blue Book .

“ ’ Chief Gunner s mate . Thirty years in the service , he noted , still staring at Nolan , who squirmed under the hostile scrutiny . Again , may I inquire , why have you not reported to i ne— before undertaking this— ah ” — this unusual experiment P

There was no escape . Nolan hastened to tell the story of how he had rushed to report for active duty

o f tathe sir on the outbreak war but me , , I hov

’ so none that are me own , they could not take me , an ’ ’ ” sir I m after doin me bit this way , , he concluded , waving his hand at the blackboard . “ Then why are you wearing that uniform P” barked d “ the a miral angrily You know better, and you know

! o ff ! well the penalty Take it at once Sharpless , arrest this person , he ordered the jacky who drove his car . “ ’ darlint Arrah , admiral , , ye ll not be too hard on ” ! “ ’ poor old Nolan begged the gunner humbly . Ye ll

’ a rristin sir not be me , , whin I tried so hard to do

v i something for the ser ice , s r “ ! Silence Take off that coat ! And where did you HIS BIT 1 13

uns P se get those naval g Sharpless , I must e to this !

im/ Do not let h escape. “ own I bought them wid me money , sir, protested “ . so Nolan I gave the Jew two Liberty Bonds for thim , ’

. how I could train the byes An as for the coat , could

sir I seem to have the authority to drill them , , without ? E I . t See , the goold , admiral , pleaded Nolan , show

f on ing the e ﬁciency E his sleeve . “S ilence !” The admiral stared ﬁxedly before him

o f and then adjusted the curls his toupee ﬁrmly . “ Bring him in the car , Sharpless . The automobile whirled away , and presently Nolan

on found himself committed to the town jail , charge

f s m o wearing the United State uni for without author ity . The case against him was clear cut , and the judge

’ sentenced him next day with ofﬁcial celerity . Nolan s

and friend , the bank president , paid the heavy ﬁne , , released , he went back dejectedly to his cottage , put

on the canvas covers the guns , and took down the

o f blackboard sign . The news his disgrace spread

for . quickly, and no more crews came training With

f - be out the sanction o the Government , no would recruit would venture near .

’ The old Cap n brooded over his harsh treatment for some days in melancholy resignation . It was his own ut fault , he told himself at length , and then he p the affair out of his mind with the serene philosophy o f his age and set out his lobster pots once more . A 1 14 SEA FIGHTERS few days later he started for the DeCourtney house ’ with a pair of fresh lobsters for the old admiral s

old widow . He found the grand dame surrounded

on by a bevy of eager young girls , all busily at work

she Red Cross bandages . She frowned as heard his d familiar footsteps and labore breathing approaching. “ ” P she Can that be you , Nolan inquired severely , “ bending her sightless eyes in his direction , and attempting to sell me lobsters when you should be at

’ ’ ” — m a man s work ? I m astonished at you indeed I a ! and she shook her head violently . Nolan told her the story o f his training school and

’ the admiral s ban . “ ” P De ourtne Admiral who asked Mrs . C y austerely . ’ ” Townley , ma am .

Townle P y The name is unfamiliar to me . What ﬂeet did he ever command ? What squadron o f ship s ” him—I ? ever served under thought I knew them all .

“ ’ ’ the Shure , an tis no ﬂeet likes ov him iver led ! burst out Nolan bitterly . He hov thirteen enlisted

’ ’ f h Risidint men an a petty o ﬁcer under him , an e s the

Ins ictor p av this district . I niver was shipmates with ” him in the thirty- two years I was in the service ! “ And you never will be , Nolan . One of those desk ’ ” n ! admirals , I ll warra t sneered the old lady , wagging “ n her head uncompromisingly , Nolan , you have bee

. is o f shamefully treated Tell me , who head the ” bureau , now P

- S . C. 1030

E E A T M M A DER LDR I CH LI U T N N CO N A , executive

o Au us ta Ofﬁcer of the U . S . arm red cruiser g , came into

’ the steerage— the junior Ofﬁcers mess -O f the war

out o f ship . Instantly the youngsters exploded their

s 4 chairs and stood at attention , all but Nicky , the Clas

o o f reserve ensign . That youth , who knew m re ways getting himself into trouble than any “mustang” who

ever got into a boat, arose gawkily and made a waver

ing salute .

Aldrich frowned , the dignity of his three gold stripes f being visibly a fronted , but he overlooked the lapse ,

Tr n ll f u bu F . t o for Ensign Nicholas , U . S . N . R . , la e

o ut the Great Bay training station , was but a rank

d on si er, as the reserve shield his collar indicated . “ Gentlemen , be seated , Aldrich waved them to at ” ease , taking a swivel chair himself at the mess table . “ Ensign Trunbull “ !” Here spoke up Nicky eagerly, squaring himself

at attention .

“ ’ ‘ ’ ’ sir I suppose you ll learn to say Yes , , after you ve been a year or two in the service !” grunted the com

mander sarcastically . “ ” sir ! Yes , murmured Nicky bashfully .

Very good . You are to have the guard boat - S . C. 1030 1 17

’ ’ to - — and morrow , youngster for God s sake don t foozle

’ ’ o r dmir l l a a l it, now , the think we re all a bunch of ’ e the b ach crabs . It s easiest job aboard this ship ; all

to the you have to do is keep an eye on ﬂagship , and

- when the admiral runs up the guard boat pennant , look alive with the gig and get whatever orders he has

for you to deliver to the ﬂeet . “ ” Aye , aye , sir , cut in Nicky , very respectfully .

“ ’ ” “ ’ sa Don t y that , frowned the commander, that s ” — for enlisted men try again . “ ” sir ! Yes , came back Nicky triumphantly .

’ understand d All right . You f o you not ? You re

on six duty from eight to and will have the second gig. f By the way , uno ﬁcially, I hear that you are to be detached and ordered to command one of thes e new

110- sub . foot chasers Ought to be right in your line , as a former yachtsman and skipper of the Q - 19

“ ” “ ‘ ’ ir ! . s Glory gasped Nicky happily I mean yes , ,

’ commander , as Aldrich s face began to grow grim “ n for agai , I sure am Exhibit A on this warship green

sir— knowcan on ness , but I j ust I make good a ” ub s chaser .

you luck , returned the commander dryly ! Wish ’ We Navy men don t think much Of them . With a

’ little three- inch Davis gun for d and the Hun sub

’ ix - — mounting a s inch , man Sized riﬂe , she d sure stage ” - ou an o ld fashioned massacre with y . “ ’ ” Your spit kit wouldn t have a chance ! put in “

a . ou Ensign T tham , a regular The best thing y could 1 18 SEA FIGHTERS

N k u e . do , ic y, wo ld be to stick clos to shore you do i f Germany were to send over a ﬂeet of cru ” ing subs and you should run into one P Nicky grinned thoughtfully and scraped at a two

on days , growth of reddish fringe his chin . He had yet to realize that the regulations do not forgive neglect ’ - s of the razor in the press Of one s ship routine dutie . “ ” ’ ” Well , he said at length I guess I d bring her in . ” How P demanded the regulars ln derisive ’ P ut something across on her— that s h

a snapped Nicky , facing the steer ge deﬁantly b h something original , something that you ide martinets would never think O f— because it is ! your Blue Book A regular is a regular , always stick

’ ing close to his regulations and a Hun regular d never

’ do anything outside of his Blue Book either— I ” a o f ! his ﬁst fraid him shouted Nicky , banging on the table . “ !” Silence barked the commander , rising angrily . f Young man , I think you forget yourself ! An O ﬁcial mreprimand will be your next experience if you don ’ t end your tongue . “ ” “ o o ! Oh , I beg y ur pard n , sir apologized Nicky , I — I sir. a forgot your presence , He rel psed into an out awkward , miserable silence . The executive went , with the steerage standing at salute . Nicky stood in sullen silence . He had put his hand in the tar bucket that time , gloriously and completely ! “ ’ ” You re sure in a state of abysmal savagery , Kid ,

120 SEA FIGHTERS

o f v inced Nicky that that engaging smile his , encircled with all that seaweed , would be more than any senior

’ - Ofﬁcer s risibles could stand , besides being non reg.

on The guard boat would not be duty until eight , he

e understood , and there was yet half an hour to dous

ﬁ urehead those Irish pennants on his g .

’ While dreaming luxuriously in the barber s chair,

. was came a sudden imperative rap on the door It the

’ “ ” Trunbull ? captain s orderly . Ensign he inquired , “ ou to poking in his head . Captain wishes y report on ” — the quarter deck immediately .

o f Nicky looked up . One side him was a mass Of creamy lather , the other clean and clear, about down “ to the chin . Will you give the captain my compli

on ments , and tell him that I am shaving and will be deck in a very few minutes P ” he ululated in his very “ ff . on best Bostonese Bouse that barnacle e ect lively, ” to my Finnish friend , he added the barber, relapsing again into Navy .

The orderly looked scandalized , but saluted and went away . In two minutes there came an imperious triple ‘

“ ’ thunder of his ﬁsts on the door . Captain s orders m ” on immi t l he Ensign Tru bull to report deck ed a e y !

n on th shouted through the door . Nicky waited ot e

O f r n order his going, but grabbed up his blouse and a for the deck , lather and all , buttoning the blouse as he

. a went The captain met him at the gangway , his f ce a thundercloud . He used up a lot o f the English lan guage and a whole lot more from Navy stock to - 1 S . C. 030 12 1 impress on Nicky that when he said immediately it

- meant just that , and that furthermore his quarter deck was no toilet room , referring to the three open button holes which that unfortunate was madly buttoning . ” ho And p right down into that gig, at once , sir, he “ ’ - stormed . Don t you see the guard boat pennant over ” on the ﬂagship !

and ff Nicky tumbled into the gig his gob shoved O . He washed Off the lather with handfuls o f cold sea water as soon a s he was a reasonable distance from

Au u ta amﬂ i s c ou a n wav the g , but there was no g g that

’ ing side o f red fringe that the razor hadn t touched yet ! To dive overboard and drown himself while there was yet time seemed the most reasonable thing to do ! He could already see the amused grin on the

’ face o f the ﬂag ship s deck Ofﬁcer when he should set

on foot those imperial precincts . I The ﬂeet lay n a vast crescent , the ﬂagship farthest t ff ’ o ut o sea . A sti nor wester was blowing, covering n the bay with whitecaps , and presently the gig bega

o f to labor , throwing stinging spats salt spray all over at him at every other wave . The tar minded it not all , for the wind blew his collar high over his neck and the ’ back o f his j acket shed it like a duck , but Nicky s

was o f in blouse receptive material and ten minutes

e was . h soaked to the skin Like a drowned rat he ’ ﬁnally reached for the ﬂag ship s gangway and crawled S up the steps . ailors grinned at him openly from the

f O f the bulwarks , and the O ﬁcer deck turned to hide a 122 SEA FIGHTERS

’ smile as he grimly handed Nicky the admiral s orders “ ” o f . the day Cutter drill for the entire ﬂeet, he “ ‘ one o f grinned . Deliver these to each and every ves ”

o f . sel the ﬂeet , he added eying the beard doubtfully “ ’ I know I m a mere swine , compared to Navy ” a standards , pologized Nicky , rubbing his face rue “ fully , bu “ ’ ! o on a Sure They ll sh ot you the next ship , greed s O . the D . , suppres ing gusts of merriment that threat “ out ened to engulf discipline , better clear Of here ” ‘ a n u before the admiral gets n eye o yo .

Nicky grabbed the orders and beat a swift retreat .

on own He hated to bring contumely his ship by the f hirsute display , but he realized that every deck O ﬁcer on every ship O f the squadron would have a wallop

o f at the purple fringe him . The subsequent progress O f that brazen bunch Of “ n f F or e red spinach was o e riot Of gu faws . the lov !” Of Mike growled the senior lieutenant , who met him “ at the gangway of the next ship . What do you mean , ” ﬂauntin P youngster, by g that thing around here “ B andarlo wise g , I forgot to shave in time , e f xplained Nicky, pro fering his orders bashfully .

“ ‘ ’ ’ bandarlo wise And , g , you ll go back over the side ” and d w ! the . O . sen up your sailor ith your orders D “

s . i snapped , cutting him hort These th ngs are sup ” n uni ormOb to o e posed be delivered by some in f , j ected the veteran pointedly . Nicky hopped for the

O - n the next ship a square , black eyed ,

124 SEA FIGHTERS

to see on knocked again . Captain wishes you deck

sir immediately , , he called through the stateroom door . Nicky ﬂew into his last remaining pair of ff trousers , his broadcloth ones for dress a airs , but toned up his blouse , and ran for the deck . E n The captain eyed him from head to foot . nsig

Trunbull f on , I require my o ﬁcers to appear the quar ” “ - . GO ter deck in uniform , sir, he Observed icily below, ”

ir . s , and report when you have ﬁnished your toilet “ ” w. Yes , sir, saluted Nicky and dashed belo again

He looked himself over hastily in the glass . What had

? it— one he left undone this time Ah , that was tell ’ e e tale button had caught the captain s eagle y . He buttoned it and reported . ’ The captain waved a hand at the ﬂagship s rigging

- t without a word . There ﬂew the guard boa pennant

set out again . Nicky in the gig with alacrity. The sea was im t e even rougher , and this he reported , glis tening with salt water and displaying an even momre o f f r o f co unusual cut beard . The O ﬁce the deck , prehending at once , rolled back his head and yelled f “ as he handed him a second sheaf o orders . To each ” “ o f vessel the ﬂeet , he choked , retreat from cutter

’ drill— the admiral has decided that the sea s too

- rough . Crews will go to great gun drill , at sea, he “ ’

out . managed to gasp Good God , youngster, you ll ” off ! get it all , yet he roared , leaning weakly against “ . ieface w the bulkhead Look lively , now, p , we ant to Off head those orders before the cutters are away . - S . C. 1030 125

N t d and ran to the wal icky salu e down gig ith l pos sible speed . Cursing himself and resigning from the

set out for service in alternate gusts , he the remaining ships , and again the ordeal , ten times worse than

for f Off before , every O ﬁcer duty gathered to see the

and fun , the rails were crowded with grinning tars .

There was no escaping the story o f that pie- like tuft

out on Of hair , which stood his face like a smudge

! a from the engineer stores Nicky got back , more de d

O f than alive , to be received with frowns displeasure

his own . by ship Some kindly soul had, however, taken his other blouse down to the engine room , where it had been dried on a steam pipe and pressed by the

’ and ship s tailor , he managed to ﬁnish the shave while the ship was getting under way . His billet as junior division Ofﬁcer put him on duty again immediately

for O f he was dressed , and the rest the day the ﬂeet

fired at targets towed by fast steam launches , and Nicky began to feel some excuse for his existence a the fiv e gain , for he proved himself a good shot with inch rifle.

Th a n was f not e c ptai , however , still hu fy, to say frigid in his attitude toward Nicky “He hates

‘ ’ poached eggs ( reservists ) , explained the steerage “ ’ ’ consolingly , and you re worse than poached , you re ’ on scrambled . In fact , you re the only reservist the

’ e ship , and it ll tak us a whole cruise to make you even S remotely presentable uppose, for instance , we 126 SEA FIGHTERS should run into the battle ﬂeet and become one o f its

ou? divisions , where in the world could we hide y

’ You d have to play the game , and no fumbles either . ? ’ !” See You ll bilge , sure

n Nicky glanced around the steerage . Every o e O f the youngsters wore the silver anchor o f Annapolis ; not one the crossed gold anchors and silver shield o f “ ” the reserve , disrespectfully dubbed the poached egg by irrepressible apprentices among the regulars . The steerage was entirely cheerful about his proposed dis

’ missal ; he didn t belong, that was all . Nothing per sonal about it ; but these youngsters had been under rigid Navy discipline for years , and when they spoke “ !” to a jack tar there was a jump , damn you under tone O f the voice that the sailorman recognizes as part

o f W Of the stern game war, and ithout which he would

— feel uneasy , disappointed something wrong with his f world , for every third class petty o ﬁcer makes the man under him hop , even as he expects to be hopped by his chief petty Ofﬁcer and the stripers over him . It is the li fe and breath O f the service !

and The next day the captain called away his barge , , when he returned from the ﬂagship , he sent for Nicky.

on Contrary to expectations , he beamed Nicky as that ’ youth presented himself , quaking, in the captain s quarters . “ Young man , I spoke to the admiral about you this morning, and while we both agreed that there was no

for ou he Au usta place y aboard a ﬁghting ship like t g ,

128 SEA FIGHTERS

Once on the beach he reported to the Ofﬁce of the

20th . Commandant , Naval District , for further duty After sitting around half a day the aide came out with ofﬁcial papers and Nicky Opened them , to read with

a az gl d , am ed eyes “ - 10 0 o f S . C. 3 . 1 . To duty in command the “ to f . 2 . These orders take e fect immediately “ IG W . S LE H T ON .

By direction . ” Where is she P demanded Nicky breathlessly o f the smiling aide . “ Over in Basin 10; her crew has already been

” “ ’ detailed to her , returned the aide . Say , you re the

’ ” o f - 19 P chap who was skipper 9 , aren t you he “

. ! own an grinned Some devil boat I eighteen ” rater myself and would be glad to race you some day . “ off sir Hope we pull it , , gurgled Nicky , dying with “ ? ’ ingrowing happiness . What do I do next I m f ” green as a hayraker at this O ﬁcial business . “ - Report aboard of her to day and take command .

Make yourself at home , and report , via me , when you

Old are ready to go into commission . I sent an salt O f a bosun aboard o f her who can stand watch against you and will steer you on all the Ofﬁcial busi

’ ness about your crew s pay accounts , your dock trials , and such matters that require orders from the com

n . u ou manda t Dope it o t with him . Wish y luck ! wish I was young enough to be an ensign , too Good ” - m l9 n o day, Q ! a d the aide had backed into the c - . 1 S C. 030 129

d ’ f man ant s O ﬁce , leaving Nicky standing on one foot

on and then the other , with his orders idle in his hands . 10 He inquired his way to Basin , saluting every one in the yard , and dodging around a big C . R . building when he spied a four- striper bearing down on him with all sails set . Nicky had had trouble enough with captains before— who are more than apt to be stuffy and who run mostly to forty- two about the waistline .

- S C. 1030 The . lay warped against the stringpiece o f

10. O o f Basin ne hundred and ten feet slim , gray

’ gracefulness , she was Nicky s best girl the minute he

on set eyes her. A trig wireless mast , with a minia

o f ture lookout cage , a searchlight and a string blinker

f - lights rose out in front o a boy sized bridge . Under

w o f it ere the square lights a tiny chart room , where

out Nicky imagined himself , dividers in hand , laying nd — courses a figuring up dead reckonings the captain , the Old Man— O f an infinitesimal spit kit ! Her for ward deck mounted a long six- pounder ; two machine guns aft snuggled down on the flat deck ; the rest was

a ft just smooth turtleback , with a cabin jutting up

’ above the deck, and the usual anchor gear for d .

Nicky licked his chops anticipatingly . His gobs

a ll - e were Naval Reservists , twenty four of them , thre

mn ' each - - watches o f eight e ; bright faced , clear eyed

- boys , collegians , high school graduates , machinists , ex

— - chauffeurs not a man j ack O f them over twenty two .

was e Nicky nthusiastically installed by his Reserve 130 SEA FIGHTERS

- training station crew , and soon encountered the griz “ zled old bosun , a Fleet Reserve man with three hash ” n bars ( enlistment stripes ) o his sleeve . The Old fellow turned over the command with touching defer — it ence, ingrained from former naval service was enough for him that Nicky wore the gold o f a commis sioned Ofﬁcer ! f o f By way o general inspection the sub chaser ,

Nicky , ﬂanked by three explanatory chief machinists , peered down into the engine room at his three bright

220- n red, horsepower Standards ; was shown his gu s and had his depth- bomb triggers demonstrated to him

’ by two bubbling gunner s mates ; glanced through the hatch into the dark magazine well full of shell racks and painted depth bombs ; and ﬁnally he and the bosun

’ for dove the chart house , to take stock of each other s ’

. ! seamanship Here was Home , a sailor s heaven The

do ancient sea g silently fell in love with Nicky, while they pawed over signal ﬂags , thumbed the charts , took

n out o f e the sexta t its box and sight d it critically,

out tried the inside steering gear, and worked the vari

. ﬂew ous signal mechanisms The afternoon , while Nicky and his bosun pored over mess- store accounts with the yeoman , and made up lists o f everything need

to ful for putting sea . At ﬁve , the crew went to mess aboard the receiving ship , while Nicky sought a bite ’ ofﬁcers in the at the club yard , and , a fter supper,

- l9 - Q S . C. 1030 wslipped away to rejoin his beloved , here , in the moonlight , he and his ancient swapped

132 SEA FIGHTERS

Y ou may have to run with the ball yourself some day ’ — who knows ! And I don t want you to ask me , then ,

DO — what to do or how to do it . it yourself and then wireless me you hav e done it ! Use your initiative just as you did when we in the Navy watched you

- 1 e chance that reef with Q 9 at Newport . Her are your orders— the service expects you to give a good ” a ccount o f yourself . “ ” his Yes , sir, mumbled Nicky adoringly , backing ’ t way out O f the admiral s quarters . And tha night

- 1030 sea S . . the C put out to , to report later to the

P n Off . . O S . . Of the patrol squadro Hatteras

’ n d A year passed . Eve Nicky s best girl woul have taken him seriously now . Her heart would have ﬂut tered with pride to see men jump when he spoke . The

To on sea had trained him . face not e but a dozen

a TO Hatter s storms puts sternness into a man . stand on a freezing bridge , hour after hour, and face the

o f - one whip gale driven salt spray , while endlessly huge comber after another towers over a frail deck ; to pick a coastwise convoy out of the inky night and befriend her through the lonely wastes O f a long sec

on tor ; to endure weeks end Of patient , weary coast

ui n watching, with a hopeless c bo o ? undermining the morale of ofﬁcer and crew alike ; to go nights without

o f sleep and days in imminent peril broken limb , while

’ the storm slashes the patrol - boat s decks at every angle - S . C. 1030 133 short Of total capsize— these trials make bold the men of the sea !

ou see Nicky learned that , when y what appears to be three white sailboats going along in consort , they

on are most likely the markings a camouﬂaged steamer , otherwise invisible ; that a speck in the air above the

not horizon is Obviously a coastwise migratory duck, but very probably a patrol seaplane ﬁfteen miles “ ” away ; that an exploded ash can will stand such a s

- 1030 on C . the S . her nose and will almost but not quite send her diving for the bottom ; that a six

’ pounder is good for a man s head at two miles ; and that machine guns , judiciously handled , can pepper and salt any given sea area into a white foam o f bullet spats at two thousand yards .

a re and These things good to know, along in May,

’ 18 o f , the kaiser sent over a ﬂeet his submarines to

- C. 1030 see i f the men O f the S . and her ilk really knew

U - them . Reports Of boat sinkings came down from the north , vessels done to death by shell ﬁre far over the horizon , while patrol boats drilled before their commander in sham battle ; steamers torpedoed a nd coastwise schooners sunk with bombs in their holds .

o f And Nicky felt, with a joyful throb his chivalrous

a heart , th t since these foul deeds were being done up

for north , wondrous chances advancement might come ! down his way, too More and more to the southward moved the S O S 134 SEA FIGHTERS d calls and the sinkings . Ma e too hot for them by the h patrol ﬂeets Of the northern coasts , wit two Of their number sunk by a destroyer and a seaplane, the raiders dropped southwards , where the sectors were longer, the patrol boats fewer, and the wastes Of ocean ff more lonely . O the Virginia Capes a steamer in the sector north Of Nicky beat o ff a submarine by her

own . . s gunﬁre , while a S C boat nearly burst her engine trying to get into the ﬁght in time . Nicky swelled with hope . The wireless was busy all over the ocean . The chances o f his sector being next were g ood ! Very ! good , indeed

sea Came an Oily morning, when the was as smooth a s a nd z glass a ha e lay thick over the distances . A

on coastwise schooner lolled the ground swell , her

a three dirty sails sl shing idly across her decks . Nicky ,

on patrolling his sector, stood listlessly the bridge , pipe

on one o f in jowl , a commanding thumb laid spoke

’ - S . C. 1030 s the wheel . One eye was cocked casually

e on the humb line in his compass binnacl , and occa sionall y, half asleep , he swept the empty horizon with his glass . Two Of his gunners were cleaning bright

on six- work the pounder, while the two machine gun ners lay asleep in the bunks below . Now and then one o f his machinists would pop his head up out Of

- f r the engine room hatch for a bit Of air, o it was boiling hot . “ e The trouble with those peopl up yonder , rumi “ nated Nicky , moralizing on the northern ﬂeets , is that they play the game too close to the rules . The

136 SEA FIGHTERS

v r the w s ea e o e es cre , went below and oon r pp ared

- w t s . ith some lanyard which he cut to three foot leng h mti He picked up a depth bomb and hefted it j udg a

a . n c lly Then he tied la yards to two of them , with an

- o eye lo p at the ends , and then ordered two more depth bombs set in the t rigger relea se astern . P resently they sheered alongside the schooner and “ ? ” made fast. Got a storm j ib stowed below

u e w- k inq ired Nicky of th ooden faced s ipper sitting idly at the wheel .

“ ’ s r Yep ; tain t for ale , though , retu ned the coaster inhospitably . “ w Three of you go belo and break it out , ordered

’

his . bofrow Nicky Of men Government s got to it ” - a k . of you, my red shirted friend , s i d Nic y cheerfully “ Show us where it is .

xa s The skipper, after some argument and more e i perat ng deliberation , signed to his mate , who took the men below . In a trice they were back , dragging

th e . was a sail It disreput ble and ragged , but not di rty enough for Nicky . “ ” e ! M iﬂ d. st ed hi s Sous her he ordere y , crew

dropped it over the side ,

“ ’ a out— o ! Now spre d her lo k alive , there Don t be

’ ” all day about it— show s coming Off soon ! twinkled l Nicky mg uilefu lym. s Gru pily , al ost mutinou ly , his gobs spread the i r ’ t , r w d y d ipping jib along the schooner s bul arks , and n ’ the , under Nicky s orders , they hauled its peak out to - S . C. 1030 draw it over the . Amid shrieks Of pro - S . C. 1030 137

ki e k a test from the s pp r, Nic y had great rent cut in

the ma it to pass around wireless st , and then he made

' t md a the ai w he r pe the edges Of s l do n to th e water s i i t h d the ri edge unt l hey completely mt g patrol bo at . Looks lik e a du ck boat ca ouﬂaged to a point ! i k min h r s . Observed Nic y , ad ir g wo k The crew sni ffed l d m . wn e t a n scornfu ly Hi ing from the ene y , h heir pl i

was h l to — duty to das fu l speed the re scue H ell !

“ ’ Omer l c sk v oic You re a nice ejacu ated the ipper ,

’ “ the e t k own r tha t ing mute prot s s o f Nic y s c ew . Is ? ’ the way the Navy ﬁghts You re sure yaller ! “ ” S ! r in e hut up , you gla ed Nicky , fac g him m nac

’ in kn o e u l . n w t n t w g y I f you do o e ough k ep yo r ya p ’ ? amn ui o an d k see cl sed , I ll do it for you , do it d q c ,

’ ’ doin s i s n ! There s going to be here , r ght sudden , oo

h h n un r mth t o t e o th . e G ﬁ e ca e over e horizon s u T

e mn for e s o i . a moke , and so n a wh te st a er , ﬂyi g her lif

a i n li r behind her uff zigz gg g ke a hunted ha e , while p s

th of smoke spanked out low over th e surface of me sea. Nearer and nea rer ca me the repo rts of t he stea ers

n un as ai a th e an ster g , she v nly tried to re ch r g e of

i an o sh e the purs uing submar ne . In half h ur had

ch o an d a . e ntless a s passed the s o ner , soon fter r le mly a mthe ar n a l s k u i r r tt e na e h nt ng a abbit , ca e sub i e ,

s i away her o a . , abrea t o f them , not over h lf a m le l ng

ra h e wni n st an d out st ight s e r ith its con g tower up ing of

mon at x sea k n the , and a crew wor i g like de s her e p osed

- war six i un i l s and a nch g , sh eld es n ked on her for d deck. “ ” “ ow a Off h and a her N ! cri ed Nicky , te r t at sail c st 138 SEA FIGHTERS

' \Ve t c ! l oose ! go ta do it , boys , and do it qui k You at the machine g un clear Off that crew ! Full speed ahead !” un m o c an d en The starb ard ma hine g cut loose , aro und the exposed deck gun on t he submarine melted

M a c an d w. a ay like ﬂies ore d shed out of her hat hes

i wu n h h tr ed to s ing the g on t em , but s rapnel from

’ - k ix wh sea. the Nic y s s pounder iped t em into the And

- 1030 i her ! S . C. was dashing stra ght for

u mn un as and The s b co ma der gave up his g useless

m d an ha started to sub erge . He no time at all to do y

- c S . C. 1030 wthing , to so mu h as port his helm , for the as w w. Swooping do n on him like a ha k “ an as Drop those two ash c s on his neck we go over, ” w t ! y k ki hile I attend tomhese elled Nic y , pic ng up one of the depth bo bs by its lanyard . The sea was a

wthe r w boiling smother of eddies here subma ine ent

- h 1030. w t e . . under , and over the hirlpool soared S C !” w Snap gasped Nicky , starting to hirl the depth

his a r m bomb about he d by its lanya d , like a ha mer thrower . The gunner rel eas ed both depth bombs astern . “ w ” ! ar Hard do n your helm ro ed Nicky , as a white

o f sea e geyser water rose b hind them . The patrol ’ at the boat s stern rose like a rocket , and same instant

Nicky let ﬂy the whizzing bomb in his hands . It

out sea soared over the to port , a mighty cast , a

a ! ort — ﬁ ft — out glorious c st F y y sixty feet it ﬂew , in the direction the submarine was going when last seen . Then another boiling hillock of roaring waters threw

THE DEFENSE OF DORONH A

CU RTIss dug both hands info the locks o f hair back o f his ears and pored over the yellow aerograms

o f spread out before him . The walls the new wireless station reﬂected dimly the shaded incandescents on the sending and receiving desk, and no sound save the licking o f the tropical surf on the coral reefs outside

- broke in on the after midnight silence . Curtiss was sorely perplexed over his duty in con

nection w . sta ith those same messages The wireless tion o f Doronha had been established for strategic and military reasons upon a lonely coral island two

o f hundred miles east Of the coast Brazil . It was the nearest point o f dry land to the European cable con

’ nections a one in the Cape Verde Islands , re ching in

of relay the important naval bases Gibraltar, Mar

o seilles , and the German concessions in Morocc . A f French O ﬁcer of the line had arrived to take charge , but had as yet no formal orders t o do sci; the appa ratus had been installed and the station constructed by an American company with Curtiss representing them

a s e . now the construction ngineer But the yellow slips in his hands demanded more Of him than a mere

his as an commercial representative , for patriotism

American citizen was to be put to the test .

140 THE DEFENSE OF DOR ONH A 141 By 1917 the United States was the only world power not involved in the Great War . The funda mental aversion o f the United States to militarism had caused our country to withhold its sympathy from P all that the russian military caste represented , and this in turn had been deeply resented . We had seen

' ’ o f war 6 1 all we wanted to O f the pomp and glory in

out to us all this seemed antiquated , O f date , childish ; we could not be induced to approve . Our absorption Of a ﬂourishing South American trade that once had been a fond dream o f the ruling caste in Germany stirred this resentment into activity . It showed itself not only in overt hostility to the United States , but in the fomenting under P russi an auspices O f distrust and hatred o f us by the very nations in South America which , under the Monroe Doctrine , we were bound to

sea O ff protect . Meanwhile the ﬁght Coronel had

o f resulted in the defeat a British ﬂeet , followed by the secret dispatch O f the battle cruisers Inﬂexible and Intrepid to reln force the British squadron sent to way lay the victorious Germans under Von Spee at the F alkland Islands . The whole o f South America was awaiting the

NO one outcome with varied sympathies . in South

America , except Curtiss , suspected even the presence

In r id l n exible Of the t ep and ﬂ , so well had the mili tary secret been kept . But that very day he had picked up certain mysterious communications from the German colonies in South America to the scout 142 SEA FIGHTERS destroyer B litz that had convinced him that the Ger mans knew, and might even become desperate enough

Doronha fo r to try to seize the station summarily, at

to warnv least long enough get a message to Von Spee ,

on Doronha ing him . Thus Curtiss found himself in a

f o f vortex o f diplomatic di ﬁculties . In the event such

’ o f do P violation Brazil s neutrality , what should he

our own Hold the station at all costs , as required by Monroe Doctrine ; turn it over to Lieutenant La

P r lanche , the Frenchman , as violated territo y ; or destroy it and make his escape to one o f our cruisers ?

The Frenchman and he had become great friends , and

LaP lanche he felt that , as was intensely jealous Of everything that represented German inﬂuence , he could count on him for help in case he decided to hold the

a - station . Then there was Hans , his Germ n American electrician ; which side he would ﬁght on was yet to be seen , for he had always been intensely sympathetic

’ with the Fatherland s increasing inﬂuence in Brazil .

to o f Yet he , too , should give his life the defense the

a Monroe Doctrine, if Americ and her ideals meant anything to him . LaPlanche and Hans were the only inhabitants Of the island with him at present , all the workmen hav ing been taken Off by the last steamer that had touched there . Curtiss studied the situation without arriving at a satisfactory solution . Suddenly the receiving galvanometer began to

s . o f wing It was the new electrolytic responder type,

144 SEA FIGHTERS

“ ” LaP lan h And Eh bien! snapped c e excitedly . ’ P” that s your message , is it “ are — You bet ! We the war, just now this little ,

Doronha lonely island of , two hundred miles from

O ff O f sta nowhere , the coast Brazil , and this wireless tion that we Americans put in , and you, Froggy , are to command .

“ ’ ’ ’ That s all ri . And now let s get back to bed .

for s an - roid I thought you Americans were noted g f , n La P lanche . taunted , slightly archi g his eyebrows It will be at least a day of watching over our rim o f ” horizon before we see a hostile ship . “ O TO - ! ! N . night In twenty minutes And we only ” - o ut o f have the one pounder in front the station . “ ” Ah ! M on Dieu! LaP lanche bantered sarcastically . For answer Curtiss spread out some rumpled mes

“ ’ sage blanks . I caught these at ﬁve O clock yesterday , ” “ just before dawn , he said quietly , but thought it

’ best to keep quiet about em . Hans , the electrician , you know

La P lanche translated the messages . Daily coal

— S charnhors t Gneis enau report in tons , ,

D res den N urnber , g , he read . “ — nownot The Coronel ﬂeet over ﬁve hours , steam ing from the Falkland Islands— where the British trap ’ 2 0 is laid for them , you perceive ! It s about 7 0 miles

o f r - from here , the limit ou night sending capacity .

’ The B litz will have to get here quick if she s going to ” warn them at all . THE DEFENSE OF DORONHA 145

are These the German ﬂeet coal reports , then ?

Yes . Signalled , as usual , to their ﬂagship at eight 5 A M bells . And , as I caught them at . . , that places those ships somewhere about here , he indicated a point off the coast o f Argentina above the Straits

’ i - s . that , twenty four hours ago I tell you it s the

uddenest w and s blo that ever was struck , we are the ” blow . “ Ti ens ! and they must still be two hundred miles

’ from the Falklands . Let s go to bed “ Wait . Curtiss detained him Read this dis ” patch , thrusting the yellow slip before his eyes .

“ ’ - LaP lanche read it over good naturedly . It s from your consul at Rio , and simply says that reports have reached him that the torpedo boat B litz left Guayaquil at 10 R M . last night , and you are to prevent any landing o r other breach o f neutrality by a belligerent power .

‘ ’ ” Other breach Of neutrality — Hell ! echoed Cur “ ’ B litz 3 : 30— tiss savagely . The will be here at and it s ” three in the morning now . “ ” a 0 ! La la ! derided LaP lanche. Shall we uncr te the shells P” “ now! Sure thing , and right “ Mais non ! I f she comes to seize the station , all you have to do is to destroy the wireless and surren

’ f , der yourself . You re still O ﬁcially in charge here so ” I shall not interfere . ’ “ ’ ’ S ou w , he s coming, don t y orry about that and she s 146 SEA FIGHTERS going to la nd a party whether we like it o r not ! “ Oh P”

Y ou and Yes . I and those on that torpedo boat are the only persons in this part Of the world that know o f the whereabouts O f the Intrepid and Inﬂex

’ i l it— b e. But they do know and Brazil s neutrality and the Monroe Doctrine be damned . What that tor

station ~ ick pedo boat is after is to seize this , p up their

O f ﬂeet, and give them the whereabouts those battle cruisers . “ she n Still , i f comes , all you have to do is to war ” and your consul , destroy your apparatus , surrender. “ o f N O . My orders are to prevent violation the

n a Monroe Doctrine , and that mea s no l nding parties

so and no use Of this wireless , long as an American is

on nor left alive this island . Neither America Brazil can stand by and see the Germans warned out Of that British trap by a message from South American soil

— from a Brazilian Government wireless station . If we l cou d only ﬁx the wireless so that the torpedo boat

- would warn their ﬂeet too late . “ ” Impossible !

Curtiss looked at him ﬁxedly , turning a thought over and over in his mind . His eyelids drooped until “ the blue eyes shone through mere slits . There is a “

for . way , he mused , but we must fight it Will you ? Your status as a French Officer on Brazilian ” w— — ? is undefinable will ou soil well , but y “ Ah bon ! r t , Anything better than to o here day

148 SEA FIGHTERS

wistful expression , never more in earnest than now . “ ” . Hans , began Curtiss , looking up from the crate

two n We are going to be against the twenty la ding from the German torpedo boat out yonder , but i f they seize this station they will be violating the Monroe

’ — n — Doctrine America s Monroe Doctrine , Ha s and

ou y and I , as Americans , are going to ﬁght to prevent ” it— eh P Hans nodded and shifted his weight to his other

’ on Curtiss s foot , concentrating his intelligent gaze eyes . “ ow do N , what you care to I leave entirely to your own c . sympathies , Hans , and to your conscien e We

’ a — — sorely need nother man , indeed we do but we re

’ — not at war with Germany yet , and I wouldn t ask

— — any man to to you know . Suit yourself ; with ’ held ! us or neutral , this station s going to be What ” do you say P Hans made a deprecatory movement and a gain “ ” “ shifted his weight . Mr . Curtiss , said he slowly , I

’ love the Fatherland ; what man wouldn t ? I know for

she he why make this war . Maybe s right But ! !” America Ah , America he exclaimed tenderly , the “ Mr k . . she tears welling up in his eyes Curtiss , ta e

’ ’ she me she me cold , an sick , an hungry , gif vork , gi f

’ so me mooney, I send for mein frau an mein liddle

— — . . I I E fr ones Mr Curtiss , die for her gladly . y ”

iss o ur . Cherman in America feel that way . It debt

’

. man Curtiss wrung his hand That s ﬁne , Old , THE DEFENSE OF DORONHA 149

or he muttered huskily . America , right wrong, for

o f old — us ! Bring up a dozen those shells , top will

u P— s Off one- yo while I go get the canva the pounder. He hastened o ut into the little green in front Of the

one- station , where the new pounder, with its naval base bedded in a neat concrete pier, pointed seaward . The torpedo boat was quite near now and coming on

n fast . Not a light was to be seen o her ; only the hum o f her draft and an occasional lick o f ﬂame out o f P h her funnels told of her approach . resently s e slowed u p and stopped , while Curtiss shoved in a shell and

i on a tra ned the gun the dark m ss . “ O The moon will be up in half an hour. h , i f I could only exclaimed anxiously . “ ” Y ou ! mLaPlanche on will not ﬁre now exclai ed , tiptoe at his elbow .

“ ’ — Sure Attack s the best defense . Any boat that

n o si mcomes up to this station with side lights , no g wo f als , ignoring all the la s navigation , is hostile and ” n ought to be ﬁred o . “ ” Alloo ! A bail in German came in from the black bulk out over the water. “ ” Answer him , Hans .

There were a few shouts O f parley. He say you

' “ ’ mu ” s s an urrender the station , translated Hans , he ” goes to put overboard a liddle boad . “ him Tell to get under way at once and show his ” s de o r i lights , I will ﬁre , commanded Curtiss 150 SEA FIGHTERS Considerable shouting between ship and shore fol “ sa lowed . He y it is nonsense , and he call me a trai ” i . tor, sa d Hans , his eyes ﬂashing angrily

“ ’ Well , there go his davits , and I m going to Open up the minute the boat comes around her stern . I f I ” could only s ee! The three strained their eyes in silence as the noises f o lowering and manning a boat reached them . The

o f faint light, presaging the rising the moon , slowly

o f a began to relieve the intense blackness the se .

“ ’ ” C es t ca ! LaPlanche hissed tensely , gripping Cur i ’ m t ss s a r . A blurred black shape separated itself from the larger bulk . Bang ! “ TOO high . Missed him . Give me another shell , snapped Curtiss . Hans silently handed up another

one.

“ ’ My friend, don t bother with the little boat , ﬁre

’ on him— he can t return your ﬁre without wrecking ” LaPlan h the station , whispered c e. “ Froggy, Old man , I love you for that thought .

’

. now! u o Here s for his boilers Quick , Fast as y can hand ’ em to me !”

Curtiss got off the shells as quickly as he could aim,

one landing Of them . The commander Of the torpedo

his boat was equally swi ft to comprehend predicament ,

o f however , and, taking the bow line his gig, he rang for full speed and circled the point so as to be able to

one- ﬁre across the station at the pounder . “ ” Quick ! Bring me some armor- piercers ! shouted

152 SEA FIGHTERS

his It IS nothing, he expostulated , struggling to “ R i en ! feet . A touch . A scratch . The force of it knocked me down .

They tied his left arm in a sling, while the torpedo boat ﬁred slowly and steadily with both her fourteen pounders , using solid shot which drummed past and

O f o ut to sea across the point . The huge red rim the moon rose over the horizon , bringing ship and shore

- P out a nd . , black red sharp resently a solid shot struck the steel naval base Of the gun , wrecking it .

“ ’ ”

out . Now she ll get a boat , declared Curtiss All hands down to the grove O f trees along the shore back ’ ? !” o f . the point Where s Hans Oh , Hans he called , stopping for an instant in the station to pick up his

LaPlanche Off riﬂe . was already , brandishing a

a so French automatic pistol in his free h nd , Curtiss waited no longer , but ran after him into the dark jun gle of ironwood and seaside scrub palms which bor dered the mangrove swamp along the shore . Already

was the gig pulling across the little bay . “ ! !” Now The quicker the better he gasped , taking a riﬂe rest against a small palm . “ ! ! mon cher. Ah The Boche After you ,

out Their shots rang simultaneously, striking the water beyond the gig ; whereupon a sharp command caused her to instantly dash forward , the six oars ris ing and falling like machinery . A seaman in the bow and two in the stern returned their ﬁre as she came THE DEFENSE OF DORONHA 153

on , while Curtiss looked anxiously over his shoulder for signs O f Hans . “ ” oh Where, , where , is that thick Dutchman P growled Curtiss , jamming another magazine clip into place . The gig tossed oars about ﬁfty feet Off the man groves and headed into the only landing place among them as the rowers snatched up their riﬂes . Suddenly

out a huge , blurry form trod into the mangroves and stood motionless in the moonlight for an instant while

e . wa s thos in the gig levelled their riﬂes at him It

. o f Hans In another second a thin , sizzling arc ﬁre

out curved from him to the boat , while the riﬂes aimed

o ut at him spit their steel bullets . Then came a daz zlin g glare , a stunning report , a chorus Of hoarse

and shrieks , the water was dotted with bobbing heads amidst a few ﬂoating splinters and frames of the gig . “Arnold von Winkelried all over again !” exclaimed

on Curtiss pityingly , straining his eyes the still form “ ’ o f theodev oted Hans lying under the mangroves . Isn t

’ S fo r that the wiss Of it , though , to sacriﬁce one s self all ! He must have ﬁxed one o f our shells into a kind ” o f P ! on ! bomb . oor Hans Come , Frogs he called “

LaPlanche e. ot to , in the jungl They g him , but they

’

one . O ff paid dearly for it , ten to , I ll bet Leave pot ’ ting those poor devils in the water ; there s two o f

’ ’ s them that can t swim a stroke as it is . Let get back th n to e statio . 154 SEA FIGHTERS

wLaPlanche R eg ardez; the other boat , ans ered , pointing toward the torpedo boat . “ All the better . We have a few minutes to think up something new , as they will wait for her to come up . “ Eh bien ! LaP lanche shrugged his shoulders .

There is still a good harvest Of herrings below . But

’ ” I m all out of shells anyhow , he said philosophically . “ Well , France and Germany have had a crack at it ;

’ nowsee let s what a Yankee can do , said Curtiss as they reached the station grassplot . Why , here , this

’ ” thing s no bigger than one Of those ancient petronels , “ one- he cried, kicking the dismounted pounder ; give me a shrapnel shell and some help around with it to

’ the other side o f the station and I ll show you what a Yankee can do ! “ she e My friend , will kick your shoulder blad down ” into your lungs without the steel pedestal mount . “

howto . Never mind , Hans knew die I guess I can stand a little mule play . Help me carry the thing, Old

’ ” our man . It s only chance . They unbolted the swivel pin and carried the gun

o f around to the other side the station , where it would command the grove Of trees along the shore . Hur riedly they buried the piece in a low mound o f cement

o f bags and sand , while the noises the landing Of the

second boat ﬂoated up to their ears .

“ ’ Now get down , Frogs , said Curtiss , slipping in

’

ou . the shrapnel , we re to be heard , not seen , y know ’ That lieutenant s going to march his men abreast

156 SEA FIGHTERS f gulped Curtiss , trying to smile ; despite his e forts ,

of however , the twitching the muscles Of his mouth increased . “ IIurt P

Yes— shoulder— help me— in to— station— old ” P on scout, will you He fell over his side , almost unconscious with the pain .

LaP lan h c e felt for the wound , locating a smashed collar bone, and then resignedly rolled a cigarette , paying no attention to the pattering ﬁre from the thicket .

“ ’ ’ Dawn s come , and this moonlight s half daylight ” “ already, he Observed . If I pick up the American and i try to hobble with him to the station , w th all those ” riﬂes in the bushes - he shrugged his shoulders the defense o f Doronha will come to an end tout de ” uit s e. “ Frogs— drag me— straight back— from this mound - keep down out of sight

’ ! ! a Inhuman Drag you Man , your coll r bone s ” cracked . “ D o it , I say Again Curtiss fell over and buried his face in his arm . La P lanche shrugged his shoulders and slowly began to work the grim , silent body toward the station , while the zipping chorus o f bullets whistled over their heads . Soon a shout from the thicket and a bullet ’ which clipped Curtiss s head told them they were dis and LaPlanche a covered , , picking up his man, d shed DORONHA THE DEFENSE OF 157, around the corner o f the building and in at the rear door , which he slammed and barred . “ ” Mais non ! — ! but soon he gasped , as Curtiss stag

ered . on g into a chair The desultory ﬁre outside kept , but Curtiss hardly heard it . His wandering gaze had ﬁxed itself on the metallic collar at the extreme top O f the aerial mast , which could just be distinguished through the upper panes of the station windows . He

incredu watched the shiny metal , fascinated , curious

o f own lous his eyesight , as the minutes slipped by,

to wand a for it appeared glo shine with peculiar radiance . “ LaPlanche My friend, declared solemnly, return “ i ing from an Observation at the windows , th s de

’ a n fense is almost ﬁ . They ve brought up a cannon

’ now. on from the ship , and it s the edge Of the woods ” What are you staring up at P “ ! Top o f mast Look ! Sun Never mind gun , ’ — . L to gasped Curtiss , they daren t ﬁre it ook p wireless— mast “Ah ! Ah ! Sunlight ! The

’ ’ — Thought so ; that s all let em come . ” P LaPlanche, First this , though , eh questioned aiming his pistol at the big wireless induction coil . “ No ! Let it alone !” “ n u nom! ? ? N omd Let it alone What You wa t to save their ships ? “ ” Put up your pistol ! was Crash ! The main door torn from its hinges 158 SEA FIGHTERS

O f its and driven in upon them by a rain grapeshot, fall simultaneous with the report o f the ﬁ eldpiece on the edge o f the jungle . There was a sharp shout and the squad Of sailors charged across the ﬁeld , dragging the cannon withthem . They whirled it about in front

Of the door and took position . “ ! W Quick ave handkerchief , commanded Curtiss , ’ “ r r inin on LaPlanche s set laying a esfa g hand pistol , l ' ” in r do wa . me down o y

LaPlanche . , wondering, mystiﬁed , did as he was bid a They made ghastly group , framed in the black door

o f way the station , Curtiss pallid and helpless in a

LaPlanche chair, with his left arm in a loose white sling ; both grimy and bloodstained . “ u Congrat lations ; a most desperate defense , saluted

n the German lieutenant , standing beside his can on with “ ” drawn sword . Where are the rest o f your men P “ ’ all — Here s we ever had except poor Hans ,

LaPlanche for - answered the semi conscious Curtiss . “ ” What— two 1

our We did best . Are those seven all you have left P ” The lieutenant bowed stifﬂy and motioned to two

who of his men , saluted and stepped inside to the sending table . P resently the crackling signal sparks played at the

. LaP lanche wireless discharge began to sob . “ ” L a ! he ook, tr itor stormed , turning ﬁercely on

THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN

E NON of us slept that night . The forecastle roared as though it were the inside of a boiler . It dipped and

our rose like a keg, and the talk would stop and all hearts come into o ur mouths as the ship would poise

i k nmo a n s e t for a c g instant, fall like elevator and bring up with a shivering smash , while the rumbling fury Of a wave sweeping the head drummed on the

she planks above . Then would wallow , everyone won dering i f this time she was going to the bottom , to stumble upward where the recurrent shriek of the gale screamed again through the rigging . The long lines o f o ur white bunks , tier on tier , leaned and slewed at unbelievable angles ; men gripped stolidly the sides of their berths , with a leg jammed into a corner of the one out above ; now and then a head would peer , wild

o r eyed , a hasty foot shoot over the bunk edge as if the occupant were about to dash out for his li fe .

F or the most part we lay smoking, in short , fever ff ish pu s , listening to the boom Of immense waters f ’ bu feting the planks not a hand s breadth outside .

— P a our Three Old salts Barlow , bosun , Jimmy Boyle , ff the Sails , and Red John , lately joined O a merchant

— bark talked incessantly , their heads together ( for the

f . We f r bench up in the peak lay still , smoked ( o once

160 THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 16 1

ignoring Smoking Lamp regulations ) , and listened .

Anything . to get our minds Off the ship and her trouble . “ to R ed Ye can lay this , , rumbled Barlow , poking the giant recruit in the chest with the muzzle o f a

“ ’ a : stubby cob pipe , ship s three things The hooker herself— a nd ye git to love her like a ﬁne horse i f

’ one she s an able ; us j acks , the crew , who likes each

’ other , by an large , but we all got to git along together

’ ’ O l ee th somehow ; and the ld Man , who I tel is ’ ’ B rrains and m for it , ﬁrst , last , all the ti e , an don t ye g it !”

’ ! d e True for ye But , y call this little , hookey O P” nosed boy an uld Man snorted Red , his frowsy fringe O f unkempt hair seeming to sizzle around a

’ ’ imuintin s pickled face . Look at , q through his sex ’ ’ on tant up there the bridge , an lookin wise , but a

’ ’ ’ mrd ri u e n w th d ould oman for keepin ship dresse ,

’ ’ ’ bitin th rail i f there s the least thing out o f gear ! dom him , he sees everything Called me down yes ’ n terday because I left wan loose yarn o a boat lashin .

’ ’ He s too crinky for me ! The Old Men I ve shipped

’ ’ - n . with is gray haired , an hard as ails They don t

’ ’ or on mind a loose end two , but they s nothin the

’ ’ tarnal seas that they don t know . Make us birds feel ’ like a lot o f looney landsmen when th ship gits in a ” tight place .

’ Barlow s grim Old j aw , with its stubbly gray growth over a pointed chin stuck out aggressively as he eased 162 SEA FIGHTERS

o f n h against the downward crash the ship , grippi g t e bench with hard hands . “ ’ ’ ’ Na lis Ye don t savvy these pp fellers , matey .

’ hi met s s I ve been p with Betsey Blount before , when on n he was a skinny little midshipman the ould S a tee. ’ ’ He s one of them Navy Blounts . Father commanded

As tabula the cruiser , in the squadron that was in the row Off Cienfuegos ; grandfather the frigate

- . Lawre ce t n S , what was in the Monitor Merrimac ’ he scrap . What don t know , them grandfathers of ’ ’ sk his n hand out u a blue y. He may be a bit Of

’ mrtin t ante a ee S e a , but I ve seen him handle the in a

’ she gale Of wind , mind you , like was a dippin lug

’ ’ ’ rigged pinnace . Ould Craven standin by an not sayin

’ a — he ! word didn t have to Made me feel good , to ’ ’ ” e ee ! see the young blood takin hold lik that , I tell He glanced down at the ﬁve hash bars on his blue

on sleeve , while memories of his Navy life many seas seemed to ﬂit through his mind . There was not much that could happen on the immortal ocean that our

not . Old bosun had seen , we all felt ’ — how This ship s a limey , too Gawd , I hate ” ! out for limeys burst Red , abandoning the captain a new grievance , while the forecastle tittered . “ ’ ’ e n Meanin sh s able , put in Sails , who had bee busily pufﬁng and maintaining his seat against the “ roll O f the ship by a grip on a berth side All limeys

’ are able . I ain t got much use for the British , but ’ ” sa to I ll y they know how build a strong ship .

164 SEA FIGHTERS fresh - faced young electrician looked over to join in the discussion . Say, i f anything happened to the

’ ’ engine , how long d you s pose before the Old Man would shoot out a wireless , and a couple of destroyers

’ ’ d come racin out Of P ortsmouth after us !

o f A howl approbation went around the forecastle , while the three old seamen cursed all us naval reserv ists collectively . Everybody felt relieved as the little row gathered headway ; and , to help along, a shirt dropped out o f an upper berth and went swimming about in the water swishing across the ﬂoor .

“ ” “ ’ - ! Gow ding it yelled the exasperated owner . It s ’ m’ l dor s ! en l a g li fe We get hour rights , some day ,

’ ’ Hi m tellin ye |

out o f w He poked up cheekily his berth , a little sallo

h . Cockney , wit narrowed black eyes Everybody

” ’ r lime H all r n fo S o a s laughed , y Bolshevist views “ ” constituted an unfailing sketch in the forecastle . “ l ” “ A l right ! he squeaked . You blighters can

’ laugh ! Some day they won t be no o rﬁcers to come

’ ’ bull in y us comrades around . Don t we run the ship ? ’ ’ ? What do they do , but stomp round an give orders

’ ’ ’ They ain t one Of em what ll so much as pick up a ’

. ur rope s end Look at what o brothers is doin , in

R oosia , boys !

one Catcalls overwhelmed him , and some threw a shoe . The diversion was interrupted by the forecastle door banging open , and with it a skirl of spume forced its way in and wet all the bunks . The newcomer THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 165

I breasted the door shut . His blue shirt was Sopping wet and his cap j ammed down over his ears .

“ ’ ’ ! fo min m Gawd , what a night Boilers is a so ethin

’ turr ble he ej aculated , as we all looked at him inquir in l g y. The red branch mark on his sleeve and the white propeller over three red chevrons would have

’ told an outsider that he rated machinist s mate, ﬁrst class . “ ” O see P ld kittle going to her through , Link asked the electrician encouragingly .

o . The tall youth shook his head dubiously . I dunn

- o ff Had three water shots the boilers on my watch . I jumped for the bye - passes and let live steam into low

’ — ! and intermediate just in time , beli ve me Thought the heads would be knocked out of her ! Relief valves

’ about as good as so many snifters . A fellow can t

alwa s . y be right there , about an engine room Two

one O f us at the butterﬂy , one at the ram , man oiling, ’ li fe lines stretched in front of the cranks — s a mad

’ n house back there ! We re running o dogwatches . P ’ ” aine s got the engine now . A sudden silence fell on the forecastle as all hands

Tink listened . Above the howl of the storm , the faint

’ - ! tink ! Tink- tink ! Tink tink Of the ship s bell came down from under the bridge outside , like the squeak o f - a wind tossed ghost . “ ’ Gosh ! Six bells ! It ll be our watch in another

’ ”

! . hour , boys Le s all try to get some sleep

It was Joe Roat , the seaman gunner , who spoke . Just 166 SEA FIGHTERS

Off a farm, he did not know enough about the sea to worry . He could hit anything with a riﬂe as far as

see so he could it , it had not been long before he

on rated the white target his sleeve , a pair Of crossed

’ - a o f our . c nnons , and gun captain for d three inch riﬂe

o f He rolled up in his blankets again . The rest us

out on kept quiet , to help him , but the pipes went

uﬂﬂn low n p g and a mutter kept up betwee the three

Old shellbacks on their peak bench . Immediately the incessant clamor O f the gale pene t rated through the bulwarks into the forecastle again . Hideous imprecations screaming through the rigging ; fury, awful and unending ; the boom and hiss of monstrous seas pounding the deck ; the yell o f the storm , higher and higher, lowering a second to come on worse ; and through it all the steady thump o f the engine laboring aft .

’ ” can t ! Gee , it blow no harder wailed a voice , break ing the tense , listening silence . The storm seemed to answer with a yet more monstrous shout .

“ ’ mti ! te n Shut up , you ; p the devil thataway

’ one — ! growled some , It s bad enough Gawd What ” was that?

A terriﬁc racket had broken out aft . Through the iron plates o f the ship it was being telegraphed

o f on forward to us , the wild clash metal metal , rapid

ﬂail— as the blows Of a then silence, and the screw

our stopped and electrics went down . Link Hart dashed from his berth and was out of the

168 SEA FIGHTERS

- We followed him , a little knot of forlorn hope humans pinned ﬂat against the screaming shrouds by the merci

r less tempest . At lulls we would creep up a ratline o two . We did not let ourselves think what it would

on be like up there the yards . Link Hart came crawl ing up amongst us .

’ ” - ! . Ow , she s a wreck he wept Water shot from the boilers hit the high - piston valve and busted the rod— she knocked herself into heaps before they could

’ too stop her . Wireless M . G . all gone , . They d oughtta let us clean them boilers

Up forestaysail ! Close - reefed foretopsail ! Close ” ! a the reefed mizzen topsail b wled the megaphone , gale whirling the words out into the night . Sending ’ men to their death perhaps , there was a man s man behind that voice ! Somebody knew what he was

- o f doing, aboard this lunatic tossed ship . A surge

our response leaped up in hearts , and , as one , we pushed on O f up , the shrouds narrowing , the companionship our fellow men dropping below , the grip Of the gale and the wild swing o f the mast becoming greater with each upward step . We reached the top . We crept out on the swaying futtocks . As a giant seesaw the yard dipped nearly to the lashing foam below , rose like a walking beam , and hung us , clinging to the jack stay , over the seas to windward . “ P ort fore brace ! P ort cro - j k brace ! A hand on the starboard braces there !” rang out Betsey ’ s mega

w. phone belo us THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 169

We could see them slopping waist deep through the

on welter down there , tailing the port braces , a couple

woff of men clinging to the rail hile casting the weather n braces with a free ha d. “ Haul !”

e s n I The familiar pip was ile t . t had been tried and found wanting in the shrieks o f that night ! The stentorian tones Of a man were the only thing that

would ride that gale .

we the The yards braced around sharp as dug into bunt for the lowest reef points . Barlow and a couple o f mates lashed fast the earrings while others cast O ff

n Off the gaskets and they we t streaming into the night .

a ff Back astern below , ga rose slowly , the spanker d snapping pistol shots , and then it suddenly stoppe as its rag o f canvas set and the ship swung to the

o f wind . The narrow point a jib rose jerkily up the

or mforestay, bucked a time two , and then ﬁlled , steady e g her head . Meanwhile the wind , the mighty , hug ,

ai irresistible wind , had whipped the furled foretops l

We out Of our hands with a clap o f thunder. hugged

our sat on and it with arms , we the yard hooked the ,

our bunt between legs , we fought and cursed at those

one e. reef points . Each was a separate struggl To starboard the wind snapped the bunt out from under the taut clews and hurled Red John Off the yard like a

a - in- - an j ck the box . We all gasped , as he hung with

on iron grip the clew , while his legs whipped about in ow s H e a e the wind trying to ﬁnd the futtock . c m d n 170 SEA FIGHTERS

wa a in them ith jump th t shot the man in the next bight up to his knees . “ ” sir ! All reefed , bellowed old Barlow , at length , through cupped hands , shooting his voice down to the bridge . “ Foretopsail tyes ! Fore tack ! Away clew lines ! yelled the megaphone . Oh , boy , that was some Old Man ! We thought that he was really glad that the Old kettle was done for and we had a good square rigger under us .

‘

fell awa . The foretopsail y below us Inch by inch

o f to the corner the tack crept down its block , the malignant wind tearing at it and shaking it like a rat .

The lee sheet block streamed out in the wind , ﬂutter

n ing , vibrating at the end of its ca vas , rattling in the spectacles like an electric buzzer . As it was hauled home the sail ﬁlled and we could feel the ship below

to . our us sending its drive She foamed along , and wake was a broad white suds that streamed out astern into the night .

“ ’ ! to Glory, boys We ve beaten the mizzen p , any ” ! as way shouted Barlow , we gathered to punch each other with congratulatory relief . The thing was done !

on There was sail the ship . “ Mizzen lifts and clews ! Mizzen sheets !” came up to our ears gratefully as we derided and catcalled impotently across space to the mizzen . “ !” Lay down , the foretop And then, later, as i f

172 SEA FIGHTERS shoeto s p and raced overboard through the scuppers .

The house was low , but at least it sheltered us from

o f . Two T the direct smash the seas bells clanked . he

on now Old Man was up the low poop astern , with a quartermaster steering by the emergency hand wheel . O v er the gunwale we caught faint suggestions o f light

on to the east , and the horizon , as we glimpsed it the

in we O f roll , seemed closed to a narro circl hungry seas .

“ ’ Dawn comin , boys , muttered the bosun , shifting

“ ’ — his cramped position to look , and hell s bells , look ’ ’ !” what s comin with it he whistled .

our We craned necks and peered . There seemed to e be something over to the east , something hug and without form , but big and ominous . Our eyes could

not . shape it , nor give it length nor height ’ ’ W ! the Squall cloud comin , a hopper It ll blow ” out ! w sticks Of her prophesied Barlo bitterly ,

“ ’ ’ ou see ? Damn your eyes , can t y fellows anything I ll bet the Old Man does . “P ! !” He did . ort watch aloft Look lively , now

’ We our cannonaded Betsey s voice at us . jumped to feet as Mr . Burroughs came charging amongst us . “ ! Hurry , men He wants the fore and mizzen goose ” necked . We got to move before that thing hits us .

w. He raced to the shrouds with Barlow at his elbo

We waited not for lulls this time , but fought up with frantic haste . We poured through the lubber hole and

ta our a we s s mped way up the n rro for topmast hrouds , THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 173 for a menacing roar that rose even above the tumult

o f . the winds drove us It came nearer and nearer ,

O f a s we lay out on the yard . A knot the watch below were tumbling out o f the forecastle and running up

on . the head with Mr Taine leading them , hurrying to get down the staysail . It collapsed , ﬂuttering without noise in that gale and came shriveling down as the squall hit us like the brutal smash O f a ﬁst . ! It was unbelievable , that wind Our breath was

our rammed down throats , our eardrums bulged in

our with it , hands moved as i f through glue ; there was nothing for it but to hang fast to the j ackstay , with a leg crooked over the yard and try our dang dest to get the sea gasket around that sail .

The ship heeled to it like a noble horse overridden .

She wallowed her lee rail under , driving it down ,

. see down , down We could it foaming under the l sudsy water ike the side Of some great ﬁsh . A huge

for she wave raced her, snarling with foam , and stag

ered n g up its side . We seemed o top of the world for a moment , and within reach of a gull who screamed H i ! H i ! H i ! overhead . Another wave smashed her

so she under the counter and tripped her , that reeled down drunkenly, her masts dipping , dipping .

“ ’ ” — ! Hang fast , boys she s going over screeched

o f sea- Barlow , dropping his ball gasket rope , to twine himself around the yard .

A huge one, with a glassy green side like a green

on d . The house , curled Over and smashed down eck 174 SEA FIGHTERS

s ship yelled, in a quantity of noises Of thing going

e on adrift below decks , and roll d over her side . The

o l watch below slid int the p to leeward , and the ofﬁcers on poop and bridge grabbed for stanchions ’ and our hung fast . Betsey s megaphone pointed up way “ Cut — away —fore - sheets

It was his last desperate order . We could reach f neither O them . The lee block was already under water and our yard pointing to the sky , with the weather block up there like a ball on a ﬂagpole . Red and his men came sputtering up the futtocks , hand over hand , while we dropped down with Barlow , to

. w join them , clustered about the foretop Down belo

— 0 r e sea — rath r across the from us , slantwise pande mnium o had broken loose . “ ! ! ’ P ” Cut the sticks Cut Chips , where s your axe screamed voices as the watch hauled themselves up the steep deck by the weather gear which had fallen

O ff its pins , and tried to lash themselves under the

’ poor shelter of the weather rail . The ship s deck

was slanted like the roof of a house and half of it

to under water . The seething backwash came up the

f n base o the funnel . Heroic doings were going o down below , as the engineer force plugged up the ven tilating gap around it and fought out the water from cowls and door hatches , we learned later . The top o f the funnel just cleared the lee wash o f the waves ”

out It shipped water occasionally , but no steam came ,

176 SEA FIGHTERS

the ~axe and sea a h released , it dropped into the s e stood gibbering and blaspheming at the captain . “ !” Somebody shut him up , there shrugged Betsey, “

. ! turning to look up at us Ahoy , aloft All there , Barlow P ” “ ” ! d. Aye, aye, sir we all yelle

wn . Stay right where you are until ordered do ’ “ Cripes came Barlow s astonished mutter . What

’ ’ ’ ” meself ! d ye s pose is his idea I d hev cut her free , .

one backswi e Some had handed Halloran a p that sent him snivelling in a heap over the engine - room sky

on light . Minutes went by , with the ship still her beam ends , the watch hanging to rope ends , while showers of snow drove horizontally over us and the seas washed up her bottom and slid in cascades over the rail . We could have walked down the ratlines .

- O f It all seemed unreal , an undreamed ideal , the rigid Navy discipline aboard that capsized ship . All those men , their lives , and that of the ship herself

’ hung in the hollow o f one man s hand ; depended absolutely on the orders that were in his mind. It was not Annapolis that was on trial— that mother o f admirals had produced thousands and thousands O f ! master seamen It was Betsey , backed by Annapolis ,

- who was combating the limitless ocean , single handed .

- A little hookey nosed boy , as Red had called him , he stood there , rigid , immovable , minute after minute , his eyes watching the ship , hardly lifting to glance

. sun and anywhere else The came up , its slanting rays THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 177 glinted under cold clouds on the shiny black visor o f his cap . His hooked nose , ﬂattened in some football

o f scrimmage , was running tears salt spray and it

utted o f j down under the visor like the guard a helmet ,

Of n one the face the ﬁghter that k ows but battle cry, Don ’ t give up the ship !” None o f us had the least idea what he would do

’ next . Even Barlow declared that he d be blowed i f

to . she he knew what do The ship was tight , and

us n would not sink under . She would come up , whe ! the wind got through , whenever that would be “ !” Leadsman to the chains barked Betsey suddenly . ! !” Look at that , now Wants to know where he is

“ ’ ’ Th bo s ll crooned Barlow delightedly . y get bottom

’

. th dom ned for him , somehow I bet he hov whole ’ m” o i ! b ttom chart in his mind , bless

r Jim Hawkes , a seaman , ﬁ st class , O f the starboard watch crept forward to the abandoned bridge and climbed to its high weather end . He untied the coil o f lead line , but beyond him stretched the smooth shiny ship bottom with no chance whatever to heave the lead . Betsey waved him forward to the bowsprit ,

out one where he knelt on it , with arm down around the stay , the waves seething around him at every pitch

a e Of the wallowing ship . The lead swung in big circl and plopped into the sea . ”

! . By the mark , ten he hailed ” Bring me the bottom , came back the order .

e Carefully wrapping the lead in his handkerchi f , 178 SEA FIGHTERS

Hawk es pocketed his precious charge and made the hazardous climb back to the poop . Betsey examined

for its armed bottom critically . He seemed startled

saw a moment , and we thought we his eyes glancing

e an un x about over the s a anxiously . Then came e pected order “ Lay down your men , Barlow . m an. ! Now , what the grunted the old Ugh Better be up here than down with them birds on that ” ! on ! wet engine house Come , boys , lively does it

We crawled down on all fours , the seas lashing up at our legs as they reached the chains . It was all tur

sun moil down here , with the risen smiling coldly

i nk- sea over an black , and white Niagaras curling ’ over and thundering down on the ship s smooth bot

o f . tom , to spout up in showers spray that drenched us

now The Old Man , we noticed , divided his eyes between his stricken ship and the misty wrack to leeward , peering through it for longer periods , some times , than he devoted to our drowned masts and the f varying strength o the gale . We all looked when

our he did , for down in hearts every man was thinking ﬁn the same thing but dared not whisper it . Betsey ally borrowed glasses from one o f the ensigns and looked to leeward more intently than ever . “ !” Good God , look there groaned Barlow , pointing westward with a soaked arm that ﬂapped wetly in its

o f blue regulations . A murmur despair went up from

180 SEA FIGHTERS

’ ’ T forec l Mr. aine , Red John , and a bunch of hands leaped forward, hand over hand along a life line that had been stretched under the weather rail . !” Aback , fore and mizzen yards came the next order , to us this time , the lashing tones ringing like u an iron quirt about o r ears .

“ ’ sir The lee braces are fast under water , ; we can t

’ “ get at em , quavered Barlow . Shall I dive for ’ em P” “ ” ! o f Never mind . Stand by and before any us

to could get our numbed bodies nerved the act , he had jumped down amongst us and dived down the slanting

o f deck into the sea . A suds bubbles came up , and ’ o then an occasional burst f them ; then nothing , while we picked at our shoe laces and made ready to go down after him . We hardly noticed the white ﬂutter Of the j ibs jerking up the stays in the tense suspense of that moment . Then he came up , ten feet from the

’ ship and drifting away fast . A rope s end shot out to him with the quickness of thought , and we all blessed

Old Sails , whose presence of mind had got it ready . !” All gone the lee braces choked the captain , as we hauled him in with an eagerness that nearly “ drowned him . Haul the weather braces , men , rouse ’ em along the engine house and put your backs into it ! Give the ship a chance !”

on t e He clambered , soaking wet , up h poop , his eye at once on our half- drowned j ibs that rose white out

O f se the a . THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 181

” OffP Is she paying he shot at the helmsman . ” sir— s ! Going, fa t Her head spun around , the bowsprit slithering across the wave tops and rising steadily . “ ” on ! Heave , men , heave those braces he stamped at us with blazing eyes . The yards came slowly around as we heaved against those drowned sails as i f our very souls were in it . They stood aback at a sharp

o slant as she swung around , and the wind slapped int the canvas a bove water with a resounding P ong ! “ ” ! O f Belay he warned , as the full pressure the gale

’ on came them . Barlow s heavy shoulders lurched as he made a sudden catch around the pin . The rope groaned . We all held our breath lest it should part .

The blocks clucked , but the sails held and the ship began to move like a derelict awash . We seemed the center o f a whirlpool Of tumbling waves . She labored

on like a raft , with whitecaps pounding down her from every direction and rebounding against each a n other to spout up into t ll geysers of Spray . Dow along deck the deep blue water began to eddy and curl as it passed astern and drifts O f suds came steam

to ing the surface .

Then the wind , getting a bigger lift under the yards , literally tore her masts up out o f water. The ship jerked to her feet like a horse scrambling from wet t asphalt . All the water brough up with the deck deluged over us , knocking us sprawling into the scup pers and cascading over the bulwarks . We came up 182 SEA FIGHTERS

n sputteri g and clutching at each other, to ﬁnd white waterfalls of water running overboard everywhere and the ship leaping to her stride as a mare from its haunches . A great sea came rolling up after us , curled high overhead and deluged down , sweeping the deck .

- a We hung to grab irons , ropes , legs , nything, until it wa s over ; but it was the last , for she leaped away from

one O f the next , and none them could catch her after

Old that . We found Barlow , spitting and coughing sea at lee th our water the rail , with e last Of lee brace in his hands and a turn Of it around the pin . He had

sea the grabbed for it in all that smother of water, at last possible moment .

We started to haul it in and steady the yard , but

Betsey was not through with her , for there lay the land , looming up not ﬁve miles away and dead ahead . “ Square those yards ! Quick ! Square ’ em !” he ed stamp , cursing us in expletives that bit and goaded

n. mad us to frenzied actio We heaved and hauled like

n at men , gaini g rope an inch a time against the fright n ful wi d pressure . ” Now— P ! ! at , then port your helm ort he yelled

the ﬁv e the helmsman , although quartermaster was not feet away from him . “P ’ !” ort tis , sir

as She came grandly up , the sails snapping volleys

for we rushed the braces . “Belay jib sheets ! Brace the yards sharp !” the

e . order caught us , as we hauled away for d ar li fe

184 SEA FIGHTERS

an ily, but not that spouting rock , unless by act of

o f o f God . She could not go inside it, for the line

we reefs . Everyone stopped work , as swept down toward it in long, tremendous swells , over which the ship raced her bowsprit like a blooded ﬁlly with her neck stretched out for the goal .

“ ’ ’ ! O t ! ! Ah , look a that , now The pity The pity ” — di Good God ! wept Barlow softly , as the stance “ ’ t . S lessened to cable leng hs , then yards he ll not

’ ’ ! us— O make it . We ll strike Save the ld Man s headin ’ dead for destruction !” It seemed as i f he were going to ram us right on

t the that deadly hing as ship swooped down . Surely Betsey could have clawed O ff another inch ! “ Slack o ff j ib sheets ! Helm hard a - port !

as o The jibs ﬂapped suddenly, the ship shot up int the wind in a long scend . “ ” ! - - l ! ! H ome! Sheet Home Hand some y Home

the . yelled captain The forecastle worked like devils , h catching her with the j ibs before s e went in stays .

' The ship hung not ﬁfty yards to windward O ﬂ

Off — ! Spouting Rock , payed , and fell away beyond it

O f A great bellow relief went up all over the ship .

We danced , we punched each other, we clapped one

on another the back as i f we had done something . We had weathered Spouting Rock ! “ ” ! — and Square all yards bellowed Betsey , there

— was grim laughter in his tones this time , and with a

O f be w shrug his thick shoulders he went lo , leaving f O . the deck in charge Mr Burroughs . THE HANDS OF THE CAP TAIN 185

Like a woman gathering up her skirts and run

ning for it before a shower , the ship soared into the

. was deep bight of the bay Land nowhere in sight

e ahead , but in two mor hours we would pick it up

— again and a blessed breakwater , behind which we could furl our wings and swing in peace to the Old

mudhook .

- The bell clanged four quick double strokes , and the

’ O f am pipes the bosun s mates suddenly c e to li fe . “ P ” ort watch below ! they called .

’ ” That s us , boys , g runted Old Barlow , rising to stagger with the wide gait O f a seaman toward the

forecastle . We went inside and wrung the water out

’ r of ou sopping blankets . The other watch hadn t been

in yet . Their side was all below water when we were

one on our beam ends , and all their mattresses were in sozzling heap , Chips reported .

“ ’ ’ I m lookin for the man that says our Old Man ain ’ t the best Old Man that ever trod a deck !” quoth

an Old Barlow, advancing an aggressive chin within

’ “ ’ inch O f Red John s face . We re just his lubberly

’ ” ee ! hands , I tell ’ The Hercules glared down his nos e. Hain t ” “ ’ ’ min bloo neither ! he voci ferated . We re a lot of ’ s ueakin e brothers , from him down to that q apprentic boy that stole my socks , when you come right down to it ! And I ’ m goin ’ to bust your nose !”

o f And they went to it like a pair hens . LIVE BAIT

A S U DDE N deluge o f bright light ﬂooded the cap

’ R an ome s tain s stateroom of the destroyer , painting

’ the cabin s steel walls with shimmering splotches o f sunlight reﬂected from the waves outside the port hole . Lieutenant Commander Seaton Elliott , her cap

o f h tain , rolled out his berth and attempted to brus

’ ’ '

P o ff . P iti e okey, the ship s cat, his lap That s the , ” out o f I reckon , he yawned , stretching the sleep his P limbs . okey agreed , purring amiably . She was not

- only a green eyed black cat , which any sailorman will

- tell you is especially lucky , but a hump backed cat as well , thereby becoming an especially potent mascot , and getting more than her share Of the condensed

O f cream the wardroom mess . “ ” ! he Elliott , with an Ouch of exasperation as

’ P out of brushed okey s sharp claws his trouser legs ,

- jumped to the porthole for a look see , for the sudden

f one illumination o his cabin could mean but thing, a ship near by , and a white ship at that . Two cable

’ lengths away be perceived the hospital ship La P itie

' coming to anchor in the roadstead . She was named for O f P the the French hospital that name in aris , Red Cross having run out of English names connect

s ing mercy , solace , and the like . Alway graceful and

- e e yacht like , her tall topsides wer a blaze of pur white ,

186

188 SEA FIGHTERS

n O Dow that companionway, directed the deck fﬁ

no e cer mysteriously , as indicating a region where mer d sailorman might are to tread .

Old P iti e no Elliott went below . The had t changed much from the original passenger- ship plan as a coast wise vessel , for long white corridors greeted him, dividing her ’ tween decks into innumerable staterooms where once had trod the feet of fashionable ladies nd a happy children . At the foot Of the main stair case Destiny awaited him , for , seated at a small table

— Elliott stopped in his tracks , stricken witless at the ’ o f ! sight her A vision , in nurse s white regalia , with

o on sat red cr ss arm brassard , demurely at the table guarding the precincts of the hospital . Elliott gasped , and his heart stopped within him . He hesitated and

a a . stared wkwardly, almost rudely , t her loveliness r Brown eyes , under long, cu ving lashes , searched him

e s inquiringly, whil little wisp of shiny brown hair

e e e persisted in distracting a masculin y , required under regulations to be ﬁxed impersonally onthat becoming headgear which is the Red Cross ’ s principal

ask recruiting attraction . Her pretty lips parted to him his name and business . “ ’ sa ! o Oh , I y It s a crime t spring a thing like this ” on ! a mere unprotected male thought Elliott , as he “ for L- still gazed , struggling breath . Lieutenant n f O . Comma der Seaton Elliott , the U . S Destroyer

R ansome— — ee Armh s wt to to Miss y , he managed LIVE BAIT 189

t to out d leng h stutter , to the entirely compose and

l on y amused fair e. demurely wrote his name and rank on a little “ Third aisle over ; then four compartments ” o f shi she c ward the back the p , dire ted , handing

him the paper .

on ! he Elliott took it and went , dazed . Gosh “ e fetched a mighty breath . I suppos the fellows

o ashore are always running int world beaters like that ,

and so o f to ! get sort used it ; but , say , Hot Sport

H owthat about to serve your cream Of wheat regu

’ larl ! m the y every morning She s got e hanging to ropes !”

H wa s e e strod on down the corridor , j oyful that he

o - - nly twenty seven , the youngest three striper in the

N imos f avy , and unmarried . All naval O ﬁcers look p

’ in one g in Uncle Sam s gold stripes and stars . This ,

for once, paused before a panel mirror to take an u nwonted Observation . The image reﬂected back at him a was of a typical sea dog , stocky , sturdy, we ther beaten and pickled from ﬁve years o f sea duty in the

- M ﬂotillas . n adhouse Service , the torpedo boat Ster

blue eyes , eyes that commanded , glinted from under

a bushy reddish brows , and bove them rose a high ,

a domed forehead , shiny and sunburned , to the top Of

prematurely bald head . “ ’ ” Hell s bells ! he gurgled at himself . In Memo

’ o f t riam Seaton Elliott, skipper Uncle Sammy s yach 190 SEA FIGHTERS

‘ R an ome - s ? t He though he was skirt proof , but a rag a nd e a Of im a bon and bunch brown eyes ﬂushed h ’ and ! f brought him to earth he grinned , thinking o the o f who h d fo r fate an Annapolis classmate a fallen some soulful eyes j udiciously maneuvered .

H is a e papers to the he d nurse wer soon delivered , a nd a o e he , after few minutes Of p lit small talk , r etraced his steps . “ ﬁ th Any Of cer rates e right to spoon on a dazzler . ’ w o ff an Here s here I ﬂash her a smile and crab eye ” ful! thought Elliott, relapsing into Navy as he sped d own the corridor.

e a t a a e Dangerous gam , which m nkind is mere novic compared to the least o f the predatory sex ! She of the desk sent him a bewitching look and a sidelong n od he as went by, and the commander, routed , ﬂed over the side with his head cloudy with roseate visions .

P his n resently gig was scuddi g across to the destroyer , where the business o f getting her ready for sea soon e ngrossed him . A little further down the roadstead lay the ﬂagship o f their convoy, a big armored cruiser , camouﬂaged

in nd e. glaring stripes Of white a sky blu Beyond her,

' two hulking transports , painted cubistically and

- crowded with brown clad soldiers , tugged at their

a . was as con mooring ch ins It a very small convoy,

two t n o s the to a v y g o, just cruiser guard the r sports , a i The and himself to take care Of the hospit l sh p .

192 SEA FIGHTERS

’ o f wastes the Devil s Hole , an area of the sea a thou sand miles wide , where the Gulf Stream and the Arc tic currents meet , beginning about ﬁfteen hundred miles west of the Irish coast . “ ” Fine young weather ! grinned Elliott cheerfully at his second and clinging by main strength to the

o f o f rails his corner the bridge. ’ 1 - " S a regular night blooming swozzle returned

e the ensign , making a mad snatch at the binnacl stand “ a rd as the destroyer rolled to her beam ends . July or

’ ’ on ob! l January , the Devil s Hole is always the j We l roll over on our back and kick up our heels ” presently .

‘ e cho s rolled Hug p hither and yon , blown by cease less storms ; mountains o f blue - black sea water slashed

o f the buffettin along the decks transports , g their prows to the anchor gear and wallowing over their

o f . Now stern turtle decks in Niagaras icy brine and ’ s again long hillocks Of ocean , higher than the cruiser

on e basket masts , rolled broadside to , and the gal

Off e O f s whipped the entir tops them , hundreds of ton

n on Of hurtli g brine, and a deluge would pour down

her e. on superstructur Even the high battle bridge , w e out f here Elliott could mak her o ﬁcers and quarter

in - masters facing the storm , shivering high collared greatcoats , it was a freezing misery for the whole ‘ i s o f . to and h s four hour their watch But , Elliott

’ o destroyer , the Devil s H le was a mad existence , every and second fraught with danger to life limb , while LIVE BAIT 193 ceaselessly the sea had to be searched for lurking peri

O f s copes . There was no thought eating or sleeping

o f during the whole crossing it .

“ ’ d R l - ol . o l um s The U . S . S s doing six seconds to ’ !” the roll , I ll bet laughed the ensign sardonically . “ h ’ ’ Here comes cookee with t e chow . I m Mess Gear s right- hand man when it comes to shoveling down bul l ! !” ets and sowbelly This way , stranger

can a s a A of cold be ns , erved with a h tchet , was p roffered when Finnegan managed to pilot it up on

his the bridge , and Elliott and second dug the con

out o f tents with a couple spoons , thankful to get the utensil to mouth between grabs at the nearest ﬁxed object . “ Sleeping is simple aboard this packet , gulped “ Elliott between mouthfuls . I just pitched my mat tress Out on the ﬂoor and turned in on the wire springs l . o d too last night Wore the felt lambies , , regular s oggy sponge Of pickle , but I was too tired to take ’ m e ff a e o . Braced my knees ag inst the high sid boards Of the berth and dozed along with a viper grip on the grab rails to keep from being pitched out bod ily . Makes you wish you were section boss of a gang o f old rabtown o bluejackets back in C ( Annap lis )

’ ” a it? gain , don t “ ” Y ou warbled something there ! chortled the ensign “ ’

too . hilariously . The engine room s a madhouse , The boys just sprawl over the hot turbine casings w one hen she rolls , and ﬁreman holds another around 194 SEA FIGHTERS the waist while the holdee pitches a shovelful at a

at ! time the ﬁres At that , they are thankful that the

’ o f Old days the reciprocating engines are over . Mem

o f P orter ber, Seaton , the little Old boats the class , / how you g ot pitched bodily into the cranks i f you didn ’ t grab like a monkey at the life lines ? At least

’ our greaser gang can t more than get scalded by the ” turbine casings . “ ” ! too Some blow growled Elliott . Almost bad for subs . He crooked an elbow over the rails and

“ ’ s earched the seas with his binoculars S my guess they ’ ll be taking it easy about ﬁfty feet down in this ” w. eather To just keep alive on a destroyer during a storm

’ o O f ccupies most one s attention , but even through the

’ mo aelstrom f the Devil s Hole Elliott could never for

’ et O f L P iti g his vision the pretty nurse on a e. Ashore a man constantly sees beauties that knock one cold a t o f the mere sight them , but their faces are soon sup It planted by others just as pretty . is far otherwise

one aﬂoat , where a sailorman rarely sees a petticoat ; face like that will burn into a man ’ s memory and reign there supreme . Elliott could not get the picture of

ou a obses Her t o f his mind . She bec me a veritable

s ion with him , and he clothed her image with all the impossibly adorable attributes that man is wont to

hang around the shrine o f his beloved . During the

o f calm reaches the Newfoundland Banks , when all

ut on the nurses were o deck , he had often ranged the

196 SEA FIGHTERS

d apart, putting an enemy submarine in a quan ary as

no to which to attack . But to Elliott there was course L but to stick as closely as possible to his charge . a

’ P itie rode like a white swan , visible for miles , now buried behind the seas so that only her masts stuck

now e up over the hilltops , sailing high on a wav crest,

o her ﬂaming red cr ss a mark for any miscreant . Near

e her wallowed the destroyer , shooting up a hillsid of

she foaming water, wiggling to her beam ends as went

- over the crest , and hurling her crew helter skelter a cross her decks before plunging down into an abyss , where she would bury her bow deep into the side Of the next wave . Elliott grew so used to seeing a huge wall of sea water towering above her and about to

on smash down their devoted heads , that to grab and

1 o f hold fast , cowering nto the hood his felt Eskimo suit while the deluge o f brine swept over the whole

e. O bridge, became mere second natur nly a few adventuresome nurses braved the wind- swept decks o f

’ P itie the , but up over her bridge canvas peered the f caps of her watch o ﬁcers , anxiously scanning the seas through tireless binoculars .

’ a o f sun set On the l st night the Devil s Hole , the

f 1llowon O b wanly under an angry bank clouds , piled billow to the far western horizon . Elliott , with eyes running salt tears from periscope strain , swept and

carewo rnl swept the waves, more and more y as night

. out o f ne came on At any time , any o of them, might

. now come Fate , heavy with doom Even over their LIVE BAIT 197

heads might be ﬂuttering the wings of the Black Ravens !

n And the it happened . From nowhere , without the

s lightest warning, a rending tearing crash came to

his ears across the dark waters . With a white ﬂash

sea Of explosive , a huge geyser spouted up out of the

’ a P i tie - the midships alongside the , a torpedo shot in very center o f the holy sign O f the Red Cross ! The destroyer was thrown hard on her beam ends by the

b o f the ackward wash explosion , sending Elliott

’ spinning across the bridge to land in a heap against

the port railing . But he hardly noticed the incident

f r o n o a w. the gony that tore at his heart He had failed ! That shipload of conﬁding women— where were his eyes when the assassin had launched his fatal thrust ! N O excuses are accepted aboard ship ; either u ’ ob o t . you do your j and get away with it , or y don

And the Hun had got her . Already she was listing

o heavily to starboard as he dr ve the destroyer, bow

be ﬁrst , toward her . All her people would have to taken Off in that storm and there were an hundred and

o f . twenty the nurses alone Voices , thinly veiled in

’

La P itié s . sarcasm , assailed him from bridge Like a d fﬁ ’ culprit , he bowe Obedience to her reserve O cer s c e ommands , and maneuvered the long destroyer as clos

’ to the hospital ship s wildly thrashing gangway a s he

dared . She now heeled far over, turning up her bulg

w r ing bottom , and the gang ay went down he side at a 198 SEA FIGHTERS

the crazy angle , platform at its base smashing the

- s . o f eas at every roll Like a ﬁle well drilled soldiers ,

on the nurses had already lined up deck , clinging to the rail , while sturdy seamen , braced in the gangway

o f ropes , made a chain safety for them to descend .

“ ’ I m putting eighty Of them in the four port life ” ’ m P itié . boats , shouted the s skipper through the stor ” O f them P Can you take forty aboard the destroyer “ n Aye, aye , and pick up the rest as soo as we clear your ship ! Send down the ﬁrst ones lively !” bel

o f lowed Elliott, as , with both hands on the pair

- engine room telegraph handles , sticking up like rabbit

a one ears from their brass st ndard , he backed ﬁrst tur

’ bow bine and then the other , nosing in the destroyer s

O f as close as he dared . A knot his strongest seamen

’ on had gathered the destroyer s billboard , and one by one the nurses jumped for their arms , while the two big ships battledored and shuttlecocked the lashing

two . seas caught between their hulls It was wild work ; great spouts o f sea dashed up and showered

R an om over them ; time and again the s e seemed about

e P itié to be crushed under the huge bilg Of the , but , backing and going ahead , Elliott stuck to his telegraph

sea handles , managing the destroyer with consummate

- manship , while at each dash another white robed woman was shipped aboard and sent aft .

Finally the captain crept down the gangway , bade

- b his ship good y and leaped aboard , to come running “ . n a aft Mag iﬁcent work , comm nder, magniﬁcent

200 SEA FIGHTERS

on he daybreak he was still the bridge , searching t

a foaming seas , ﬁghting against the hopelessness of

- - hundred to one chance . Deep down under the des

’ pondency over the loss O f the P itie and the wear and worry Of the rescue , lay a growing conviction that became more poignant every hour . His Girl was not among those rescued , and therefore must be on the fourth boat ! He would have recognized her unfor

and one getable face in a thousand nurses , not as they

a she. came board could have been To make sure , he had looked for her carefully when , relinquishing the

see bridge to his ensign , he had gone below to that all the ship ’ s quarters had been turned over to the nurses and that everyone was as comfortable as it is

n n possible to be o a destroyer . Nowhere was she o the

o f ship ; that he was certain .

a on n for The destroyer was now lone the ocea , the cruiser and her transports had hurried away as soon P iti ’ a as wirelessed that the e was being att cked . Elliott felt it his duty to cruise in search until the last ray Of hope had been extinguished . By the end of the day , when too exhausted to stay awake longer, he curled up in a corner o f the bridge and went to sleep P in his Eskimo suit , with okey , who had stuck to him through it all , curled up in a ball in his lap . On the second day they were still patrolling the

sea e inﬂu area , and the had abated som what , for the ence o f the Gulf Stream was beginning to be felt .

Elliott awoke with a rotten case of periscope eyes , his LIVE BAIT 201

a granulated eyelids gummed f st . He jumped up ,

h P o ff ov ersuit she brus ing okey his felt , where clung

“ ’ ! e with her claws dug into the thick felt . Scat You r ”

ou ! . a punk mascot , y are he exclaimed irritably

“ ’ First you lose us our convoy ; now you re going to m - i t s x e ake us repor twenty peopl missing . Get onto ” ob ! your j , dammit Then he picked up the cat and stroked her forgiv ~ “ in l . ou a whis g y Never mind , y black he then , he

“ ’ pered into her fur . I m like a Chink mess boy beat in f r n t t g his idol o o bringing him good luck . You jus ﬁnd us that fourth boat and all will be well ! He pried open his eyelids and resumed his binocu h h l . t e ars Finnegan , the cook , came up on bridge wit some hardtack and a cup Of black coffee which he had

- — managed to heat up by incredible sleight o f hand . Elliott downed it thankfully and went on with his h wc . t e at h During the day wind shi fted and fresh e N ot wned again , until by night it was blowing a gale . ishing to run out of the possible area where the cast a d way might be , no doubt by this time drifting moore t o o f t a sea anchor lashed oars and gratings , Elliot hove to and wore out the night in about the same posmi t n io , making four knots to comp ensate for stor d ﬁt full on a rift . Again he slept y the bridge , with s licker and a wad o f blankets thrown over him in a c P his orner of the bridge , while again okey shared

w. armth The next” morning the boys all looked pretty hag 2 02 SEA FIGHTERS

for the g ard, every hammock had been turned over to n u urses , and for two nights they had slept curled p

- around the guns and under the torpedo tube mounts ,

o f the in crannies in the engine room , a lot them in

out s warm coal bunkers , whence they crawled , a mas h O f dirt and coal dust . Elliott felt bitterly that t e

time to give up the search had come . The live bait

- woumld be dead by this time . Seventy two hours in that stor would ﬁnish any boat crew from exhaustion a nd thirst alone . Even the sub would have abandoned her by this time and gone about her sinister business .

S O a long as the b it stayed alive , waving pathetic anten

’ nae o f sailors shirts and Red Cross aprons lashed o she h to upright ars , would hang around , circling wit B ut pitiless eye , waiting for the rescuing destroyer . dead bait was no good ; even a patrol boat would pas s it without stopping long enough to make a mark for a torpedo . Heavily he gave the order to abandon the search “ - b and bear away to the southeast . Good y, Sweet !” heart he whispered , looking across the waves through unwonted tears .

’ and The day s routine of the ship was resumed , with it returned to cognizance the ceaseless roll and

for one grab rail and stanchion , the endless climb up foaming wall of water and plunge down the other side . Most o f the nurses were sleeping in the ham

or mocks below, enduring life in their crowded quar

o f ters somehow , but a few them had managed to

204 SEA FIGHTERS

own my executive ; a beautiful and talented girl , my h particular c arge , as I am quite intimate with her family “Boat ahoy!” the hoarse hail came croaking down

from the lookout cage . ? ” Elliott jumped for the bridge . Where away he yelled up through cupped hands .

“ ’ no r one ! Three points , quarter east Just got a ” O f glimpse it over the horizon , captain , shouted down

“ ’ e the lookout , peering over the edge Of the cag . I ve

’ ’ lost her now ; but you put me over thataway an I ll pick her up again sure .

R an ome e The s heeled over as she mad a quick s tur woop to the north . Over the seas she shot, her bines singing a high-pitched whine as she threw on her full twenty thousand horsepower and dashed at

the full speed through the roaring seas . Nothing but sharp edges Of mountains Of water ﬁlled the ocean

- ﬂecked before them , a sleet of wind foam covering their steep backs . Miles passed . Then , appearing for

one just instant on the crest of a comber , was a tiny

one cockleshell of a boat , with oar still sticking up and a ﬂutter of white from ' its top ! It disappeared into the hollows and was not seen again , but the destroyer

fo r was aimed the spot , and Elliott knew it would

. saw soon reappear Then they it mount a wave half a

Off R ans ome mile , and the slowed down , for it would

o f the w not do to pass at full speed because po erful LIVE B AIT 205

wo f . ow ash her engines N it was but a few hundred

— r yards Off dragging from an improvised sea ancho .

P ! Not on it oor live bait a living thing moved , not a human being raised a feeble arm to wave a welcome . Even yet the Evil Eye might be lurking a round , and Elliott dared not risk his ship and all o one n board to stop for instant . At half speed the

“ destroyer swooped by , and from the top Of a wave n the looked dow into li feboat , careening further along

- down in the trough below them . White clad bodies

n lay sprawled o the thwarts . Here and there the blue

o f one jacket a sailor showed , and Of these was mov

in . g , raising a feeble arm The destroyer rolled down

’ out into the hollow , and Elliott s straining eye made

in o f Her, lying in the stern sheets , a huddle pitiful u him w. o hite forms Her great dark eyes looked t at t c she ragi ally as tried to raise her head . He could s ee that the women were still alive and that they were trying to raise a faint cry , but the sound was lost f o . in the roar the wind Elliott , mad with anxiety, not daring to attempt a rescue , steamed around them h in a great circle , searching every inc Of water for a periscope .

on Then a messenger came running up the bridge , f th from the O ﬁcer listening below at e audiphone . “ !” Be careful , captain , there is a submarine about he “ a d nnounce . We can hear her screw . She seems to ' ” be ea a t 34 sir. b ring bou south , 206 SEA FIGHTERS

’ on d We ll drop a can her bean , then , declare “ - l . a a set 27 Elliott energetica ly Qu rterm ster, her east south . He dashed over and dropped several depth bombs ’ but j udgmatically . The submarine s screw stopped , that might not mean anything reassuring ; most prowb ably she was just playing possum , still lurking belo , waiting . Waiting until she heard the destroyer stop — and then ! u An hour passed . Still the sinister silence kept p .

? she Had he sunk her Or was merely waiting, around

? N O o il the bait had come to the surface , and in that sea a slick would show up instantly .

but in Sailors are not superstitious , they believe

- t black cats , particularly hump backed ones . Elliot ,

P mhe s in desperation , picked up okey fro where “ r on P ubbed around his legs the bridge . okey, he “ w m. e hispered , stroking her sleek back , give a hunch

’ ” o r ? Shall I chance a stop , shan t I

P e. okey purred amiably, but the hunch did not com n In a black ight , when no one can see anything ,

on destroyers are run mostly hunches , but this was

Of he e broad daylight , and , in an agony dilemma , bor

on . down the boat for the third time The appeal , the sight Of all those hollow eyes , those forlorn , miser able faces , those gaping tongues bespeaking unutter able thirst— they were almost too much for him ! “ ” P — o f ! okey think something, dammit exclaimed

“ ’ ou Elliott , exasperated . I m going to stop her if y

208 SEA FIGHTERS

n wd aptly timed , right at the moment whe it oul ride h e igh , and it cam roaring straight for them , its exhaust spluttering like an a eroplane a s it shot out o f a big

o f a wave to plunge into the side the next . It was

- e sure hit, and Elliott , horror stricken , sighted its wak and judged that it would strike them some distance

f . R an m orward O f the bridge The s o e was three hun d to red feet long, and it was practically impossible

o f o he back her clear the t rpedo , but instinctively “ for l g rabbed both telegraph handles to signal , Ful speed astern The ship rolled v 1c10 usly as he jumped for the handles— and his foot trod on P okey amid a r o f off iot feline squalls , throwing him completely his b l o in a ance . His b dy swung, twisting his arms , and ,

to spite Of him , the port handle pulled back full speed a inexor stern , while the starboard handle shoved over ably to full sp eed ahead ! The effect was magical . Ten thousand horsepower swept a boiling mass o f foaming waters forward along her side like a mill race ; the other ten thousand drove a roaring column o f wake bodily astern , while the destroyer swung like

“ a top— swung out her bow to meet the oncoming torpedo— swung across its track not ﬁfteen feet in front o f it— swung clear o f it altogether ! And the deadly missile hurtled along their side and passed harmlessly onastern ! “ ” Snap ! barked Elliott down the speaking tube to the u bow his g nner in charge of his torpedo tube , for own b wn . o was ow aiming directly at the Hun A LIVE BAIT 209

r h d o d j a shook t e estr yer as her torpe o launched out . Elliott regained his foothold and stopped both tur

for . see bines , to steady her a second shot He could

the long , bubbling wake Of his torpedo as it soared

e with incredibl swi ftness , straight and fair at the

d . e iving submarine Down deep , well under the surg

sea on . e a O f the , it kept its way Ther was tremendous

explosion , pieces of the submarine , periscopes , conning t o f mower, and sections deck rose in a confused , boiling f n n for th d ass o fragments . There was o eed e secon t orpedo !

E u P o f a d lliott grabbed p okey in an ecstasy joy, mi m ’ the frantic cheers that arose fro the destroyer s “ ”

d . P fur ecks okey , he whispered into her shining ,

“ ’ ’ ou n we e n y don t k o what a good littl kitten you v bee mn to ! hor we me today With you g m to help , kitty,

’ h H un— and we ! beat t e e v saved my Girl THE P LAIN PATH OF DUTY

H AT T giant machine , the Silent Navy has thou s the ands of cogs , each intimately interlocking with o S O thers , that the work Of each man furthers that o f o f the man ahead him . The result is patent to the w r a P orld , in th t grim , irresistible ower which foreve protects our homeland shores from those who would do us harm .

One Of the cogs had broken , and there was a gap

wa s It a pathetic funeral , in the small brown stone church in the town where had been spent the

o f . boyhood Junior Lieutenant John Hastings , U. S

N . R . The Stars and Stripes hung in broad folds over the narrow box that held the mortal remains of t his cog in the great machine . That was his sole

1 i glory, the one distinguishing mark from a pla n c vil

me . NO o f not ian dirge military music , even a arin guard from the navy yard to ﬁre the last salute over

for his grave , the ﬂu had been quick , and the rever berations o f e war were still in the air , and ther had

’ been no time for the commandant of Hastings distant district to notify that o f the district in which the f uneral took place .

Pa s too thetically mall , , was the representation from

s all his hosts Of friends in the church . A mattering

210

SEA FIGHTERS

tne machine . On his shoulders had fallen motive

o f p ower repairs and upkeep a whole navy yard . Doz ens o f ships owed to him their ability to keep the s ea ; none left the yard for patrol or overseas duty

f O without his e ﬁcient hallmark all over them . S much would he be missed as an Ofﬁcer ; as a man still more so , for the yard would never forget his genial pres

and on ence , his vacant chair at mess the receiving in ship would require considerable Of a man to ﬁll , f the estimation o his shipmates .

The little procession ﬁled after the pallbearers , fol f ut lowing the co ﬁn o of the church . Many dispersed at its doors and went back to their lives , but the Navy

on followed to the cemetery , to be with poor John n at his last resting place . Not a word had been spoke a one mong them , but as they had paired and marched

the in a grave procession behind the hearse . When

last dust had been returned to dust . Sam turned to his old comrade with wet eyes . “ ” “ — Po ! . We w n or John he gulped e were childre

’ together in the nursery ! I— I suppose it s up to me to ” n carry o his work . ! Sloan regarded him with astonishment . Why

’ ’ Aren t you going to ask for your release ? Mine s

’ ’ — s old e gone in already the war over , man ; it s tim ” ot we g back to business . “ ’ no Sam shook his head dubiously . It s t quite clear “ in my mind what I ought to do , he answered . We

’ Hastings are Navy people . If we aren t in the Navy , THE P LAIN P ATH OF DUTY 2 13

’ we in the e r ﬂeet reserve , ready at all times to be

c on on alled for active duty , combatant ships . We

a re on the regulars , as much as i f we were duty in

’ . out service When you naval reservists get , you re

’ t not hrough . It s so with us ; my duty is to carry on ;

- - the Navy is short handed as it is . Who is going ’ ” t o take John s place P “ ”

! . Not you , surely cried Sloan incredulously

With four children , and a consulting engineering business that is known from one end of the country ’ to Y ff m ! ou an not the other can t a ord it , , on Navy ” p ay !

‘ ’ ’ ’ ‘ ’ e no a Ther is c n t in the ﬂeet reserve , it s must .

’ That s the way John would feel ; and so do I , retorted

“ ’ Sam grimly . I m going to forget the release , and

’ a sk for w . It s transfer to his ork at the yard my duty !” “ ” S ! . But your boy, am objected Sloan earnestly

’

t or . r He s g o to go to college , now never And you

’ out ‘ this ! — two girl , coming year And your wi fe isn t

Of e years scratching along somehow enough to giv ,

’ now ? e our that the war is over We v done bit , Old

t o on p ; when they want us again , let them call us , u rged his Old friend practically .

’ am i S visualized Sloan s release applicat on coming i it nto the Detail Ofﬁce at Washington . He could see

n n a o f for n too bei g sig ed with sigh regret , Sloa , , had b f w co een a mighty g , an e ﬁciency expert who dre m own a an ore p y th three admirals in his business , and 2 14 SEA FIGHTERS

t o wN o f hom the avy had owed the speedy output

sub war. destroyers and chasers that had ended the The Silent Navy would say nothing : but sign the

a release , for it was honor bound not to hold a n val

reservist , once the armistice was signed , if he asked ! for a release . But a ﬂeet reserve man A former

f o f on o ﬁcer the service ; Class I , for active duty com batant ships ! What would they think o f him ?

- Then temptation assailed him . He was forty two ,

’ and drawing a kid s pay as senior lieutenant in the e ﬂeet reserve , while his confr res in the Navy were

all captains and admirals . He saw the evening of his

r life sp ead out before him , the future of his whole family blighted i f he stayed in ; his boy forced to seek work instead o f being seen through college and started on his life equipped with a liberal education ; his daughter— what would she do without the social advantages that money can give ? And his wife

a o f doomed to poverty , after ye rs comfort due to his n earni g power as a citizen . It was they who would

ff o f su er . Nobody would care , least all the Navy, to

whom a man is but a name , a cog in the machine . ? senior lieutenant Ah , yes , some youngster, is this

’ e ob for can name , here s a nic , minor j him , where he keep out o f trouble ! S O much for the country ’ ! renowned engineer s fame , in the Navy Sam took a last glance at that brown mound o f fresh

! I earth , and the die was cast What S patriotism but sacriﬁce ? And what impels certain ones o f us to

e overturn the slow accumulations o f a li fetime , hom ,

2 16 SEA FIGHTERS

her boat cranes , the lean muzzles Of her secondary battery , high up in the superstructure . Sam shivered as he battled his way against the keen

’ ofﬁcers wind , and he hastened up the gangway to go below for a ﬁnal inspection . Then he returned on deck with the chief engineer . “ !” Everything tiptop , captain said he cheerily to “ — the four striper who commanded . Wish you a good !” voyage , sir

Very good , Mr . Hastings , returned the captain “ P” gravely . Duty complete , chief

“ ” ’ sir ! Duty complete , grinned that veteran . We re all i s r. shipshape and Bristol fashion down below, S am ’ s ﬁxed us up ﬁne 1” “ Report it so , Sam , laughed the captain genially .

ou Gad, man , but y should have stayed right in your !” class with us he added , glancing down at the four

n rm o a o be stripes his that Sam sh uld wearing, too . “ ” God ! Well , good luck and bless you said Sam , turning down the gangway and saluting the Flag as he

“ ’ ” one for went over the side . That s more us , John ,

his he whispered, as he turned back on the grim , black

- o hulk Of the monster ﬁghter , and sought the four ro m quarters that are allowed a senior lieutenant in the yard .

ev er And his wife is still asking, When are you ” to P going to retire inactive duty , Sam

THE END .