The Argosy, January 1907 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

210 THE A moment he gazed, then: ‘“ Jack, a ship! a ship! Oh, God!” For it was a ship—there could be no doubt. And as it momentarily increased in bulk, we knew that it was approach- ing the cay. But we knew, too, that it must come very close if those on board were to discover us on the tiny cay. We had hope indeed, but despairing doubts wrestled with it, for the ship might pass, all unmindful of our presence there. We were in a maze of anxiety and ut- tered senseless ejaculations: “She veers!” “No!” “No, she’s heading straight!’? “She must! She must!” SP heret:-Phey — see us!” No." asses’ OH a Yes! .For the ship, a cruiser, as we could now make out, was in truth so close at hand that it seemed impossible those on board could fail to see us. We danced, and ran back and forth, shout- ing our loudest. Then the speed of the vessel slackened. We could distinguish men crowding to the side and gesticulating toward the cay. A boat began dropping toward the waves. Billy and I shouted no more. Instead we fell into each other’s arms and em- braced like two Frenchmen. “Saved! Oh, thank God! Thank God!” Billy muttered, and I echoed his words. Afterward, we stood wordless and mo- tionless, watching with glad, wet eyes as the boat was manned and moved for- ward briskly amid the reefs. But when it came safely out of the surf and into the shallow waters of the little bay, we screamed in mad joy, and ran with all speed toward it into the sea, and were swimming when at last the boat reached us, and we were drawn aboard. After that I was hardly conscious for a time except of the glorious fact that every sweep of the oars took us farther from the grisly horrors of “ Crab Cay.” CHAPTER -Vil1. JOSE AGAIN. We were so worn and wretched in ap- pearance that our rescuers treated us without much respect, although kindly ARGOSY. enough. They gave us food, and after- ward we were allowed to sleep in the marines’ bunks. For the ship, we learned, was a Guatemalan cruiser. Another revolution had broken out, and only this cruiser re- mained in the hands of the government. The single battle-ship had fallen into the possession of the insurgents, owing to the disloyalty of its officers. As it would have little chance against the battle-ship, the cruiser had sailed up the coast to remain out of the enemy’s way. We sailed back toward the south dur- ing the night, in the hope of securing despatches, and Billy and I had the best sleep we had had since leaving the hacienda of my uncle. But soon after dawn the sound of cannonading awoke us to new excitements. We scrambled into our clothes and rushed on deck. There, close on our stern, was the battle-ship of the insur- gents, and, as we gazed, a_ broadside roared from its heavy guns. After that all was turmoil. Yet of the actual fighting Billy and I saw very . little. The cruiser was short-handed, and an officer spying us idle, ordered us to the ammunition room to help in sup- plying the guns. There was no use in remonstrance at a moment like that, and for that matter, we were not reluctant, since the cruiser had saved our lives, to work to save hers. It was the first time I had ever been in action and I believe that being busy saved me some mental anguish, for I did not suffer from fear, nor did Billy, until we heard some one shouting that the ship was sinking. That started us in a hurry for the deck. We had no mind after all the perils we had escaped to drown like rats in a trap. Quick as we were, however, we found that we were too late. All the boats that were still serviceable had already been lowered and, filled to the sinking point, were being cast loose from the cruiser. The decks contained many more men who had been unable to find place in the boats. Some leaped into the. sea, and were striking out lustily to get as far as pos- sible from the dangerous neighborhood COPMICLOOOKS