Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

396 you in charge of the deck Alvarez, and see the navigating officer. The ship isn’t steering herself, I take it.” “Young Arturo Polito is in charge. You remember him?” ‘Guanama’s_ professional fat boy, eh?” Girton said. “I remember him very well. He graduated from our naval college; I remember that, too, because I indorsed his application.” Hemmett at his side, he walked to the wheel-house and opened the door. Polito was indeed its only tenant—a very plump and sleepy-eyed young brown man, good- natured as ever. They greeted him with mingled emotions, for he—among some thousands of others—had much cause to be loyal to Guanama. | ‘So you were in it, too, eh?” Mr. Hemmett observed. “In it and out of it again, senor, ap- parently,”’ said the second officer of the Pavoroso quite easily. ‘“ Many strange things have happened recently in our navy, senor—things about which one may ask questions and learn nothing. I had intended, in another week or two, to ask for my discharge and join my father in business; for I do not like strange things. ‘And now, a few minutes gone, the excellent Senor Alvarez points a pistol and informs me that on pain of death we are to catch El Fuego. So now—” “Tf you understand that much, you’ve got it all, Polito,” Girton said sharply. ‘“ Can we overhaul the boat?” “It is possible; it is not likely,” Polito said placidly as he kindled a fresh cigar- ette. “On the trials, you know, El Fuego averaged the tenth part of a mile better than this vessel. That is the difference.” ‘“‘ Then get busy with your engine-room telegraph and see if the Pavoroso can’t make that extra tenth herself and a little more. Because we're going to overhaul El Fuego!” His steady eye bored into the large, cowlike orbs of Polito; some ten seconds Polito studied the gaze and the face of the man behind it; and then, with a little shiver, he nodded. THE ARGOSY. “Yes, senor!” said he, plainly con- vinced. ‘If it be within human power, we are to overhaul El Fuego. Be as- sured of my poor best efforts to that end.” He picked up the speaking-tube and took to shouting, energetically and sin- cerely, as Rodero had shouted to his fire- room force! Hemmett and Girton, a little easier, left him and walked forward, where Alvarez already peered into the night ahead. ““T have ordered the search-light manned,” he reported. “It is one of the wonders of the navy, this Pavoroso search-light. With it and the moon, we shall soon pick up El Fuego, I think.” He was wrong. The search-light, flaring out after another two or three minutes, swept the water ahead all in vain. East of their path it went and west, through painful minutes. There was no sign of El Fuego. Half an hour had gone, then—and abruptly a pencil of light rose on the skyline dead ahead, rose and disappeared again. “That’s it!” Mr. Girton exclaimed. ‘And they’re making for the open sea —they’re heading east! ’’ added his friend. “In that, senor, I think you are wrong,” Alvarez smiled. ‘I have had speech with one Barra, head of the fire- room. He spoke freely to me, sefor, for we are old friends. It is said by Barra that the other destroyer is making straight for Parilla to take on coal!” cc Eh?” “And I think that this is true, sefor, because coal for El Fuego is lying at my own dock and was to have been taken aboard to-morrow.” ‘‘ And the bunkers here?”’ “They are full, sefior.” “Well, that sounds something like!” Girton exclaimed. ‘“‘ That ought to mean that we'll overhaul them before mid- night.” _“ Before eleven, I should say, sefor,” Alvarez answered cheerfully. Again their anxious hearts quickened; again, as the search-light was switched comicloool C©