the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第32章
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done。 Joy and excitement thrilled the ship's company。 Cuban patriots
appeared in uniforms with Cuban flags pinned in the brims of their straw
sombreros。 From the hold came boxes of small…arm ammunition of
Mausers； rifles； machetes； and saddles。 To protect the landing a box of
shells was placed in readiness beside the one…pounder。
〃In two hours； if we have smooth water；〃 shouted Lighthouse Harry；
〃we ought to get all of this on shore。 And then； all I ask；〃 he cried mightily；
〃is for some one to kindly show me a Spaniard！〃
His heart's desire was instantly granted。 He was shown not only one
Spaniard； but several Spaniards。 They were on the deck of one of the
fastest gun…boats of the Spanish navy。 Not a mile from The Three Friends
she sprang from the cover of a narrow inlet。 She did not signal questions
or extend courtesies。 For her the name of the ocean…going tug was
sufficient introduction。 Throwing ahead of her a solid shell； she raced in
pursuit； and as The Three Friends leaped to full speed there came from the
gun…boat the sharp dry crackle of Mausers。
With an explosion of terrifying oaths Lighthouse Harry thrust a shell
into the breech of the quick…firing gun。 Without waiting to aim it； he
tugged at the trigger。 Nothing happened！ He threw open the breech and
gazed impotently at the base of the shell。 It was untouched。 The ship was
ringing with cries of anger； of hate； with rat…like squeaks of fear。
Above the heads of the filibusters a shell screamed and within a
hundred feet splashed into a wave。
From his mat in the lee scupper David groaned miserably。 He was far
removed from any of the greater emotions。
〃It's no use！〃 he protested。 〃They can't do！ It's not connected！〃
〃WHAT'S not connected？〃 yelled Carr。 He fell upon David。 He half…
lifted； half…dragged him to his feet。
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〃If you know what's wrong with that gun； you fix it！ Fix it；〃 he
shouted； 〃or I'll〃
David was not concerned with the vengeance Carr threatened。 For； on
the instant a miracle had taken place。 With the swift insidiousness of
morphine； peace ran through his veins； soothed his racked body； his
jangled nerves。 The Three Friends had made the harbor； and was gliding
through water flat as a pond。 But David did not know why the change had
come。 He knew only that his soul and body were at rest； that the sun was
shining； that he had passed through the valley of the shadow； and once
more was a sane； sound young man。
With a savage thrust of the shoulder he sent Lighthouse Harry
sprawling from the gun。 With swift； practised fingers he fell upon its
mechanism。 He wrenched it apart。 He lifted it； reset； readjusted it。
Ignorant themselves； those about him saw that he understood； saw that
his work was good。
They raised a joyous； defiant cheer。 But a shower of bullets drove
them to cover； bullets that ripped the deck； splintered the superstructure；
smashed the glass in the air ports； like angry wasps sang in a continuous
whining chorus。 Intent only on the gun； David worked feverishly。 He
swung to the breech； locked it； and dragged it open； pulled on the trigger
and found it gave before his forefinger。
He shouted with delight。
〃I've got it working；〃 he yelled。
He turned to his audience； but his audience had fled。 From beneath one
of the life…boats protruded the riding…boots of Colonel Beamish； the tall
form of Lighthouse Harry was doubled behind a water butt。 A shell
splashed to port； a shell splashed to starboard。 For an instant David stood
staring wide…eyed at the greyhound of a boat that ate up the distance
between them； at the jets of smoke and stabs of flame that sprang from her
bow； at the figures crouched behind her gunwale； firing in volleys。
To David it came suddenly； convincingly； that in a dream he had lived
it all before； and something like raw poison stirred in David； something
leaped to his throat and choked him； something rose in his brain and made
him see scarlet。 He felt rather than saw young Carr kneeling at the box of
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ammunition； and holding a shell toward him。 He heard the click as the
breech shut； felt the rubber tire of the brace give against the weight of his
shoulder； down a long shining tube saw the pursuing gun…boat； saw her
again and many times disappear behind a flash of flame。 A bullet gashed
his forehead； a bullet passed deftly through his forearm； but he did not
heed them。 Confused with the thrashing of the engines； with the roar of the
gun he heard a strange voice shrieking unceasingly：
〃Cuba libre！〃 it yelled。 〃To hell with Spain！〃 and he found that the
voice was his own。
The story lost nothing in the way Carr wrote it。
〃And the best of it is；〃 he exclaimed joyfully； 〃it's true！〃
For a Spanish gun…boat HAD been crippled and forced to run herself
aground by a tug…boat manned by Cuban patriots； and by a single gun
served by one man； and that man an American。 It was the first sea…fight of
the war。 Over night a Cuban navy had been born； and into the limelight a
cub reporter had projected a new 〃hero；〃 a ready…made； warranted…not…to…
run； popular idol。
They were seated in the pilot…house； 〃Jimmy〃 Doyle； Carr； and David；
the patriots and their arms had been safely dumped upon the coast of Cuba；
and The Three Friends was gliding swiftly and； having caught the Florida
straits napping； smoothly toward Key West。 Carr had just finished reading
aloud his account of the engagement。
You will tell the story just as I have written it；〃 commanded the proud
author。 〃Your being South as a travelling salesman was only a blind。 You
came to volunteer for this expedition。 Before you could explain your wish
you were mistaken for a secret…service man； and hustled on board。 That
was just where you wanted to be； and when the moment arrived you took
command of the ship and single…handed won the naval battle of Nipe
Bay。〃
Jimmy Doyle nodded his head approvingly。 〃You certainty did； Dave；〃
protested the great man； 〃I seen you when you done it！〃
At Key West Carr filed his story and while the hospital surgeons kept
David there over one steamer； to dress his wounds； his fame and features
spread across the map of the United States。
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Burdett and Sons basked in reflected glory。 Reporters besieged their
office。 At the Merchants Down…Town Club the business men of lower
Broadway tendered congratulations。
〃Of course； it's a great surprise to us；〃 Burdett and Sons would protest
and wink heavily。 〃Of course； when the boy asked to be sent South we'd
no idea he was planning to fight for Cuba！ Or we wouldn't have let him go；
would we？〃 Then again they would wink heavily。 〃I suppose you know；〃
they would say； 〃that he's a direct descendant of General Hiram Greene；
who won the battle of Trenton。 What I say is； 'Bl
