The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-11-27


ops custom Of years 1t was to him the
revelation and the demonstration of the
impossible. The whole elaborate fabric
he had built out Of the traditions of
army, navy and marine service came
tumtling about his ears The very foun-
ilations Of belief were shattered by the
single command which showed the ser
gcant that a captain who did not know
his duty was, after all, possibility.
The color went out of Pfeifer's face,
and he grew deathly pale. Then he sa-
luted and said:
but beg your pardon, sir. 1t is not
the regulation. l should salute from tho
quarter deck"
If he had received blow in the face,
the captain could not have been more
surprised. 1t was serious thing, in
deed, when Pfeifer protested at an or
der. But the se1geant's objection was
well grounded. 1t recalled the regula-
ton to the captain, and he knew his
order was a mistake. Nevertheless it
was his order and he would not reverse
it. He hesitated an instant and then:
lyon heard the order" he said.
"Obey it. "
They were standing ON the main deck
just outside the executive officers Of
fee. The executive was at his desk fin
ishing up the last of his work before
going ashore. The window was open,
and he heard all that was said by the
captain and the sergeant. When he
heard the order repeated, the executive
Df
Pfeifer standing white faced and deter
mined, facing the angry captain. The
sergeant breathed in quick, short gasps,
and as the executive watched he lifted
his hand again in salute and said:
1.-The moment my men and 1 are
ashore, sir, we are no longer under your
command. My superior officer then is
the commandant of the marine bar
racks. If go ashore, sir, / cannot obey
your order to salute the flag, for my
duty then is to report at once to my
commanding officer.
The captains face went red and
white, and he lost his grip on his tenn
per. His voice rose to an angry shout,
and he exclaimed:
Take your men ashore and salute
the flag from the wharf. -
Without word Pfeifer saluted,
wheeled ON his heel and went away.
Presently the bugle summoned the ma.
rincs to fall III. Pfeifer was at their
head. Down the gangplank they match
ed, and on the wharf they formed up.
Fright facet shouted the sergeant.
His well drilled men wheeled as one
and stood facing the marine barracks.
forward, march, - commanded
Pfeifer, and off the marines of the war.
ship swung to report to the comman-
dant of the barracks, leaving an amazed
and angry Jacky standing by the hal
yards, with no enc to salute the flag rs
he hauled it down.
The captain was furious. He had
been delied by ID sergeant Of the marines,
and he meant TO make Pfeifer smart for
it, but he did not know that the eXccu.
tive had seen and heard it all. Pfeifer
did.
Pfeifer went to the marine barracks
and reported but said never a word Of
the captains order. His men were not
SO silent and the barracks hummed
would be reckoning, and they waited
impayiently for the result.
The captain went to the admiral and
told his story. The next morning Pfei-
fer was summoned before the admiral.
There the captain confronted him. The
captain was still angry. He knew down
in the bottom of his heart that he had
made a mistake, but he hoped to be able
to force his complaint through by blus-
ter, perhaps, if he couldn't make it ap-
pear bad enough for Pfeifer by his mar
| ration of the sergeant's refusal to obey
his orders. So he told his story, and he
counted that his word would stand
against that Of an enlisted man.
Then it was Pfeifer's turn. He gave
a simple straightforward account of
what had occurred, and his honest face
and soldierly bearing lent it strength.
When it was finished, he added:
"And the executive officer was in his
Office, sir, and he heard all that was
/ said. "
Orderly" said the admiral, TASK
/ the executive officer to come here. !"
The captains jaw fell, for he saw
that he was caught in double trap.
He had failed to observe the regula.
tons, and after that he had lied about
it. He waited uneasily until the eXecu-
tive officer came. The executives story
was as Pfeifer had told it. A scowl
came over the face Of the admiral.
You may go, sergeant" he said to
Pfeifer, and when the sergeant had sa-
luted and gone the admiral turned
upon the captain and exclaimed:
Captain Allenson, l am ashamed Of
| you, sir. You are the damnedest fool in
the United States navy. You are dis
grace to your uniform and the flag and
| the service. am amazed and chagrined
that you should require to be Taught
the regulations of your service by Il SER
| geant of marines, and that nan ICY q
native of your country. You are q dis
grace, sir, and am ashamed q yCu.
| Pfeifar walked back to his ca. ,r.