The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-18
THE wreck win prove our salvation.

The wreck will prove our salvation.
God willing"
Il don't follow you. The waterspout
is bringing down the wreck with q
force that will send us TO the bottom
like bag Of lead"
Its heaven-sent target, as you'll
see," said Hanson. We've one torpedo
left, think?"
only one, but believe it's all right"
THE tube is workable?" Hanson
still spoke interrogatively.
"Uninjured, Judging from the look Of
It,"
"1n any case II would be more effec-
tive than the Nordenfelt, even IL we had
the gun left. AS we haven't, there's no
alternative"
The junior wondered vaguely what
his captain meant. lie understood in
part when Hanson worked his way to
the tube and began to uncover IL with
out seeking help. Harridance joined
fkm, and in silence took a share in the
task. Soon the tube was fully exposed.
1
see that all was well with il. The tube
and the torpedo 10 il had escaped all
damage in. the gale, apd the weapon lay
there spngfy. rsady; even to the fitted
warhead1fof discharge at any object
which flight be selected.
The wfterspout came slowly on, gain
ing force as it approached. 1t was a
/ . Il a.,
trained the tube and prepared to thrust
the missile into the water. The aiming
was a simple matter. for the thing to be
destroyed was large and near. BY this
time the derelct, almost submerged,
was clear to all.
Slowly but infallibly the waterspout
drew near, the hull of No. 90 In its
path. The thousand yards were re-
duced TO 500; still the captain did not
fire his precious shot; another hundred
yards were passed. and the crew for the
most part closed their eyes. Not more
than 200 yards separated No. 90 from
her foe when the impulse charge was
fred, and the tube vomited forth the
last torpedo.
Hanson had seen many torpedoes
fired, but never one the course OF
which he watched SO hungrily as this,
On the consummation of that deadly
shot the safety of the boat and every
soul on board depended. There was no
mincing matters, no shutting of the
eyes to that one simple, awful fact.
There lay the low, black battered hull,
rising and falling to the seas, with no
power of motion left; her engines
stiled, inert and helpless; there in
front was the thing which looked more
deadly and malignant as it grew. Free
quently in his career had Hanson
thought of what might happen if his
country went to war. He had pictured
the awful strain on his nerves when on
the eve of battle; he had imagined all
the horrors of the newest forms of
fights at sea, of men going down in
hosts, pinned in their mighty works of
steel and iron, sunk by one skillful tor
pedo or one lucky shot from a monster
gun.
When the explosion came there was
a dull roar which rose above the noise
of the dying gale, and pillar of spray
shot skyward. The torpedo had hit its
mark, and the gloomy, hungry column
had made the final stage of its de.
structive journey.
For nearly one long minute all on
board kept silence, then there was a
shout of joy, chorus of deliverancc
from those who until that time had
looked upon themselves as lost. Han.
son led the shout himself, and Harri-
dance Joined in with wild enthusiasm.
"If we can keep her afloat till help
comes we're saved" cried Hanson.
"There's no more wind, and the sea will
soon go down. Work for yor lives to
keep her up, boys, and we'll show the
world that No. 90 can weather even Bis.
cay gales and get to port"
The captain himself began the work,
and Harridance and the gunner were
the first to join him. There was one
thing only to be done, and that was to
clear the crippled shell of as much salt
water as they could get overheard, and
keep it floating till assistance came.
They got signal of distress up-an
old square flag and an oily frock rolled
up as ball, flying just below the tat
tered pennant-and never a man gave
profitable trip in ballast, discerned the
quarry and came joyfully alongside.
Then one or two fell senseless where
they stood, and knew of nothing till
they awoke in the close, dark forecastle
of the steamer.
She'll keep afloat all right now, sir,
snid the captain of the tramp. There 3
no sea on, and she's coming astern like
cork. A couple of my men are on
board till you are ready to go back.
Won't you rest bit in my cabin
Your young mans at the whisky and
cheese and biscuits already, and speaks
highly of EN-"
81 think l WILL" said Hanson, drows-
lily.
The captain of the tramp was liberal
in his use of coal for this particular
occasion, and he paced the bridge in
joyous spirits.
Darkness came again, and as two
white lights were hauled up the fore
mast of the tramp her captain slapped
his lean pocket with laugh, and
thought of what he would buy his
sweetheart with his share of No. COS
salvage.-Peterson's Magazine.
WASPS AND BEES.
| These Insects Do More Good Than