Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
THE LAST ~
* TORPEDO.
BY WALTER WOOD.
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IN doing the very best within her
power: that is to say, she was making
IS knots, and at that speed she jumped
and ratified like thing of life IN evil
mood.
One dav out from Gibraltar, running
home for overhauling and rehtung'
No. 80 had met a gale from the hor1h-
west. 10 turn and seek shelter at the
rock would be as dangerous. her com
mander argued, as to go ahead anu
would incur the risk of allegations OF
Door seamanship and suggestions that
he feared to face breeze; ana, oelns
a sensitive man. he dreaded either. 10
90 ahead in weather like that was 10
travel in constant fear OF founderlhS'
while to heave to with such craft
as No. 80 was to be overwhelmed in the
tempestuous waters.
"We're between the deep sea ana the
devil with a vengeance.' muttered the
captain. but there's no help TOR IT,
It's full speed ahead. and Heaven be
with us"
"Promises to be a stiff blow,' said
the sublieutenant. Harridance, strug-
cling to the captains side. He and his
superior. Hanson, We're at school TO-
gether, and there was scant ceremony
between them while on board OF NO. W.
The sublieutenant produced mask
of whisky from a pocket of his Oily
frock and offered it to his commander.
Its the finest drop of mountain dew
on the bay at this moment he addeo'
clinging hard to rail as he spoke
land there are plenty of liners knock
ing about"
Its the only means of getting warm
there'll be until this blow is over,' Han
son said. II suppose there's no comfort
below?''
Not even an apology for it, said
Harridance. cheerfully. THE gunner's
in a foot of water on the floor, If he's
in an inch, and every corners soaked
AS for the atmosphere-ugh, it's vile.
even for No. 90. suppose you're going
hr-c and strong in the teeth OF every
thing?"
The captain nodded.
mo intention of seeking shelter at
the rock, I suppose?''
mo turning back for No. 90 this
trip responded Hanson.
Not going to make for Bordeaux, Or
the lee of Belle Isle?'
Not with a craft in this state. 1t
would create a wrong opinion in for
eign minds as to the efficiency of Brit
ish torpedo boats.'
''Then it's neck or nothing" said Har-
ridance, "for I think. of all the old car
casses of the 'S5 batch of boats, No. 80
is the rottenest and Oldest
''She's as tight as a crack liner.'
growled Hanson. who refused to ac-
knowledge any defect in this, his first
command.
''Love is blind to faults" laughed
Harridance. For my own part, I'm
certain the odds are equal against our
getting into port with whole SKINS
you've nice. comfortable way of
looking at it, said Hanson, not with
out secret admiration of his juniors
GOODNESS and good spirits. "But half
your Indifference is assumed and the
rest is due to the fact that you have
no family ties"
you're wrong about the assump-
ton. but correct about the ties. I'm not
Indifferent. I'm merely philosophical.
It runs in the breed of US, and I'm de-
veloping it. I want the Harridance
strain to become in the fullness OF
time, utterly unimpressionable and
careless of what fate or fortune has
in store for them. That's my ideal of a
man."
'Bah!" replied Hanson, with amused
good humor; ga worthless stick-in-the-
mud
think of the comfort of it, urged
Harridance. "Come veal. come woe.
you wouldn't care. You'd go serenely
on"
''Well, young gentleman, you can
work up all your philosophy, for you'll
need it before tonight, unless the gale
goes down."
Meanwhile the gale blew harder and
No. 80 struggled on in the teeth of it
On deck Hanson and the helmsman
were deluged by the seas that came Oh
board and raced towards the stern.
Summoning all the philosophy he pos
sessed, and his stock was large. Har-
ridance determined to try to get spell
of sleep, however short, and to this end
he lay on the least wet locker.
The junior awoke from dream in
which he was fighting desperately with
a savage, who was armed with an enor-
y nous club. At the moment Of awak-
ing the weapon had descended upon his
head; in reality he had been thrown off
the locker by a heavy lurch of No. 90
and was badly soused before he could
regain his feet. The gunner had clam
bered on deck, and Harridance crawled
cautiously after him, feeling very wet
and wretched.
He looked about him, and, finding
that the gale was worse, determined to
say nothing more to trouble Hanson.
When he reached his superior's side he
made no observation.
Its cozier aboard of her than here"
said Hanson, pointing to a distant OBJ
ject.
The junior looked and saw ahead,
10 hill a.