Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

Certainly not 1 suggested it TO him.
They don't order any one TO the David, you
know
II should say not" returned Sempland.
She's been down five times, hasn't she?"
Yes, and every time with all of her
crew.
How many all told has she carried to
| death?"
Some thirty or more, believe"
And she has never done any damage to
| the enemy"
she scraped the paint off the New Iron
| sides one night and scared her crew to
| death, 1 reckon, but that's ALL.
Lacy" cried Sempland suddenly, II
have no right to ask favors of you. but
That's all right Ask
Let me go tonight"
Whats the use? One officer is enough
and you could not do any good by going
| along. l should be in command
Let me go in your place."
Nonsense! It's almost certain DEATH"
Il don't care. It's my chance. l can run
| the thing as well you
| ''Oh, anybody can run the thing for that
| matter"
MY life is of no more value to the south
| or to me than yours Come! You have had
| your chances. and improved them; give this
| to me-.
Lacy hesitated.
"Sempland. you're a fool, as I said be-
who loves you. You're risking your life"
Never mind about that" returned the
other. "She doesn't love me, and 1 want
to do 1t: For Gods sake, old man, don't
| be selfish! Let me have an opportunity!
Sempland was ordinarily a reticent and a
quiet man. but this possibility awoke him
| into action. He pleaded so long, and so
hard and so determinedly that he overbore
| the weaker man and finally wrung from
| him grudging assent to his request
"If the general is willing, I'll give you
my chance"
THANK you. God bless you! II don't
/ come back remember that you're to make a
man of yourself-for her"
You will come back! You must come
| back"
General Beauregard" said Lacy. as the
| two young officers were ushered into the
| generals office, II have a most unusual
request to make of you. sir"
What is 1t. Major Lacy?" returned the
| other man.
Il want you to relieve me Of the duty of
taking out the David tonight. SIR
! 'Whatn'
II want you to give it to Mr.. sempland
| here"
! You wish to aboid the danger?' uueried
Beauregard, gazing intently at Lacy
| He does 1t as a favor to me. general u
interrupted Sempland. He has had his
| chance and have had none. 1 begged and
| implored him to allow me to CO. and only
| wrung most reluctant consent from him II
The general turned his head away, his
| fingers tapped softly on the desk
|
he murmured, half to himself THE south
Is hard pushed, indeed. The war has drag.
! ged on. 1t becomes harder and harder
but we may not despair for our beloved
country when her sons strive for posts al
danger and are emulous to die in her sery.
| ice. Do you know what this means, Mr.,
Sempland?'
| What it means, General?"
| There is about one chance in a thousa M
or your coming back. Every time that in
fernal submarine has been used she ha.
! done no damage to the enemy and ha,
| drowned her crew. Payne was drowned 1,
her with eight men when she was frs
| sent out She was swamped by the wasl
| of a passing steamer on her next trial ant
all hands were lost. Then she sunk a
Fort Sumter wharf, carrying down six O
her men. Hundley took her into the Ston
! river and made a dive with her, hit mud
| stuck there and every soul was suffocated
/ They raised her and fixed her up agail
and tried her once more In the harbor here
She worked beautifully for awhile, blu
fouled the cable Of the receiving ship trying
to pass under her keel. and stayed there
She has just been raised the dead cleare,
out of her. now you want to go on he
| again.
Il do. STR" returned Sempland.
rs life worth 20 little TO you that yo'