Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05

in the shell save the slight creahing Of the
cranks and the deep breathing Of the crew
as they toiled over them.
Forward by the wheel there was a glass
hood which permitted the men who steered
to direct the course of the boat. As the
sinister sea demon stole through the waters
Lacy caught a sudden glimpse at last OF
the SparS of a heavy ship at anchor before
him. The night had cleared somewhat,
and although there was no moon the stars
gave sufficient light for him to see the
black tracery of masts and yards lifting
themselves above the horizon How still
the looming ship lay. There was scarcely
sea enough to tremble the tophammer OF
the unsuspecting man-of-war. A faint film
OF smoke falling lazily from her funnel in
the quiet air, with her riding and side
lights, were the only signs of life about her.
No more peaceful looking object fioated
over the ocean apparently. ut would be
pity" reflected the man at the wheel for
an instant Ito strike her So" But the
thought vanished as soon as it had been
formulated. His heart leaped in his breast
like the hound when he launches himself in
that last spring which hufls him on his
quarry. Another moment-a few more sec
OndS-
That will be our game whispered Lacy
to the artillery captain, In a voice which
his feelings spoke.
Yes"
They were slowly approaching nearer.
The bearings of the cranks and screws had
been we'll oiled. and the David slipped
through the water without a sound. She
was so nearly submerged that she scarcely
rippled the surface of the water. There
was no white line of foam to betray ner
movement through the black water. 1t
was almost impossible for any one to detect
the approach of the silent terror. There
was nothing showing above water except
the fiat hatch cover. and that to an I'M
practiced eye looked much like a drifting
plank. Yet there were, sharp eyes on the
ship, and no negligent watch was kept,
how ha naN ~l1ar1
hundred feet away she was seen. The
steadiness of her movement proclaimed
thing intelligently driven. A sharp sudden
cry from the forecastle ahead of them rang
through the night. 1t was so loud and so
fraught with alarm that 1t came in
muffied note to the men in the depths of
the torpedo boat. bugle call rang out
drum wac beaten. The erstwhile silent shin
was filed with tumult and clamor.
They have seen usi" said Iacv
Ahead" he cried. hoarsely. "HardF'
AT the same instant the chain cable of
the frigate was shipped, bells tangled in
her depths, the mighty engines cIanked
into sudden motion, the screws reVolved
and she began slowly TO drive astern
But IL was too late; the sea devil was too
near TO be baked of the prey The men
at the cranks of the David, working with
superhuman energy, fairly hurled the
torpedo boat upon the doomed ship. Lacy
had time for single upward glance-his
last look at anything! The black railing
towering above his head was swarming
with men. Flashes of light punctured the
darkness Bullets battered like rain on
the iron. one or two tore through the
fifmsy shell. jet OF water struck him
in the face.
The next second there was a terrific
conclusion. The torpedo struck the ship
just forward the mainmast and exploded.
tearing a great hole in the side extend
ing far below the water line. In the blaze
OF light that followed the men in the Da-
Nid cheered wildly and the next moment
blacknesS overwhelmed them.
On the frigate there was the widest
CONFUSION as the sleeping men below
came swarming up on deck. Some of
them never succeeded in reaching the
hatchways and were drowned where thew
slept. Some We're killed by the explosion.
The oflicers, however, quickly restored
order and as a last resort ordered the
surviving men into the rigging, for the
water where she lay was shallow and
there they could find safety. The shin
was hopelessly lost. Indeed, she began to
sink SO soon as the torpedo exploded
The water poured into her vitals and
soon the crash of exploding boilers and
the hiss of escaping steam added their
quota to the confusion.
Some of the cooler among the officers
and men fingered on the decks, small
arms In hand, until the decks were
awash They were looking and hoping
for a chance at the boat which had
caused them such terrible disaster, but
they never saw her. She had disappeared.
Signals had been burned instantly on the
shattered ship. Far up and down the line
OF the lights of moving vessels burning an
swering signals showed that they were alert
to render assistance. Boats, ships cutters
dashed alongside to render help, and they,