The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-23
CHAPTER VI.
Death ont Of the Deep

the little torpedo boat, after having
successfully passed the monitors ana
ironclads anchored Just out OF range
of Fort Sumter, and inside the shoals
at the harbor mouth, was stopped
about mile from the outer entrance
Of the main ship channel where her
quarry had been reported as lying
quietly at anchor at 9nightfaI. Sue
cess had attended the efforts OF her
devoted crew SO far. By .Lacy's COM
mand the David was stopped in order
to give a little rest, breathing space,
before the last dash at their prey, to
the weary seamen who had driven her
steadily on since leaving the wharf.
The night was calm and very still.
The hatch covers were thrown back,
the tired men thrust their heads into
the cool, sweet air, so refreshing Ak
ter the closeness of their badly ven
tilated vessel, and wetted their fe-
yered, exhausted bodies with the slim
ulating water Of the bay. The artll-
lery officer took advantage of the OPP
portunity to make a careful re-eXam-
| nation of the torpedo, and. Lacy was
greatly relieved when he reported that
| he had everything in good working or
der SO far as he was able to judge.
| The young commander of the exped1-
ton was the more anxious for sue
cess because of the previous failures
of similar endeavors. After ten
minute rest he gave the order to get
under way. ~
| the history Of this boat. There's a
| chance, ay, more than a chance, that
none Of us will ever. come back from
this expedition. You knew all that
when you volunteered. If we do get
| out alive our country will reward us.
| If we do not, she will not forget us.
/ Shake hands, now. Goodbye, and God
bless you. Put every pound Of muscle
you have into that crank when we get
within one hundred yards Of the frig-
ate and jump the boat into her. I'll
give the signal. I want to strike her
hard" 80 ~
"Ay, ay, sir" replied the seamen as
tcheerfully as If there was only a frolic
before them 's'HYef 5do our best.
1 Goodbye, and God 1bless you, sir.
We're proud tosserve 'ander you what
ever comes" ~
''Thank you. All ready with the
torpedo, captafn?" F a5#
'Yes, Major Lacy" +,
Good! Down everybody, now!
Clap to the hatch covers and start the
cranks.. Easy at first, and when ]
give the word-hard!"
He seized the spokes Of the steering
wheel in his steady hands as he spoke.
Back Of him, to relieve him in case OF
Il
artillery officer. The heavy planks
were drawn over the open hatch, lock-
led and bolted. Silently the mer
manned the cranks. The little engine
of destruction gathered way. It was
pitch dark and very close and hot
There was no sound in the shell save
the slight creaking of the cranks ant
the deep breathing Of the crew as the!
toiled over them.
Forward by the wheel there was {
glass hood which permitted the mel
who steered to direct the course o
the boat. AS the sinister sea- demon
stole thru the waters Lacy caugh
sudden glimpse at last of the spar
Of a heavy ship at anchor before him
The night had cleared somewhat, an
altho there was no moon the star
gave sufficient light for him to see tn
Il black tracery of mastst and yards lift
ing themselves above the horizon
L How still the looming ship lay. Their
NJ was scarcely sea enough to tremb1
:. the tophamper Of the unsuspectin
ut man-of-war. A faint film Of smok
4 falling lazily from her funnel in tn
r quiet air, with her riding and side
lights, were the only signs of lii
:. about her. No more peaceful look
:! ing object foated over the ocean az
parently. cit would be a pity" re
Elected the man at the wheel for an ii
SCdIlI, 10 Slflhc IleI 81. DuL ~
y, thought vanished as soon as 1t ha
been formulated. His heart leape
= in his breast like the hound when
% launches himself in that last sprir
!, which hurls him on his quarry. Al
~ other moment-a few more seconds
= "That will be our game" whispere
Lacy to the artillery captain, in
voice in which his feelings spoke.
=, eyes,"
"a They were slowly approaching nea
81 err. The bearings of the cranks al
screws had been we'll oiled and Il
~ David slipped thru the water without
- sound. She was SO nearly submerg
: that she scarcely rippled the surfa
of the water. There was no white II
of foam to betray her movement tn
., the black water. 1t was almost IL
possible for anyone to- detect the q
preach of the silent terror. The
"a was nothing showing above water e
py cept the flat hatch cover, and that
ne s; an Impractical eye looked much like
IL drifting plank. Yet there were sha
~, ~ eyes on the ship. and no neglige
"; watch was kept either. When t
y "a David was perhaps 200 feet away s
pie was SEEN. The steadiness Of her moN
~ ment proclaimed a thing tntelligen
az az driven. A sharp, sudden cry from
~ forecastle ahead, Of them rang tn
- the night. It was SO loud and
~ ~ fraught with alarm that it came ir
,a. muffled note to the men in the dept
h of the torpedo boat. A bugle call ra
4 = out, a drum was beaten. The er
I'D while silent ship was filled with
He mutt and clamor.
IA saThey have seen us!" said La
.ae "Ahead!' he cried hoarsely. "Hart
she At the same instant the chain ca
- Of the frigate was shipped, bells J;
did gIed in her depths, the mighty engi
hnt clanked into sudden motion,
the screws revolved, and she began slo'
she to drive astern. But 1t was too Il
sod the sea devil was too near to be ball
He Of the prey. The men at the era
aer. Of the David, working with super
man energy, fairly hurled the torp
ex- Iboat upon the doomed ship. j
- had time for a single upward glanc
his last look at anything! The bl
ced railing towering above his head !.
ave swarming with men. Flashes OF II
punctured the darkness. Bullets /
ltered like rain on the iron. One