Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-06


But were we followed? 1 had seen
nothing to lead me to that conclusion as
l came down the Thames; and now, IA
Vored by an intensely dark night, we
promised, if nothing should intervene, to
gain the Atlantic in two days, and to be
aboard that strange citadel which was our
stronghold against the nations. There
was no sign Of any warship pursuing: no
indication whatever that the tender, then
steaming at thirteen knots towards Dover,
was watched or observed by any living
being
| was dead worn out and slept twelve
hours at the least. for it was afternoon
when l awoke. Black was not in the
cabin, and | went above to him on the
bridge. There was no land then to be
seen; but the clear play of sparkling
waves shone away to the horizon over a
tumbling sea, upon which were few
ships. Upon one of these he constantly
turned his glass.
By and by all the crew began to OBJ
serve Blacks anxiety and to crowd to the
starboard side; but he told them moth
ing, although he never left the bridge. It
was somewhat perplexing to me to OBJ
serve that, while the great ship was IN
doubtedly following US, she did not gain
yard upon us.
This strange pursuit lasted three days
and into the third night; when I was
awakened from a snatch of sleep by the
hrlng Of a gun above my head. I got on
deck, where my eyes were almost blinded
by a great volume of light which spread
over the sea from a point some two miles
away on our starboard bow. We had been
in the Atlantic then for twenty-four
hours, and l did not doubt for a moment
that we had reached the nameless ship.
Had there been any uncertainty, the wild
joy of the men would have banished it.
| heard the voice of Black singing
Hands, stand by to lower boats !" At
that moment the cruiser showed her teeth
Suddenly there was a rush of fame from
her bows, and shell Kissed above US
the first sign of her attempt to stop us
joining our own ship.
We were no more than a quarter of a
mile from safety, but the run was full of
peril, and, as the launch stood out, the
nameless ship of a sudden shut off her
light, if possible to shield us in the dark
But the pursuer instantly flooded US with
her own arc and, following it with quick
shots, she hit the jolly-boat at the third.
OF the eight men there. only two rose
when the hull had disappeared.
Fire away!" cried Black, shaking his
fist, and mad with passion "and get your
hands in; you'll want all the bark you've
got just now"
But we had hauled the men aboard as
he spoke, and, though two shells foamed
in the sea and wetted us to the skin in
the passage, we were at the ladder of the
nameless ship without other harm, and
with fierce shouts the men gained the
decks.
For them 1t was a glorious moment.
They had weathered the periIs of civ.
and stood where they couIu best face the
crisis of the pursuit. It was a spectacle
to move the most stolid apathy: the sight
of a couple of hundred demoniacal fguras
lighted by the great white wave of light
from the enemy's ship, their faces up-
turned as they waited Blacks orders.
their hands fiourishing knives and cut
lasses, their hunger for the contest be-
trayed in every gesture.
Boys" cried Black, wonders a gov
eminent ship. You know me, that | don't
run after war scum every day. for that's
not my business. But we're short of oil
and the cylinders are heating Bows. it's
swing or take that ship and the oil aboard
her"
Look out aft-the torpedo :"
A tiny line of foam was Just visible
60.
the moment the cruiser had shot it from
her tube, she extinguished her arc. leav-
ing us to light the waters with our own.
There was no difficulty whatever in fol-
lowing the line of the deadly n essage.
Full speed astern - roared Black, and
the nameless ship moved backwards. fast
er and yet faster. But the black death
bearer followed her, as a shark follows a
death ship; we seemed even to have back
ed into its course-it came on as though
to strike us full amidShips, but the great,
ship swung round with a majestic sweep,
and as we waited breathlessly, the torpedo
passed right under our bow, missing the
ram by hairs breadth.
We fired at the cruiser hitting her
right under the funnel. and a second time
near her fore gun. Nor did she answer
our firing, but rolled to the swell appar-
entity out of action.
Skipper, are you going aboard her
now!' asked the man Roaring John"
Shes done by her looks, and you'll get
no oil if We delay. Karl, there, he liant
as comfortable as if he were in his bed"
The little German engineer was very
far from it, He was almost desperate
when minute by minute his stock of oil
grew less; and he ran from one to the
other as though we had grease in our
pockets, and could give it to him. Black
took due notice, but did not lose his calm.
You're quite sure she's done, John?"
he asked, turning to the big man.
shes done, l guess, or why don't she
spit?"
The words had scarce left his lips
when the cruisers aft guns Numbered out
almost together, and one shell passed
through the very center Of our group. Ii
cut the man John in half as he mighr
have been cut by a sword, and his blood
and flesh splashed us. while the other half
Of him stood up like a bust upon the deck
and during one horrible moment his arms
moved wildly, and there was a horrid
luiyering Of the muscles of his face. The
second shot struck the roof of the turret
obHquely, and glanced from it into the
sea. The destruction seemed to move
Slack as no more than rain shower. He
simply cried All hands to cover: Tn
going to give EN- a taste of the machine
guns" and we re-entered the coming
tower. Then. as we began TO move again.
| swept the horizon with our light: but
this time, far away over the black waste
of water, the signal was answered.
Number two - said Black. quite calm
ly, when | told him. and this time a bat
tleship. Well, boy, if we don't take that
oil yonder in ten minutes you may say
your prayers
CHAPTER NXII
The namelesS ship bounded forward in
to the night. and soon was not fifty yards
away from her opponent. Never have
known anything akin to the episode when
blrllatS NO in hrrn H