Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-17
THE YELLOWDANGER
THE STORY OF THE WORLDS GREATEST WAR
BY M. P. SIIIEL.
coyigh. r F. Fenno& o.
BY M. P. SIIEL.
He STORY OF THE WORLDS GREATEST WAR.
Copyright. 1893. by R. F. Fenuo & Coz

peopie. recommend that ration of grog
| De served out to all bluejsekets meantime.
| and that final preparations be pushed for
ward My flag-leutenant will send up as
| signal the words For England / think
mat is all ! need say now, except to wish
| you very hearty goodbye and a fine fight,
and the aid and favor of Almighty God"
| The officers, having saluted, trooped hur-
| richly forth with mutual adleux, and half
| Satire, half-sad morituri salutamuses. and
| went away through the gloom each of his
| own ship.
The shouts of the ponderous buIks of
metal We're plowing leisurely through the
| sea.
| Yonder, lit by fiash-llght on the flag-shir.
| buttered the battle word of the coming
| combat-"F'or England"
But the night now had darkened. A wind
Iresnened from the SOU west. and drove
| somber expeditions of slow cloud over the
| face of the scurrying and struggling moon,
| she seemed affrighted at the pregnant si.
renee OF thls ghoing navy-a silence preg-
| nant with thousand thunders But the
| sea was fairly calm. crisped only with short
low fringes of foam driven by the wind
Inc jupiter was the second ship in the
| Tort nie-that is to say, on the side nearest
the coast as the feet forged eastward.
| Her captain had been so preoccupied with
affairs during the hustle of the afternoon
| that he had eaten nothing for hours AL
most Immediately on reaching his own shin
after the conference, he hurriedly descend
ed to his quarters, and sat to swallow some
| cold mouthfuls.
Happening to lift HIS eyes as he ate, he
saw. sitting on couch in the apartment.
and quietly watching him. his guest. John
| Hardy. He had forgotten John.
We'll, john he said. across gag of
mutton, 80 you have dared, after all In
| spite of my orders en- sir? Well. I supnose
! must make the best of you. az Won are
here But you are foolish lad, you know >
1t can't be of any consequence sir" said
John I wanted to see d fight. 1t is al
ways experience"
yes q
have you no care for your life. sir?"
1t can't be of any consequence sir"
"A day less or more,
On sea or on shore,
We die-does 1t matter whenf'
rs that the sort of sentiment ell, John %
Something of that sort. sir
We'll, you might do worse, perhaps. But
what is the matter with YOU? The sweat
Is foLlng down your face
IT hey have been allowing me to help
little about the ship, sir"
What, with your own hands, sir?"
Yes. sir.
We'll John Hardy-I shall never
have another chance of telling You,
so let me tell you now, boy-I
must say that L regard you as a most
worthy specimen of the navy Your schoo!
and cadet careers were not very brilliant
were they? Rather-ahem-well- Will
say nothing of that. But in oil her respects
you Know what | would say. perhaps
give you my certiticate-that sort of thing
Certainly you are as bold as a fly, mod
est, thoroughly Engish--a nttle-er-origi-
nal, perhaps, eh. sir? Like your father,
en-; sir! But with the making of great
sailor in you, John Hardy. Pity you should
be throwing yourself away IKE this"
John was blushinR
You are very kind Sir" he Just NUT
tered.
DO not mention It. The circumstances
excuse one, you know, in being quite
frank"
quite so, sir"
oh oil
question. Suddenly he said:
Might 1 ask. sir, what are the proposed
tactics for the batter"
We'll, John, there's going to be plenty
OF fun, apparently, for you to see. The idea
Is to concentrate all our efforts upon the
battleships and big cruisers so as to rem
der 1t out of the question. if possible for
this particular fleet again to act as convoy
to an invading force"
And the liners ana transports SIR
They are 10 be left severely alone this
time"
ITO land their troops on British soil,
slr?''
Yes, boy-yes-this time"
Suddenly John Hardy leapt to his feet his
hands clenched, his face intamed.
"Oh. sir, he cried.
The captain looked at him In surprise,
saying:
wen, what's the natter"
Captain Macleod, England viii never
bear such an indignity!'
"Well, my boy but war you underst and,
is not fun and heroics-it is dead earnest.
England viii have TO hear It, l m afraid"
"She shan't, by Cdr cried John Hardy,
striking out his right fist, suddenly riven
him.
Then Immediately he fell back upon the
couch. sobbing bitterly into his two bands.
The captain stood over him, patting. his
shoulder, murmuring
Poor John! poor john!
Go be continued tomorrow