Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-31
CHAPTER XII.

1t Is the night of the Santiago
blockade--o hot July night condu-
Give to profanity and excessive liba-
ton at the scuttle-butt; night
when men breathe the muggy air
with extra muscular effort. and care
little for their speech or personal
appearance; when officers don paja-
mas and maintain dignity with white
uniform caps-when seamen strip to
underclothing, and. unspokenly, CON
sign dignity to the lower regions.
There are three lines to this block
ade; an outside semicircle OF the
heavy ships,-turreted fighters, with
range OF gun fire greater than the
radius; an inner line OF torpedo
boats. converted yachts. and swift
tugs - messengers and despatch
bearers. the light cavalry OF feet.
within this crescent. a row of small
launches, 10 we'll supplied
with binoculars, and with but one
note of alarm expected and hoped
of them-the signal that the impris-
oned feet within had shown signs of
breaking bonds. A brilliant pencil
OF light, point at its seward end
q broad refulgence where itimpinges
on the rocky shores of the harbor
mouth. indicates the presence, on tho
second line, OF the searchlight snip
"A detailed monster Of the outside
semicircle with steam sufficient for
the candle power She is relieved
every four hours, and the change Ia
the only diversion OF the night to the
overstrained nerves OF the picket
crews.
On the second line. with the bow
inshore and all lights out but the
pinnacle lamp in the coming tower.
lay a dun-colored torpedo boat; and
close up in the bow, sprawled face
up on the turtle-back, with feet rest
Ing on the low hand-rail, lay Dick
Halpin. He was not sleeping; he was
thinking. Back OF him on the turtle
back, and farther back on the main
deck, lay his shipmates, in all pos
lures and In common frame OF
mind, systematically and earnestly
they reviled the night, the heat. the
auckland each other. They anath-
ematized the war. the Spanish, the
boat and her equipment,-every-
thing within their ken on that hot
night came under the ban but the
officer who commanded and the ad-
miral who had condemned them.
"Halpin," came low voice from,
the darkness amidships. 'Halpin, v
It sounded, nearer. Pass the word
there. for Haipin." His name was
repeated by others, and he arose 10
his feet.
The old man wants ye," said n
man old enough to be Breen's father
Dick found Breen close to the
stern, in about the same attitude
which himself had assumed forward
flat on hts back, with his head pill
| lowed on the bed OF the torpedo
| tube
Want me, SIR" he asked. salut,
ing In the darkness.
Yes. Dick, Lie down here. and
never mind the sir We're aboard
the hell ship for time, and there :
no one near, want to talk to you.
Dick stretched himself beside his
captain, and Breen. sitter fun min
ute's silence, said softly and slowly;
81 got letters to-day. Did you?"
NO" answered Dick. mo one
writes to me"
'They write about you, however
| wrote from Jupiter Inlet to Miss
Arthur, explaining where I'd disap'
peared to. and telling about you and
something OF our experience to
gether. got her answer to-day
been chasing me all around the feet
She Is very glad that you did not de-
sert. and says that abe expects to sec
you coming home an officer"
IAN officer" gnlped Dick, hi'
heart beating painfully. and his face
burning. Did she-really-spea
OF me? An officer! But that meant
an officer and gentlemen' Sha,