The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-26

| And so, with a thoI oughly seasicl
Ienemy the attack was made. AS th'
Thomas raced in with the tide, tbs
searchlights from Fort Worden could
be seen playing across the bosom o.
the waters and the photographs from
lCasey flashing irreverent messages tt
the militiamen at Worden who were
out practicing.
But orders were orders and, seasicB
or not, the fighting had TO be done. II
1.-THE darkness OF the bow, the men gain
Iered and one sudden snap told that the
lsheU had been inserted. At the same
instant the stream OF light from Wor-
den's heights, circled, hesitated and
burst full on the decks of the Thomas.
Fire."
The six-pounder was enveloped in a
flash of flame, the smoke whipped into
the faces of the gunners and the report
tore across the darkness.
Load"
The dim forms in the bow moved
quickly, the breech snapped again and
again there burst forth the sheet of
flame and the tearing report.
| From Worden shot a rocket which
hung like a dropping star and the
searchnghts from Casey glimmered
across the uninterrupted waves. Heed
| less of the lights the Thomas tore on,
but never did the light from Worden
leave her. From the parapets at Wor-
den came a sudden glare. It looked
| like sheet lightning at the end of a
summers day, and some seconds later
followed the report which set the boat
quivering. Then sheets of fame dane
ed all around. Casey hurriedIy got in
to action. It's long guns smashed out
in quick succession and even distant
Flagler began to speak. White bars
of light strung right across the Sound
and picking out the Thomas, held onto
her while she raced.
Following the first shock there was
a silence and through the darkness
could be heard the voice of the engi-
neer of the Elliott, which was racing
alongside.
Il can't help it, sir" he said, ITS
clean out of plumb and goes to pieces
every ten minutes"
He was referring to his engines, but
his further remarks were drowned by
the voices of the big guns from the
forts. The men on the Thomas We're
working like fiends. The smell of gun
powder, the swift rush through the
night and the fascination of the game
aroused every drop of fighting blood.
They seemed to forget it was only play.
The Elliot dashing along the beach
took up a favorable position and open
ed forthwith it's Colts. The quick series
of pop-pops raised a cheer from the
men on the Thomas and one of the
men danced joyfully.
sail into 'em, Elliott" he said, "Oh,
Civ. it to EN-
For answer the Elliott smashed out
another series and the militiamen
guarding the beach, finding the enemy
rather closer than they expected, i'm
mediately opened with the independ-
ent firing and so crack, pop, bang, the
battle ragged.
Swerving to the left, the Thomas ran
for Casey expecting the Elliot to fol-
low but the heavy cross seas were too
much for the launch and she put into
the safe places by the wharf. The
waves took the Thomas, played with
her as they willed and sent her plung-
ing and heaving forward.
"She bucks all three ways at once,''
said an artillerman, wiping his smoke
stained face with the back of his hand.
Hear EN- said another as FIagler
let loose with its mortars.
'Betcher this will disturb a fine time |
at the Bachelors club said one with !
a laugh and the six-pounder barked |
Let her rip" said the corporal. And |
she ripped. She banged out at inter-
walls of half minutes and the Norwe-
gian skipper clinging to the wheel |
laughed in sheer delight as he"held her |
head straight for the beaches. Then |
came the signal to cease firing, but |
there was one shot left and with this |
the Thomas let go at Casey.
Just to insult them, said the cor
poral.
Then the excitement having died |
away, the men again returned to their |
One of them, losing his |
foothold, was sent sprawling across the |
cabin floor, getting his face scratched !
in the maneuver. So it was that when |
they landed at the wharf the sentry, |
the victim of their earlier gibes. gazed |
at them with unconcealed delight.
Say he whispered from the side of |
his mouth, ''whatcher bin doing? Sort |
ing cats?' Then he walked on with an |
easy conscience.