Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-12-18

SO effectually that TO all lntentS anu
purposes he might just as we'll have
gone down with his little craft ane
crew in Nicholas Channel.
At length, when he had begun to
think he was immured for life in thif
blazing little byway, came the welcome
orders to proceed to Port Tampa
there to carry out Instructions already
In his possession, namely, the proteo
ton of transports from attack by wa
ter. With light hearts the three men
got their craft under way, ran up the
bay. and in good time drew In undea
the counter of steamship. lying neal
the end of the long slip.
It was as though a magician's wand
had been waved over the port. Aions
the slip lay transport after transport
nearly a score of them. the black
smoke of others draping the horizon
in long, grimy clouds. Freight trains
were rumbling up and down the tracks,
and officers of various departments Of
the army. their shirts open at the
throat, dusty, sweaty. hot. hurried
everywhere.
1T surely looks like business" chuo-
kled Holton as he slipped on his uni
form coat over a marines drab shirt
and prepared to visit the hotel
Life at the hotel was made more
brilliant by the arrival of Shafter and
his staff. but Holton, who had had all
the brilliancy and inactivity he want
ed, found himself praying fervently for
orders that would send him out as
officer on one OF the vessels OF Ad.
miral Sampson's North Atlantic
Squadron. But no such orders came.
and Holton had Just about attuned his
mind to a weary grind to last at least
several months longer, when some
thing occurred to change very materi-
ally the attitude OF the government In
regard to the movement of the troops
as Tampa.
In short, Admiral Sampson cabled
that after a mysterious voyage across
the Atlantic ocean and Caribbean sea-
Admiral Cervera and his squadron
Of battleships and cruisers were bot
tied up in Santiago. He could not at
tack them because of the forts and
mines, and he requested that troops
be sent at once to cooperate with the
navy from the land side.
War wired General Shafter to proceed
forthwith to Cuba.
Flat-cars laden with General Ran
dolph's artillery. rumbled down the
slip. and the guns were hoisted into
yawning ports in the sides of the trans
ports; provisions, supplies Of all sorts
bore them company. and no one doubt
ed any longer that at last the army
had received its bid to the field OF bat
tie.
A new strain was put upon Holton,
for now. II at any time. attempts at the
destruction OF the transports would bs
made. there being no secrecy what
ever as to the intentions Of the United
States government. Then arrived the
day when the boys in blue came in
from Lakeland, and. with cheers and
shouts. marched aboard the long line
of transports. from whose tunnels
clouds of smoke were belching.
Holton's crew had been augmented
by four extra seamen. sent to him from
Key West. and each night they stood
guard with him on various parts OF the
deck. rifles in their hands and navy
Colts strapped about their waists.
Toward midnight most Of the noise,
the shouting of orders. the rattlins OF
tackle. the tramp Of feet. died away.
Holton gave Conroy the wheel. and
walked along the deck. speaking to
each of the men as he passed.
Keep a sharp lookout. Challenge
anything that looks suspicious. and
shoot without hesitation II there's NO
reply"
tro BE Continued