Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 3, 2025
"What's that yonder?" shouted Slim suddenly. "Land!" Mr. MacMasters cried. "And a lot of good that'll do us," growled Slim. "We'll be dumped ashore, maybe, like a ton of trap-rock." The sodden boat was drifting steadily toward the island. The surf thundered against its ramparts most threateningly. But the outlook did not seem so serious as that upon the other island they had passed.
All hands on deck!" shouted the warrant officer. The boatswain's mate piped his shrillest. Those below swarmed upon the already settling deck. It was plain at once that the steamer had but a few moments to live. "A mine!" declared Ensign MacMasters. "That is what did it! That Hun mine-sower has been this way!" The men and boys went to quarters coolly.
"I caught that big fellow, and I donate it to the officer's mess of the S. P. Eight-eighty-eight, right now!" The fisherman looked somewhat disappointed, for he was eager to make a penny. Whistler, however, gave him some of the smaller fish. The remainder were tossed to a grinning sailor upon the deck of the chaser. "Come right aboard, boys," Ensign MacMasters repeated.
"You want these four boys, Skipper?" demanded the old fisherman. "That's what I do," said Ensign MacMasters. Then to the chums: "Come aboard, boys; I've news for you." "They been using my catboat," said Captain Bridger. "All right, Phil Morgan. You can go aboard. I'll take charge of the Sue. Got some right nice lookin' bass, ain't you?" "But you won't take charge of them!" Torry exclaimed.
Ensign MacMasters and the commander of the cutter showed excitement as they watched this spot through their night glasses. "Is it a star?" asked Frenchy. "A star your grandmother!" snorted Torry. "That's a ship." "A big steamship under forced draft," added Whistler. "And I believe it is the Kennebunk." It was the glow above her smokestacks that they saw.
MacMasters will let us shell the Hun?" demanded Frenchy eagerly. "She'll more likely shell us," declared Torry, inclined to be pessimistic. "I bet we can run away from her," cried Ikey Rosenmeyer. "Say! this tender is no sub chaser. In a race with the S. P. 888, for instance, she wouldn't have a chance."
"Oh, sir! won't we see any active service in her?" cried Whistler. Mr. MacMasters looked very mysterious. "You must not ask too many questions. I am telling you, Morgan, what is generally known about the orders under which the superdreadnaught sails.
The revenue cutter was a speedy craft, and by midforenoon she was far outside the string of islands near which the crew of the Kennebunk's steamer under Ensign MacMasters had experienced so many adventures. The wireless operator picked up the superdreadnaught at last.
MacMasters and his companions were from a craft that had been blown up miles away from her cabin, and completely out of sight and hearing of this island. Whistler did not believe any fishing boat, or other craft, had brought this information to Mag. There had been no vessel in sight when the Kennebunk's tender was blown up by the floating mine.
She did not appear to be more than two hundred feet long, and the concurrence of opinion was that she was some small tramp freight boat and was laden heavily. She had a high bow, rail all around, and, as far as could be seen, she flew no flag at all. "Some old tub taking a chance with a rich cargo," suggested the warrant officer, as Ensign MacMasters' second in command.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking