the red cross girl-第23节
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carefully overhauled。 In actual time； two days and two nights had
passed； to David it seemed many ages。
On the third day he crawled to the stern； where there seemed less
motion； and finding a boat's cushion threw it in the lee scupper
and fell upon it。 From time to time the youth in the golf cap had
brought him food and drink； and he now appeared from the cook's
galley bearing a bowl of smoking soup。
David considered it a doubtful attention。
But he said； 〃You're very kind。 How did a fellow like you come to
mix up with these pirates？〃
The youth laughed good…naturedly。
〃They're not pirates； they're patriots；〃 he said； 〃and I'm not
mixed up with them。 My name is Henry Carr and I'm a guest of
Jimmy Doyle； the captain。〃
〃The barkeeper with the derby hat？〃 said David。
〃He's not a barkeeper； he's a teetotaler；〃 Carr corrected； 〃and
he's the greatest filibuster alive。 He knows these waters as you
know Broadway； and he's the salt of the earth。 I did him a favor
once； sort of mouse…helping…the…lion idea。 Just through dumb luck
I found out about this expedition。 The government agents in New
York found out I'd found out and sent for me to tell。 But I
didn't； and I didn't write the story either。 Doyle heard about
that。 So； he asked me to come as his guest； and he's promised
that after he's landed the expedition and the arms I can write as
much about it as I darn please。〃
〃Then you're a reporter？〃 said David。
〃I'm what we call a cub reporter；〃 laughed Carr。 〃You see； I've
always dreamed of being a war correspondent。 The men in the
office say I dream too much。 They're always guying me about it。
But； haven't you noticed； it's the ones who dream who find their
dreams come true。 Now this isn't real war； but it's a near war；
and when the real thing breaks loose； I can tell the managing
editor I served as a war correspondent in the Cuban…Spanish
campaign。 And he may give me a real job！〃
〃And you LIKE this？〃 groaned David。
〃I wouldn't； if I were as sick as you are；〃 said Carr； 〃but I've
a stomach like a Harlem goat。〃 He stooped and lowered his voice。
〃Now； here are two fake filibusters；〃 he whispered。 〃The men you
read about in the newspapers。 If a man's a REAL filibuster；
nobody knows it！〃
Coming toward them was the tall man who had knocked David out；
and the little one who had wanted to tie him to a tree。
〃All they ask；〃 whispered Carr； 〃is money and advertisement。 If
they knew I was a reporter； they'd eat out of my hand。 The tall
man calls himself Lighthouse Harry。 He once kept a light…house on
the Florida coast； and that's as near to the sea as he ever got。
The other one is a dare…devil calling himself Colonel Beamish。 He
says he's an English officer； and a soldier of fortune； and that
he's been in eighteen battles。 Jimmy says he's never been near
enough to a battle to see the red…cross flags on the base
hospital。 But they've fooled these Cubans。 The Junta thinks
they're great fighters； and it's sent them down here to work the
machine guns。 But I'm afraid the only fighting they will do will
be in the sporting columns； and not in the ring。〃
A half dozen sea…sick Cubans were carrying a heavy； oblong box。
They dropped it not two yards from where David lay； and with a
screwdriver Lighthouse Harry proceeded to open the lid。
Carr explained to David that The Three Friends was approaching
that part of the coast of Cuba on which she had arranged to land
her expedition； and that in case she was surprised by one of the
Spanish patrol boats she was preparing to defend herself。
〃They've got an automatic gun in that crate；〃 said Carr； 〃and
they're going to assemble it。 You'd better move； they'll be
tramping all over you。
David shook his head feebly。
〃I can't move！〃 he protested。 〃I wouldn't move if it would free
Cuba。〃
For several hours with very languid interest David watched
Lighthouse Harry and Colonel Beamish screw a heavy tripod to the
deck and balance above it a quick…firing one…pounder。 They worked
very slowly； and to David； watching them from the lee scupper；
they appeared extremely unintelligent。
〃I don't believe either of those thugs put an automatic gun
together in his life；〃 he whispered to Carr。 〃I never did；
either； but I've put hundreds of automatic punches together； and
I bet that gun won't work。〃
〃What's wrong with it？〃 said Carr。
Before David could summon sufficient energy to answer； the
attention of all on board was diverted； and by a single word。
Whether the word is whispered apologetically by the smoking…room
steward to those deep in bridge； or shrieked from the tops of a
sinking ship it never quite fails of its effect。 A sweating
stoker from the engine…room saw it first。
〃Land！〃 he hailed。
The sea…sick Cubans raised themselves and swung their hats； their
voices rose in a fierce chorus。
〃Cuba libre！〃 they yelled。
The sun piercing the morning mists had uncovered a coast…line
broken with bays and inlets。 Above it towered green hills； the
peak of each topped by a squat blockhouse； in the valleys and
water courses like columns of marble rose the royal palms。
〃You MUST look！〃 Carr entreated David。 〃it's just as it is in the
pictures！
〃Then I don't have to look；〃 groaned David。
The Three Friends was making for a point of land that curved like
a sickle。 On the inside of the sickle was Nipe Bay。 On the
opposite shore of that broad harbor at the place of rendezvous a
little band of Cubans waited to receive the filibusters。 The goal
was in sight。 The dreadful voyage was done。 Joy and excitement
thrilled the ship's company。 Cuban patriots appeared in uniforms
with Cuban flags pinned in the brims of their straw sombreros。
From the hold came boxes of small…arm ammunition of Mausers；
rifles； machetes； and saddles。 To protect the landing a box of
shells was placed in readiness beside the one…pounder。
〃In two hours； if we have smooth water；〃 shouted Lighthouse
Harry； 〃we ought to get all of this on shore。 And then； all I
ask；〃 he cried mightily； 〃is for some one to kindly show me a
Spaniard！〃
His heart's desire was instantly granted。 He was shown not only
one Spaniard； but several Spaniards。 They were on the deck of one
of the fastest gun…boats of the Spanish navy。 Not a mile from The
Three Friends she sprang from the cover of a narrow inlet。 She
did not signal questions or extend courtesies。 For her the name
of the ocean…going tug was sufficient introduction。 Throwing
ahead of her a solid shell； she raced in pursuit； and as The
Three Friends leaped to full speed there came from the gun…boat
the sharp dry crackle of Mausers。
With an explosion of terrifying oaths Lighthouse Harry thrust a
shell into the breech of the quick…firing gun。 Without waiting to
aim it； he tugged at the trigger。 Nothing happened！ He threw open
the breech and gazed impotently at the base of the shell。 It was
untouched。 The ship was ringing with cries of anger； of hate；
with rat…like squeaks of fear。
Above the heads of the filibusters a shell screamed and within a
hundred feet splashed into a wave。
From his mat in the lee scupper David groaned miserably。 He was
far removed from any of the greater emotions。
〃It's no use！〃 he protested。 〃They can't do！ It's not connected！〃
〃WHAT'S not connected？〃 yelled Carr。 He fell upon David。 He
half…lifted； half…dragged him to his feet。
〃If you know what's wrong with that gun； you fix it！ Fix it；〃 he
shouted； 〃or I'll〃
David was not concerned with the vengeance Carr threatened。 For；
on the instant a miracle had taken place。 With the swift
insidiousness of morphine； peace ran through his veins； soothed
his racked body； his jangled nerves。 The Three Friends had made
the harbor； and was gliding through water flat as a pond。 But
David did not know why the change had come。 He knew only that his
soul and body were at rest； that the sun was shining； that he had
passed through the valley of the shadow； and once more was a
sane； sound young man。
With a savage thrust of the shoulder he sent Lighthouse Harry
sprawling from the gun。 With swift； practised fingers he fell
upon its mechanism。 He wrenched it apart。 He lifted it； reset；
readjusted it。
Ignorant themselves； those about him saw that he understood； saw
that his work was good。
They raised a joyous； defiant cheer。 But a shower of bullets
drove them to cover； bullets that ripped the deck； splintered the
superstructure； smashed the glass in the air ports； like angry
wasps sang in a continuous whining chorus。 Intent only on the
gun； David worked feverishly。 He swung to the breech； locked it；
and dragged it open； pulled on the trigger and found it gave
before his forefinger。
He shouted with delight。
〃I've got it working；〃 he yelled。
He turned to his audience； but his audience had fled。 From
beneath one of the life…boats protruded the riding…boots of
Colonel Beamish； the tall form of Lighthouse Harry was doubled
behind a water butt。 A shell splashed to port； a shell splashed
to starboard。 For an instant David stood staring wide…eyed at the
greyhound of a boat that ate up the distance between them； at the
jets of smoke and stabs of flame that sprang from her bow； at the
