the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第28节
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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
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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
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
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。
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〃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
