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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
figures crouched behind her gunwale； firing in volleys。
To David it came suddenly； convincingly； that in a dream he had
lived it all before； and something like raw poison stirred in
David； something leaped to his throat and choked him； something
rose in his brain and made him see scarlet。 He felt rather than
saw young Carr kneeling at the box of ammunition； and holding a
shell toward him。 He heard the click as the breech shut； felt the
rubber tire of the brace give against the weight of his shoulder；
down a long shining tube saw the pursuing gun…boat； saw her again
and many times disappear behind a flash of flame。 A bullet gashed
his forehead； a bullet passed deftly through his forearm； but he
did not heed them。 Confused with the thrashing of the engines；
with the roar of the gun he heard a strange voice shrieking
unceasingly：
〃Cuba libre！〃 it yelled。 〃To hell with Spain！〃 and he found that
the voice was his own。
The story lost nothing in the way Carr wrote it。
〃And the best of it is；〃 he exclaimed joyfully； 〃it's true！〃
For a Spanish gun…boat HAD been crippled and forced to run
herself aground by a tug…boat manned by Cuban patriots； and by a
single gun served by one man； and that man an American。 It was
the first sea…fight of the war。 Over night a Cuban navy had been
born； and into the limelight a cub reporter had projected a new
〃hero；〃 a ready…made； warranted…not…to…run； popular idol。
They were seated in the pilot…house； 〃Jimmy〃 Doyle； Carr； and
David； the patriots and their arms had been safely dumped upon
the coast of Cuba； and The Three Friends was gliding swiftly and；
having caught the Florida straits napping； smoothly toward Key
West。 Carr had just finished reading aloud his account of the
engagement。
You will tell the story just as I have written it；〃 commanded the
proud author。 〃Your being South as a travelling salesman was only
a blind。 You came to volunteer for this expedition。 Before you
could explain your wish you were mistaken for a secret…service
man； and hustled on board。 That was just where you wanted to be；
and when the moment arrived you took command of the ship and
single…handed won the naval battle of Nipe Bay。〃
Jimmy Doyle nodded his head approvingly。 〃You certainty did；
Dave；〃 protested the great man； 〃I seen you when you done it！〃
At Key West Carr filed his story and while the hospital surgeons
kept David there over one steamer； to dress his wounds； his fame
and features spread across the map of the United States。
Burdett and Sons basked in reflected glory。 Reporters besieged
their office。 At the Merchants Down…Town Club the business men of
lower Broadway tendered congratulations。
〃Of course； it's a great surprise to us；〃 Burdett and Sons would
protest and wink heavily。 〃Of course； when the boy asked to be
sent South we'd no idea he was planning to fight for Cuba！ Or we
wouldn't have let him go； would we？〃 Then again they would wink
heavily。 〃I suppose you know；〃 they would say； 〃that he's a
direct descendant of General Hiram