Edward Stratemeyer

“ A short walk along the cliff, below and above,—for the rocky shelf was irregular, and not over twenty feet high,—convinced Striker that no human beings were in the vicinity, to become their friends or their enemies; and then the sailor set about obtaining some food, for he was now nearly starved.
He felt certain that the storm had cast up upon the irregular beach more or less fish, and in this he was not mistaken, for hardly had he covered a distance of half a dozen rods than he heard a flapping, and saw a winged coryphene trying vainly to reach the ocean, from which it had been hurled. ”

“ At first Larry was inclined to rebel at Captain Ponsberry's decision, especially as he had counted upon the captain's friendship. But when he cooled off and reviewed the situation carefully, he saw that the captain had done no more than what could be considered fair under the circumstances. "He is right; in the absence of other evidence, one man's word is as good as another's," thought the boy. "I may as well let the matter drop,—it was only six dollars, after all. But I shall keep my eyes open for Olan Oleson in the future!" ”

“ Larry enjoyed a dip in the surf very much, having Striker with him, and the bath gave both a tremendous appetite for the seashore dinner, which Captain Ponsberry kind-heartedly provided at the casino nearby.
"Good-by to Honolulu," cried Larry, as the party started on its return. "Take it all in all, it's a pretty place, and one might do much worse than to settle here for the remainder of one's life. It won't be a bad job done if the United States annexes the islands." ”

“ Now, however, there came without an instant's warning a blinding flash of lightning which blazed upon every part of the Columbia, followed instantly by a crack of thunder which to Larry sounded like the crack of doom.
"Oh!" cried the boy, and fell back a few paces into the arms of Hobson. He could say no more, nor could any of the rest. Silently Striker leaped from Oleson, who scrambled to his feet, and then came another crash, which set Larry's every nerve into a quiver.
"We're struck!" screamed a voice from outside. "On deck, men! on deck!" ”

“ A few seconds later Luke Striker followed, and then came half a dozen others in a bunch, shrieking, laughing and sporting like so many overgrown boys; for when your true sailor is out for a lark, he never thinks of his age, no matter how old he may be.
The water was warm and refreshing, and never had Larry enjoyed a swim more. He dived half a dozen times, from the yawl, and then challenged Striker to a race around the Columbia, which lay nearly stationary in the swells of the ocean. ”

“ Why, that ought to make a brave man of the worst coward on board! Hurrah for Old Glory!"
Utterly worn out with all that had occurred, Larry and Striker sought the hammocks assigned to them immediately after the concert was over and slept "like logs," to use the lad's way of expressing it. So tired was the boy that he did not even dream, nor hear the many noises around him, such as the pounding of the water against the warship's prow as she kept steadily on her course, or the rattle of the heavy chains as the Olympia rose and fell on the long swells. ”

“ To find the fleet, and to be fully prepared to give it battle wherever and whenever found, was a task requiring a large amount of sagacity and wisdom.
The ships left Mirs Bay on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 27th day of April, the Olympia leading the van, with Commodore Dewey and Captain Gridley upon the bridge, the former viewing with a pleased eye his small but solid-looking squadron, every vessel of which shone forth stern and threatening in her war-paint of dark color.
"They ought to win out in a battle, captain," remarked the commodore, quietly. He was not a man of many words. ”

“ The Columbia, up to this time, had been making a quick passage, but now, with the going down of that heavy and hot sun, the wind died out utterly, and on the following day the sails flapped idly against the masts, and everything came to a standstill.
"We are in for a calm now," remarked Striker. "I knowed we was bound to come next to it sooner or later."
"Never mind," replied Larry, ever ready to look upon the cheerful side. "When it does blow, it will come so much the stronger." ”

“ But if we Americans keep up our reputation, we have nothing to fear, though, of course, the scrag won't be exactly a picnic."
"That officer in the small boat said we might have to remain on board of the Olympia," said Larry. "If that is so, we are bound to take part in whatever occurs, whether we want to or not."
"I should think any American lad would be glad to take part," rejoined the sergeant, quickly. "If we defeat that fleet, it will be a great glory to us, and if we don't—well, a man can die but once, you know." ”

“ Hard times had followed,—for runaways do not always fare so well as boys imagine they do,—and more than once Larry had crept away to some secluded corner, to go to sleep whenever the pangs of hunger would allow. It was hunger as much as anything else which had driven him to accept the offer to ship with Captain Morgan, and the first square meal he had had for ten days had been eaten in the dingy forecastle of the Rescue. ”

“ ON TO HONG KONG—CONCLUSION
"I feel like a fellow who has been rolling in a coal hole," remarked Larry, when the excitement had somewhat subsided. "And my ears are in a regular buzz."
"That buzzing will go away by morning," said Striker. "Ah, lad, but it was a great victory, wasn't it now?" and he slapped Larry heartily on the back. When the news of the surrender came in. Striker had insisted upon dancing an impromptu jig, and several had joined in. ”

“ Here the island of Oahu, upon which Honolulu, the principal city of the Hawaiian Islands, is situated, seemed to split in two, and the sun, glaring down upon that afternoon, lit up one side and cast the other into the deepest of shades. ”

“ The great snake had reached the bushes and was lying with its head concealed, but the lower half of its shiny body exposed. Taking careful aim, the Yankee sailor fired, and an instant later the reptile was seen to turn and twist in every direction, slashing the bushes as with a flail. It had been struck fairly, but the shot was by no means a fatal one. It remained in view fully half a minute, then crawled further into the brush, where they heard it continue its thrashing.
"There, I don't think he'll bother us much more," remarked Striker, as he handed the shotgun back to Vincent. ”

“ It's one of the rules aboard a warship to keep Jack a-going, and the rule gets broken precious seldom."
"But how can they keep us going all the time, if there is no fight on?" persisted Larry.
"You're green, lad, even if ye have sailed in a merchantman and know all the ropes from the foreroyal-stay to the topping-lift," answered the downeast sailor, with a good-natured laugh, for with the deck of a warship once more beneath him he was in his element. "There are drills enough alone to keep a man hustling from sunrise to sunset, as you'll find out if you remain on the Olympia long enough. ”

“ It was not a fierce fish to look at, neither was it a handsome creature.
"He goes pretty well armed," remarked the missionary, as he looked the fish over with much interest.
"You'd think so if you'd see him attack a whale, as I've seen," replied Captain Ponsberry. "He makes a dive and a swish! and the first thing the whale knows he's got that saw right through his belly, and then the chances are he'll lose all interest in living; for if the first strike don't kill, the sawfish will be off before the whale can strike back, and he'll come on again, and there will be another ripping time. ”

“ Another five minutes passed, and the vessels came closer, until they could readily see the black smoke pouring from their funnels. The five vessels were sweeping along in almost a semicircle, and now Striker declared he could see more smoke to the rear.
"If only they see us!" cried Larry, in almost a pleading tone. "Can't we wave something? I'll try my jacket." And he slipped the garment off, and proceeded to bestride the keel of the upturned Treasure. In a moment more Striker was beside him, and both waved their hands like demons. ”

“ Striker, the boy will beat ye unless you use your long arms better than that. Now then, both do your level best, and remember to swim clear o' the bow!"
"It's Striker's race," cried the boatswain, who was also in the water. "It stands to reason the man will win."
"I'll wager you a plug of tobacco the boy comes out ahead," answered Hobson. "See what a splendid stroke he's making—I never saw a better, even on the Thames!" ”

“ When he did come up, to puff and blow like a porpoise, all was dark around him. He was on the top of a huge wave; a second later he went down into a great hollow, the waves before and behind him seeming like hills ready to tumble in and plunge him out of existence. Again he prayed a silent prayer—yet none the less heard—that his life might be spared to him. ”

“ His heart was thumping so violently that he could scarcely speak.
"Silence, men!" came the low command from out of the semi-darkness of the gun-deck. And then, for the time being, nothing more was said.
On swept the flagship at a speed of eight knots an hour. Corregidor Island was now directly abeam, and every glass on the big warship was trained on those dark and frowning works, while a sharp lookout was kept ahead and the "mine catchers" were out in force. In a minute more the Olympia would sweep into Boca Grande, the main channel, supposed to be fairly thick with hidden mines. ”

“ Under the guise of wishing to protect the weak and helpless in the country and in villages, the Spanish authorities in Cuba have been driving all of the women, children, and old men into the big cities and holding them there. The young and middle-aged men, of course, cannot be thus driven, for they are in the ranks of the insurgents. But when the women and children and old men get into the cities there is nothing for them to do, and, as most of them are poor, they are actually compelled to starve, unless some kind-hearted soul will feed them. ”

“ He had hardly spoken when the whining shriek of a hundred and fifty pound shell was heard, coming straight at the Olympia. "We're struck now!" cried Barrow, when, as shells sometimes do, the unwelcome missile took a turn in the air and went sailing through the flagship's upper works, doing damage that was but trifling.
In less than half an hour Larry felt at home at his work. He now knew what real fighting meant, and was getting used to the noise and smoke. ”

“ Still farther on was a heavy belt of stunted palms, with vines training in every direction, and here flitted, in surprise and terror at their appearance, wild pigeons, hornbills, as well as parrakeets, cockatoos, and other varieties of parrots.
"My, but it's hot!" murmured Larry, as they came to a rest under the palms. "And how everything does grow in these hot places!"
"Yes, it grows, but a good bit of it is mighty coarse," responded Striker. "Take that grass we've just come through, for instance. ”

“ What worried the people was the cruelty practised by the Spanish authorities against the insurgents, and when in the halls of Congress it was openly declared that through Spanish misrule tens of thousands of Cuban men, women, and children were actually starving to death, the people everywhere cried out that this must stop, and if no other civilized nation would take a hand, the United States must step in alone and do the work.
The climax of resentment against Spain came when the Maine went down carrying two hundred and fifty-three of our gallant officers and sailors with her. ”

“ That night was the first Larry spent on board of the Columbia, for he had removed his chest to the craft before starting on the day's outing. To be sure, the forecastle of the schooner was dark and dingy, as forecastles usually are, but the apartment was clean and in order, and did not smell half so strongly of tar and oakum, tobacco and bilge-water, as other places like it of which he knew. Moreover, his berth was near to the door, so he was likely to get the full benefit of all cool and fresh air which was stirring. ”

“ A flash of lightning showed him in what direction safety lay, and he ran with all the power left to his legs. Once he went down on his hands, and the next wave nearly caught him, but he was up again in a trice, and in a moment more was safe on the rocks which arose directly behind the storm-beaten beach.
"Luke! are you safe?" were the first words he uttered, as soon as he could catch his breath.
"I am, and thank God for it!" came from the Yankee sailor, and presently he appeared out of the darkness. ”

“ The biggest city is Manila, on the east shore of Manila Bay, a big harbor shaped like a camel's head, with the opening at the neck of the animal, and Manila sittin' like a wart on the critter's nose. Years an' years ago the city was only a Spanish military post, but it grew an' grew, until I reckon there are several hundred thousand folks—Chinese and Japanese and all—in and around Manila. A good many of the people are what they call Tagals, a branch of the Malay race—a good enough set if the Spanish would only treat 'em half decently. ”

“ I once heard a learned professor say he was first cousin to the shark, and second cousin to the skate, a kind o' binding link betwixt the two."
"Is he good to eat?" questioned another of the passengers.
"Every fish is good to eat—if you like the taste of the meat," returned the captain, sagely. "As for me, I don't want any sawfish steaks, although I have tried 'em."
"I'm sure I don't want anything to eat from him," half whispered Larry, at which Striker laughed.
"Won't you now, Larry? Now that ain't me—I'd much rather eat my enemy nor have my enemy eat me; hang me if I wouldn't!" ”