Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz: Fighting with the U.S. Navy in Mexico

ve the women and children wh

can!" ordered Dave. "Riley, get your men into the boat, and take the

kneeling marines, a fair tar

onor bound to risk himself b

swain Riley. "Schmidt, make read

d been halted for a minute under the brisk f

etta's men rose and att

board!" ye

evolver in hand, Dave sprang to the

gle sailor under his own command. The engineer went ahead at slow speed for a few secon

his rifle, joined the fighting men. Uttering howls of rage as they saw their prey escaping t

ing the launch, had they not been shot

Corporal!" Dave called. "Every

th. It was the machine gun, with its muzzle swiftly turning in an arc of a circl

ody shot rapidly, yet coolly putting into his work all the pent-up

esting a hand on the shoulder of the m

down the lagoon at half speed. On the wharf ful

e engineer caused the lau

called to the men grouped about him. "

e lagoon when Darrin, alertly watching, ma

a rifle was seen, which was followed instantl

d, calmly. "Men, don't fire too rapidly, but keep up your work. We want

exicans. Helped out by the Colt, the fire from the moving craft was sharp en

mouth of the lagoon, and stood out into open water

looking up as Ensign Dave stepped hastily forward f

eturned Darrin wearily, "we've had a pretty bi

yourself, sir,"

ut," Darrin assent

st, sir," urged t

is left wrist, to find

than it is," Darrin

t even f

he same," Riley urged. "Let me fix i

ange, and the Mexicans had apparently given up firing, Riley brough

iled Dave. "Not even enough t

Riley, applying the sterilized bandage with swift skill. "If the scoundrels used any of the brass

. Dave ordered the course changed to east by north-east

sang out the bow looko

alled Darrin,

arboard bow, sir," r

ke our own l

the approaching craft, for she might be a Mexican Federal g

later. He reached for the whistle pull and blew thr

. "Launch ahoy, there!" called a vo

sir!" Darri

you, Ensi

aye,

am coming

lay idly on the light ground swell, the other launch c

can party, Ensign Darri

nt

he entire party abo

ny trouble?"

red upon, and forced

?" exclaimed Lieutenant Can

d to,

ers not to fight?"

my entire command," Darrin answered, with an

n," came the

which were repeated by me just before we parted

r," Dave returned dryly. "Several

our own command?

lled and fo

tenant Cantor, angrily. "Ensign Darrin, I am certain that you

eflection on the Capt

ined, rat

place you in arrest, but on our return to the ship I sh

ood now surged to his head, suffusing

mbled the deep voice of John Carmody, "then

ng?" roared Li

armody," returned

h to remain silent,

pose I may as well do as I'm ordered. But at some other time I

, then gave the order to proce

lieutenant ordered a rocket sent up. From away

nd" lay to close by. Cantor's laun

ed the voice of the executi

ir," Cantor replied,

missing Ame

," Cantor

l our o

unded, through what I believe

ted into place. Then, under orders, Darrin ran alongside. First of all his wounded men were passed on hoard, being the

the deck, from the bridge, "you are direc

face was white and angry as he neared the captain's quarters, but the young ensign

" directed the marine orderly, as th

salute, Dave Darrin passed

tern, faced Captain Gales, who

mmanding officer, rising, "most serious ch