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studded with stunted palmettos。 Close ahead David heard the roar
of the surf。
〃Sorry to disturb you；〃 said the youth in the golf cap； 〃but we
drop the pilot in a few minutes and you're going with him。〃
David moved his aching head gingerly； and was conscious of a bump
as large as a tennis ball behind his right ear。
〃What happened to me？〃 he demanded。
〃You were sort of kidnapped； I guess；〃 laughed the young man。 〃It
was a raw deal； but they couldn't take any chances。 The pilot
will land you at Okra Point。 You can hire a rig there to take you
to the railroad。〃
〃But why？〃 demanded David indignantly。 〃Why was I kidnapped？ What
had I done？ Who were those men who〃
From the pilot…house there was a sharp jangle of bells to the
engine…room； and the speed of the tug slackened。
〃Come on；〃 commanded the young man briskly。 〃The pilot's going
ashore。 Here's your grip； here's your hat。 The ladder's on the
port side。 Look where you're stepping。 We can't show any lights；
and it's dark as〃
But； even as he spoke； like a flash of powder； as swiftly as one
throws an electric switch； as blindingly as a train leaps from
the tunnel into the glaring sun； the darkness vanished and the
tug was swept by the fierce； blatant radiance of a search…light。
It was met by shrieks from two hundred throats； by screams；
oaths； prayers； by the sharp jangling of bells； by the blind rush
of many men scurrying like rats for a hole to hide in； by the
ringing orders of one man。 Above the tumult this one voice rose
like the warning strokes of a fire…gong； and looking up to the
pilot…house from whence the voice came； David saw the barkeeper
still in his shirt…sleeves and with his derby hat pushed back
behind his ears； with one hand clutching the telegraph to the
engine…room； with the other holding the spoke of the wheel。
David felt the tug； like a hunter taking a fence； rise in a great
leap。 Her bow sank and rose； tossing the water from her in black；
oily waves； the smoke poured from her funnel； from below her
engines sobbed and quivered； and like a hound freed from a leash
she raced for the open sea。 But swiftly as she fled； as a thief
is held in the circle of a policeman's bull's…eye； the shaft of
light followed and exposed her and held her in its grip。 The
youth in the golf cap was clutching David by the arm。 With his
free hand he pointed down the shaft of light。 So great was the
tumult that to be heard he brought his lips close to David's ear。
〃That's the revenue cutter！〃 he shouted。 〃She's been laying for
us for three weeks； and now；〃 he shrieked exultingly； 〃the old
man's going to give her a race for it。〃
From excitement； from cold； from alarm； David's nerves were
getting beyond his control。
〃But how；〃 he demanded； 〃how do I get ashore？〃
〃You don't！〃
〃When he drops the pilot； don't I〃
〃How can he drop the pilot？〃 yelled the youth。 〃The pilot's got
to stick by the boat。 So have you。〃
David clutched the young man and swung him so that they stood
face to face。
〃Stick by what boat？〃 yelled David。 〃Who are these men？ Who are
you？ What boat is this？〃
In the glare of the search…light David saw the eyes of the youth
staring at him as though he feared he were in the clutch of a
madman。 Wrenching himself free； the youth pointed at the
pilot…house。 Above it on a blue board in letters of gold…leaf a
foot high was the name of the tug。 As David read it his breath
left him； a finger of ice passed slowly down his spine。 The name
he read was The Three Friends。
〃THE THREE FRIENDS！〃 shrieked David。 〃She's a filibuster！ She's a
pirate！ Where're we going？
〃To Cuba！〃
David emitted a howl of anguish； rage； and protest。
〃What for？〃 he shrieked。
The young man regarded him coldly。
〃To pick bananas；〃 he said。
〃I won't go to Cuba；〃 shouted David。 〃I've got to work！ I'm paid
to sell machinery。 I demand to be put ashore。 I'll lose my job if
I'm not put ashore。 I'll sue you！ I'll have the law〃
David found himself suddenly upon his knees。 His first thought
was that the ship had struck a rock； and then that she was
bumping herself over a succession of coral reefs。 She dipped；
dived； reared； and plunged。 Like a hooked fish； she flung herself
in the air； quivering from bow to stern。 No longer was David of a
mind to sue the filibusters if they did not put him ashore。 If
only they had put him ashore； in gratitude he would have crawled
on his knees。 What followed was of no interest to David； nor to
many of the filibusters； nor to any of the Cuban patriots。 Their
groans of self…pity； their prayers and curses in eloquent
Spanish； rose high above the crash of broken crockery and the
pounding of the waves。 Even when the search…light gave way to a
brilliant sunlight the circumstance was unobserved by David。 Nor
was he concerned in the tidings brought forward by the youth in
the golf cap； who raced the slippery decks and vaulted the
prostrate forms as sure…footedly as a hurdler on a cinder track。
To David； in whom he seemed to think he had found a congenial
spirit； he shouted Joyfully； 〃She's fired two blanks at us！〃 he
cried； 〃now she's firing cannon…balls！〃
〃Thank God；〃 whispered David； 〃perhaps she'll sink us！〃
But The Three Friends showed her heels to the revenue cutter； and
so far as David knew hours passed into days and days into weeks。
It was like those nightmares in which in a minute one is whirled
through centuries of fear and torment。 Sometimes； regardless of
nausea； of his aching head； of the hard deck； of the waves that
splashed and smothered him； David fell into broken slumber。
Sometimes he woke to a dull consciousness of his position。 At
such moments he added to his misery by speculating upon the other
misfortunes that might have befallen him on shore。 Emily； he
decided； had given him up for lost and marriedprobably a navy
officer in command of a battle…ship。 Burdett and Sons had cast
him off forever。 Possibly his disappearance had caused them to
suspect him； even now they might be regarding him as a defaulter；
as a fugitive from justice。 His accounts； no doubt； were being
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 lowere