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

he Americans d

n, the sailors threw themselves automatically

ders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might

being fired upon, on

hildren in danger of

, but the real military commander is so

s they reached the thin little line the men knelt and waited breathlessly. Dave's resolution was instantly taken. Th

it American women and ch

or no

arp reports of the Cosetta rifle fire.

ng out the Amer

, Darrin drew his automatic revolver, firing ten

Mexican is an excitable individual, who does not tak

ng party, snatched up one of the rifles. Standing, he rushed in a magazine full of b

ad of cartridges, Dave held his fire

ed up, nearly

ss wants to know if you want to order

ded men back to the launch and tell Corporal Ross t

eady for ins

e women and child

er end of the sugar mill. The air is too f

main where he is until either the Mexicans' fire

good

se injured of the two wounded sailors

ant little line of sailors. "Load your magazines and l

here and there from behind the hed

em," chuckled Darrin to John

plied the planter. "They're brut

il

aye,

e. I suspect that the men have been withdrawn and that we are to be flanked below the s

aye,

ere retreating. They gained

Darrin, "get your par

aye,

wounded man bac

second wounded man, turned him over to

ent observations rearward. From the hedge a few, sniping shots came now and

yards away, a volley c

to meet the new attack. "I expected it. Aim two feet above the ground

t machine gun. The marines were wild to join in the firing, but would not do so until ordered. Darrin wa

iring ceased, Dav

ush three hundred feet closer to the

d out, but a third s

n blew a signal on his whistle. In respons

man to the launch

e him leave to turn the machine gun loose,

d. "Tell Corporal Ross that one flash from my pocket lamp will

good

rush, then reformed his men, this time not more than

il

aye,

ere. I must see to the s

aye,

est, but do not let th

a hundred ro

ow it

ch stood Corporal Ross looking the picture of disap

idt, Hicks had done his work well, placing the women and children flat along the

ave stood with the marines, pee

agoon?" inquired John Carmody, approaching, a rifle still grip

the shore, keeping up a fire that would be more deadly when we're crowded together aboard the lau

discouraged the men

looking towar

, and I believe they are hiding in the mill, ready to snipe us from there. Besides, probably a smaller party has been sent from the flankers to

, Riley's handful of men

ts rang out from the r

claimed. "And men on a ro

o now rose and came charging forward across

t, Corporal!" Ens

h the muzzle describing an arc of several degrees, many of the flankers were hi

of charging Mexicans had s

to the

in his right foot. A bullet, sent in low, had ripp

, hobbling to the machine gun. "Swing

the mill found good excuse for halting. There are tim

ve's feet. The young ensign bent over him; one look was eno

rose on the air. Now, from four different points gro

nd they would overwhe

y p

acre of all the survivors of his rescue party,

realized this wit