Two American Boys in the War ZoneGreen, Levi Worthington
General
Two American Boys in the War Zone
Green, Levi Worthington
Americans -- Russia -- Juvenile fiction; World War, 1914-1918 -- Russia -- Juvenile fiction
When the boat was opposite the raft its crew attempted to bring it up
to the wind. As they came around and the gale struck them broadside on,
it seemed as though their destruction was certain. For a few moments
the boat was hidden beneath the piling seas, and Captain Foster and his
men held their breath in terrible suspense.
Then the boat emerged, but the wind had driven it past its destination.
Slowly the boat’s crew battled their way back against the gale. When
they were once more opposite, they drew the boat up on the windward
side, and let it down as carefully as possible against the raft.
The protection which the warship offered in breaking the force of the
wind was considerable, but even then the two craft pounded together in
a most alarming manner.
The mate cut the cord that held Sidney, and he and Captain Foster
helped the boy to the side. Sidney had not been, like his brother,
rendered entirely helpless by the cold, and the prospect of rescue had
greatly restored his strength. So by watching until the boat and the
raft, in their violent oscillations, were brought to nearly the same
level, he was able to spring into the boat, where he was caught by its
crew and placed in safety.
Then Captain Foster and the mate turned to Raymond. He was unconscious,
and they were obliged to carry him, which was extremely difficult. They
left the cord attached to the boy, and threw the end to the boat’s
crew, who held it as a safeguard against disaster. By lifting and
pulling, Raymond was transferred safely to the boat.
When that had been accomplished it was comparatively easy for the
sailors to follow the boys, and the boat started back to the ship. That
was a long pull and a hard one, but the nearer they approached under
the lee of the ship the less difficult it became, and the shipwrecked
party were finally safe on board.
Captain Foster and the boys were conducted to the cabin of one of the
officers, where Raymond received the attention of the ship’s surgeon.
And the mate and his men were taken forward. Warmth and food were all
that Raymond needed to restore him completely, and the others responded
to the same treatment.
Captain Foster learned that the ship which had rescued them was the
Salzburg, an Austrian torpedo boat destroyer, which was doing patrol
duty from Pola as a base. Presently they were visited by the lieutenant
in command, a courteous young man who spoke English perfectly.
“What ship are you from?” he asked Captain Foster.
“The Princess Mary, freighter, from Batum to Venice,” was the reply.
“Were you wrecked in the storm?”
“No, we struck a mine early this morning.”
“And these young men?”
“They are Americans who were returning home from Russia, and I was
helping them out.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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