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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PART II THE RUN IN Disappointment at the recall—A day of waiting—The plan of going in at sunset—Two elements of weakness—Mullen's pluck —Kindness of officers—Good-by to the flagship—The look of things—Rehearsing the work—Clausen not a stowaway—Precautions for rescue—The last meal on the Merrimac and final preparations—Making for the entrance—The firing begins— Loss of the steering-gear—Trouble with the torpedoes—A crisis off Estrella Point—Kelly's narrow escape—Beginning to sink—Conversation on deck—A focus of fire—The final plunge—In the vortex—Clinging to the catamaran—Admiral Cervera to the rescue. WHEN the torpedo-boat Porter overtook the Merrimac and delivered the admiral's imperative order to return, one could see a cloud of gloom and disappointment pass over the men. No one spoke a word. Every man lingered near his post for some time, not wishing to make the effort necessary to get into a position of comfort. I knew how the men felt. A fearful reaction had set in. I remember catching hold of a stanchion on the bridge and leaning my head back against it as the ship swung around. Mullen soon came aft, looking likea specter, haggard beyond description. Charette was sent down to tell the engine force that the run was off. Mr. Crank appeared at the hatch, stripped to a breech-cloth; he was expecting to go in with the ship, and the reaction had seized him also. The situation must have appealed to the men on the torpedo-boat, for before she left us Lieutenant Fremont hailed with some kind words of sympathy. I told Mullen to have all the men lie down, and suggested that he do the same. He objected for his own part, and insisted that he be allowed to relieve me, and that I lie down myself. It was necessary to give him a positive order. The reaction took a different form with ...
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