Meanwhile, her deck became a scene
of feverish activity; out from her hold came cases of ammunition
and medical supplies; the field-piece on the bow was hurriedly
dismounted; the small boats, of which there were an extra number,
were swung out, with the result that when the Fair Play had
manoeuvered as close as she dared everything was in readiness.
Many of these expedicionarios were professional men, clerks,
cigar-makers, and the like; few of them had ever done hard manual
labor; yet they fell to their tasks willingly enough. While they
worked a close watch with night glasses was maintained from the
bridge.
O'Reilly took the first load through the reef, and discharged it
upon a sandy beach. No one seemed to know positively whether this
was the mainland or some key; and there was no time for
exploration; in either event, there was no choice of action. Every
man tumbled overboard and waded ashore with a packing-case; he
dropped this in the sand above high-tide mark, and then ran back
for another. It was swift, hot work. From the darkness on each
side came the sounds of other boat crews similarly engaged.
Johnnie was back alongside the ship and ready for a second cargo
before the last tender had set out upon its first trip, and then
for several hours this slavish activity continued. Some crews lost
themselves in the gloom, fetched up on the reef, and were forced
to dump their freight into the foam, trusting to salvage it when
daylight came.
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