CAPTAIN ALTEN'S Torpedo Expedition.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2546, 3 November 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

CAPTAIN ALTEN'S Torpedo Expedition.

AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR IN 1891 BY MRS W. RATTRAY. CHAPTER 111 Ox learning tho decision of the warauthorities to Bend tho only torpedo boat to tho Little Barrier, or ' thereabouts' as the Colonel with characteristic vagueness described the locality, (the vnguencsß was not personal, but oineial), Mr Ronayne returned homo to fit himself out for tho expedition, which he intended to join. " Then I am going too ! " said his wife. " My dear Grace," objected tho husband, " believe me, you will be far better at home !"

" All the same, lam going !" she returned quietly. "Isuppsse no medical man accompanies you, aud you know quite well, how uselul I often was in Zululand." "True, my dear,' answered Mr Ronayne "though I sincerely trust we shall not need your kind services. We intond to sink tho Russian ship, and givo her no chance of doing us any injury." Mrs Ronayne was hunting about in her wardrobe for a serviceable dress, but now she faced round with a scornful laugh. " Between you and me, Winthrop, there need be no make-believe. We both know perfectly well that the whole place is in a disgracefully unprotected state. Wc know that over and over again, the subjectof our defences has beeu brought before the Government, who, eveu in prosperity, have been too supine to interfere !" She crossed the room, and putting her hand on his shoulder said : " Dear husband, we both know that in going out on this expedition, we are faking our lives in our hauds." " And that is the reason, dear Grace, why I should like you to remain in safety," he returned.

" Comparative safety, yon mean Winthrop. No, dear! I have no one but you in the wide world now; and you know," and her voice trembled, "that since our dear boy was taken from us, I have vowed never to lot aught but death part us two ! " Ronayne was shaken for an instant in his purpose. " Shall we abandon this enterprise and go over to the North Shore ? It will bo gnito as lively there, I can promise you ! " Mrs Ronayno smiled. " Whcro thou goest I will go. If they will tako us, let it be to tho Barrier.'' So she returned to her wardrobe, and he to arranging his sketching implements. Before the torpedo boat was ready, the two ilonaync'a were standing waiting for her. She was provided with specially good accommodation for tho crew. In her dark serge dress, thick waterproof cloak, and closely-fitting hood, ho one seemed to remark that Mrs Ronayne was not of tho masculine gender, and sho took her place beside lier husband without any objection being raised, Once

they were oft', it did not matter, that Captain Alten discovered her presence. Possibly his heart was too pore for him to cave to interfere. Besides, they were already so luto in starting, that nothing would havo induced him to put back. Of course t.ho boat was not in order, and all were impatient at the slow progress made, when speed was so very important. However, she presently quickened her pace, and they shot round the North Head, keeping close under the shadow of Rangitoto, every sense on the alert, every pulse quickened. Ili;it! there's something coming ! Now boys, be ready! What is it ? Hold ! It's only a small steamer ! They hailed her, and found her crowded with passengers from Whungarei, who wore coming into Auckland for a grand fete, which was to have been held next day.

The Captain knew nothing: of the Russian scare, but reported having seen two largo vessels—be could not toll what nationality they wore—outside Tiri-tiri. '• Far off r"' questioned Captain Alten. "So far that I could not say for certain which way they wore going, but we fancied they were heading this way." The order to " let go " was instantly given, and soon at full speed ahead, the brave little boat was making her way towards the Barriers.

'They entered a little sheltered cove, well-known to Captain Alton, and there lay to. Then followed a period of suspenseful watching. For the time nothing was heard but the gentle ripple of the waves, as they softly broke against the boat and then made their way in towards tho rooky beaeh. Perchance some of those anxious watchers felt that possibly another hour or so might end their lives, and these few minutes of waiting for death were terribly solemn. For most of them were well aware that it was perfectly likely the torpedo would explode there, and leave the enemy to pursue her way to the doomed city of Auckland. And still no sound came to break the tranquility of the night. But, hark ! There is a distant sound ! A splashing and cutting of the water, a sound of the throbbing of a largo steamer's engines breaks the awful stillness.

"All ready?" It is Captain Alten's voice in a hoarse whisper.

"Here she comes ! A Russian cruiser, and a Chinese vessel in her wake," says Ronayne. Nearer, nearer. Wait one moment. " Ready ?" "Ay, ay, sir!"

" Let her go 1" A moment of breathless anxiety. The intense gaze of the little boats' company fixed on the Russian man-of-war, so speedily, they fondly hope, to be blown up. An awful pause. "Let her go!" Captain Alten can hardly let the words out, his nerves are so intensely strung. "Great Heaven, what's wrong ? Let go ! I say." "She won't move, something's got jammed, or caught !" Captain Alten sprang forward. The torpedo shot through the water, and no result followed.

Calmly the great vessel and her smaller companion pursued their way, and the baffled, inefficient torpedo boat was left in ignominious safety. There was a wild look of rage and despair on the unlucky commander's face, and then he said— " We'll land on Cheltenham Beach, they'll hear us there." The great steamer could not move very rapidly in the comparative darkness, and in foreign waters ; though her pilot, M. Le'on, had spent many an hour yachting about the channel, making private marks 011 his little map, and sundry sketchesof the surrounding coast, and beach. Still, from the deck of a large ship, objects do not always look quite the same as when viewed from low down in the water, and close to them. So M. Leon guided his ship "\vifch great care ; and the discomforted little torpedo boat shot past them un-noticed, and deposited its occupants safely at the little toy landing-stage on Cheltenham Beach. All the inhabitants had fled, but as Howard Alten ran along the road leading up to the Fort, he luckily, as he thought, found a stray horse. He quickly got on its back, and as the animal was very docile, he arrived far more speedily at the Fort, than he could otherwise have hoped to do. Closer came the great black mass of the Russian man-o'-war, and, like its shadow, followed the Chinese junk. Fire! crash! bang! The guns from Fort Cautley fired for the first time in terrible earnest against a real foo, woko the mid-night echoes, and caused consternation even in the expectant city of Auckland ! It was actually begun then! A European war extending to the Australasian colonies. In this city, at least, utterly inadequately armed, guarded or defended. What could be the end? Of wars and rumours of wars there had been ample warning, but the characteristic apathy of the Aucklanders had over and over again manifested itself in words such as those : "Oh, nonsense, there'll be no war to-day, and we will see about getting ready for it to-morrow." And the fatal, long-deferred to-morrow sounded from the city clocks, and the dreaded foe was every instant drawing nearer and nearer to our wharf. "Why, oh! why," some people were exclaiming, "had useless provocation been offered her?'' Yo thunders 1 What is that terrific explosion ? (To he continued.)