Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/113

Rh pitching of the ship became more violent than before, and those on board had to hold fast or else run the risk of having their brains dashed out by being thrown headlong. Below everything was topsy-turvy, and even the old tars admitted that they had never experienced such a "choppy" storm before.

"Beats anything I ever saw," said one old fellow, who had been a gunner in the navy for fifteen years. "It's worse nor going around Cape Horn or meeting a bender on the Indian Ocean. We'll be doin' well to come out bottom side up." And several equally old sea-dogs agreed with him.

The storm continued, and at noon only a cold lunch could be served, for cooking was out of the question. The transport was running at less than a six-knot rate, and the captain was half of a mind to turn back, knowing that he must be close to shore or to some of the hidden reefs, only a few of which were located on the charts; for so far the nautical surveys around the Philippine Islands have been very imperfect.

But if the old hands were sobered by the situation, it would be hard to describe the feelings among the newly enlisted men, especially the soldiers, who knew little or nothing of life on shipboard.