"Men, ready the Dadavata, the Portal, the Jones, quickly, get them out to sea!" he yelled to his native crew. Jumping to action, the burly men readied the boats for the voyage down the Morovo langoon and within minutes, the engines of the Dadavata and the Jones sprung into motion. Not so, the Portal's capricious engine, older and more temperamental than the motors on the other two boats, The Portal's engine chose this emergency to balk at starting.
Slapping the sides of the boat, the major shouted, "Men, crank it up." His commanding presence loomed over the vessel making him appear larger than he actually was.
Lifting the rope attachments that, already should have breathed life into the cold, dead engine, the brawny men applied force to the flywheel, but the engine refused to budge. Deftly increasing the strength applied, the experienced men continued to pull until their muscles bulged. Still the engine refused to move.
"Men, get that motor rolling," the officer barked in frustration. "The Japanese are hot on our trail. This is war and we have got to get out of here!" The men pulled and pushed, and pushed and pulled, but the motor would not start.
"OK, men, this is it," the major growled, "We have got to go. Torch it! The enemy could use it."
Aghast, a small group of church members, onlookers at the scene, prayed silently that God would rescue His vessel and save the mission boat for His use.
BURNING BOAT