Aim two feet above the ground, men, and fire at will until you have emptied your magazines twice." Down by the launch, and not thirty feet from the wharf, stood Corporal Ross with his marines and the Colt machine gun.

The marines were wild to join in the firing, but would not do so until ordered.

Darrin was loath to let them draw the enemy's fire until the women had been made as safe as possible on the launch.
As the American firing ceased, Dave called the order: "Load magazines, but reserve fire.

Rush three hundred feet closer to the wharf and then halt and form again." This move was carried out, but a third sailor dropped wounded.
As a lull came in the firing, Ensign Darrin blew a signal on his whistle.

In response, two marines came sprinting to the spot.
"Take this wounded man to the launch," Darrin ordered.
"Corporal Ross hopes, sir, you'll soon give him leave to turn the machine gun loose," one of the marines suggested respectfully.
"I'll give the order as soon as the time comes," Darrin promised.
"Tell Corporal Ross that one flash from my pocket lamp will mean 'open fire,' and that two flashes will mean 'cease firing.' "Very good, sir." The wounded man was borne away.