The Princeton union., 1891-10-08

that was not a laborer. I was grace
less enough to growl out my spleen
and reassert that was no stoWaWay
which thegood doctor did not under.
| stand.
| turned to the assistant engineer,
who stood by, and asked him to give
me q Job OF which I might be capable.
Thrusting his hands in his pockets,
he walked off with command to s.try
him at oiling."
Ed B, the head oiler--dear,
brave heart-I often 60 down to the
dock to see him when in port here;
but the engine is as dear to him as a
bride, or would long ago have
bettered his fortune-he took me in
! hand.
We walked along those mere bird
cages OF stairways and platforms a
labyrinth OF passages in a forest OF
steel arms, wheels, shafting, and steam
piping. To a landsman-a young
physician now-that endless mass OF
mighty anatomy is at first simply
awful. 1t sobers one-this sullen,
ceasless throb OF the monsters heart,
the deep breathing Of the steam chests,
the sigh OF the creatures spirit as the
plstons make one move and yet one
more herculean thrust turning the
crank shaft.
Each time, as the piston slowly
starts, it seems as if it must be the
last, and infinite fatigue prevail. But
no, it goes on, night and day, motion,
motion, motion. Don't let me tire
you, reader, but I do wish Icould
express to you something OF the
solemn impression that began to
seize upon me crawling like fly after
Ed, the oiler. Then the hiss, the
scream, the little sighs and means of
here and there a jet of truant steam,
| almost human sounds, issuing from
the jungle OF polished STEEL
'She's a tiger she isl" cried Ed.
| ''Look out!"
heard that kind of exclamation
frequently as we went our rounds
There were others doing the same
| work, but became chosen attend
ant of my cat-like friend. He had q
sprained elbow and I helped him pro-
fessionally. He got my story. We
were intimate in two or three days,
and record it with honest satisfac-
tion, for Ed B-was a genuine man.
1t was one day off the Banks that
| we stopped. The chief got a notion
that the shaft was not sound, and the
next voyage it proved so, for a hair
| line around that polished arm of
power turned out an incipient fracture.
But it was on investigation decided
this voyage that there was nothing
wrong. Still, there we lay on the
breast OF the sWells for more than two
hours. Ed came to me and said
"Now she's still the second engineer
thinks we might go into the pits and
| clean out the waste and oil puddles.
don't like 1T, doctor, when she's got
steam on. What if she turned her
crank, eh?"
The brave boy went jumping down,
however, down, down, till he stood
directly under that massive crank,
which had stopped at the half-turn
| over his head.
The reader will understand that the
space allowed for the crank to make
the full circuit round below was only
sufficient for THERON to sweep through.
Into that now empty space Ed was
preparing to step. 1t was as dark as
q grave and about graves dimen-
sions. l held the torch above his
head. Men working by torchlight in
that place resemble imps. We were
good-natured imps, however, and,
though very cautious, were chatting
cheerfully enough.
II never like this job at sea-" re-
sumed Ed, ''nor any time, except
when the last pound o. steam is out
OF her two or three days at dock"
"But the engineer knows we are
here" I replied. .- .. ..-..
eyes, he ordered me down, and
there's no need of it-and he DON like
me-" Ed got off between his breath,
bending to his perilous work in the
pit,
Heavens, mani" I exploded, catch
ing at what thought was his mean
ing. "That would be murder!''
''Hush, doctor! Not that, not that:
But if had refused to come, as he
thought I would, don't you see he
could break me-that is, discharge me
when we get into New York"
A few minutes later Ed sent me aloft
~ NA1 O<ACA c1 AAop VI COOCOu w VI.
l was to hurry, for we knew not what
minute the captain might 60 ahead.
| remember had secured the waste,
[ was picking my way along the enig-
ma Of little ladders and platforms.
Far below, through the shadows flung
from occasional gas jets, the sleeping
monster, like nickel-plated spider,
lay prone, and l seemed to be explor-
ing the viscera like some daring path
ologlst. Away below me, in the light
OF his torch, Ed reminded me OF a
microbe. .l
Suddenly the gong struck from the
pilot house. God help me, can hear
it yet! ..~
l was near the engineers landing.
Quick as a flash | was on the engineer,
and like a tiger I caught at the wheel
which hs was turning to let on steam.
mani" l yelled, "you haven struck
your own warning all clear BIS
in the crank pitp'' \, 4.
But was too late. She gave one
turn, at least. Then the scoundrel or
fool, / don't know which, yielded to
me and we stopped her But such a
cry as came echoing up from the very