Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-09-15

The mate, with coil of rope in
his hand, rushed to the side, but his
benevolent efforts were frustrated by
the engineer, who, seeing the boats
head making straight for him, saved
his life BY an opportune dive. The
steamer rushed by.
Turn 'cr ag'in," screamed the
mate. The captain was already do
ing 50, and in q remarkably short
space of time the boat, which had de-
scribed a complete circle, was max
ing again for the engineer.
Lock out for the line" sh u.ed
tie mate warningly.
:" | don't want your line; yelled
the engineer. I'm goin' ashore
"Come aboard p shouted the cap
tain, imploringly, as they swept past
again. "We can't manage the en-
gines.'
"Put her round again." said the
mate. I'll 60 for him with the boat.
Haul her in, boy !"
| The boat, which was dragging
astern, was hauled close, and the
mate tumbled into her, followed by
the boy just as the captain was in
the middle of another circle, to the
intense indignation of crowd of
shipping, large and small, which was
trying to get By.
| Ahoyl" yelled the master of
tug which was towing a large ship.
"Take that steam roundabout out
of the way. What the thunder are
you doing?"
Picking up my engineer" re-
piled the captain, as he steamed right
across the others bows and nearly
ran down a sailing barge, the skip
per of which, Salvation Army man
was nobly fighting with his feel
ings.
Why don't you stop ?" he yell
ed.
"Cos / can't" walled the skipper
of the Bulldog as he threaded his
way between a huge steamer and
schooner, who, in avoiding him, were
getting up little collision on their
own account.
Alloy, Bulldog, ahoy - called
the mate. "Stand by to pick us up.
We've got him."
The skipper smiled in an agonized
fashion as he shot past, holly pur-
sued by his boat.
The feeling on board of the other
craft as they got out of the way of
the Bulldog and nearly ran down
her boat, and then in avoiding that
nearly ran down something else can
not be put into plain English, but
several captains ventured into the
domains of the ornamental with
marked success.
"Shut off steam !" yelled the en-
gineer as the Bulldog went by again.
"Draw the fires then
"Who's going to steer while l
do it 2" beloved the skipper as he
left the wheel for few seconds to
try to get line to throw to them.
BY this time the commotion in the
river was terrible, and the captains
steering as he went on his round
again was something marvellous to
behold.
A strange lack of sympathy on
the part of brother CAPTAINS added
to his troubles.
Every craft he passed had some
thing to say to him, busy as they
were, and the remarks were as mon
otonous as they were insulting.
At last, just as he was resolved TO
run his boat straight down the river
until he came to halt for want of
steam, the mate caught the rope he
flung. and the Bulldog went down
the river with her boat made fast to
her stern.
"Come aboard you GU lunatic,"
he shouted.
"Not afore l knows 'ow l stand"
| said the engineer, who was now
beautifully sober and in full posses
sion of somewhat acute intellect.
"What do you mean?" demanded
the skipper.
al don't come aboard,' shouted
the engineer, "until you and the
mate and the boy all swear as you
won't say nothing about this little
game"
I'll report you the moment we
| get ashore roared the skipper. an
give you in charge for desertion.
| PHI"
With a supreme gesture the tngi-
neer prepared to dive, but the watch
full mate fell on his neck and trip
! ped him over seat.
"Come aboard" cried the skipper
aghast atsuch determination. "Come
aboard, and I'll give you licking
when we get ashore instead"
Honor bright 2" inquired the en-
gineer.
Honor bright" c..orused the
three.
The engineer, with all the honcrs
of war, came on board, and after re-
marking that he ielt chilly bathing
on an empty stomach, wentdown be-
| low and began to stoke.