The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-23


spars and blocks from the bottom and
sides of the ship. 1t was a days risky
work; but anything was better than
drowning at the end of a tow-rope;
and If the forward cylinder had fallen
it would have made its way to the sea
bed and taken the Haliotis after.
"Where are we going to and how
long will they tow us?" he asked of
the skipper.
God knows! and the s%ub-lieuten-
ants drunk. What do you think we
can do?"
"There's just the bare chance" Mr..
Wardrop whispered, though no n was
within hearing. There's just the
bare chance o. repairin' her If a man
knew how. They've twisted the very
CUTS out of her bringing her up with
thai jerk; but I'm saying that with
time and patience there's just the
chance o. making steam yet. We could
do it."
The shippers eyes frightened. DO
you mean" he began, that she is any
good?"
"Oh no." said Mr.. Wardrop. shell
need three thousand pounds in repairs
at the lowest If she's to take the sea
again, n that apart from any injury
to her structure. She's like a mar
fallen down five pair o stairs. We
can't tell for months what has hap
pened: and we know she'll v be
coed again with out n new inside. Ye
should see the %condensin' tubes an the
steam connections to the donkey for
two things only. I'm not afraid of
them repairin' her. I'm afraid of them
stealin' things"
They've fired on us. They'll have
to explain that"
Our r%eputation's not good enough
to ask for explanations. Let's take
what we have and be thankful. Ye
would not have consuls rememberin'
the Guidin' Light an the Shah-in-
Shah, and the Aglaia. at this most
alarmin' crisis. We've been no better
than pirates these ten years. Under
Providence we're no worse than thieves
now. We've much to be thankful FOR
If we ever get back to her."
Make 1t your own way. them" said
the skipper, "if there's the least
chance"
"I'l leave none." said Mr.. Wardrop.
none that they'll dare to take. Keep
her heavy on the tow, for we need
time"
The skipper never interfered with the
affairs Of the engine ROOM, and Mr..
Wardrop-an artist in his profession
turned to and composed a work, ter
rible and forbidding. His background
was the dark-grained sides of the en-
CINE room: his material the metals OF
power and strength, helped out with
spars, baulks and ropes. The manor
war towed sullenly and viciously. The
Haliotis behind her hummed like a
hive before swarming. With extra
and totally unneeded spars her crew
blocked up the space round the Tor
ward engine till 1t resembled a statue
in it's scaffolding and the butts of the
shores interfered with every view that
a dispassionate eye might wish to take.
And that the dispassionate mind might
be swiftly shaken out of it's calm, the
well-sunk bolts of the shores were
wrapped round untidily with loose ends
of Opes, giving a studied effect OF most
dangerous insecurity. Next Mr.. Ward
rop took W. q collection from the al
ter-engine, which, as you Will remem
Der, had not been affected in the gen
eral wreck. The cylinder escape-valVe
he abolished with 81 flogging-hammer.
1t is difficult in far-off ports to come by
such valves unless. like Mr.. Wardrop,
Won keen duplicates in store. At the
same time men took off the nuts OF two
of the great holding-down bolts that
serve to keen the engines In place on
their solid bed. Any engine violently
arrested in mid-career may jerk OH
the nut of n holding-down bolt, and
this accident looked very natural.
Passing along the tunnel he nov