The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-03

cortolvin came out under the bridge
deck awning. up through the baking
heat of the companionway, and dropped
Tstlessly into IA deck chair. He was
dressed in slop-chest pajamas of a viva
pattern. and had Il newly shaven ch'h'
which stood out refreshingly white u
painst the rest of his sun-darkencd coun-
tenance.
"Well." said Capt. Kettle, as he showed
across the box of cheroots, ARE we any
nearer getting under wayT
81 looked in at the engine room as
came past.' said the tall man with
laugh, "and the chief had good deal 10
sew | gathered it was his idea that the
fellow who last had charge OF those en-
gines ought to die cruel and lingering
death"
.It's sore point with McTodd when
she breaks down. But did he say now
long it would be before he could give
her steam again? I'm bit anxious.
The glass is tumbling, hand over hst'
and what with that, and this hea..
there's small doubt but what we'll maze
a tornado Gathering about our ears 81
rectly. There's the shore close aboard.
AS YOU can see for yourself, and II the
wind comes away anywhere from the
BASTARD, it'll blow this old steamboat
halfway into the middle of Africa be-
fore we can look around us. It's bad
season just now for tornadoes."
The gathering Of iron boot-plates
made itself heard on the brass bound
steps of the companionway. IhatH
he the chief coming to answer Tor him.
SELF" said Cortolvin.
Mr.. Neil Angus McTodd always adj
4. ~ hn
outward man, and the eye Of an expert
could tell with sureness at any given
moment whether Mr.. McTodd was in
employment or not, and If so what type
of steamboat he was on, what was his
official position, what was his pay, and
what was the last bit of work on which
he had been employed. The present
wos the fourth occasion on which the
Saigon's machinery had chosen to break
down during Capt. Kettles two months
Of command. and after his herculean
efforts in making repairs with INSULT
Gent staff and materials. Mr.. McIodd
was unpleasant both to look upon and
associate with. He was attired in1moist
black boots. gray flannel pajama' trou-
sers stuffed into his socks, a weirL gar
ment of flannel upon his upper man,
clout round his neck, and a peaked cap
upon his griZzled red hair anointed with
years of spraying oil. his elbows and
his forehead shone like dull mirrors OF
steel. and he carried one OF his thumbs
wrapped up in a grimy crimson rag.
His conversation was full Of unneces-
sary adiectives. and he was inclined 10
take a cantankerous view OF the UNI
verse. They'd disgrace the scrap-heap,
of any decent yard, would the things
they miscall engines on this rotten tub,
said he by way of preface.
"They are holy engines, and fhafs II
fact" said Kettle. SLOW long can you
guarantee them for this timer"
The engineer mopped his neck with
wad of cotton waste. 'Ten revolutions,
IL We wish me to be certain. It's
varra dry ship, this
"And how many more? We shall want
them. There's a tornado coming on"
"Im mo- anxious to perjure myself
captain, but they might run on for Full
minute, or they might run on for day.
There's a capreciousness about the rat
tle-traps that might amuse some peo-
pie, but it does not appeal to me. I'm
in fear of my l;fe every minute / stand
on the foot plate"
'I'd not have taken you for fright
cned man."
sIm not that as usual thing, but
the temperature of yon engine room
varies between 120 and $50 degrees o.
the Fahrenheit scale, and it's destroying
to the nerves. All the aqueous vapor
leaves the system and I'm vera badly
in need of tonic. Is yon whisky in the
black bottle, captainT
s'Take peg, Mac"
"Pll just have a sma' three fingers
now We mention it." He laid the thick
est part of his knotty knuckles against
the side Of the tumbler and poured out
some half gill of spirits. 'Well," said
he, 'may we get as good whusky where
we're going to-" and enveloped the dose
with dexterous turn of the wrist. AT
lips with cotton waste, and took himself
off again to the baking regions below;
and presently a dull rumhling and
tremor of her fabric announced that the
Saigon was once more under way.
The little steamer had coaled at Pc
rim island in the southern mouth Of tho
Red sea, had come out into the Indian
ocean through the straits of Bah el
Mandeb. had rounded cape Guardafui,
and was ON her way down to Zanzibar
in response to the cabled orders Of her
Parsee owners in Bombay. Cortolvin
was still on hoard as passenger. HIS ex-
cuse was that he wanted to inspect the
island and city of Zanzibar before re-
turning to England and responsibility:
his real reason was that he had taken
a fancy to the little ruffian of a skipper
and wished to see more of him.
Cheerful toast, that of McTodd,"
said Cortolyin.
Those engines are enough to discour-
age any man." said Kettle, "and lie
heat down there would sour the temuer
of an archangel."
Cortolyin loosened a couple of buttons
of his pajamas and barred his chest. "It's
hard to breathe even here, and | thought
I'd learned what heat was in those Ara
bian deserts. There's a tornado COM
ing on, that's certain"
at will clear the air." said Kettle.
"But it will be a sneezer when we ger
it. Mr.. Murgatroyd." he called.
The old grizzle-headed mate thrust
down a purple face from the head of the
upper bridge ladder, AYE, ayeP'
HGnf oil tho off he