The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-03

inspecting some newly painted stripes
around the tall smoke stacks.
Catch him. Steve" called Mr.. Baird
III learn him where to- drop things.
Steve held the boy, despite his strug-
giles. Steve was one of the mates and
prided himself on his strength and vivid
vocabulary. He laughed loudly while
the pilot administered several vigorous
cuffs that sent Fred Keeling back into the
pilot house.
Grab that wheel" roared the master
Fetch her round. If the river was low
we'd been aground. Then you would a
caught fits
caught the wheel, swung the boat to
her course and gioomily stared straight
ahead.
Look here, kid added Mr.. Baird.
wiping his smooth bald place, what dye
mean by such impudence?'
I thought you was Mr.. Rawley. In
deed ! did, sir
Well. if Steve doesn't lick you, it is all
the more reason l should give you an
other dose. ! never saw cub that WASH
I'll even We up. for the mate as well S
myself. Lay aft there ana climo that
monkey brace. Time you're spent an
hour up there you'll have more respect
for your betters.
Fred hesitated. a blow from a wheel
rope admonished him that delay was
dangerous. He went back TO the stacks
and began TO climb the iron shroudS
leading TO the great gilded letters OF the
boats name suspended high up between
the tall chimneys. Just above TINS was
the monkey brace, and there ne must
cling as best he could 30 feet above the
deck until his master should order him
down.
Baird watched the cub from the wheel;
Mate Rawley had gone away, =. + d red
held to the iron rods of the brace tire
some and dangerous berth at pest
Clouds of black smokes occasionally en-
arlfsF had
and the shivering jar OF the whole fabric
made him dizzy. He frankly wished MIN
self back at his home in Cairo; where ms
dear mother. he knew, was sun woIIyl ,l,e,
over the perils and hardships OF hef sun
self-chosen vocation.
The night fell quickly. a yellow maze
surrounded the steamboat. though ever
thing beyond was blotted from slght.
t'red saw a waiter go into the pilot
house with Baird's supper. The otner
pilot was i'll and the boys master was
going to remain on duty evidently. f ,ol
felt hungry. Was he to so supperiess
as an additional punishment?
Already he had found the glamor at
taching to the river life was largely I'M
aginary Lads on shore are apt 10 De
foolish where boats and water were con.
cerned He found that on board the pliot
is a despot and his apprentice helpI '.s:,
slave. If the master was Soou temper gu
the slavery was lighter. But the maSte!
was not always kind and CUBS were oltSA
michievous At present Fred heartli3
wished he had never seen MI. balro ..
the Belle St. Louis. -. -.
smoke half smothered him and at last
he resolved he would remain up llelS
no longer. no matter what happeilsSu
He slipped softly down the shFouuS
while the pilots back was turned ana r2i
down the back stairway towards ta'
stewards pantry. He might pc apIe ~
obtain something 10 ear anu " III "a
at his perch before his absence was as
covered. ,.,. o,+o-.
bales. Surely deck hands were sieeplhe
here and there in odd corners: An en-
gineer was nodding in the engine room com.
another was oiling up the machinery
Fred ran into the steward room anu
seized the first eatables handy. -, ho,
I'm half starved, Neb, SAID tlie poS
TO n solitary waiter who was present.
.Old Baird has had me on the nl 4. NY
brace until l just could not staho 1t any
longer. 80 sbo, re-
turned Neb. sympatheticaliy. Don you
want a cup of coffee? 1,ral
vanished. tucking cold biscuit and han
into his pocket, and eating eagerly INC
" The The boy reached the upper deck safely,
flashed suddenly in his face and bal 1,a
stepped from behind one Oh the 9iiioiAe
Down without orders. Ell? Thought I'll 4
missed ye. Just step inslue mere VIZ
as As the boy was pushed into the pilot
house. Mr. Baird took a rattan WaIhlils
stick from corner. He had iasheo INC
". !Been eating. eh?v he queried. who
told YOU to come down.
Before Fred could reply the pli0t pes 81
Gaming the cub. Fred lodged. Inc piios
seized him by the collar. The cub yeIleo
and struggled so hard that Balrd, lossIS
all control of himself, struck the poy VIII WIZ
his fist. Meanwhile the flashing OIL the
wheel began to loosen and the ooas
surIne slowly from her course. Ihe en-
raped master pushed Fred against tne
Irj9eeI choked him with one hand ana De-
labored him with the other
THE SNAG.
Al this iuncture a violent shock threw
both man and boy to the MOOR anu GoI-
nleted the unlashing of the wheel. ihen
Zane a grating. tearing sound from below
that ran the length of the steamer Dol
tom. The wheel made a violent reVoiu-
lion some of the spokes striking MI
Raird on the head with great force, peat
him down upon Fred's PROSTATE pocy,
where he lay seemingly senseieSs; "A
chorus OF cries rang out from the decks
and cabins. - s ,,
Were sinking. All handS MAKE leauy
to launch the boats
Fred managed to regain MS Ieet. Inc
panic below increased. Men rushed up
and down the ladders. The boy heard
them launching the different boats that
had lain bottom upwards along the side.
Among the few passengers were several
women and children. When the cub ran
out of the pilot house the steamboat was