The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-23

risk in bringing the lifebOat up along
side, but it must be granted that she
was very unhandy.
The gale that had blown them out
into the Atlantic had moderated, GER
tainly. though there was still Il consld-
cradle breeze blowing: but the sea was
running as high as ever. and all capt.
Kettles skill was required to prevent
the boat from being incontlnentIE
swamped. McIOdd and the two FOR
tuguese bailed necessarily. but the poa'
was always half Water-logged. IN 1act,
from constitutional defects. she had
made very wet weather Of it all through
the blow.
It was part of the steamer to have
Iornn down and given the lifeboat Il lee
i'm which She could have been more
readily handled. and three times. the
larger vessel made an attempt to DO
this, but without avail. Three times she
worked round in Il Wallowing circle. got
to windWard, and distributed a smell
Of farmyard over the rugged burrows of
ocean. and then lost her place again be
fore she could drift down and give the
smaller craft shelter. Three times did
the crew of the lifeboat. with maritime
point and %tiuency. curse the incompe-
tence Of the ruSt-streaked steamer and
all her complement.
by James, said Kettle. SaVagcly.
after the third attempt. ARE they ali
farmers ON that ship? I've had Il mig
ger steward that knew more about
handling Il vessel.
She's an English ship" said McTodd.
and delicate. They're nursing her in
The engine room. Look at the way they
throttle her down when she races
''Ihn fools ON hen. np1pI. hrilpp are
tuough for me To look at" Kettle re-
Jurted. why didn't they put a sailor
man aboard of her before she was
Kicked out of port: BY James. if we'd
a weeks water and victual with us in
the lifeboat here. Id beat back for the
CanarieS as We are and keep clear of
that tin %farmyard for bare safety,s
Sake." III
We haven't a crumb nor a drink
left said the engineer. land I'd not
recommend this present form of con-
Veyance To the insurance companies
y Wavc-top came up from the %tireless
gray sea and slapped green and cold
about his neck and shoulders. Gosh.
There comes more of the Atlantic to
bale back into place. Mon. this is moi
the kind Of navigation | admire"
Meanwhile the clumsy tramp steamer
had gone round in Il Jagged circle of 4
miles diameter and was climbing back
to position again over the hills and
dales of ocean. She rolled and she
pitched and she waIlowed amongst the
seas and to the lay mind she would
have seemed helPiessncss perSoniiied.
But To the expert eye she showed de
she took amongst the angry waste Of
waters. ...
"Old man and the mates must be
staying down below out of the Wet.
said Kettle. contemptuouSly. as he
@azed. Looks as if they've left some
sort of Il cheap Dutch quartermaster on
the upper bridge to run her. Don't tell
me there's an officer holding an English
ticket in command of that steamer.
They aren't going to miss us this time.
though. if they KNOW it
Looks like as if they Were going to
SosS down slap on top Of us. said Me
Todd. and set to taking off his coat and
boots.
But the cattle steamer if not skill
fully handled. ut any rate this time had
more luck. She worked her way to
Windward again. and then off into the
trough. squattering down almost out Of
sight one minute. and. in fact, showing
little OF herself except i couple of STUN
by. untidy maStS and Il brine-washed
smokestack above the sea Sc:ipc. and.
being heaved up clear almost the next
second. Il picture of rust streaked and
yellow spouting Scuppers.
Both crafts drifted to leeward before
the wind. but the steamer offered more
surface and moved the quicker. which
was the object of the maneuver. 1t
seemed to those in the lifeboat that
they We're not going to be missed this
time. and so they lowered away their
sodden canvas. shipped the tholepinS
and got out their oars. The two I'ortu-
gurse firemcn did not assist at first.
Irefcrrin@ to sit in Il semi-dazed condi-
tiun on the wet floor %gratingS. but Nc
Todd and Kettle thumped them about
The head, after the ~time-honored GUS
tom, till they turned to. and SO pres
entity the lifeboat. under three strain
ing oars. was holding up toward her
would be drliverrr.
y man on the cattle boats upper
bridge WIS exhibiting himself rs a very
motel "f nervous incapacity. and two,
nj amy rate. of the castawayS in the
Hleb"at were watching him with grim
Scorn.
"kceping them on the dance in the
engine room. isn't he" said McTodd.
Hes rung that telegraph bell L. differ
cht ways this last minute"
THAT man isn't fit to skipper any
thing that haSn't got Il tow rope made
last lhcad,' said Kettle contemptuous-
I|. lie hasn't the nerve of Il pound of
putty"
I'm thinking we shall lose the boat.
they'll never get her aboard III one
piece"
with our bare lives we shall be lucky.
hey re going to heavc us Il line. Stand
by to catch it quick"
The line was thrown and caught. The
cattl" steamer surgcd up over Il huge
rolling sea. showing her Jagged bilge
checks clear. and then she SQuclchcd
down again, dragging the lifcboat close
IN Il mnrdcrouS cuddle. which smashed