Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-20


ing oil, and thoroughly enjoyed himself;
though whent the moment of, trial came, and
his thews and energies vera wanted for the
saving Of human. Hfe,' he quickly showed
that this Capua had in no way Slapped his
efficiency. -a-.- .. $500
The steamer had. as has been said car
ried foul weather with her all the way
across the Atlantic from the River Platte,
as though it Were a curse inflicted for the
cruelty of her stevedores. The crew for
got what it was like to wear dry clothes
the after guard lived in state of bone
WEAKNESS A harder captain would have
still contriyed to keep them up to the
mark: but the man who was in supreme
command feeble and undecided, and
there is doubt that vigilance was dan
gerously siackened.
fog, too, which came down to cover
the sea, stopped out all view of the sun,
and compelled them for three days to de-
pend on dead reckoning; and (after the
EVENT. it was said a strong current set the
steamer unduly to the westward.
Anyway, be the cause what it may, Ket-
tie was pitched violently out of his bunk
in the deep of one night. just after two
bells, and from the symptoms which loudly
advertised themselves, it required no eX-
pert knowledge to tell that the. vessel was
beating her bottom out on rocks to the
accompaniment Of murderously heavy
sea. The engines stopped, steam began to
blow off noisily from the escapes, and what
with that and the cries of men and the
ciashing of seas and the beating of iron
ana the beast cries from the cattle decks
the din was almost enough to split the
ear. And then the steam siren burst out
into one vast below of pain, which drown
ed all the other noises as though they had
been children'S whispers
Kettle slid on coat and trousers over his
pajamas, and went and thumped at a door
at the other side of the aiieyway.
Miss Carnegie?'
Yes" s-l
Dress quickly"
Il dressing. captain"
Get finished with 1t. and then wait I'll
come for you when it's time
1t is all very well to be cool on these
occasions, but sometimes the race is to
the prompt. Captain Kettle made his way
up on deck against green avalanche of
water, which was cascading down the COM
panionway. No shore was in sight, the
ship had backed off after she had struck
and was now rolling heavily in a deep
trough. She was low in the water, and
! every second wave swept her.
No one seemed to be in command. A dim
light showed Kettle one lifeboat wrecked
in davits, and disorderly mob of men try
ing to lower the other. But some enc let
go the stern fall so that the boat shot
down perpendicuiariy, and the next wave
smashed the lower half Of ii into spIinters
The frenzied crowd left it to try the port
quarter boat, and Kettle raced them across
the streaming decks, and got just to the
davits. He plucked a greenheart Delaying
pin from the rail- and laid about him
vic;ously. 20 -
BACK, you scum, ne shouted, get back
or I'll smash in, leveEY face among you.
Good Lord. isn't therrffn mate or a man
left on this Sinking farpyard. Am to keep
off all this two-legged cattle by myself"
They fought on. the black water swirl
ing waist deep among them with every roll
the siren believing for help overhead, and
the ship sinking under their feet; and
81 adually. with the frsnzy of despair, tho
men drove Kettle BACK against the rail
| while others of them cast off the falls Of
the quarter boats tackles preparatory to
letting her drop But then out of the
darkness up cams McTedd and the steam
er's mate, both shrewd hitters, and men
not afraid to use their skill, and once
! more the tables were turned
and swamped; this boat was the only one
fe aNow. Mac" ssid kettle, help the mate
take charge and murder every one that in
terferes Get the boat in the water and
| fend off I'll be off below and fetch up
in it. The old box hasn't much longer to
| swim. Take the lady ashore and see she
comes to no harm.
80, ay," said McTodd "and wen keep
seat for yarser. skipper"
you needn't bother" said Kettle. IT
take no mans place. in this sort of tea
party" He splaSIed of across the stream
| ing decks, and found the cattle boats cap
tain sheltering under the lee of the COM
panion wringing his hands. "Out, you
bIitherer" he shouted. land save your
| NANCY life. Your ships gone now; you
| can't play hash with her any more" After
which pleasant speech he worked his way
below half swimming, half wading, and
| once more beat against Miss Carnegie's
| door. Even In this moment of extremity
he did not dream Of going in unasked
She came out to him In the haff-ewampsd