The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-01-10


into the Atlantic had moderated, GER
tainly. though there was still consid-
cradle breeze blowing, but the sea was
running as high as ever, and all Cap
tain Kettles skill was required to pre-
vent the boat from being incontinently
swamped. McTodd and the two Por-
tuguese bailed necessarily, but the
boat was always half waterlogged.
In fact, from constitutional defects
she had made very wet weather Of it
all through the blow.
It was the part Of the steamer to have i
borne down and given the lifeboat
lee In 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 a wallowing cir
Gle, got to windward and distributed a
smell of farmyard over the rugged fur
rows Of ocean and then lost her place
again before she could drift down and
give the smaller craft shelter. Thrce
times did the crew of the lifeboat, with
maritime point and fiuency, curse the
incompetence Of the rust streaked
steamer and all her complement
by James," said Kettle savagely,
after the third attempt fare they all
farmers on that ship? I've had an
idiot steward that knew more about
handling vessel"
"She's an English ship" said Nc
Todd, land delicate. They're nursing
her in the engine room. Look at the
way they throttle her down when she
races"
"The fools on her upper bridge are
enough for me to look at" Kettle re-
torted. "Why didn't they put 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 I'd beat back for the
Canaries as we are and keep clear Of
that tin farmyard for bare safety's
sake"
I'VE haven't crumb or drink left, y
said the engineer, "and I'd not recon-
mend this present form Of conveyance
to the insurance companies"
A wave 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 no
the kind Of navigation l admire"
Meanwhile the clumsy tramp steam
er had gone round in Jagged circle OF
miles diameter and was climbing
back to position again over the hill'
and dales Of ocean. She rolled, ant
she pitched, and she wallowed among
the seas, and to the lay mind sh'
would have seemed helplessness per
sonified. But to the expert eye sh
showed defects in her handling witt
every sheer she took among the angr,
waste Of waters.
"Old man and the mates must b
staying down below out Of the wet,
said Kettle contemptuously as he gaz
ed. Looks as if they've left some sol
of cheap Dutch quartermaster on th
upper bridge to run her. Don't tell N
there's an officer holding an Englis
ticket in command of that steame
They aren't going to miss us this tim
though If they know it."
Looks like as If they were going
soss down slap on top Of us" said M
Todd and set to taking of his coat an
boots.
But the cattle steamer, If not ski
fully handled, at any rate this time hf
more luck. She worked her way
windward again and then fell on in
the trough, squattering down almo
out Of sight one minute, and, In fa'
showing little of herself except
couple of stumpy, untidy masts and
brine washed smokestack above t.
seascape, and, being heaved up Gle
almost the next second, a picture
rust streaks and yellow spouting scu
pers.
Both craft drifted to leeward befo
the wind, but the steamer offered me
surface and moved the quicker, whl
was the object Of the maneuver.
seemed to those in the lifeboat u
they were not going to be missed u
time, and SO they lowered away tn
sodden canvas, shipped the tholepi
and got out their oars. The two for
guese firemen did not assist al III
preferring to sit in semidazed con
zion ON the wet floor gratings, but a
Todd and Kettle thumped them ap<
the head, after the time honored G
tom, till they turned to, and 30 pr
emily the lifeboat, under three stra
ing oars, was holding up toward
would be deliverer.
A man on the cattleboats upl
bridge was exhibiting himself as
very model of nervous incapacity,
two, at any rate, Of the castaways
the lifeboat were watching him W
grim scorn.
keeping them on the dance IN
engine room, isn't he?" said McIo
Hes rung that telegraph bell 10
ferent ways this last minute"
'That man isn't fit to skipper a
thing that hasn't got tow rope m
fast ahead" said Kettle contemptue
ly. HE hasn't the erveof pount
putty"
"I'm thinking we shall lose the b.
They'll never get her aboard In
piece"
III we get among their COW