The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-05-10


about them ashore afterwa"d.
The secoud shave came from q big,
white painted Cape liner, which came
up from astern, lit like theattr. and
almost defying the very gale Itself
Her lookouts and officers were o3 the
watch for lights. But the unlit collier,
which was half her time masked by
the seas like half tide rock, never
struck their notice.
Kettle, with all his shipmasters
sturdy dislike for shifting his helm
when he legally had the right of road,
held on till the great knifelike bow
was not a score of yards from his taft
rail. But then he gave way, roared
out an order to the quartermaster at
the wheel and the Sultan of Labuan
fell away to port. AS if the coalboat
had been a magnet, the Cape liner fol-
lowed, drawing nearer hand over fist.
Changing direction further was as
dangerous as keeping on as he was, SO
Kettle bawled to the Quartermaster to
STEADY on that" and then the great
white steam hotel suddenly seemed to
wake to her danger and swerved off on
her old course again. So close were
they that Kettle fancied he could hear
the quick agitated rattle of her wheel
engines as they gave her "hard
down" helm. Ard he certainly saw Of
ficers on her high upper bridge end
peering at him through the drifting sea
smoke with curiosity that was more
than pleasant.
''Trying to pick out the old tubs
name," he unused grimly, 80 as to re-
port me for carrying no lights. By
James, 1 wish some of those dandy
passenger boat officers could try this
low down end of the tramping trade
for Bit
Night went and day came, gray and
wet and desolate. The heavier squalls
had passed away, but whole gale still
remained, and the sea was if anything
heavier. The coalboat rarely showed
all of herself at once above the water
Her progress was succession of dives,
her decoration, when she was visible, Il
fringe of spouting scuppers. Watch
had succeeded watch with the logged
patience of sailormen, but watch after
watch Kettle hung on behind the caa-
vas dodgers at the weather end of the
bridge. He was red eyed and white
checked, his torpedo beard was foul
with sea salt, he was unpleasant to
look upon, but he was undeniabiy very
much awake, and when the accident
came, which he concluded was Mr..
Gedge's effort to realize the coalboat's
insurance, he was quite ready to cope
with emergencies.
From somewhere in the bowels of the
explosion. The bridge sprang up be-
meath his feet so that he was very near
ly wrenched from his hold, and the iron
main deck, which at that moment hap
pened to be free of water, rippled and
heaved as a tin biscuit box moves when
it is kicked. There was a tinkle of
broken glass as some blown out sky
lights crashed back upon the deck.
He looked forward and he looked aft
and to his surprise saw that both
matches were still IN place and that
very little actual damage was visible,
and then he had his attention occupied
by another matter. From the stoke
hold, from the forecastle and from the
engine room the frightened crew pour
ed out into the open, and some scared
wretch cried out to CLOVER away Zem
boats"
Here was a situation that needed
dealing with at once, and Kettle was
the man to do it. From beneath his
oilskins he lugged out the revolver
which they knew so painfully already
and showed it with estentation. "By
James, he shouted, do you want to
be taught WHO'S captain here? I'll give
cheap lessons If you ask"
His words reached them above the
hootlng and brawl Of the gale, and
they were cowed into sullen obedience.
"Carpenter, take a couple of men, and
away below with you and see what's
broke. You blessed split trousered me-
chanics, away down to your engine
room or I'll come and kick you there.
The second mate and his watch get tar
paulins over those broken sIylights.
Where's Mr.. Murgatroyd9 In his bunk,
l suppose, as usual, Not his watch; no
affair. of his if the ships blown to
heaven when he's off duty. Here, you
steward, go and root out Mr.. Murga=
trOyd."
The men hustled about after their er-
rands, and the engines, which had stop
ped for minute, began to rumble on
again. Captain Kettle paraded the
swaying bridge and awaited develop
ments.
Presently a bareheaded steward
fought his way up the bridge ladder
against the tearing wind and bawled
out some startling news; "It's Mr., Muir
gatroyd's room that's been blown up,
sir; made q 'orrld mess of; Chips says
p picked up Is lighted pipe in the al
leyway, sir an it must "a been that
that fired the gas"
'The blamed old thick headv' said
Kettle savagely.
"'E was arskin for you, sir, was the
mate, though we couldn't rightly make
out what e said"
''He won't be pleased to see me.
Smoking, by James, was hep
"The mates burnt up, like a piece Of
COKE" said the steward persuasively.
"'E cawn't last long. It's a marvel
'ow 'e's alive at all, sir"
The earpenter game up on the bridge.
Dose blow up was not so bad for der
ole ship, sir. She nod got any plates
started dot I can SEQ nav hova dn.