The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-11-06
THE ACT OF GOD.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TIYlJTYNllY!JIYyJ
by JOHN FLEMING WILSON.

VEARS ago, before the jetty
: l stretched its lonely length across
the shoals of ClItsop Spit, and before
Lightship No. 50 swung its glare over
the homing waves, small, ill-found
steam-schooner was beating up into
the hor'wester, preparatory to scud-
ding into the Columbia river. The
afternoon darkened fast, and the
skipper was taking look at the bar
In an attempt to satisfy himself that
he could make harbor before the
night. His observations were not
rcassuring: from his low elevation
he caught the CLEAN of huge
combers racing from North Head
to the low lands of the Spit;
the bar was rough and consequently
dangerous.
He closed the spyglass with snap
and walked forward to the door of
the little engine room. "Jim," he
shouted, shut your hampers. Wen
lie off outside tonight"
Apparently unanswered, he went
aft again and scowled at the man
at the wheel. The latter returned
his scowl by surly look and jerked
the wheel over q spoke.
mind your eye" said the skipper
threateningly.
II can't do better with craft down
by the head" retorted the sailor
GROSSLY.
"Clumsy!" roared his superior, and
disappeared within the cabin.
Presently a grimy face followed by
a lank body emerged from the en-
gine room. The newcomer viewed
the situation from under the pent
of his greasy cap and turned to the
wheelman. I'm sick O. this" he
said; "ain't you?"
you're right. am sick of It,.
The old man is the worst | ever saw.
He drives, drives, and he don't get
anywhere with it all. But what in
thunder can we do?"
I'm going to tell him right now,"
continued the engineer, that I've no
mind to stew below decks all day
fussing with his tin-pot machine,
handling his dirty slab-wood, and then
be turned out to pull-haul the whole
night. It's going to be dirty weather,
too"
The winds backin'," growlcd the
sailor.
$50 | reckoned. It's going to be a
nasty night; and we could be inside
the bar in two hours"
"The old man was iust now looking
at the bar. Reckon it's rough, or he'd
go in
"Not much. He owns this tub and
he isn't going to risk her except in
daylight, even if it does mean you and
me working double tides" The en-
gineer frowned blackly and shook
dirty fist at the captains closed
door. The other member of the crew,
a small, scantily-clad boy, came by
with a pot of coffee. Its SAVIOR
mounted to the nostrils of both men
and did not mollify their temper.
"The boy there he treats like n dog
worse than n dog" continued the
engineer with fresh rancor, land he's
not fit for stand-up work like this"
"True enough" responded the
sailor, "but I'm sorry for myself.
I've been at this bally wheel since
sun-up, and the old mans got her
down by the head SOS she steers
like lleg of nails"
Their sense of injury did not grow
less by discussion, and it was not
long till the engineer asserted that
he was going ito knock Off" The
sailor ruminated awhile, with his
gaze fixed upon his superior. II am
going to quit" said the latter
peevishly.
The sailor passed lashing around
the wheel. When this was fast he
slouchcd forward, saying simply: I'm
with you"
The engines, which had not been
stopped. were working slowly and
more slowly as the steam pressure
went down. No sail was abroad eX'
cept u head sail, and now that the
wheel was abandoned, the Katie fell
off and lurched heavily against a
sea.
Here, you" shouted the captain,
tumbling on deck, mind your
He ceased abruptly when he saw
the wheel lashed, and left to its own
devices. Instantly he ran forward
still clutching the coffee cup. When
he came around the corner of the
deck-house, he ran upon the two Inu-