Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29

with that easy heart which skipper only
knows on the high seas.
Suddenly he turned to look sharply at
his companions, whose eyes were fixed on
the fog bank which was now looming high
above the bows. There were stars above
them but no moon would be up for another
three hours. Dixon seemed about to say
something, but changed his mind. He raised
his hands to the ear flaps of his sou-wester
and. loosening the strings under his chin,
pushed the flannel lappets up within the
cap. The second officer wore the ordinary
seafaring cap, known as cheese-cutter.
He was much too anxious a man to cover
his ears even in clear weather, and said
with his nervous laugh that the color did
not come out of his hair if any one sug
geSted that the warmer headgear would
protect him from rain and spray.
Dixon stepped nearer to his companion
and they stood side by side looking into
the fogbank, which was now upon them.
ANY dogs on board?" he asked casually.
"No-why do you ask?
Thought L heard a little bell; such
thing as lady's lapdog wears round it's
neck on ribbon.
The second officer turned and glanced
sharply up at the captain, who, however,
made no further comment, and seemed to
be thinking of something else.
Couldn't have been a bell-buoy, I sup
pose?" he suggested with a tentative laugh
as he pushed his cap upwards away from
his ears.
mo bell-buoys out here" replied the cap
tain rather sharply with his usual self
confidence.
They stood side by side in silence for five
minutes or more The mist little
thinner now and Captain Dixon looked up
ward to the sky hoping to see the stars.
He was looking up when the steamer struck
and the shock threw him against the after
rail of the bridge. The second officer was
thrown down and struggled for instant
before getting to his feet again.
God Almighty he said, and that was
all.
Captain Dixon was already at the engine
room telegraph wrenching the pointer round
to full speed ahead. The quartermaster on
watch was a his side in moment and sew
eral men in shining oilskins swarmed up the
ladder to the bridge for their orders
The Grandhaven was quite still now but
trembling like a horse that had stumbled
badly and recovered itself with dripping
knees. Already the seas were beating the
bluff sides of the great vessel, throwing
pyramids of spray high above the tunnels.
Captain Dixon grabbed the nearest man
by the arm.
Mr.. Stoke to take charge. Tell him it's
the ManaCles.
There seemed to be no danger; for the
ship quite steady with level decks.
Turning TO another quartermaster Dixon
gave further orders clearly and concisey.
Keep her at that" he said to the sec
ond officer, indicating the dial of the engine
room.
SI1S where you are ne SIIOuteu 10 tHt
two steersmen who were preparing to quit
the wheelhouse.
If Capt Dixon had never made a mistake
in seamanship he must have thought the
possibilities of this mistake out IN all their
bearings For the situation was quite clear
and compact in his mind. The orders he
gave came in their proper sequence and
were given to the right men.
From the decks beneath arose q confused
murmur like the stirring of bees in an over
turned hive. Then a sharp order in one
voice, clear and strong, followed by a dead
silence.
Good said the captain, Stoke has got
EN- in hand
He broke off and looked sharply fore and
aft and up above him at the towering fun
mel.
she is heeling.' he said "Martin-she's
heeling"
The ship was slowly turning on her side
like some huge and stricken dumb animal
laying itself down to die.
Yes, said the captain with a bitter
laugh TO the two steersmen VINO had come
second time TO the threshold Of the wheel
house. "Yes-you can CO.
He turned to the engine room telegra PHI
and rang the stand by" But there was no
answer. The engineers had come on de elk
She's got to co., said Martin the second
officer. deliberately.
You had better follow them" replied the
captain with jerk of the head toward the
ladder down which the two steersmen had
disappeared.
Go, be id" said Martin MY place is
here. There was no nervousness about
the man now.
The murmrr on the decks had suddenly