Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-10-19

AOOhGQ dI lie Qldt O1 TIC lOAC61 oPhs ~
still pointed as it had for the last hour.
The elder man answered his inQuisitive
glance with a low, Il don't know what
the deck means"
Before another word was said, there
came slow, sucking lift; the Amphion
rolled over till the lanters dimmed. She
recovered with surge, and as the chief
engineer wrenched the steam valve shut,
the plates beneath their feet bulged up
ward. A moment Of tense stra1ning III
the stilled machinery, and then, as If
freed from some elastic bond, the steam
er leaped forward again There was the
sharp clang of a door, and stoker
pushed his sweaty face above the graf
ing with cry. But the old engineer
threw the steam into the cylinders again,
and the engines throbbed in response
THE propellor's still there" he cried,
shutting off steam once more.
The third assistant was gazing at the
telegraph dial The Indicator had not
moved With an oath he snatched a
pair of nippers from the rack and thrust
the claws up into the wires behind the
face. Then he turned in blazing trf-
umph to his superior. He shant put
her over at half speed now" he shouted,
''and then tell the inspectors that it was
US that kept her driving.
Before the words were well out of his
mouth. jolt threw them to the plates,
and as they scrambled UP again tn.
Amphion seem to crumple up under
them Then with the screeching of
riven plates and drawing rivets, the
steamer settled on the reef. A breaker
flung itself in thunder against the side,
and the spray fell like rain through the
skylight. The sharp clang of the gong
filed the engine-room. That was the
half-speed BELL" said the chief, DULY,
in the lulI that followed the rafting
boom. His assistant, while the awak-
ened engineers of the other watches
peered curiously through the darkness
with eyes still heavy from sleep, caught
up a lantern that was still burning, and
threw its beam on the dial Of the tele-
graph, 1t still pointed to full speed
ahead "I knew he'd try it, and fooled
him!" he cried.
In the turmoil that followed, while
lstoker and oiler and engineer fed from
the water bubbling waist high, the chief
| gathered up his own log-book, and care
fully tore it up. The fragments he cast
on the foamy brine that rose about his
engines. 81 amt going to fight unfair"
| he muttered.
| On the bridge of the wrecked Amphion
| the crew huddled cheerlessly. The slow
| streaming seas that emerged from the
| fog and night to windward broke heavily
| on the submerged hull, and the spume
| ran in rivers from mast and stanchion.
81 had the engine-room telegraph at halt
speed" sahl the captain, whitefaced
"and I've got it down in the log that we
slowed down as soon as we got into the
! fog. l guess thatll satisfy the inspectors
that I've done all right, and we'd not ha'
run out of our course unless the engine
room had disobeyed orders and kept her
| full speed"
The third assistant pushed forward
| and stared at the captain with open
mouth Then he shook his fist, wildly.
THAT amt so,'' he bawled Il knew yer
tricks! l got witness down below! Ye
don't lose me my papers that way! Any
body with two grains of sense 'ull know
this old hooker couldn't pile up this
high on any half speed. tell We, We don't
lose me my papers!" He turned round to
his fellows of the enginee-room. What
does the telegraph down there read?"
he yelled
The old engineer. rubbing between his
palms the omnipresent badge of his au-
thority a bit OF cotton waste, gazed al
the pallid master of the wreck. and
shared his shame. With a gesture he
silenced his shrieking men. and bullied
the third mate with his eyes. Il was on
watch tonight with my assistant" he
commenced, harshly. Il am responsible
for this. I've lost my engine-roOm log
but it was my orders that kept her driv'
ing. 1t was all my doings, and guess
I'm old enough to stand by it. To he'll
with the rules of the road, Let's play
this fair.
But" began the third assistant witt
a cry.
Shut up!" beloved his chief
The yellow lanters on the tilted bridg'
fiickered in the wind. but their unstead,
flames were not more wavering thar
the eyes of the captain. 81 put her owe
to half speed" he said. shrilly, layin:
his wet hand on the brass, but /
mightn't have registered in the engine
room. You see"
We must play fair" interrupted tn
chief engineer. loudly. The men crowde
: closer about him, their oilskins rustlin
in the darkness 1--WE must play fair,
said the old man, glibly, "The Amphion'
!, | piled up here, and some ones got to los
his papers. amt been friendly with tn
skipper, and / just naturally kept he
:, driving. boys It's my fault my faul
boys. and guess I'm UP against it. Tina
telegraph says half speed, and | keI
her full speed. contrary to orders"
The young skipper turned away hi
. face and picked up lantern thatswun
: steaming from the rail- Raising Il uD h