The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-10-04

still pointed as IL 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 a slow, sucking lift; the Amphion
rolled over till the lanters dimmed. She
recovered with a surge. and as the chief
engineer wrenched the steam valve shut.
the plates beneath their feet bulged up
ward. A moment of tense straining In
the stilled machinery, and then, as If
freed from some elastic bond. the steam
er leaped forward again. There was the
sharp clang of n door. and a stoker
pushed his sweaty face above the graf
ing with a 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 OF 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 tri-
umph to his superior. He shan't put
her over at half speed now" he shouted,
land then tell the inspectors that 1t was
us that kept her driving.
Before the words were well out of his
mouth. a jolt threw them to the plates.
and as they scrambled up again the
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
| filled the engine-room. THAT was the
half-speed bell" said the chief. DULY
in the lull that followed the rattling
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. II still pointed to full speed
ahead II knew he'd try II, and fooled
him," he cried.
In the turmoil that followed, while
stoker and oiler and engineer fed from
the water bubbling waist high. the chic
gathered up his own log-book. and care
fully tore II up. The fragments he cas-
on the foamy brine that rose about hi!
engines. 81 amt going to fight unfair.
| he muttered.
1 On the bridge of the wrecked AmphioI
the crew huddled cheerlessly. The SLOW
streaming seas that emerged from th'
fog and night to windward broke heavil,
on the submerged hull, and the SPUN
ran In rivers from mast and stanchion
"I had the engine-room telegraph at hal
speed" said the captain. whitefaced
"and I've got II down In the log that W
slowed down as soon as we got into tn
fog. | guess that'll satisfy the inspector
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 he
full speed"
The third assistant pushed forwar
and stared at the captain with opel
mouth. Then he shook his fist, wildly
THAT aint So" he bawled. 81 knew ye
tricksi I got witness down below! Y
don't lose me my papers that way! Any
body with two grains of sense 'ull kno'
this old hooker couldn't pile up thi
high on any half speed. I tell ye, ye don
lose me my papersi" He turned round
5 his fellows OF the enginee-room. "Whu
does the telegraph down there read ?
he yelled.
. The old engineer. rubbing between hi
palms the omnipresent badge of his at
thority. a bit of cotton waste. gazed q
the pallid master of the wreck. an
shared his shame. With a gesture. b
pl silenced his shrieking men, and bullie
! the third mate with his eyes. Il was o
. watch tonight with my assistant" b
!. commenced, harshly. Il am responsible
e for this. I've lost my engine-room lo
but II was my orders that kept her dri'
ing. II was all my doings. and guei
9 I'm old enough to stand by 1t. To he
d with the rules OF the road, Let's pla
this fair.
n But" began the third assistant wit
a cry.
shut upi" beloved his chief.
The yellow lanters on the tilted bridl
fickered in the wind. but their unsteac
Ntit hOh AAu
the eyes of the captain. 81 put her ov
to half speed" he said. shrilly. layir
his wet hand on the brass. but
II mightn't have registered in the engin
S, room. You see"
Isl We must play fair" interrupted Il
e chief engineer. loudly. The men crowd'
closer about him, their oilskins rustlil
'' in the darkness. I'VE must play fair
y said the old man. glibly. THE AmphioI
IL piled up here. and some ones got to 10
N his papers. amt been friendly with q
IL skipper. and I just naturally kept h
ie driving. boys. It's my fault. my fau
10 boys. and guess I'm up against IT, Th
telegraph says half speed. and / Ike
lie her full speed. contrary to orders"
e. The young skipper turned away
d. face and picked up lantern that swu
'g steaming from the rail. Raising II up
n. scanned the faces that surrounded hi
ig Slowly the lantern fell with his arm.
threw out his hand and caught the lev
T. of the telegraph. With jerk he thr'
T. Il back and then forward to full spe
w ahead. The clang Of the bell came
in from the half-drowned engine-room a
ID. tinkled. a fading echo. in the fog.-S
e. Francisco Argonant.