The Worthington advance., 1904-10-07
THE RULE or
THE ROAD y
WHAT THE DIAL TOLD
px JOHN FLEMING WILSON

by JOHN TLEMIN0 wILooN
r HE cargo steamer Amphion was
drumming through the fog of TIL
lamook Head on the Oregon coast. The
skipper was tamping back and forth on
the bridge, volubly imprecating disen-
thronement on the weather god. Now
and then he put his hand irresolutely on
the lever of the engine room telegraph,
which pointed, in spite Of rules and reg
ulations, to ''Full Speed" Once or twice
he addressed a question to the thtrd
officer. The latter refused to commit
himself Finally his superior glanced at
the clock under the hood, listened for
an answer in the night to the below OF
the siren, and said: II guess we'll let
her go. If we can keep up the gait we
can make Astoria by the morning tide,
and there's no shipping to be afraid OF
tonight. Half speeds all right for the
lower coast, but up here there's no need
of losing time that way"
captains voice, the third mate thought
that encouragement was wanted. But
he stared into the blind haze that hid
from view the very wash from the cut
water, and only grunted.
II don't see why we shouldn't hit her
along" the skipper went ON, irascibly.
I'VE aren't more than good 30 from the
light, and when we get of there we can
slow down and crawl in by daylight. !
amt coward to lay her to when there's
no need"
"shall I keep her at full speed?" the
mate asked.
"Well, wouldn't slow down yet
awhile. Maybe if it gets much thicker.
and1 amt on the bridge, you better let
her down to half speed. Just tell the en-
gineer to drop her couple of revolu-
tons"
The watch officer nodded. He had
served on several seas, and 1t was no
new thing in his experience for q con-
scientious captain to put his telegraph
at half speed, or even dead slow, and
warn the engineers not to obey too lit
orally. It can't be done any more, for
the new telegraph marks revolutions
and must tally with the indicator on the
engines. The mate did not like the look
of the night, and the perils marked on
the chart rose before him distinctly.
But he understood quite we'll young
masters anxiety to get into port on
time, and moreover he told himself that
If they ran down anything it wasn't his
fault. So he nodded again and walked
over to the speaking tube.
The chief engineer answered him
from the working platform. Captain
says when he rings to slow to half speed.
just to drop her a couple" came the
drawing voice of the third mate.
The chief looked up at the dial where
the indicator pointed steadily at full
speed ahead. "All right" he replied
''The shippers keeping her going in
this fog," suggested the assistant en-
gineer. :,
Eyes, he wants to get in. It's pretty
thick weather to be steaming good
H."
bad coast, too," continued the assist
ant. flirting his lamp into the champing
eccentric we'll.
'It's always the way with youngsters"
the chief responded, acidly. ''They don't
like to lose time by rules. Petersen's
all right, so he thinks, but he hasn't
been on this coast as long as have, or
he wouldn't be driving her in this muck.
He's always throwing it up to me that
I aint the skipper, so reckon I'll make
no fuss If he is trying to hit the Amphion
through contrary to rules"
"Well," said the other, glancing up
at the dial, If anything happens, all
we've got to say is: 1t was orders from
the bridge. That telegraph won't lie.
Shall ease her only a couple when he
signals half speed?"
The gray-haired engineer put his hand
on his subordinate's shoulder. His voice
rose above the whirr of the dynamo and
the clank Of the main pump: THAT isn't
ORDERS" he said. "Our orders are on
that dial there. If that says half speed,
by Jimmy Cripps, half speed it is"
"Then no talk from the deck goes.
sir?"
Take your orders from the telegraph,
when it's working" the chief responded.
IF it isn't working then the speaking
tub will do"
An hour later the Amphion was still
beating away through the big, oily seas,
the fog streaming away from her bows
to swirl back and across the yellow glare
of the deck lights before piling up in a
wall astern. The captain kept
watch with his mate on the bridge. The
telegraph stood at full
speed. Down below in the engine-room
the third engineer went quietly about
his work, while his chief stood on the
working platform under the huge steam
valve. smoking his pipe.
After his rounds the assistant came
across and stood by the old mans side.
"It'e An avvf,l1v dirty night" he said