The Van Buren press., 1904-10-08

er leaped forward again. There was ths
,harp ciang Of a door. aud 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 stll 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
pair Of nippers from the rack and thrust
the claws up into the wires behind th'
face Then he turned in blazing tfi-
umph to his superior He shant put
her over at half speed now he shouted,
and then tell the inspectors that IL war
US that kept her driving.
Before the words were well out OF his
mouth iolt threw them TO the plates,
and as they scrambled up again ina
Amphion seem to Crumple up unuef
them. Then with the screening OF
riyen plates and drawing riVetS' tne
steamer settled on the reef. breaker
flung itself in thunder against the side,
and the spray fell like rain through the
skylicht The sharp clang OF the gong
filed the eugine-room. That was the
half-speed bell" said the chief, duly,
in the lull that followed the rafting
boom His assistant while the aVak-
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. Il knew he'd try It. and fooled
HIM" he cried.
In the turmoil that followed, while
stoker and oler 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. Il amt going to fight unfair,
he muttered.
On the bridge Of the wrecked Amphion
the crew hudded cheeressly. The sIo"
streaming seas that emerged from the
fog and night 10 windward broke heavily
on the submerged hull, and the spuma
ran in rivers from mast and stanChion
Il had the engine-rOom telegraph at nall
speed" said the captain, whitefaced
and I've got it down in the log that We
slowed down as soon as we got into the
fog / 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 aint So he bawled, Il knew yer
tricks, ! got witness down below, Ha
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 ye, ye dont
lose me my papers," He turned round TO
his fellows Of the enginep-room. What
does the telegraph down there read"
he yelled
The Old engineer. rubbing between hls
palms the omnipresent badge OF his au
thorlty. bit of cotton waste, gazed at
the pallid master Of the wreck and
shared his shame With a gesture, he
silenced his shrieking men, and bulIied
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. It was all my dongs, and guess
! I'm Old enough to stand by II. To hell
with the rules OF the road Let's play
| this fair
But" began the third assistant with
/ a cry
Shut upl" beloved his chief
| The yellow lantprs on the tilted bridge
| nickerpd in the wind, but their unsteady
/ flames were not more wayering than
/ the eyes OF the captain 81 put her over
/ to half speed" he said, shrilly, laying
/ his wet hand on the brass, but It
mightn't have registered in the engine.
room You see"
We must play fair" interrupted tho
/ chief engineer, loudly The men crowded
| closer about him their oilskins ruSting
! in the darkness I'VE must play fair"
said the old man, Glibly "The Amphion s.
piled Up here, and some ones got to lose
his papers | amt been friendly with the
skipper and Just naturally kept her
driving, boys, It's my fault, my fault,
boys, and guess I'm up against It, That
telegraph says half speed and | kept
her full speed, contrary to orders
The young skipper turned away hlS
face and picked up lantern that swung
steamlng from the rail Raising II up he
scanned the faces that surrounded him
Slowly the lantern fell with his arm lie
threw out his hand and caught the lever
Of the telegraph with n Jerk he threw
II back aud then forward 10 rull speed
ahead The clanG Of the bel came up
from the halt.droS ned engIno.room ana
tinklod fading echo, In the fog San
Francisco Argonant