Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-11-24

still pointed as It had for the last hour.
The elder man answered his inquisitive
glance with low, II 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 dinsmed 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 III
the stilled machinery, and then, as II
freed from some elastic bond, the steam
er leaped forward again. There was the
sharp clang Of a door, and q >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.
1.-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
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 war
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 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. IT knew he'd try 1t, and fooled
him" he cried.
In the turmoil that followed, while
,toker and oiler and engineer fled from
he water bubbling waist high, the chief
gathered up his own log-book, and care
'ully tore 1t up The fragments he cast
IN the foamy brine that rose about his
engines. 81 amt going to fight unfair"
lie muttered.
On the bridge of the wrecked Amphion
he crew huddled cheerlessly. TIE slow
seas that emerged from the
og and night to windward broke heavily
IN the submerged hull, and the spume
an in rivers from mast and stanchion.
I had the engine-room telegraph at half I
peed," said the captain, whitefaced, Il
and I've got 1t down in the log that we
lowed down as soon as we got into the t
og. guess that'll satisfy the inspectors II
hat I've done all right, and we'd not ha' I
un out of our course unless the engine a
pom had disobeyed orders and kept her s
Ill speed" s.
rba third assistant nrsbed forward o,
NJ st.red a. the cantain with oman II
louth. Then he shook his fist, wildly, a.
That amt So" he bawled II knew yer is
icks, GOT witness down below, We n
,n't lose me my papers that wayl Any
,dy with two grains of sense 'ull know fe
,is old hooker couldn't nile ND this BIZ
oh on any half speed 7 tell We We don't at
Sc me nv papers!" He turned round to II
8 fellows Of the enginee-room. "What M
,es the telegram down there read?" m
. yelled. vi
rbo ola or.,raar r,hh,ro hatwoor his
Inns the omnipresent badge of his an IN,
oritv a bjt NJ COTTON waste pazed at az
a nsll,d master q, the wreck and
. nod Mis- ehama with a gesture n.
encad his sbrIak,ng man ana bull,e6 ~
! third mate with Me ewes was an -
,tch +o-rivht WITH NV ees,stentn 10
rmercad har.hIv 81 ar.resnons,hIs -. -
this T,ve Lost INV engine-room ,og ~
> n VAS INV order. tha tent her dr,v' -
II w.s a., NV do,nos ana srass ~