Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
"DRIVING HER ALONG"


after the longest and most tempestuour
voyage she had ever made and durinS
which she had come close to foundeS
ing several times. When the captE
went up to the office to report he found
n new man at the desk. Bliss the elder
had died, and Bliss the younger had
taken his place. He was a man OF
twenty three, who had just left cricket
and college and a life of do nothing,
and he had come into the firm 10 teach
it how TO do business. He was waiting
Tor Captain Keggs.
MIR. Bliss, we have had the worst
gale for ten years back A part of the
time the Arab was actually driving
astern with every pound of steam the
boilers could bear"
What the boat evidently needs is a
new captain and engineer"
But no man can do better than his
best, sir, and it was touch and go with
her half a dozen times on this trip.
Some of the big liners waited n day
before going OUT
Il want no excuses from you or any
the young man as he brought his fist
down on the desk. IF the old one was
In business for the fun of the thing.
the new one isn't. l have been looking
up the record OF the Arab for the last
two years. and | find that you haven't
made your time once where you have
dawdIed along twenty times. There
mas got TO be Il change. If you have
got too old to make time III get
younger man."
Yes. sir" replied the old captain as
he turned pale and swallowed at the
lump in his throat
The weather will be no excuse after
this. The Arab will either come in on
care farthing for gales or fogs. She's
got TO he pushed. She's got TO be load
ed right down to the mark and driven
through everything. You can talk it
over with the engineer. That's ALL
lis the son Of his father Il fool or a
lunatic" exclaimed the engineer when
he had been told what time was 10 be
allowed the collier for her future trips.
ITO make that time we'd want mill
pond of Il sea all the way to Newcastle
and back, and then the engines would
be jumping ont of her or shaking them
selves TO pieces. Is there no allowance
for gales or fogs:'
"None whatever"
But there are laws TO compel us to
half speed for fogs."
They are not To be minded. You are
u single man and can go. but I've got Il
. l.I.t
on
And you know what it means:'
Captain Keggs nodded his head and
sighed and made no answer.
I'm sorry 10 leave you," said the
other after Il time. and. holding out his
hand. but I'm not ready for Il voyage
to the bottom of the sea yet
The way the Arab was overloaded
and the reckleSSnesS with which she
was driven were too much even for
the dock rats. She put out OF port in
he face of the heaviest gales. and she
-an at full speed i'll the densest fogs,
md her captain stood on the bridge
ind silently prayed TO heaven. A dozen
times in six months he escaped COLI
zion by the narrowest margin. On one
lame of the Arab and reported her to
he board. The board warned Captain
Heggs that if he did not heed the law
lis certificate would be suspended. He
vent to young Bliss with the notice,
md the latter scowled and said:
You ought to be discharged on the
pot. When running through a fog
haven't you got brains enough TO teach
-ou TO cover up the name Of your
,oat!''
Six full months had passed away
when q November night came howl
ng down to catch the Arab off Flam-
Borough Head ON her way to the
Thames Night brought rough sea
nd a fog as thick as cheese. There
we're a hundred craft sailing that
cute, coming and going, and when all
hings had been blotted out of sight
'aptain Kegs stood on the bridge in
lis dripping oilskins and cOmmuned
With himself:
I've full months pay due me, and |
hat clears up the last dollar Of debt. |
The Lord has been very good to me, |
tumble mariner that L am, and l can't |
SIX him TO do more. If it comes to- |
light the family can't be turned adrift, |
Tut I'm praying that the loss of life
pay be small. If 1t wasn't asking too
much, Id ask that ii would be only me
nd that the others might have a show.
( we should strike a big steamer with
OF passengers aboard, then
| long and lonesome blast OF the col
ers whistle broke in on his soliloquy.
here were other whistles blowing and
orns footing around him. Other ves-
els had reduced sail or shut or steam,
ut the Arab was plunging ahead at
er usual speed.
It'll be this trip" whispered the
nate as he climbed the stairs and
TODD beside his captain.
Yes; tonight"
And life won't count?"
Not at all. Ship owners don't weigh