The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18


years before, had been responsible for
his loss OF the OBrien. Worth
try? Well, ! guess yesp muttered
( Bob"
Coin to phone the Officer" Pete
asked, as he and Bob" stood in the
piiothouse. waiting for the crew to
cast off.
mo s-i-r-e-er' replied Bob" en-
phatically. If we make a go of this
they'll be so pleased that they'll never
thing of calling us down for not ask
ing permission, and IL VIE don't, why,
it's ali off with us, anywas Besides, if
we call on them they might not let us
go. The devil with EN-. We're owners
today, Pete; owners as well as Of
fcers and crew. We're the whole
thing. We're too busy to phonei
We've got man-sized job on our
hands,swe have" and he laughed GRIM
~ as he sgnaled the engine-room and
turned on his whistle preparatory to
backing out from the wharf.
Where ye bound, 'Bob'?" called Cap
tain Jones of the Phantos, the other big
tug of the company, as the Titan swung
around and pointed for the lower bay.
Coin to pull of the Ionian? I hear
she's high and dry on Scituate Shoalp
Sure thing replied Bob with q
laugh.
Good luck to We" Then turning 70
his mate, Jones continued: Damned IL
don't believe he is. I know Bob Me.
Intyre, and he's just the dare devil sort
OF chap to try il. But he'll never do
il! Fine boat he has now, but he'll lose
her sure as shootin' il he goes or
cruisin' by himself"
Down in the bows ofthe Titan there
was an air OF excitement which the
men. experienced though they were,
could hardly suppress "Bob's' was
picked crew. tough to the nth de-
gree Bat hard. willing workers. ready
TO take any risk at any time and thor
oughly reliable when afioat. They
knew that they were about to attempt
hard task, so they made their prepa-
rations carefully and conscientiously,
as behtted men of parts. They over
hauled the long hawsers. foot by foot,
examined the shiny bits and put new
stops on extra tenders. And as they
worked, they talked in low tones, dis
cussing the probable outcome of the
trip. These tough old scowmen and
deckhands gave little thought to the
money that success would bring to their
owners. but they did think with un-
concealed Joy of the many carousals
that|t would bring to them. Bob" had
told them what their portions would be
and the mathematician of the crew had
figured them all out with the stub of
pencil and an infinite amount
labor. They knew that even, if .sy
were lucky and pulled the steamer off It
would be a long time before the mat
ter could be settled and the money paid
over, but, as old John Flynn remarked
TO his scowmate, "Bill' Maguire:
The drunk II wait for us TO collect
it: there amt no fear of the OF Mort
End goin' dry for many years. And
when IL do come IL II be ali the better
for the wait" There's many philos-
opher among real mud diggers,
xod hnr ipfr f,o
outer harbor and felt the breeze and
the long swelis rolling In from the
bay, she bowed her head and courtesied
politely. She knew them we'll, those
old rivals, and she chuckled merrily in
her steam box at their efforts to force
her back and choke her draughts. Not
today" she murmured to herseH and
steadily and good-naturedly she
plugged along at a nine-knot clip.
There were few vessels going out, as
the weather wes as yet too unsettled
But every now and then fisherman
rushed by, covered with cloud. of can
vas. lee rail awash, bound for T wharf
with a full fare. On one OF them was
an old acquaintance of Bcbs. Captain
Seymour, who stood with one hand on
the wheel, the other gripping a huge
corned beef sandwich. AS his tidy
schooner slid down into the hollow of
a great sea. so close to the tug that
y
her, he took his eye off the canvas and
his teeth from the sandwich long
enough to report fair sailin' breeze
an leetle lop outside-just 'Dough
for US. but a leetle too rough for har-
Dor towboats"; all this with a series
of winks and grins that spoke volumes
for his sense OF humor.
Through the main ship channel and
down the coast. past Boston light, Nan
tasket. Minot's and the long line of
deserted summer cottages steadily
steamed on the Titan.
All at once Pete. who. glasses in
hand, had climbed upon the pilot house,
let out a yell.
There's the Ionianr he cried, and
a whole bunch of tugs. Guess we're
too late. One. two. three, five. sewn.
eight of EN-" he counted, "all lynn
bout half a mile inside"
He descended from his lookout and
gave the glasses to his superior officer.
Bob took long look; then, with his
eyes still fixed upon the fleet, cried:
Say, Pete, I'm blessed IL the Ionian
isn't lying easier than I thought And.
Pete, il ought to be dead easy to get
her off, cause the beach shoals mighty
fast astern and one little pull is all
that is needed I don't see why they
haven't done it before. Some ones no
good"
sure" assented Pete.
Afraid OF the rocks, | guess!'
Hadn't oughter be: they oughter
know 'em as well as you"
''Mebbe," replied Bob. Il know ,em
well enough not 70 be afraid Of EN-"
AS the Titan neared the shoal the
steamer and the waiting tugs could be
seen plainly. There were few persons
on the liners decks. for most of the
passengers had gone below. weary OF
waiting for something to be done. The
big craft was N no danger. as she Law
easily ia the soft sand and was high
enough out OF water to prevent the
swells from breaking over her Sew
eral officers were on the bridge talking
to the captain OF a life saving crew
which had put off from shore to
render aid IL needed All the towboats
were stesming about half mile aways
but evidently with no idea of trying 10
pull the steamer off for some time 10
come.
Bob called his crew aft. and in a few
words explained his plans. His words
were greeted with loud outlaws and
shouts of glee. He did not waste any
time asking his men for their best ef-
forts He knew that their greed and