The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-01-04

thlnk. re WI > " lOl : ~ nlr c-ic anu
oaed al ne "a " thu teler III. II
still pointed as IL had for the las. hJir
The elaer man answered his inquisitive
glance With n low. Il don't know what
the deck means.s
Before another word was said, there
came a slow. sucking 81: the Amphion
rolled 'er .ill the lanters dimmed She
recovered With a surge. and as the chief
engineer wrenched the steam valve shut,
the plates beneath their feet bulRed up
ward. moment OF tense straihlng IN
the stillef machinery. and then. as "
free3 from some elastic bond. the steam
err ie yed forward again. There was the
sharp clsng Of door. and a stoker
pushed bis sweaty face above the graf
log with a cry. But the old engineer
threw the steam into the cylinders again,
and he engines throbbed In response.
The propeilor's stiil there" he cried,
shutting on steam once more.
The third assistant was gazing at the
telegraph dial. The indicator had not
moved. With an oath he snatched a
pair OF nippers from the rack and thrust
the claws up into the wires behind the
face. Then be turned in blazing tri-
umph 10 his superior. "He shan't put
Ter over at half speed now" he shouted.
"and then tell the inspectors that II was
US that .;ept her driving.
Before the words we're we'll out OF his
mouth. a Jolt threw them to the plates,
ard as they scrambled up again the
Amphion seem to crumple up under
them. Then with the screening OF
riven plates and drawing rivets. the
steamer settled on the reef A breaker
frng itself in thunder aga. ,st the side,
and the spray fell like rain through he
skylight. The sharp clans NJ the gong
| filled the englne-room. THAT was the
half-speed hell" said the chief. DULY.
In the lull that followed the rafting
boom. His assistant. while the awak-
ened engineers OF the other watches
peered curiousiy through the darkness
with eyes still heavy from sleep. caught
VI lantern that was still burning. and
threw It's beam on the dial Of the tele-
graph. II still pointed to full speed
ahead. II knew he'd try II, and | fooled
him." he cried.
! In the turmoil that followed, while
stoker and oiler and engineer fed from
the water bubbling waist high. the chief
gathered up his own book. and care
fully tore II up The fragments he cast
on the soamy brine that rose about his
engines II amt going to light unfair. "
he muttered.
On the bridge Of the wrecked Amphion
the crew huddled cheerlessly. The slow
streaming seas that emerged from the
for and night to windward broke heavily
on the submerged hull. and the spume
rar In rivers from mast and stapchion.
81 hail the engfne-roDm telegraph al nali
speed" said the captain. wb' .efaced,
and I've got II dow, in the log that We
slowed down as soon as we got into The
fog. guess that'li satisfy the inspectors
that I've dune all right. and we'd not ha
run out " 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 amt So" he bawled Il knew yer
tricks! got witness down below We
don't l"se me my papers that wayl Any
body with two grains OF sense 'ull know
this old hooker couldn't pile up this
high on any half speed | tell ye. We don't
lose me my pspers." He turned round to
his fellows OF the enginee-room. What
does the telegraph down there read ?"
he yelled.
The old engineer, rubbing between his
palms the omnipresent badge OF his su-
thority. BIT Of cotton waste gazed at
the pallid master Of the wreck, and
shared his shame. With a gesture. he
silenced his shrieklng men, and bullied
the third mate with HI yes. Il was on
watch tonight With my assistant" he
commenced, hafshiy. Il am responsible
for this I've lost my engine-room log,
but II was my orders that kept her driv-
lng II was all my duires. and guess
I'm old enough 10 stand by II. To hell
with the rules OF the road! Let's play
this fair.
But" began the third assistant with
cry.
shut up" beloved his chief.
The yellow lanters on the tilted bridge
fickerec in the wind. but their unsteady
flames we're not more wavsring than
the eyes OF the captain. Il put her over
TO half speed he said. shrilly. laying
his wet hand on the brass. but Il
mightn't have registered in the engine
room. You see"
We must play fair" interrupted the
chief engineer. loudly. The men crowded
closer about him, their ol,skins rustling
IN the darkness I'VE mnst play fair, "
said -he old man, glibly The Amphion e
piled up here. aud come ones cot 20 lose
his papers amt been friend ~ " th the
skipper and | Just naturally kept her
driving. boys. It's my fault. my fault,
boys, and guess I'm up a -ainstit. Tha,
telegraph says half speed. and | kept
her full speed, contrary to orders"
The young skipper turned away his
face and picked up a lantern that swung
steaming from the rail. Raising Il mp he
scanned the faces that surrounded him.
Slowly the lantern fell with bis arm. He
threw out his hand and caught the lever
Of the telegraph With jerk he threw