Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-25

ing terrible risks. Having no pilots license, he had no legal right to be at the wheel. Should disaster overtake the tug he would be personally liable for the insurance forfeited by his act in taking her out in contravention of the judgment of her captain and pilot. Worse still, should any life be lost in the adventure Guilford Duncan would be held to answer for manslaughter.
 We'll educated lawyer that he was, he knew all these facts. He perfectly understood the fearful responsibilities he was taking upon himself, yet he fal- tered not nor failed. There was no mo- ments hesitation in his mind. There were lives In peril up there in the bend and vast property exposed to de struction. There was chance that by taking these risks he might save both All that is best in the soul impulse of the soldier was his inspiration. He would do his duty-though that duty was in nowise his except as he had made it his-and let consequences look out for themselves.
 As the tug quilted her moorings and began her voyage up the river Duncan caught a glimpse of Captain Hallam's form hurrying toward the landing. AL most immediately the tug began to plunge in perilous fashion. thrusting her head under the waves and shipping water enough to dampen the fires and diminish steam pressure in way that threatened failure to the enterprise.
 Failure in the work of rescue was the only thing that Guilford Duncan feared.
 He had already had the matches se- curely battened down so that no water could find its way into the hold, but rushing with every sea into the fur mace room, threatening with extinction the fires that could alone give power to the vessel, he called one of the deck hands to the wheel and, instructing him as to the course to be laid. himself hurriedly inspected ship. With the aid of the other deck hand he quickly re- moved from bow to stern everything that had weight Then he and the deck hand and fireman, with some aid from the engineer, proceeded to shovel tthe coal supply from it's bunkers for ward of the fire room into the cap tain's cabin aft of the furnaces.
 This done, the tug no longer ran her prov into and under the tremendous seas, but rode over them instead, ship ping no further water.
 Then Duncan returned to the pilot house and a few minutes later reached the imperiled fleet of coal barges.
 There havoc had already begun Three barges had gone down, and two men had been drowned. The rest of the barges were riding so uneasily that their seams were opening, and the wa ter that must presently swamp them was finding its insidious way through their sides and bottoms.
 When the tug appeared all the men on board the coal barges clamored piteously to be taken off at once.
 Stand to your duty, men~ shouted Duncan. Don't be towards! Do your part of the work, and we'll save all of you and all the coal! Only obey orders promptly. and I'll be responsible for the rest! Go to the pumps and an- swer every command promptly~. a He then ordered flaming torches kin dled on every barge, and in the light thus created he was able to tow one after another of the coal boats into that harbor of safety in which the tug cap tain should have moored them during the day before, the men meanwhile pumping to keep the water down.
 Then, with his clothing drenched and frozen stiff upon him, he steered the tug back to her landing place through the now receding storm.
 Kennedy, the tug captain, was there, waiting. As Duncan came ashore Ken nedy said menacingly:
 If I get my discharge for this I'll prosecute you for piloting without a license"
 The, ice incased and half frozen young man made no reply. He sim ply hurried ashore.
 As he mounted to the top of the levee, though it was only little after day light, Duncan encountered Captain Will Hallam, who stood there waiting for him.
 Go to the hotel" said the employer. i've ordered a piping hot bath for you there and blazing wood fire. There's nothing like a wood fire after a chill ing such as you've had. When you get good and warm go to bed. When you wake naturally telegraph to the office for me, and we'll breakfast together I've ordered the breakfast. The hotel keeper thinks it will bankrupt him or make his fortune to furnish it, but that doesn't matter. Get warm and get some sleep. Sleep as long as you can"
 'I don't think care for sleep" an swered the half frozen and wholly ex- hausted young man. But would you mind sending Dutch John to me at the hotel? I'd like to have him rub me down with some Turkish towels after my hot bath. Tell him I have dollar for him if he rubs me well.r
 That fellow is certainly a new brand" muttered Captain Hallam to himself as he walked away up the levee, but he's triple K for endur- ance and modesty and courage and all the rest of 1t. What a fighter he must have been! I'd Ike to see him in a hot battle if were bullet proof my self. I'll bet bonds to brickbats he got all the fight there was in them out of his men. But why doesn't he look out for his own interests. wonderf I'm still narInc him inc saIarr nn r.-hlch be