Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-18
BY LOUIS TRACY.


COPYRIGHT. 1905 b
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Though they knew not the moment
when a sickening crash would herald
the final dissolution of the ship, they
proceeded with their work methodic-
ally. In half an hour they had reached
the end. All the injured men-seven
nondescript sailors and fremen-were
carried to the salon and placed under
Chrlstobars care Walker dived below
to the engine room, where he had al
ready disconnected the rods broken or
bent by the fracture Of guard ring,
which in turn was injured by the
blowing out Of junk ring, q stout
ring Of forged steel secured to one OF
the pistons. He could do nothing more
on deck. Whether he was destined to
live dfty seconds or as many years, he
was Ill content to hear his beloved en-
gines knocking themselves to pieces
with each roll of the ship.
Tollemache, who undertook the FIR
ing Of the donkey boiler, which was
situated on the main deck aft Of the
salon-for the Kansas was built
chiefly to accommodate cargo-during
his wanderings round the world had
picked up sufficient knowledge OF
steam power to shovel fuel into the
furnace and regulate the water level
by the feed valve and pump. The small
engine, more reliable and quite as pow
erful as q hundred men, was in perfect
order.
The Kansas rolled heavily. The roll
was caused by an experimental twist
Of the wheel. Courtenay, peering into
the darkness through the open window
Of the chart house, saw that the wealth
er was clearing. He had evolved q
theory, and, for want Of better, he
was determined to pursue 1t to finish.
The Kansas was being swiftly carried
along in a strong and deep tidal cur
rent. Happily the wind followed the
set Of the sea, else there would be no
chance Of success for his daring plan.
His expedisnt was the desperate one
Of keeping the vessel In the line Of the
current. and II day broke before he
reached the coast he would steer for
any opening which presented itself In
the fringe Of reefs which must assur-
eddy guard the mainland.
With his hands grasping the taut
and in one sense irresponsible mechan-
ism of steering wheel governed by
steam a sailor can "feel' the move
ment of his ship. a seaworthy vessel
being a living thing, obedient as doc
lie horse to the least touch Of the rein.
But in the unlikely event Of fortune
favoring Courtenay to the extent Of
giving him an opportunity to see the
coming danger 1t was essential that
the ship should have a certain radius
of action apart from the direction and
force of the ocean stream. The two
sails were helpful, and 1t was to as
sure himself of their efficiency that he
put the helm to starboard. The Kan
sas obeyed with an answering roll to
port, showing clearly that she was
travelling little faster than the in
rushing tide would take her unaided.
He brought her head back to nor east
again and glanced over his shoulder at
the ships chronometer. 1t was quar-
ter to /. Two hours must pass before
he would discern the first faint streaks
of light. At any rate, II he were spared
to greet the dawn it would be right
ahead. and, as few seconds might
then be Of utmost value, that was a
small point in his favor. Yet, two
hours! Could he dare to hope for so
long a respite7 How could the ship
escape the unnumbered fangs which a
storm torn land thrust far out into the
Pacific for its own protection?
He was quite sheltered from the
wind and spray in the chart house, and
all at once he became aware Of burn
ing thirst There was water In de-
canter close at hand. so he INDUCED in
a long drink. That was wonderfully
vivifying. Then his mind turned long
ingly to tobacco. For the first time In
his life he broke the strict rule of the
service in which he had been trained
and smoked cigar while on duty.
Now and again he spoke cheerily to
the dog:
"well, Joey, here we are; still got a
bark in usv' or "You and I must have
our names on the admiralty chart,
Joey-'Channel surveyed by Captain
Cosrtenay and pup; details uncertain
How does that sound, old chapT And
again: II suppose your friend, Miss
Maxwell, is asleep by this time. Il she
calls you joey do you call her Elsie
rather fancy Elsie as name. What
do you thinky' To all of which the
dog, who had found a dry corner,
would respond with smile and tail
wag.
The long wait in the darkness would
have broken many mans nerve. but
Courtenay was not cast in mold to be
either bent or broken by fear. When
his cigar was not in his mouth he
whistled, he hummed snatches of
songs and delivered short lectures to
Joey on the absurdity Of things in gen
eral and the special righteousness OF
such . mighty combination OF circum-
stances centering on ono poor ship as
had foregathered to crush the Kansas.
Ever since he was aroused from sleep
by the stopping Of the screw his mind
had dwelt on the unprecedented nature
H0f IN n fc-