Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-09-04

REP | c Il II
weather oracle. Its the kind that
rolls in fast
Then. for heavens sake, let the
yacht outlet her out. Put her up to
her limit cried Durant. "Thcre's a
life at stake, and we've got to beat
that fog" He dashed into the wheel
house and glanced at the chronomctcr
"BlaZcs!" he yelled. "Shc isn't even
up to her average! What's the matter
down in the engine room?"
only one stoker, sir" answered
Larned. considerably disconnected.
"klines off sick todayw
The devil you say" Durant blurted.
Then he commenced to shed clothing
like a lightning change artist. In less
than Il minute there lay scattered
around a white cap, a white coat. a
collar, cuffs, neclltic and various pieces
Of expensive jcWclry. and Durant, get
ting the SinewS of his arms into play
as he ran. descended into the coal pits
and snatchcd Il shovel
The increased feeding of the tircbox
had a telling effect. The boilers warm
ed up, the steam gauge recorded high
er pressure, and the Wolverine clcavcd
the sullcn, heavy waters with a deeper
sWathe, cutting n wave that spread
unduatingly and majcStiCally broad
distance on either side of her.
There wasn't anything to interfere
with the yachts course-no other craft
i'll her way, no waves to dodge or buf-
fet, no shoals to avoid and no channels
to keep to. All was clear sailing, and
it would seem as though there was
nothing to check or to retard the mag
nifcent tloating palace from winning
in her race with the bank of fog which
appeared indefinite leagues beyond.
But the Wolverine had never before
raced with death. and fog is treachcr-
GUS and has hidden ways OF It's own.
The stokers fed the furnaces as fast
and as vigorously as human beings
could work, Durant's blood fairly leap
ing with an appreciation Of the terri
flying need for effort. The engineer,
almost motionleSs at his vigil at the
steam gauge, watched for the ounces
Of steam and used them as they accu-
mulated. Those above were getting
the launch ready to lower, preparing
life lines and belts and hauling out
thick hawScrs-stout hawscrs they
were, for the object being pursued was
now plainly visible, and houscboat
isn't the easiest thing in the world to
capture and take into tow.
Cant you let her out more?" Larned
shouted down through the telephone.
There was Il note of desperation in his
voice
"She's away up, sir but I'll try to
give her another liftw called back the
engineer. And the stokers, realizing
the demands, redoubled their efforts at
the coal bins.
Right in the midst of the high pres
iurc and the skimming speed the sig
nal rang to slow down-to reduce to
the minimum-and simultaneously the
Wolverines foghOrn walled out help
less, protesting blast.
Durant threw down his shovel and
leaned weakly against pillar. He
stared hopeleSSly at the engineer
"Wcll, it sounds as though we're in
for it!' broke out the engineer in petu-
liant resignation.
Then Durant climbed to the deck
and groped his way forward to where
he found Larned getting into an Oil
cloth slicker The disappointment Of
both men was keen. Their manner
tC1y attcStcd 1t.
"Did you finally make out what it
was?" Durant asked. stretching wea-
rlly to relieve his tired muscles.
"One of those good for nothing house