The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-01-26

I said. my voice tremulous from sud.
den awakening. I'm going down Ia
recall the boats"
STEADY as she is. sir"
In the engine room. two seamen,
each grasping gun. leaned negligent
ly against a bulkhead. while DE Nova
bare.headed. his little black mustache
clearly outlined against the olive OF
his cheek. occupied the stool between
them The Kanaka firemen were out
Of sight. but, the red-faced engineer
was on his knees tinkering over q
refractory bolt with monkey-wrench
Everything working all right. Mr.
De NOva?" questioned. quietly.
The eyes of the four men instantly
turned toward me- the engineer
Strengthening up. monkey-wrench In
hand.
No troubles here. monsieur, and
the mate rose to his feet. his white
teeth showing. Were are we now!
Just of the point. with the light
house dropping astern. and the swell
of the ocean under our forefOot. l am
going to call In the boats. Have you
plenty of cOal?"
"Bunkers all full. monsieur
How Is your steam?"--
He stepped over to the gauge. peer
ing at it across the burly shoulder oil
the engineer, who still stood staring
AT me. .
Pretty near up to re danger mark
monsieur" 80.
Then stand by for signals"
The engineer came to life as though
treated 10 an electric shock. his fist
still grasping the monkey-wrench
suddenly extended. his red face pur
ping with passion.
You damned. bloody pfrate!" he
yelled. glaring at me savegly. Its
hung the whole lot Of you will be fol
this bloody nights work. No. I won't
keep still. you moon-faced mulatto. I'm
a free-born Briton. an I'll smash In
the heads OF some Of you yet. an III
live to see the rest hung In chains fol
the bloody pirates you are Just wall
till you're caught, an then you won't
be GRIMM that way at an honest
man. Oh. you'll git 1t all right. my
fine lads. There'n be hell to pay fol
this job. let me tell you! It's on
nothin' you'll be dancin' then. you
murderin' spawn O. hell"
ho hnr ~ IN
volver into the mans neck. with q
stern threat and an unpleasant CLEAN
ing of white teeth. The sailors re
manned leaning on their guns, grinnins
as II in enjoyment of the play.
Never min wat he say. SIR" and
the mate glanced up toward me. as il
in apology. He bust out Eat way
ever fiv' minutes since We be down
here. We have club him. two. tree
time. but he stick here just re same
an run re engine. Oui. oui. 1t just
&c way wiz re bullheaded Englisher.'
Il see" acknowledged. drawing
back. "only watch that he doesn't kink
the machinery"
l was not in the least surprised al
discovering one of his nationality In
charge of the vessels engine room
nor was ! sorry. He would feel little
real interest in the affair. after he
once clearly comprehended the situa
ton. while 4 native Chilean might be
impelled by a spirit of patriotism to
cause us serious trouble. Englishmeu
We're very frequently met with in for
eign engine rooms; this fellow had
probably been picked up because OF
better qualifications than any native
applicant: or. indeed, he might have
been member of the original crew OF
the yacht before it was disposed OF
TO the government. l would have a
talk with him later; meanwhile he
was certainly in good hands; and /
had enough else to attend to-. The
tow-ropes came in hand over hand
and were coiled dripping on the fore.
castle deck. At the end of them the
two boats emerged from out the fog,
and the men tumbled in silently over
the rail. l watched from the vantage
of the bridge. as the whole crew tailed
onto the falls. distinguishing Tuttle's
nasal tones above the incessant shut.
fling of feet.
.Nor'west by nor, Johnson-now
hold her steady, my lad"
pulled the signal cord. dimly dis.
tfnguishing the faint responsive tinkle
of the bell far beneath. Like a hound
cu1Ioply raIoacod for tho chaSo tho
steamer sprang forward into the fog
wreaths and buried her sharp nose In
the sea.
(rO BE coNTINUED1