Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-20
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.

d6llO, Rercy! SAID EuGnle he h00
Soon dropped into. the nomenclature OF
the focsle. -. :,
Look here."~saiI AllePton, in q more
purposeful voice than usual, come along
and look at this boat"
The largest of the three boats carried
by the Orinoco lay close by them. She
was swung inboard and rested on deck
checks below the davits. A canvas cover.
one end Of which. fluttered intermittentty
in the breeze, rooted her over. Allerton
lifted this flap and inserted his hand.
Presently there was a splutter and a
glimmer. and it became plain that he was
holding lighted match under the canvas.
Look" he whispered.
Hughie peered under the flap. He saw
water barrels, spirit keg and various
bags and boxes. Then the match went
out and Allerton withdrew his hand.
The pair retired once more to their
shelter behind the wheelhouse.
You saw that?' said Allerton.
Il did. Do they usually keep the boats
provisioned on this ship? II SO, don't
blame them
water picnic shortly-that's ALL"
Hughie unused.
Am the man, do you Think" he said
at length.
NO / don't think So There's too much
grub for one Besides; the other - boats at
ship were to be Abandoned.
But why? There's no reason why she
should drop to bits for a long time yet.
Rust is very binding, You know. Prob
ably they keep her provisioned just In
Aherton wagged his head sagaciously.
There's more in this than meets the
eye" he said. ut is my pleasure and
privilege, as you know, TO act as steward
at present during the regretted retirement
to eczema of the hands. Even Mr.. Gates
SHES at eczema sea PIED Now there's
some mischief brewing in the cuddy, and
they're all in it-kingdon. Gates and
Angus. I'm not quite sure about Dingle.
because he berths forward. but I think
he is, too. What's more, It's something
they can't afford to have given away.
Kingdom. who usually keeps Angus very
short of drink at sea. now let's him have
it whenever he wants 1t. anu. generaly
speaking, is going out Of his way to keep
him sweet. That shows he can't afford
to quarrel with. him. And when cap
tain can't afford to quarrel with chief
engineer whom he hates, it usually means
that he and the engineer are In together
over some hanky-pankS which has its
words. one of these fine,Aights that hoary-
headed old Caledonian will open sea
cock or two and rush up on deck and
say the ship is sinking. It'll be case OF
all hands to the boats; the Orinoco will
go to her long-overdue and thoroughly
surance people will pay up and look
pleasant"
HIM" said Hushie. there seems to
be something in what you say. wish
could keep an eye on the old sinner In the
engine room, but since Walsh came back
to duty I've no excuse for going there at
all now. It might almost be worth while
to warn Goble. He's a decent chap."
''Who is on duty in the engine room
now?''
..Walsh, I should think. Angus usually
makes way for him about eight bells.
But I'm not sure. Harkl Do you. notice
anything about the beat Of the enktnes?"
mot being an expert can't SAP do.
They sound a trifle more Asthmatic than
usual, perhaps. What's up?' go
Somebody has got the donkey pump ut
work. said Hughie. ut may be Angus.
after all. monkeying with the water bal
last. Hallo!' He leaned over the stern
rail and peered down. do you notice
anything unusual about the propeller
ut seems to be kicking up a bit OF
faster, sor getting nearer the surface?"
ITS half out OF the water said
Hughie. THAT means that the old man
has pumped out the after double-botton
tank. Look we're all down by the heads"
The two stepped out from behind the
wheelhouse and gazed forward. The flush
deck of the Orinoco was undoubtedly rum
ming downhill toward the bows.
What's the gamer inquired Al'ertop,
excitedly.
Hughie was thinking. Presently he
said:
I'm not sure, but his next move should
tell us. Either he is trying to drive her
nose under and sink her by manipulating
tho water ballast. which seems a hopeless
job in a fiat calm like this, and suicidal
il it comes off, or else he is working up
for a scare Of some kind. which will
brighten the crew into Halo! What's
that?"
There was a warning cry from Mr.. Dim
gle, who was standing right forward In
the bows.
Something right ahead, sir: Looks
There was an answering shout from
the bridge. where the captain was stand
ing by the wheel. followed by jangling
Orinoco gave a jar and a stagger. and
Hughie and Allerton pitched forward on
to their noses.
There were shouts and cries all over the
ship and men came tunbling up the
'hatchways.
We've struck something" gasped AL
lerton.
Struck your grandmother" grunted
Hughie. who was sitting up rubbing his
nose tenderly. THAT jar came from d.
rectly underneath us. It was caused by
Angus reversing his engines without CIV
ing the ship time to slow down. dare
say he never even shut off steam. Likely
enough he's lifted the engines off their
beds. Well. perhaps he had finished with
them. anyway. Come along forward"
By this time frightened crowd had as
sembled on the deck Of the Orinoco.
which, lying motionless on the silent sea,
artistically tilted up by the stern-Hughie
began to grasp the inwardness Of MIR.
Angus maneuvers with the water ballast
presented a sufficiently alarming ap-
pearance even on that calm night.
Mr.. Dingle and the captain, the one
hanging over the bows and the other
standing in an attitude Of alertness on
the bridge. were sustaining between them
conversation which vaguely suggested
to Hughie a carefully rehearsed ''cross-
talk duologue between two knockabout
artists of the variety firmament-say the
Brothers Bimbo i'm one Of their renowned
impromptu "patter scenes" The resem-
blance was enhanced by the fact that the
'patter'' was delivered fortissimo by both
performers, and each repeated the other s
most telling phrases in tones which made
4 PhVsici9m'e RAMMrf nm