El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-20
BY Ernest H. Robinson

- APT. PORTERS took the socks
and mits the mate was drying for
himself at the galley fire, and
swung himself up on the bridge.
sandy makes himself deal too
comfy" he grunted, as the bitter north
easter tore at his beard and tried to
stuff the collar Of his oiI-skin through
his teeth He's a good mate. but he
takes life a deal too easy. Socks and
mits-au night and dry-for a mattel
HUH"
The little stOrmbird. which Capt.
Porters referred to with pride as my
ship" though she was nothing more
nor less than tug-was five days out
from Liverpool, bucketing at large
through a snOrting Atlantic gale that
had clothed her from the wind-vaue
on her stubby pOle-ulast TO the glass
Of the engine-roOm skyIght, in a sheet
Of ice.
Capt Porters hummed a song. II
mattered not to him that his crew were
nearly in a state Of mutiny, and that
his mate openly abetted them. He had
great plans in his clOse-crOpped head.
he and his men would return from
that trip rich-despite the fact that
they had no tow IN sight
Ne and the chief" said Capt Por-
tiers, abolishing grammar and all
doubters with one magnificent sweep
Of his hand, me and the chief are
going to make you fools rich"
The plan was a very simple one. It
merely consisted in running out into
the Atlantic when the winter drifts
brought down the arctic icebergs across
the liner-tracks, and waiting about on
the off-chance that some huge mail
boat making her Is OF IS miles an
hour through thick or thin. would pile
herself on a berg, and need the tender
merc1es OF the StOrmbird-to be later
valued at many thousands of pounds
TO bring her safely TO port. At the
moment when Capt POrters took his
mates mlts the first white mass Of an
unwieldy berg had been sighted
The hours that followed before the
short winter day ended were filled
with many and varied excitements.
Driven by the gale the ice bore down
on the little wave-swept tug with
alarming swiftness. AS Capt. Porters
put it, laughing till the icicles ratified
IN his beard:
Those spiky brutes are coming
down on US kerflop, like the chap IN
the pOme who wolfed the fold"
The mate glowered at him. Youth
laugh the other side OF your face when
were all drowned" he muttered.
The captain paid no attention to this
mutinous speech He recognized the
danger more keenly than any OF his
men; but he dared not show it.
Now then, you skulkers," he called
to the tiny knot Of men gathered for
ward ominously watching the towering
pinnacles that were rapidly being
blOtted out by the night and a rolling,
swelling fog, tumble up there, I want
two OF you in the chains with your
weather eyes skinned
The mate eyed him epectantly.
turning every now and again to the
engine room telegraph, which he ham
died fondly. All round the tiny tug.
the air roared with the indescribable
noise Of a thousand bergs. Presently
his terror gave him tongue.
Shall I ring balf-speed2' he jerked
out. The skipper gazed at him bland
~
sandy, you think too much OF that
body Of yours" he grinned. Then he
laid a firm hand on the mates arm
You think old Porters IS a fool. don't
YOU my lad2 Well, I'm not saying
you're not right. but listen"
Through the roar OF the gale and
the thunder Of the bergs Sandy heard q
duh believing Of a sick COW