The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-22
Continued from Yesterday
ChapteP III.

CONTINUED from Yesterday
Chapter III.
When the watch turned out at mid
night. they found vicious hals-yale
blowing from the northeast, which.
added to the speed OF the steamship.
made, 90 far az effects on her deck
went, fairly uncomfortable whole
gale OF chilly wind The head sea,
cheppy as compared with her great
length, dealt the Titan successive
blows, each one attended to supple
mentary tremors to the continuous vi
brati0ns Of the engines--each one
sending u cluod OF thick spray aloft
that reached the crow's-nest on the
foremost and battered the pilot house
windows on the bridge in a liquid
bonn bardment that would have broken
ordinary giass. 4 fag-bark, into
which the ship had plunged in the
Afternoon, still enveloped her--daup
and impenetrable; and into the gray.
eyer-receding wal! ahead, with two
doc officers and thre lookouts strain
Ing sight and hearing to the utmost,
the great racer was charging with uE-
diminished speed.
At a quarter past twelve. two men
crawled In from the darkness at the
ends Of the eighty-foot bridge and
shouted to the first officer. who p
Just taken the deck, the names OF the
men who had relieved them. Back
ing up to the pilot house. the ofIicer
repeated tho names to a quarter mas
ter within, who entered them in the
log book. Then the men vanished
tn their coffee and watch below" In
fam NJ A.
shape appeared on the bridge and re-
ported the crow's-nest relief.
Rowland. you say?" bawled the
officer above the bowling of the
wind. rs he the man who was lift
ed aboard drunk. yesterday"
!. Yes, sir.
rs he straight now"
Yes. sir
IAN right--that'll do. Enter Row
land In the crow's-nest Quarter-mas-
ter said the offlcer. then, making a
funnel OF his hands. he roared out:
Grow s-nest. there
Sir. a came the answer, sfriil and
clear on the gale.
Keep your eyes open--keep a
share lookout" $50
Very good. sir"
"Peen msn-o'war's-man,- fudge.
by his answer. They're no good. -
muttered thu officer He resumed HIS
position at the forward side OF the
hrfdre where the wooden railing az
forded some shelter from the raw
wind. and began the long vigil which
would only end when the second ON
Ger relieved him. four hours later.
Conversstion--excep in the line Of
duty-was forbidden among the
bridge officers Of the Titan" and
his watchmate. the third oficer. stood
on the other side Of the large bridge
pinnacle, only leaving this position
occasionally to glance in at the COM
pass--which seemed to be his sole
duty al sea. Sheltered by, one Of
the deck-houses below. the boat
swain and the watch paced back and
forth. enjoying the only two hours
respite which steamship rules afford
ed. for the days work had ended
with the going down Of the other
watch. and at o'clock the wash
Ing Of the 'tween.deck would be-
gin. A. an opening task in the next
days labor.
BY the time one bell had sounded.
with It's repetition from the crows
nest. followed by Q long-drawn cry
--"alTs we'll from tho lookouts, the
last Of the two thousand passengers
had retired. leaving the spacious cab
ms and steerage In possession OF the
watehmen: while. sound asleep in his
cabin abaft the chart-room was the
captain. the commander who never
commanded-unlesu the shin was IN
danger: for the pilot had charge.
making and leaving port. and the
onscers. At sea.
TWO bells were struck and answer
~: then three. ana thu boatswain
and his men we're lighting up Tor 8
ANAL smoke. when there rank out
overhead a startling cry from the
crow's-nest:
Something ahead. str-ean't make
The frst of,cer sprang to the en-
|wine room telegraph and 9rasped the
lever. Sing out what you sse," he
oArde.
''Hard-a-port. sir-ship on the star
hoard tack---dead ahead. came the
Port your wheeI-hard over" re-
peeted the first oflcer to the quarter
master at the helm-who answered
and obeyed. Nothing ~ yet could be
seen from the bridge. The powerful
steering engine in tho stern ground
tho rudder over: but before three de-
grees on the compass card were ira
vsrsed by the lubber's point q gem.
fog ahead resolved ttselt into tho
square sails of doep.laden ship,
crossing the "Titan's' bow, not half
hsr length away.
Hell and. a." growisd the hrst
ofllcer. Steady on your cOuroe, Quar-
|ternsaster," no shouted. Stand from
under on deck He turned . lever