The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-07
BY Morgan Robertson


until have seen him He passed into
another room. followed Is Il watch
man. who presently emerged and went
on deck with more pleasant express
sion of face Another entered and
came out, then another and another
unu very man but Rowland had been
withiD he sacred precincts. ali to wear
the same pleased or satisfied look an
reappearing When Rowland entered
the captain. seated at a desk. motioned
him to chair and asked his name.
"John Rowland" be answered The
captain wrote it down
Il understand" he said. "that you
were in the crows nest when this un-
fortunate collision occurred
Yes. sir. and | reported the ship as
soon as | saw her
You are not here to be censured.
You are aware of course, that nothing
| could be done either to avert this ter
rible calamity or to save life after
ward
Nothing at a speed Of twenty-five
knots an hour in thick fog, sir -" The
captain glanced sharply at Rowland
and frowned
I'VE will not discuss the speed of
the ship, my good man." he said. "or
the rules of the company. You will
find. when you are paid at Liverpool,
package addressed to you at the
company's office containing 600 in
banknotes This you will receive for
your silence in regard TO this collision.
the reporting of which would embar-
rass the company and help no one
Ion the contrary, captain. shall not
receive it. On the contrary, sir. shall
| speak of this wholesale murder at the
first opportunity
| The captain leaned back and stared
| at the debauched face and trembling
| figure of the sailor. with which this
defiant speech so little accorded I'm
| have sent him on deck to be dealt with
| by the officers. But this was not an
ordinary circumstance. In the watery
! eyes was a look of shock and horror
and honest indignation. The accents
were those of an educated man. and
the consequences hanging over him
| self and the company for which he
worked-already complicated by aud
| involved In his efforts to avoid them
| which this man might precipitate were
| SO extreme that such questions as i'll
| science and difference in rank were
not to be thought of He must meet
and subdue this Tartar on COMMON
| ground-as man to man
Are you aware, Rowland" he ask ed
| quietly. that you will stand alone.
| that you will be discredited. lose your
! berth and make enemieS?'
| 81 am aware of more than that" an
swered Rowland excitedly. Il know
Of the power vested in you as captain.
/ know that you can order me into
irons from this room for any offense
you wish to imagine. And | know
that an unwitnessed. uncorroborated
entry in your official log concerning
me would be evidence enough to bring
me life Imprisonment But / also
know something of admiralty law
that from my prison cell can send
you and your first officer to the gal.
| lows
you are mistaken In your concep-
tons of evidence. | could not cause
your conviction by a log book entry,
nor could you from a prison injure
me. What are you. may | asian ex-
lawyerT'
| "a graduate of Annapolis your
equal in professional technique"
And you have interests at Washing
| tonT'
None whatever"
| "And what is your object in taking
this stand. which can do you no posi-
bic good. though certainly not the
harm you speak off,
THAT / may do one good, strong act
| in my useless life. that I may help to
arouse such a sentiment of anger in
| the two countries as will forever end
this wanton destruction of life and
property for the sake of speed. that
will save the hundreds of fishing Graf
and others run down yearly to their
owners. and the crews to their fami-
les
Both men had risen. and the captain
was pacing the floor as Rowland with
flashing eyes and cIinched fists. deliv
cred this declaration
"a result to be hoped for. Rowla nd"
said the former. pausing before him
'but beyond your power or mine to ac-
complish Is the amount | named
large enough? Could you I'll posi-
ton on my BRIDGE"
II can ill a higher, and your compa-
ny is not rich enough to buy me-
you seem to be a man without am
bition. but you must have wants"
Food. clothing. shelter-and wills
KY" said Rowland with bitter self
contemptuous laugh The captain
reached down a decanter and two
glasses from a swinging tray and said
as he placed them before him:
Here is one Of your wants. FIJI
up" Rowland's eyes glistened as be
poured out a glassful. and the captain
followed
'T will drink with you. Rowland
he said Here is to our better under
standing" He tossed off the liquor;
then Rowland who had waited, said,
/ Il prefer drinking alone. captain" and
drank the whisky 1T Il guip The cap
tain's face flushed at the affront. but
he controlled himself.
Go or deck. now. Rowland" he
said II will talk with you again be-
fore we reach soundings. Meanwhile
I