The Detroit times., 1912-11-22

TO see IL that way, and just TO show
you how unreasonable hands are with
an officer. | may say that I've had TO
attend TO every one OF my six--ano
most OF them more than once-jusI
because they were scared at seeing
those birds always there, and always
staring at them with those shiny un-
winklng eyes"
A brennan came up: Chief engl.
neer wishes me 10 tell you. sir, he's
got steam for eight knots"
Right" said Captain Kettle. Then
as all Is settled, sir and miss. I'll take
her In at once"
There Is a much-abused term thar
one often hears applied to mariners
that such an one is daring seaman.
II would pain me TO see that label put
to Captain Kettle. Plucky he was 10
the ends OF his fingers, and resource
ful, and skillful, and when nothing
else would serve, reckless. But he
was never a man to take risks with
any vessel under his command, when
those risks could be legltimately
avoided.
He knew the capabilities OF the
Wangaroo TO the last ounce. Under
his command she had been tuned up
among other things TO give full knot
more speed than she had logged in
coming down the North sea. YET
thanks to the genius OF her design
err she was probably the unhandiest
little thing OF her size afioat, ana
there was no getting over the fact OF
those unprecedented sheers out OF
...AN 81.
her, and from no other ascertainable
cause, she would at intervals, anc
without the slightest warning. take a
sudden lunge TO starboard from when
no amount of helm would steady her
until she had her fling. The which
was an uncomfortable habit when one
was navigating her down a narrow
fairway.
The run lnshore was unnerving
enough TO the spectator There was
moderate swell running and though
the bottle-green water did not break
unless II was especially irritated, here
and there little annular gardens OF
surf spoke OF dangers out OF sight.
AS they drew nearer the shore. ano
rose them TO the eye. many OF the
reefs protruded, and the passage grew
more and more ugly. Dog teeth OF
rock suddenly bit their way through
smooth oily surfaces OF the water, ano
as suddenly were sheathed, and In
other places smooth whale-backs oil
sand were for moment uplifted ano
as quickly eclipsed.
1T isn't what you see In this beast
ly channel" Sir George muttered to
his sister, ''as what you don't see, that
make the real dangers"
Its regular maze" Violet agreed
Il can't think how any one can thread
it. What would happen. do you sup,
pose, II we touched?"
The odds are, | should say. the
swell would break her back within
five minutes, and we should either
have to try the hotels on shore, or
try a cruise In the boats. Beginning
to be sorry you came, old lady?'
IL wouldn't miss it for a new set
of furs. But II we're anxious, what
must any one responsible be-"
IF you mean the skipper, I've just
walked forrard tin could get look
up at him. He's stuck there on the
upper bridge looking like a craven
image. The man at the wheels got
his eyes about a foot out OF his head,
and that fellow Smith that he's given
brevet rank to as third mate. is hang.
Ing on to the engine-room telegraph
as though 1t was the only friend he'u
left on earth. took a look down the
engine-room skylight as | passed. ano