The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-26

The bell had rung out shut off
steam!" but in an instant tinkled
again, Full steam astern.' After a
long and fearful pause there was a
sudden silence as the machinery halt
ed in it's motion; but the Northgate
surged helplessly on through the
white seas. Another instant and she
seemed to be struggling with herself
as her huge bulk answered to the en-
gines.
A second afterwards the mate gave
cry. Out of the white wall before
him doomed an almost formless mass,
vast black body pricked out in fog
and snow. Another breathing space,
and they were on it, the Northgate's
bows striking with shock that threw
the men off their feet. The bow
plates crashed in, and there was a
sickening noise of rending woodwork.
The great ship stood still and shivered
as if she had received fatal blow;
but in moment more her bows were
clear, and the hulking death in her
course was drifting away into the
mist from which it had emerged.
When the first man from below came
tumbling on deck there was nothing
in sight to explain the disaster which
had taken place.
For a few seconds there were signs
of panic, but it did not spread. The
engines were still, and the Northgate
rode shivering in the gray and silent
sea. Then the captains orders rang
out from the bridge in straight, plain
terms that gave no suggestion of dan
ger, and Immediately everything was
done in the best order. All hands
were on deck in three minutes as a
matter of course, and it took no more
than five to prove that the ship had
suffered little damage. Several plates
had been started, but there was no
injury that threatened her safety
Just in time the captain had given his
saving signal Otherwise
| Otherwise" said Mr. Gibbs under
his breath, ut would have been hole
in our bows big enough to build a
house in, and about an hour to take
to the boats. Captain Pritchard, I'll
drink your health. You're the finest
man in the North Atlantic today
"a derelict, / guess" said the third
engineer blankly.
"A Canadian timber-ship," answered
Mr.. Gibbs, "waterlogged. Been drift
ing in these seas since the days of the
Flying Dutchman, waiting for you and
me. And we came"
Then he turned to stare out into the
blank wall of fog which had swal
lowed up the enemy "But it beats
me-" he said slowly-"it beats me how
the old man could have seen her!"
He put the question aside for more
pressing matters during the next half
hour, but it was to come up again
in most bewildering form. That
was when things had been made good
as far as possible, and the first officer
reported the Northgate ready to re
sumo her voyage. 1t was then that
Captain Pritchard laid bare the secret
of his action in somewhat astonish
ing declaration.
"Confound it, Mr.. Bruce" he cried
angrily, do you think I'm going to
steam away and leave that poor fel
low to his fate? What do you take me
for?"
The first officers bewilderment was
extreme.
We're going to stand by" declared
the captain, till the weather clears a
bit. That won't be more than an hour
or two; but if it was a week it would
be all the same That man saved my
ship, and I'm going to pick him of
before l stir yard"
The first officer was long-headed
cold-humored Scot, who never lost his
temper or his reason. While all the
others stared at one another, con
WINGED that Captain Pritchard's brain
had been turned by the recent shock
he began to make inquiries.
Il beg your pardon, SIR" he said
calmly; what man do you mean?"
why, the man on the derelict," an
swered Captain Pritchard. "The one
who gave us warning of it's where
abouts by striking the bell"
Again the clustered members of the
crew glanced at each other for light
The first officer simply looked thought
full, and preserved discreet silence;
but the captain, who knew these
signs, waxed impatient.
"You were below, of course he
said; "but every one on deck can tel
you all about it. If it hadn't been fol
that bell, sir, you'd be in command
of the lifeboat by this time, with the
Northgate settling by the head. That's
ALI"
But that was not ALL A deac
silence followed the speech, instead
of the chorus of assurance and dec
laration which might have been ex
pected from the watch on deck Il
lasted so long that the captain wa:
struck by it's significance.
/ What in thunder is the matter
with you all?" he rasped angrily
Where's the second officer?-Mr
Gibbs, you were on deck; you heard
the bell?"
very sorry, sir" said the SECOND
officer, Il don't remember it. I didn'
hear a sound. l only saw the hull
crowding over our bows"
There was pause. Every one be
gan now to realize that there was ;
sensation afoot. Captain PritcharC
turned to the third engineer.
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