Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-18
The Man of
The Merchant
He Proved His Courage
and Daring.
By PETER VAUX
, Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

/ " 80 AS8N VASSA
| : Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co
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No sooner did the senior enginee
hear the peremptory summons than b
scurried from the crowded wardroom.
Poor devil! Did you notice hi
face. Bellamy?" said the second en-
gineer. addressing the ford paymas
ter. HE went as pale as death
When the deuce does Torshell eat ant
sleep, Mayhem He never seems to b.
off duty"
The surgeon twitched his spruce eye
brows.
"Oh, Nebbe. our senior engineer
our man Of the merchant marine!
said he In his usual fippant, exasper
ating tone. Hell go the same a
Chislehurst II worries don't cease. NJ
human being. much less Torshell. cal
stand for any length Of time the stat
Of affairs in this boats engine room
and stokeholds. It's enough to driv'
any man mad?
"Chisle is really not we'll. then? w
all know the complaint Of Pattenie o
the Farm Furnace. as the fo'castl'
terms her."
Mayhem shrugged his shoulders "Ou
staff engineer went into sick bay II
let this II. N. r. fellow shine, did her
was his tart rejOinder. TOO mucl
strain and unrest have knocked hin
of his legs. And so Mebbe is the maj
we must depend on now"
Said the paymaster in his big. rau
cous voice: "That Is what happens
with these understaffed engine rooms
and insufficient repairs. Here We are
the lamest of the lame ducks In th'
division and tailin' of the column
with a reserve chap out OF an easy
oozy, ten knot merchantmnn handlin
our engines. and rickety old machines
they are. God alone knows what'l
happen with him and his untried nerve
when we pick the enemy up again!'
"a jolly good thing for us the enem!
are Just as much worried with break
downs" was the consoling remarl
from the other end Of the table. 'Th'
Rurik. the Freya. the Jena and
81 wouldn't indict the dockyard Of
the insufficient repairs point, Bellamy.
interrupted the second. my lords wer
responsible They wouldn't enlarge tn
yards, make new ones or lease out re
pairs, so rs to have all the necessar.
work for mobilization coped with ade
quately. But 1t is odd how she wa
passed out with the starboard cylinde
cover not remedied. OF course nobody y
be held responsible. as usual!
Bellamy nodded. turning from scold
ing the harassed steward. he replie'
slowly. But yet when an r. N. H
fellow can pop up and take seniorit,
over the regular service. as In thi
boat, you can't expect
"Oh, here we are againr the sec
ond broke in with. "Jealousies a
usual. Torshell is as at as any eng
neer. By George" he cried. listenin
intently, 1.-The engines are slowir
DOWN."
Torshell had approached Captail
Widdrington and the first" who lin
gered In the chart house discussin
recent instructions. The senior eng
neer had coughed slightly to intimat
his presence. The captain looked W
frown sweeping his hard face O
marking him.
"Sir." cried the engineer. "the port
Zone moment, sir" was the short ar
swer. "This isn't steam bus" An
Torshell. again saluting. had steppe
back, his pallid face blood red and hi
teeth hard clinched and gritting. Th
wary. diplomatic first just then cheel
lily nodded aside to him.
He let himself rock to the vessel
juggling among the cumbrous masses
sea. Since he had joined. Off the way
laid liner. his had been hard luck. 81
felt acutely the general sentimen
against him: but. Notwithstanding al
his mettle was yet strong. 1t was til
snobbish crowd In the wardrOom an
the unpleasant bearing Of his subord
mates that caused his discomfort
mind.
Suddenly he had held In his breat
and unwittingly stepped. toward tn
bridge ladder The first drew himsel
back from the chart. darting look
surprise at Torshell. But the capt;rfn
steel blue eyes famed with sudden al
ger.
Good heav"uA sir! Your engine
aren't slowing downT
Torshell saluted. Port air pumI
SIR"
.aThis drives man mad" cried Wit
drington, crushing his big fist upon til
table. Nothing but defects. defects
Can ye drive engines Mt all. you mi
erable merchantmen? What dye wal
to slacken down TOT What's wron
this time? YOU
That second came tremendous 1a
ring and crunching beneath their fee
The great ship was shaken like thin
Of. straw. An appalling hammerin
followed. chaotic and deafening. Ora
steam surged through hatchways. vel
/ - n ~ novy, m p{nna
The senior engineer had rushed frol
the bridge. As he raced amidships b
snatched the sacking OF the backs
some of the "black squad" dumpin
ashes overheard. grabbed at quartz
masters oilskins and showed them
upon him.
"Garret an Epburn an Mr.. Jerro
In port alleywayr' was the answer
his shout from the artincers now
safety. 1t reached his ear as he stel
ped down into the uproar Of smashin
clashing metal.
With heightened anxiety and fea
Widdrington stared at the steam ST
outpouring. The thLnderous clankir
Of ponderous machinery galloping loos
beat frightfully into his ear. Wit
much more Of 1t bilge plates would
started.
II was then that blear eyed. cind'
burnt signalman came hurrying alon
Flagship Hingin' out Chase signal
sirw was his report
III.