The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-01-18

Io sleeping marines, and steadying
himself against the motion Of the ship
I1y pes, by cabin doors, fan valves, or
my other handy fittings, until he
reached the hatchway.
/ His foothold as he mounted the lad
der sounded melancholy but determin-
cd.
AS he reached the level of the upper
deck cold blast Of air met him, to-
gether with a sprinkle Of rain and salt
spray, and the swish Of wave COM
ing inboard forward, with the succeed
ing splash against casing and guns,
sounded in his ears.
Lieutenant Smith, K. H., officer Of
the middle watch, thought a lot but
said nothing.
The night was pitch dark, and the
contrast after the electric glare below
was binding.
Smith CROPPED his way forward,
choosing the right course and avoiding
snares to the feet or shins by instinct
and the accumulated experience of two
years in the ship.
The spray rising from the bow wave
and beam sea swept inboard the
weather side, swished down the bat
terry, and sprayed its residue over to
the lee side.
The residue met Smith He thought
a lot but said nothing,
Close in to the Ice of castings and by
gunshicld and torpedo tube he passed,
or collided with oilskinned figures,
some troading gingerly aft to take
over their watch, some rolling cheerily
forward to enjoy their watch below,
while some were stationary mutter-
ing fiercely at the slackness of their
reliefs. From forward came the faint
ly gruf tones of the boatswain's mate;
"All the starboard watch--starboard
watch to night defence stations"
From outboard came the noise Of wave
rolling on to wave, threatening and
constantine song Of the sea which
poets, poor fools, have lauded. The
/ sound made Smith feel seasick.
Spray and Green Sea"
He reached the end of the battery
passing through a shower of spray at
its foremost end, and stumbled up the
ladder to the forecastle deck. Here
the spray and seas which were coming
in continuously swished against him
and the remnants of green sea-
| taken in right for-ard played round
! his ankles. He mounted another lad
der to the fore bridge, passing the
captain, signalman, and lookouts, and
sought the shelter Of the charthouse
An inch Of water lay on the deck here,
swishing from side to side with the
, roll Of the ship.
OCCUPYING half of the place was the
navigator; Smith stepped into the
other half. A chart of the North Sea
lay spread out ON the table. The nav
igator put his finger on the words
North Sea-" looked at Smith, looked
around the charthouse, clenched his
fists, raised them heavenwards, and
breathed heavily.
Lieutenant Smith, r. n, looked and
, felt lot, but said nothing The clock
showed 11:55.
With final glance at the chart to
note the ships position, Smith opened
the charthouse door and stepped out.
He mounted a shorter ladder to the
|, upper bridge, when the wind nearly
removed his sou'wester.
Half dozen gun and searchlight
control men were taking over the
watch; by the compass stood the off
Ger Of the eight to twelve watch.
"Tophole night, amt it?" this officer
{ said, as he observed his relief. Smith
{ said nothing They both ducked to-
gethcr as the ship Jumped into q
! wave, standing upright again as The
spray passed over to leeward.
4 "Socond ship Of the line" said The
rio. 0. w. "That's the fagship's sterr
/ light there. Steering northeast, speed
, fifteen knots; destroyers scullinp
about on either beam, guns and s.
! firth as usual. 'Appy days-so long
Z Smith was reused to speech. "Hali
mo'-let's have some Of that again,
/ he said. The late officer Of the watch
, amplifcd his information; then, after
allowing q few minutes for his relief
to pick up the run Of things, he gath
, cred up an empty thermos flask and q
+ couple Of other belongings and left the
/ fridge.
The sound Of his footsteps as he
went down the ladder reminded Smith
of funeral. To the northeastward
( from midnight TO A A. b., the squad
! ron steamed, ship stationed on ship
in an ordered formation. For one unit
| Lieutenant Smith was responsible.
Smith said nothing.-The London
, Chrouic1e