The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1921-11-24
CHAPTER III.

In the Office Of the Red Stack Tug
Boat company Captain Dan Hicks,
master of the tug Aphrodite; Captain
Jack Flaherty, master of the Bodega,
and Tiernan, the assistant superin-
tendent on night watch, sat around
hot little box stove engaged in that
occupation so dear TO the maritime
heart, to-wit: spinning sea yarns.
The telephone rang and Tiernan an
swered. Hicks and Flaherty hitched
forward in their chairs to listen.
Hello. Yes, Red Stack office.
. Steamer Yankee Prince. {.
What's that? . silk and rice? . q.
Half a mile below the Cliff house
Eh? Sure, I'll send a tug right
away, Lindstrom."
Tlernan hung up and faced the two
| shippers. Gentlemen" he announced,
"here's a chance for little salvage
money tonight. The American steam
er Yankee Prince is ashore hGlf a
mile below the Cliff house. SHE'S a
big tramp with a valuable cargo from
Hong Kong with the rudder gone and
her crank shaft busted"
ITS high water at twelve thirty
seven,' Jack Flaherty pleaded. You'd
better send me, Tiernan. The Bodega
has more power than the ApbrOdite." D."
This was the truth and Dan Hicks
knew 1t, but he vas not to be beaten
out Of his share of the salvage by
such hlmsy argument. Jack" he
| pleaded. don't be a hog all the time.
The Yankee Prince is an eight thou
sand-tOn vessel and it's twO-tug lob.
Better send us BOTH Tiernan and play
safe. Chances are our competitors
have three tugs on the way right
now"
"What wonderful Imagination you
!, You're crazy, man. She's thirteen
hundred net register and l know it be.
cause | was in Newport News when
they launched her, and l went out with
her skipper on the trial trip. She's a
long, narrow-gutted craft, with en-.
gines aft, like lake steamer"
"We1l play safe" Tiernan decided
"Go to it-both of you, and may the
best man win. She'll belong to you
Jack, If she's thirteen hundred net and
you get your line aboard first. If she's
as big as Dan says she is, you'll be
equal partners"
But he was talking to himself
Down the docks Hicks and Flaherty
were racing for the respective com
mands, each shouting to his night
watchman to pipe all hands on deck
Fortunately, a goOdly head of steam
was up in each tugs boilers; because
of the fog and the liability to COLI
sions and consequent hasty summons
one engineer on each tug was on duty
Out through the Gate they nOseC
their way, heaving the lead cOntinu
ously, made a wide detOur around Mil,
rock and the Seal rocks, swung
mile to the south of the position o.
the Maggie, and then came CautiOusl!
up the coast, whistling COntinuousl!
to acQuaint the Yankee Prince will
their presence in the neighbOrhoOd
, In anticipation Of the necessity fo
replying to this welcome sound, Cap
| tam GCTdBBS anu MI. 6lDIey ndu, To-
the past two hours, busted themselves
, getting up another head Of steam II
the MRggie's boilers, repairing tn,
whistle and splicing the wires Of tn,
engine room telegraph. Like the wis,
men they were, however, they declined
to sound the Maggie's siren until thu
tugs were quite close. Even then, Mr.
? Gibney shuddered, but needs mus
; when the devil drives, so he pulled
the whistle cord and was rewarde,
, with a weird, mournfu grunt, dyin,
away into gasp.
. Sounds like she has the pip" Jacl
Flnherty remarked to his mate.
J "Must have taken on some Of tina
) dirty Asiatic water" Dan Hicks solilo
. qulzed, land now her tubes have gon,
: to glory"
/, Immediately both tugs kicked aheat
: under a dead slow bell, guided by
? series OF toots as brief as Mr.. Chine,
could make them, and presently bOtl