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

AphrOdite, which was edging I'm GIN
gerly toward the voice. He had
searchtight. but he did not attempt
to use 1t, knowing full well that in
such a fog it would be of no avail.
Guided, therefore, by the bellowings
of Mr.. Gibney, reinforced by the shrill
yips of Captain Scraggs, the tug crept
in closer and closer, and when 1t
seemed that they must be within n
hundred feet of the surf Dan Hicks
trained his Lyle gun in the direction
of Mr.. Gibney's voice and shot a heuv-
ing line into the fog.
Almost simultaneous with the report
of the gun came a shrek Of pain from
Captain Scraggs. Straight and true
the wet heavy knotted end Of the
heaving line came in over the Maggle's
quarter and struck him in the mouth.
In the darkness he staggered back
from the stinging blow, clutched wild
ly at the air, slipped and rolled over
among the vegetables with the pre-
cous rope clasped to his breast.
81 got It," he sputtered, II got 1t,
Glib"
Safe, or Mr. Gibney bawled. PAY
out your hawser."
They met it at the taffrail as It
came up out of the breakers, wet but
welcome. "Pass it around the main
mast, Scraggy," Mr.. Gibney cautioned.
"If we make fast to the town bits,
the first jerkll pull the anchor bolts
up through the deck"
When the hawser had been made
fast to the mainmast, the leathern
lungs Of Mr.. Gibney made due an
nouncement of the fact to the ex-
pectant Captain Hicks. GAS soon as
you feel you've got a grip on her" he
yelled, "just hold her steady so she
won't drive further up the beach when
| get my anchor up. She'll come out
like a loose tooth at the top of the
food"
The Aphrodite forged slowly ahead,
taking in the slack of the hawser
Twenty minutes later, after much
backing and swearing and heaving Of
lines the Bodega's hawser was also
put board the Maggie. Mr.. Gibney
Judged it would be safe now to fasten
this line to the towing bits.
Suddenly Captain Scraggs remem-
| bered there was no one on duty in the
! Maggie's engine room. With a half
sob, he slid down the greasy ladder,
tore open the furnace doors and COM
menced shoveling in coal with n reCk-
! lessnesS that bordered on insanity.
! When the Indicator showed eighty
! pounds of steam he came up on deck
| and discovered Mr.. Gibney walking
solemnly round and round the little
| capstan up forward. 1t was Creaking
and groaning dismally. Captain
! Scraggs thrust his engine room torch
above his head to light the scene and
gazed upon his navigating officer in
! blank amazement.
"What foolishness IS this, Gib?" he
demanded. "Are you clean daffy, do
in n barn dance around that rusty
capstan, maxim a noise fit to frighten
the fish,"
mot much" came the laconic re-
ply, I'm a smart man. I'm raisin'
both anchors"
"Well, all l got to remark Is that 1t
takes a smart man to raise both an
chors when we only got one anchor
to our blessed name. An with that
anchor safe on the fo'castle head, 1,
for one, can't see no sense in raisin'
it,"
you tarnation jackass!" sighed
Gibney. you forget who we are.
DO you s'pose the steamer Yankee
Prince can lay on the beach all night
with both anchors out, an then be got
ready to tow off in three shakes of a
lambs tail? 1t takes noise TO get up
two anchors-so I'm maxim all the
noise | can. Got any steamY
Eighty pounds" Scraggs confessed.
Having for the moment forgotten his
identity, be was confused in the pres
ence of the superior intelligence of his
navigating officer.
Run AFT, then, Scraggs, an turn
that cargo winch over to beat the
band until ! tell you to stop. With
the drum runnin' free she'll make noise
enough for a winch three times her
size, but you might give the necessary
yells to make 1t more lifelike."
Captain Scraggs fed to the winch
At the end of five minutes Mr.. Glbney
appeared and bade him desist. Then,
turning his imprOvised megaphOne sea-
ward he addressed an imaginary
mate: "Mr. Thompson, nave you got
your port anchor up2"
Scraggs took the cue Immediately.
"All clear forward, sir" he piped.
"Spnd the hOSun ford an hpavp the