Phoenix tribune., 1921-12-24
PAGE THREE

searchlight, but he did not attempt |
to use it, knowing full well that in
such 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 it
seemed that they must be within a
hundred feet Of the surf, Dan Hicks
trained his Lyle gun In the direction
of Mr.. Gibney's voice and shot heav-
ing line into the fog.
Almost simultaneous with the report
Of the gun came shrek Of pain from
Captain Scraggs. Straight and true
the wet, heavy knotted end Of the
heaving line came In over the Maggies
quarter and struck him in the mt Ith.
In the darkness he staggered back
from the singing blow, cIutched Wild
ly at the air, slipped and rolled over
among the vegetables with the pre-
cieus rope clasped to his breast
81 got it," he sputtered, II got 1t,
Gib."
"Safe. o." 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
II We make fast to the town. bits,
the 1rst jerk'll 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
nonncement Of the fact to the sx-
pectant Captain Hicks. "As soon as
you feel you've got grip on her." he
I yelled, 'just hold her steady so she
won't drive further up the beach when
I get my anchor up. She'll come out
like q loose tooth at the top of the
feod."
The Aphrodite forged slowly ahead |
taking in the slack of the hawser
Twenty minutes later, after much
backing and swearing and heaving Of
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
Maggies engine room. With a half
sob, he slid down the greasy ladder,
tore open the furnace doors and COM
menced shoveling in coal with 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 a barn dance around that rusty
capstan, maxim noise fit to frighten
the fish?"
mot much," came the laconic re-
ply. 'Tm a smart man. Pm raisin'
both anchors"
swell, all got to remark is that IT
takes q 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, /,
for one, can't see no sense in raisin'
It,"
"You tarnation jackassl" 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
4 ready to tow off in three shakes of a
lambs tail? 1t takes noise to get up
two anchors-so Pm maxim all the
noise l can. Got any steam?"
Eighty pounds" Scraggs confessed.
Having for the moment forgotten his
identity, he 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 l 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 fled to the winch.
At the end of five minutes, Mr.. Gibney
appeared and bade him desist. Then,
turning his improyised megaphone sea-
ward he addressed an imaginary
mate: Mr.. Thompson, have you got
your port anchor up?"
Scraggs took the cue Immediately.
"All clear forward, sir" he piped..
"Send the bosun ford an heave the
lead, Mr.. Thompson"
"very well, SIR"
Here The Squarehead, who had been
enjoying the unique situation immense
. ly, decided to take hand. Presently,
in sing-song cadence, he was reporting
the depth Of water alongside.
"That'I do, bosun," Gibney thun-
dered. Then, in his natural voice, to
Scraggs: can set, Scraggsy. Guess
we're ready to be pulled off. Get down
in the engine room and stand by for
full speed ahead when 1 give the