Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-06-30
CHAPTER xv.--contlnued.

something distinct and terrifying: but
hs seemed not surprised, but rather
satA fied that Alan had not heard. He
6ed his head at Alan's denial, and.
without reply to. Alan's demand, he
stood listening. Something bent him
forward; he Strengthened; again the
something came; again he straight
ened. Four times Alaa counted the
motions. Burr was hearing again the
four long blasts of distress But there
was no noise but the gale "The four
bldsts" He recalled old Burrs terror
outside the radio cabin. The old man
was hearing blasts which were not
blowni
He moved on and took the wheel.
lie was good wheelsmnn the vessel
seemed to be ste@tiier on her course
and somehow, TO steer easier when the
old man steered. His illusions of hear
Ing could do no harm, Alan consld.
cred; they were of concern only to
Burr and to him.
Alan fought TO keep his thought all
20 his duty; they must be now very
nearly at the position where the Rich
ardson last had heard the four long
blasts; searching for ship or for
boats, In that snow, was almost hope
less. With sight even along the search.
lights beam shortened TO few hum
bred yards. only accident could bring
Number % up for rescue only chance
could carry the ship where the shouts
or the blasts Of distress If the wreck
still floated and had steam-would be
heard.
They were meeting frequent and
heavy foes, and Alan gave warning of
these by halls to the bridge the bridge
answered and when possible the steam
er avoided the foes; when 1t could not
do TINT II cut through them. The wind
rowed ice beating and crushing under
The bows took strange, distorted, glis-
tenlng shapes. Now another such shape
appeared before them; where the glare
disslpated to bare glow In the swirl
ing snow, he saw vague shadow, The
man moving the searchlight failed to
see It, for he swung the beam on. The
shadow was so dim, so ghostly, that
Alan sought for IL again before he
hailed; he could see nothing now, yet
he was surer, somehow, that he had
seen.
Something dead ahead, sir" he
shouted back to the bridge.
The bridge answered the hail as the
searchlight pointed forward again. A
gust carried the snow in fierce furry
which the light failed TO pierce; from
the furry suddenly. silently, spur by
spar, a shadow emerged-the shadow
OF a ship. II was a steamer, Alan saw,
Il long, low-lying old vessel without
lights and without smoke from the fun
mel slantlng up Just forward of the
after deckhouse 1t rolled IN the trough
Of the sea. The sides and all the lower
works cleaned In ghostly phosphores-
cence, ii was refraction of the search
light beam from the ice sheathing all
the ship, Alan's brain told him; but
the sight OF that soundless, shimmerlng
ship matchmaking from behind the
screen OF snow struck tremor through
him.
"Shipr he hailed. "Ahead Dead
ahead, sir Ship"
The shout of quick commands
echoed to him from the bridge. Un-
the deck; the engines, instantly
stopped, were being set full speed as
tern. But Number 25, instead of
steering ar to right or left to avoid the
collision, steered straight on.
The struggle Of the engines against
he momentum of the ferry told that
others had seen the cleaning ship. or
at least. had heard the hail. The skip
pePs instant decision had been TO put
10 starboard; he had bawled that 20
the wheeisman, "Ilard over! But
though the screws turned full astern
Number 25 steered straight on. The
tiurry was blowing before the bow
again; back through the snow the Ice
shrouued simmer ahead retreated
Alan leaped away and up to tie wheel
house.
Men were struggling there the skip
per, n mate, aud old Burr. who bad
held the wheel. lie chung to II yet, as
one In a trance, fixed, staring ahead
his arms, stin, had been holding Num-
Der IS To her course. The skipper
struck him and beat him away while
the mate tugged at the wheel Burr
was torn from the wheel now, and he
made no resistance to the shippers
blows; but the skipper, In his frenzy
struck Trim again and knocked him &c
the deck.
Slowly, steadily. Number % was re
spending to her helm. The bow point
ed away, and the beam of tile ferry
came beside the beam of the slien
steamer; they were very close now, Sc
close that the semchlight which haC
turned to keep on the other vessel
shot above its shimmering deck an'
lighted -ssly'the spars and, as the wa
tef rosdWnd fell between them the
ships sucked closer, Number Is shoot
Sith an effort II seemed opposing viii
all the power OF It's screws some forc'
fatally drawing II on opposing viii
the last resistance before giving way
Then, as the water fell again, the ferr,
seemed to slip and be druwn toward
the Other vessel they mounted. sid'
sk.4 ~