Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03

struggling bodies. arms, legs and
curses. He fought way to the sec
ond mates side.
i Guns" he said. Then he fired in
the air.
AS though a shock had run through
tho seamen. they ceased struggling
and looked to see what was happen
ing. They drew back, cycling the
menacing Colts muzzle with wide
eyes. The second mates gun covered
them. too. Fear they had OF the sea,
but that death at least was more re-
mote. A bull-necked Frenchman did
not think so. He rushed to the half
empty boat and reached for the gun
mel The captains revolver coughed
once more. The Frenchman's right
leg bent under him suddenly, as
though struck with an iron bar. He
| rolled to the deck and groaned. Had
he not caught loose grip lanyard
with spasmodic fingers, he would
| have gone overheard.
* < s:>a,
1.-THE fight was over. Those still in
the boat crawled sullenly out.
The third mate gathered together his
| n.
The second mate pocketed his re-
volver and grinned.
Scum, sir!' he said.
Che captain grunted.
us that so?" Then, irritably:
Happen to have a match about you?
I never. Seem to be able to get--ah.
thanks! Stay here with tho third
mate"
He moved away to whore the saloon
passengers stood. tucking his big gun
in his pocket, butt first. Ruffiing his
gaudy. wet feathers, tho ships mascot
and the captains pet. a small parrot,
was perched on the top Of a life-belt
box
',Pretty Polly" chuckled the cap
tain. stopping and tickling the birds
poll.
"Awk" the parrot said Indignantly.
"Is that sou
The captain chuckled again and
turned to the passengers. I'D get be-
low" he said mildly. growing serious.
Rather cold up here"
"But-but the DANGER shrilled a
woman
The captain shrugged.
None. The bulkheads are holding
all right. Well. have another ship
| along here in an hour or two. Go
along below. I'll call you IL any
things liable to happen"
He ushered thew down the monkey
! ladder as he would have ushered a
| flock Of obstinate sheep with waving
arms and a succession OF soft clucks.
Following the passengers down TO
the main deck, he ran across the
harassed saloon. steward and talked
to him severely for allowing his
charges to get panic-strfcke on enough
to leave their rooms. Protestingly.
the steward was waved away. The
captain went back to the bridge.
The wireless operator came to him,
his. young face haggard.
Cant get any answer, sir" he
said despairingly. 1T must be this
fog. 1t does sometimes block signals.
or q land station. What shall we do?
I'm sorry. sir"
do? Say, do you happen to have
a match about you?" The captain re-
moved his glove DO? why, you
can't do thing II your instruments
on the bum. Don't take 1t to heart.
\ hdtCn. les! HdHks. 1SuI1 diOHB
and keep trying, m'boy."
Thank you. sir" The operator
went away with a lighter heart.
The mate came on the bridge. wet
| with perspiration.
Most Of the poop's smashed Up"
he said. THE sounding machine
! wasn't damaged too much and
found it workable. But the fair lead
was gone. and the cant, of the deck
makes 1t impossible to take a sound
ing from where the machine Is. I've
got tho bos'n aft now with a man and
| some spanners getting the machine
loose. I.think I'll set It up midships
somewhere and run the wire through
| a block on the end of a BOOM"
Might work." grunted the captain.
ruffiing his beard with the palm of
his ungloved hand. He pulled on the
glove as he spoke again. This cur
rent must be settin' US down on the
coast, Larson. While the bos'n's busy
on the machine, you might see the
Iife-belt boxes are unlocked. Cut the
RATS adrift, too. Send me a man up
hero to run messages"
AYE. aye. sir!''
The mate turned away, wiping his
brow and feeling easier in his mind.
The captain was as carelessly imper-
sonal as II the Carroway was just
stean1ing into harbor on a. fine day
with all clear ahead.
An able seaman came on the bridge
some few minutes after the mate had
gone. He reported for duty.
Happen TO have q match about
you?" the captain inquired. The man
had. The captain lit a fresh cigar
and puffed away.
| I: r v
ITHROUGH the fog dull. moaning
noise became apparent G.nly
on the port bow. through the ghten-
ing fog, q thin line OF white appeared.
A man shouted from the foredeck.
The line Of white broadened and
spread ahead. The cry was taken UP
by the mon on the fiddley. knowing
that the Carroway was helpless, each
man still. in this emergency, appealed
to tho little gray-bearded figure on
the bridge with a cigar sasging from
one corner of his mouth and his
hugely gloved hands rubbing at his
chin. -.s 3. ...-..-. .-. =.
"Breakers!, Breakers on your port
bow, sir"
! rAhead, sir! Breakers aheadw
"Gott in Himmel! To der boats!"
J.; "Man overboardw came the second
mates shout above the mingled cries
as a man slid oversize from the fid-
dley deck. slippery with continuous
spray. shall We lower a boat, sir?'
i theoretically, the captain ruined
. ! hts hnoxd -rt