Evening star., 1928-04-06

Victor Hugo. ts0e.1sss, was famous
French novelist and dramatist; AmonE, ns ~
hest known works are .tninnaer,as nne hnN ~ -
Notre Dame" and Les Mlsersnles
A noise was suddenly heard on the
shin unlike any other sound. The cap
tain and lieutenant rushed toward the
cun-deck. but could not get down. All
the sunners were rushing up in dis
NAV. Something terrible had just nap
pened. , ,,o.o
the most dangerous accident that
could possibly take place on WOODEN
warship of that kind. Nothing more
terrible ever happened to a sioop OF
war under full sail IN the open sea,
A cannon broken loose becomes a
strange supernatural sort OF oeast. IL
is a machine which has become a mon
ster. It rolls about like glanC DaiI'
plunges with the pitching OF the snip
goes. comes. stops seems 10 tnlnk
darts from one end of the deck to the
other. 1t bumps the railings like pat.
terinc ram against wall--a ram OF
iron against walls of wood. II does
colossal damage. -,
What can be done? How can this
live thing be stopped? A tempest stops
finally, wind will always die down, a
broken mast can be replaced, flre can
be put out--but what about this glgan-
tic brute of metal? II cannot be killed.
for H. is dead--and yet it seems 10 i've
It was the fault of the gun-captaln'
due to his carelessneSs, that the cannon
broke loose. GunnerS were IN the pat
terry getting ready in case there was a
signal for action The cannon, hurleo
forward by the pitching of the vessel
made a gap in this crowd of men and
crushed four of them at the first blow
AS it slid back 1t cut in two NTH un-
lucky man. All the men rushed to the
companionway. The gun-deck was
empty in a few seconds.
The great gun was left alone to dc
all the damage it pleased, and 1t seemed
to please to do much. It shattered four
other guns. and made two gaps in the
side of the ship. fortunately above the
waterline, but where the water might
come in during storms.
The captain ordered everything that
could check or interfere with the can
mons mad rushings to be thrown down
on the gun-deck-hammocks spare
sails. mattresses, rope. etc.-but what
could such rags do? No one went down
w pAdNC AAANS b~S0AAiN
threads and tatters in a few moments
The sea was just rough enough tC
make the accident very serious one
A violent storm might have upset the
cannon; more mild weather would have
made 1t easier to capture. Every move
ment of the loose cannon threatened
to destroy the ship. Shipwreck seemed
inevitable.
Suddenly a man was seen to appear
on the deck with the cannon, He hac
in his hand an iron bar. He was the
original cause of the disaster the gun.
captain, guilty of criminal carelessnes;
and now about to try TO remedy hi
neglect.
The contest that began was awful II
behold. The fight was between CUR
and gunner--a combat between mar
and a lifeless hunk of bronze Tht
man took up his position In a corner
with the bar and rope In his hands
He was waiting for the cannon TO roll
past him.
The gunner knew the gun-perhap.
the gun should have known him. He
had spent most of his life with 1t. HI
had often put his hand into It's fierce
mouth. II was his rnonster-he begar
now 10 address IL as though 1t coulc
iteHi, 90 tlc NOltU u luR. feTuhpS I1t
loved it,
The gunner seemed TO want the can.
non to come to him. But II IL came Il
him 1t would be only 10 come upon anc
crush him. Every one watched the un.
even contest in stark terror II was q
horrible and ghastly sight TO see 8 mar
dodging such a senseless thing as thai
giant cannon. II was a battle the like
Of which was never seen before. i
was a gladiator OF flesh attacking q
beast of brass. On one side there wa
brute force on the other a human soul
The cannon even seemed to have
eyes. II seemed to lie in wait fol
the man. It's former master II seemed
to choose its time. It was like som.
fairyland insect of metal. with the vii
of demon It's four wheels were lik'
the feet of tiger with which 1t seemed
TO run at the man. He was supple anc
nimble and expert. and always writhec
away like a serpent from all these
| lightning dashes of the cannon. Th'
man escaned hninr hit but the sfiT