Year: 1874

/
slippery iron gratings.


| The chief was too old and stiff to 90
down-besides, as he remarked, he had a
wife and children, ETC., etc. He also re-
marked that l was not in that position
Further, he stated that knew we'll enough
that the third engineer had been i'll for
days, and now the fourth (who was a new
handy was either afraid or a-sick-he
said the latter.


Would 90 down?


That was the question.


l thought of the bonnie ltssie who had
put her arms tenderly round my neck and
kissed me when l said good-bye-I re-
called the fearful tender glance of her low
ing blue eyes, and the tone of her sweet
thrilling voice rs she said. "Oh, Willie,
take good care of yourself for my sake!"


Then l thought of my being ha she'd and
mangled among the machinery below.


That girl was my betrothed wife, and
her father had promised to bless our union
when l was a chief engineer-bM not till
then. Jennie and knew him to be a man
of his word, and Jennie was dutiful and
obedient daughter, and SO we waited and
hoped. The chief seemed to guess what
was passing in my mind, for he held out
his hand, and said, Z" If you manage this
Job, Willie, I'll back out-I've saved
enough now-I'm tired of going to sea-
and you'll be chief engineer next voyage.
there is my hand on it,


l grasped his hand-I knew that | was
sure of the first vancancy that occurred,
and | knew also that old Craigton would
keep his promise.


braced myself up, but still felt a chill
run through me, and my heart throbbed in
my throat for minute.


But | felt rs if this were my chance to
obtain possession of Jennie. 1t was the
old feeling of chivalry-doing a daring
deed for Il woman's sake.


l stood on deck for n minute OF two
The screaming blast of wind and the
heavy clouds of spray acted like tonics. l
soon gained complete elf-possession, and
descended to my desperate work. Old
Craigton stood by to choke off the stream
when the engine began to race.


Down | went-dOwn into that hole where
| had even less mercy to expect than in a
descended to the depths-with the vision
of a fair woman before me.


Soon | was in the midst of the turmoil
slipping, grasping, gasping, painting,
perspiring at every pore. Sometimes my
head began to reel, but by strong effort
| steadied myself The whole thing was
like a hideous nightmare.


\ few minutes sufficed to enable me to
detect the mischief-and saw at once that
it could be remedied, and also that it was
quite time it should be. A few minutes
more, and the nut would have been off
altogether, and the engine would then have
torn herself to pieces in two strokes.
Bracing all my energies. | succeeded in
applying my screw-key again and again.
1t required great quckness of hand to seize
the second of time in which turn could
be given. | now found the value of my
Clyde training. On the Clyde AN engineer
is taught all about the parts of an engine
he learns to do all that requires to be
done in case of break down. | now felt
the value of this broad engineering edu-
cation.


At length | succeeded in making all
tight-just as my head began to swim, and
my sight began to grow indistinct How
| managed to climb and scramble up again
scarcely know. Old Craigton and one of
the tiremen hauled me up part of the way
by catching hold of my coat collar. When
| got on deck. | tainted and fell.
But now the engine could be worked
firmly, and we were sared.


! did not do much more work during Q
that voyage. / was utterly exhausted
my nerves were quite unstrung. But got
my reward.


When we came into port the passengers
gave me dinner, and presented me with
this watch-read the inscription-and
was feasted and fiattered till my head was
nearly turned. The chief and captain both
spoke well for me, and l was appointed
chief engineer to a new steamer which the
company had just launched.


All these things We're but means to IN
end l grudged every minute that was
away from my sweet lassie.


l would not tell You all that we said and
looked when we met-no, not for the world
for Jennie then would never forgive me-


Well, I'll say this. When l clasped her
in my arms. and felt her arms Tightening
round me, and when | felt her hot tears
well, well. Jennie, I'll say no more.


We were made man and wife when
came home from my first voyage as chief
And in few years the company gave me
a good post on shore, with a snug salary


So rll 60 to sea no more.


And these are the BARNS, two laddies
and three lasses. Do you think that they
take more after the mother or me9