Under the Star-Spangled Banner

left his bunk and sought somethin

saloon. It was full, and he took a long and satisfying drink. That

ere is scarcely any wind. That gives the Mohican

shirt off, he bent beneath the spouting water which gushed out, and thoroughly soused himself. "That's bette

engineer's ca

," someo

ship's doctor engaged in

the doctor. "More casualties?

iend. How is he? I left him here yesterday morning, with a big cu

e ever since. He has a crack across the top of his head that would kill the ave

ad been unending. That was barely twenty hours ago, and now all was still. The wreck of a portion of the fine engines was piled against the side, wound round with innumerable lengths of cable. Then, at the end of it all, a mass of blanket and

t Hal. "I had better find the

r at this moment Mr. Broom appeare

've had my eye on that rent all night, and the

ir. Why not turn in? Leave this job to me. I'll get the

done by someone else. The poor old chief is dead, and the 'second' was knocked out of time by the first smash, so I'm in sole charge

what to do, and then turn in and have a sleep. There will be heaps to get in order when you awake,

of grime which covered his face. "I'm done, and need a good rest to put me right. I'll tell you how we'll manage it. You slip up and get a bite and a cup of tea; then

breakfast. The mess-room was empty, and when Hal looked into the cabin occupied by the engineer of

d," he said. "I'll go to the pantry

e alleyway, and moun

he asked of one of the stewar

rty answer. "You fellows down below have wo

to the shelves of the pantry. "Everything is upside do

big tongue on to a plate. He cut off a slice, and making a sandwich, handed it to Hal. Then a

my comrades were so fatigued by the healthy exercise you gave us, that we retired immediately the trimming was completed,

responded; "but there is

ht be made for volunteers," said Mr. Br

s who keep steam in two of the boilers, and the third engineer, the place is quite empty. Mr. Broom is done up, an

; you must not refuse. We are all equals and comrades on this ship, and no one could object to your taking

would have led to a scene, and the fact would have been reported to the captain. But things were changed now. The Mohican was little better than a wreck, her crew diminished, and those who were left were incapab

them cried. "Come along, or you will

y, and tucking the roll of tongue and brea

round him and plied hi

ed?" asked one of

r we need not fear, but if the gale blows up again, the Mohican may very easily go to

f passengers, and was rewarded

Mr. Brindle. "And when the r

ds and cranks removed. I fancy I know enough about engines

s a rarity. As a consequence, one becomes something of an expert one's self. Many a time I have had to e

ossible, and I would suggest

two parties as before, and you can exp

saloon. Then he went for'ard

d a saw down in the engine-room," he sa

answer. "There, the store is under the p

wo long planks. These he carried to the engine-room. Then he made other tri

wn and free the poor fellow, for he looked

he were incapable of controlling his limbs. But he was not the one to give in easily. He reache

batch of passengers appeared

e, and at the mass of blankets displaced by the sea. "It seems to me that something stronger

ich will go from end to end of the rent. Then back them with cross-pieces. If nailed together in that pos

d with tar, and stretch it over the blankets. When the edges are squeezed into the rent they will kee

ooking very business-like in their shirt-sleeves, set to at

cranks," said Hal. "It has to be d

m he found the rent safely plugged, the wreck of the engines securely braced, an

ottom of the ladder, and fel

a barrel, the wreck stayed up with yards of cable, and all the movable parts unshipped and set aside.

were dead tired, and left the engine-room to me. Our friends, th

rection of this lad. It seems extraordinary that he, who never saw the machinery of a big ocean-going steamer until a week ago, should so soon be placed in a position of r

pulp? Why, this kid. I'm not going to say one word about the other part, though we don't forget in a hurry that it was he who stuck like blazes to the trimming. And now he

Mr. Brindle. "But come along to the

of your good works till later. But when the time comes for you to seek for a job o

exclaimed Mr. Brindle

the deck, for the time had come to commit to th

rs to bear them down to their last resting-place, the chief engineer and two hands lay awaiting the last rites at the hands of their friends. Very earnestly, and as if he would emphasize every word, the captain read the burial serv