Part 4 (1/2)

Again the gong sounded, and, looking up, Hal saw that the hand now indicated half steam ahead. He saw the ”chief” place his fingers on a big wheel and revolve it rapidly to the right. Then he moved a lever, and the big piston-rods shot downward, the crank plunged forward, swished round in a circle, and sent the propeller shaft rolling round.

The _Mohican_ trembled all along her length, and Hal felt her move ever so slightly. After that he had little time for observation, for his services were required.

About three in the morning the _Mohican_ cleared the bar, and slowed up to allow the pilot to leave. Then the gong sounded again, and the lever was pushed right over, giving full steam to the engines.

”There, she'll stick at that if we've ordinary luck,” said Masters.

”Your watch is up, Marchant, and I'd advise you to turn in and make the most of the off time, for you'll feel pretty boiled in four hours if you don't get a rest.”

Hoisting his weary body up the long ladder, Hal made for the greasers'

cabin, and, without troubling to undress, threw himself on the bunk. He was asleep almost immediately, in spite of the proximity of the engines.

Four days pa.s.sed uneventfully, and meanwhile the _Mohican_ had been steadily forging a course towards America. The weather had been fine, but for the past two days a fresh breeze had been blowing from the north, and now a fine sleet was accompanying it.

When Hal turned in at night, and lay down to make the most of the respite allowed him, the _Mohican_ was wallowing in the seas, and our hero was anything but comfortable. But he resolutely forced himself to swallow his evening meal. And now he lay down on the hard bunk, and at last he fell into an uneasy doze, when there was a terrific crash, and the _Mohican_ was thrown on to her side. Hal was hurled from his bunk, and was brought to a sudden stop by striking against the wooden wall, now in the position of the floor. Close beside him was the door, and he struggled to it, aided by the light given by the electric burners, which still did their work.

Then shrill cries and a loud thumping proceeded from the engine-room.

”There's trouble down there. She's on her beam ends,” thought Hal, in a half-dazed way. ”I suppose she's sinking.”

Next moment his soliloquy was cut short by the sudden righting of the s.h.i.+p. There was a tremendous tearing crash as the weight of water on her decks wrenched the rails and bulwarks away; then she swung into her proper position, throwing Hal violently to the other side of the cabin.

Instantly he sprang to his feet, and darted towards the engine-room. It was dangerous work descending, but Hal did not pause, and soon gaining the iron plates below, he saw a sight that made him pause in consternation.

”Good gracious!” he exclaimed. ”What a wreck!”

Close beside the door leading to the stoke-hole lay the ”second,”

motionless. Just within the door stood one of the stokers clutching the ironwork, and looking upon the scene as if in a dream. Farther to the right lay two other figures, while in the center was the most ghastly sight of all. Up and down, thrusting with irresistible force, the piston-rod of the low-pressure cylinder worked, revolving the crank which still hung loosely to its bearings, and tossing six feet of broken propeller shaft from side to side.

Thump, thump, thump! Time and again the sharp end crashed upon the plates, tearing them like paper. Bang! The bearing gave way, and the shaft of steel plunged downward, threatening to crash through the bottom of the s.h.i.+p.

What was to be done? Cut off steam? Yes. But who would take the risk?

for still that giant shaft swung like a flail, smas.h.i.+ng the floor of the engine-room; and all the while a huge jet of scalding steam shrieked from a severed pipe close by.

”It must be done,” said Hal to himself, taking in the situation at once.

”I'll do it.”

He waited a moment while the s.h.i.+p rolled her rails under, when he let his fingers slip from the ladder, and darted to the lever which cut off the steam.

Bang! Cras.h.!.+ The shaft struck the plates just beside his foot, and, giving him a violent blow upon the shoulder, sent him flying to the other side of the engine-room.

”I won't be beaten!” Hal exclaimed recklessly. ”It must be done, or the s.h.i.+p will go to the bottom.”

Once more he approached the lever, and with a jerk threw it over to the notch above which was stamped the word ”Off.” A moment later Hal felt a stunning blow on the side of his head, and fell to the floor as helpless and as unconscious as the ”second.”

What happened afterwards he did not know, but when he came to, he found himself lying in a corner of the engine-room, with Masters leaning over him, while a short length of rope secured him to a bolt in the wall, and prevented him from rolling with the s.h.i.+p.

”Pull yourself together now,” said the latter. ”There, sit up, and say how you feel. All right? Then I'll get off. We're in an awful mess below here.”