Part 4 (2/2)
He went across the iron plates, clinging to anything that would give him a holding. Hal watched him dreamily at first, and then with awakening interest. Then he moved, and a violent pang shot through his shoulder.
”George!” he groaned, ”I feel badly knocked about. That shaft has given me a nasty bang, for my head's aching as if it would burst, and I am sore all over.”
He lay back again, but thinking his services might be of use soon, sat up again and struggled to his feet.
”There's work to be done,” he said doggedly, ”and I am going to take a share of it.”
CHAPTER IV
A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Hal stood up and looked about him, feeling still dazed. Shouts filled the engine-room, and figures were hurrying to and fro. Suddenly the voice of ”Old Yank” rang out clear:
”Boys,” he said hoa.r.s.ely, ”this here s.h.i.+p's done for right away ef we're not precious slippy. That 'ere shaft'll be breaking clean away with the next big roll, and will sweep the whole room. Bustle there, and let's get cables and anything that's handy to shear things up. Here, Masters, skip off, and see what's to be had.”
The latter, who was behind the ma.s.sive pillar that supported one end of the cylinders, started for the ladder.
”I'll help,” cried Hal. ”Hold on, Masters; I'll come with you.”
”So; that aer the way--that aer the style of grit,” answered the young engineer. ”Come along then,” he continued; ”there's precious little time ter lose. That shaft has cracked the base of the big pillar, and ef another of those rolls catches her, she'll carry away every cylinder in the place.”
He ran up the ladder, and Hal followed, feeling at first so stiff and sore that he could scarcely move.
”We want cables badly,” said Masters. ”Look here, Marchant, I'll skip along for'ard while you go aft. Find the quartermaster, and get him to help you. If he's my way I'll send for you, and if not I'll return.
Savvey? Then off, and mind your toes as you cross the decks, for I've heard that there has been a clean sweep.”
Turning on his heel, he groped his way along the pa.s.sage, clinging to the rail to keep himself upon his feet. Hal went in the opposite direction, until he reached the alleyway, which led to the well-deck.
And here another sight was presented to him.
”A clean sweep, as Masters said,” he murmured. ”Derricks the only things remaining, and not a sign of bulwarks. Ah! it's going to be a nasty place to cross.”
Of this there could be no doubt, for the waist of the s.h.i.+p had filled to overflowing as she lay on her beam ends, and on righting, the water had torn the rails away on either side, and hurled overboard everything that was not built into the frame of the s.h.i.+p, or securely bolted to it. Only the derrick engine remained in the center, and Hal looked across a level sweep of wet and soppy deck between himself and the p.o.o.p. At that moment an enormous wave curled over the side, and fell with all its force upon the _Mohican_. She s.h.i.+vered at the blow, and then recovering, reared her bows high in the air, sending the water rus.h.i.+ng across the waist and over the side. Now was the time, and Hal made the most of it. He darted from the alleyway and raced across the slippery deck. b.u.mp! The _Mohican_ buried her bows deep in the sea, and at once a fresh wave rose high in the air, to fall with a crash upon the deck.
It was a moment of peril, and Hal sprang towards the derrick engine, and, pa.s.sing his arms through the spokes of the fly-wheel, clung there with might and main. Instantly he was buried in a foaming ma.s.s of water.
His limbs were almost pulled from his body, so great was the drag, but just as his strength was exhausted, the s.h.i.+p lurched and tossed the water off. A minute later Hal gained the p.o.o.p, and clambered upon it by means of the hydrant pipes, for the ladders had long since gone overboard.
”Now for the quartermaster,” he gasped.
He crossed to the deck-house, and pulled open a door. It shut to upon him with a bang, and he was precipitated across the narrow cabin.
”Hallo! What's up?” cried a man who was seated on the floor in one corner, busily preparing some las.h.i.+ngs. ”One of the greasers! What is it, lad?”
”I want some lengths of cable for the engine-room,” Hal answered. ”The propeller shaft has broken, and the cylinders may carry away. Can you help me?”
”Help! Why, I'm full up with work already,” the quartermaster replied, ”but ef yer want cables there's plenty of ten-foot lengths under the floor, in the lockers. Now you can see to it yourself, though how on airth you're going ter get 'em across to the engines is more than I can guess.”
Hal knelt at the opening in the floor, and laboriously dragged five lengths of cable out.
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