A COWBOY OF THE SEA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10957, 23 December 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

A COWBOY OF THE SEA.

(By John Fleming Wilson.)

The directors of the California and 1 Far-Eastern Steamship Company had I listened to the auditor'.- semi-annual report. and the pr..-.-idonl was trying to ( explain whv he th'.u'.:ht it b-.-t to cmiiuv off £634. ;<*. h~> to pr ; .nt and 1 ,-. His i associates, who included tv/'i banker-, a. lumber merchant. a:.d a _:t--tu'<-d oatt.em.in. scowled at :::t- jt.:..-!:>.•': suviace -» the 'littered tab!- ak ag which t::> y -at and- refused even a n-d <.: approval. "I am sure." th- president concluded, "that it will Iv? cheaper to lay trie ueiviile up permanently _thaii - l U1 " "'-' ° keep her in commission." "It is exactiv one year, since we bought her. and' it was understood at ■ the time that we were getting a firstclass vessel very cheap" snapped a banker."l fail to understand the situation." . . ,-, "I've done mv best to make it plain, rejoined the president wearily. "I ve told vou the Melville was launched three vears ago in Scotland as the Hawarden CVtle and that she ran ashore two vears a-o off Fort Point, in this harbor mrt as%he was starting for Antwerp witli a load of grain. The underwriters took her over, repaired her, and sold her to us for two hundred and ten thousand dollars—half her actual cost. We registered her under the American flag, and added her to our fleet. Now ]ust listen to the history, of the past, year, gentleman, and you will comprehend my purpose when I recommend - that theMelville be written off as a bad investment. , - "On her first voyage tinder our flag she ran aground outside Yokohama, and it cost us one hundred and eleven thousand dollars before we were through Her next vovage was to Honolulu and when we pnlled .her off the reef the Melville had additional charges of seventy-six thousand dollars against her .Tien occurred the lamentable collision netweeri the Melville and our own newexpress steamer Inyo resulting, as vori' know," in the. sinking of the Inyo. InC accordance with the terms of tlie findings at the- investigation we were fbreed to charge one-half of that loss aKjniKst the Melville. And a month ago sfifdSd .fifty thousand dollars worth of damage to the dry. dock at Hunter's Point? The . total deficit, over and above the earnings of the Melville, now charged to her. is, as I have said, approximately six hundred and fifty . thousand' dollars." -"But why lay her up? Why not keep her-running and make her pay that off?" demanded another director. ?Tlie~president took off his glasses and rubbed his .lids. "That, gentlemen, is for you to determine," he remarked. "But my "advice, is:. Put. that vessel in Oakland Creek and leave her there." . ?,'Hum I" muttered the lumberman. "Who. got us into this mess?" was. a unanimous vote of the bdrawl," -the president replied. . -The cattleman glanced up, his blue eves.'meeting the chairman's quest 1011ingly. . "is I understand it." he said in a soft voice, "the Melville is a kind or odfiaw?. Do I get you?" *"% can't sleep o' nights as long as she iß",ia;«>mmission," sighed the president. '"Haven't we a man who can handle continued the cattleman. "Suppose we listen to our general superintendent about this." the president suggested, ringing a bell, d A.short, heavily-built, and elderly man stepped in. His keen eyes under grizzled brows swept the board and rested on,the chairman. : '.'l-am here, sir," he remarked in a hoarse, tone. . "Captain," the president began, the directors wish to know exactly how it is that.the Melville costing us so much. Cani you.infonn us?" ,sshe- cost us more than money ._

•ambled the superintendent, laying lib leavr Jiand on the corner of the table. "''Heaven knows the money end of it s.enough io make us sweat," said a. >anker. "Yes. sir," the superintendent went m.' "She's cost this company the services of three of the best skippers that 'Ter'took a ship out of her berth." "I remember we fired Slocum after &at .'Yokohama fiasco," murmured anither director. .J-'And it wasn't Slocunrs fault," said the.superintendent; -"no more than :t was Harrison's fault that the Melviile went on the reef at. Honolulu. You fired Harrison, after being master ten years and never having an accident. Then Martin lost his ticket because of the collision with the Inyo. It wasn't Martin's fault." -'1 don't recall whom we discharged for, doing all that damage to the drydock* with her" Baid the lumberman. -"You've got to fire me for that," said the elderly superintendent. ,- I was ia charge .of .the Melville a£ the time." •Inrthe silence that followed this bluff statement the president resumed his glasses and studied his papers. A vague smile hovered about the corners of his mouth... He did.not lift his eyeswheu a director remarked in a keen voice: '1 am in the dark. Will you please explain ; to me, Mr Superintendent, "why it is that this company is unable to- find a master for the Melville? Have we no seamen " • The.old man's face took on a deeper flush. .

.'-■f'"We've seamen as good as any. sir" hj& muttered.. "I- myself never had an accident in forty years till that blasted steamer nosed into the concrete and bit out a steel gate like a mouse into cheese." "You. can't tell me that a first-class man can'*.: handle a .first-class ship," snapped the director. "What this company needs is new blood." Tha. ex-cattleman shook his head. 'I reckon/the Melville is just an outlaw;" he, .said gently.. He turned his bine eyes on.the superintendent. "Do you think yon know of any fellow who might take that ship and make her behave?" he drawled. ' "NoV I" was the prompt answer. "You couldn't get a. captain for her on the Coast. "With three men out of a job. on account of. her, no man in his senses is going to risk his own certificate and his reputation ami his living on her. 1 don't want ever to see her again!"; ; -.fCan. you give me any notion of just what tis "the. matter with this ship?" continued the cattleman gently. "I...don't know," was the slow response.; "She won't handle, sir. She is crazy I Just goes her own way spite of helm and engines. Old Harrison told me.she went on. the reef down at Honolulu after he'd tried for half an hour to keep her. off. Just took a sheer and went ashore.. - Lay her up, sir," he burst out, "or she'Jl be the death of us all " „ !2l think we,had better sell her if she is-going .to uemoralise our employees this way," .said a sharp voice. can't sell her,'? said the presi-dent-wrfcb ,a:grin. . "Aobody would take her as a gift!'.' A new silence followed this and tho chairman resumed the scrutiny of the papers before him. Suddenly the cattleman spoke .out. *'l always like to bet against mvself." he-remarked.slowly. "I'll tell voii what I'M do. .I'll buy that Melville" ship from the company and run her mvself if you jwill charter her from me on a cargo r hasis." ''l.niust insist that we have no further liability" said the president. fix that to suit yourself" answered the cattleman. "I'll give vou tworhundred thousand dollars for her. ' remarked a banker, I think ; yon ought to pay more than that.

u- -^ il « t s m - v P nce for ker," drawled his fellow director. "And from what I ve.heard to-day I think it's a little* above what you ought to expect." Ttte superintendent cleared his throat. "It's none of my business, Mr Snowden, he rumbled; "but I wouldn't .have that ship at any price, sir." 'Oh, I reckon I'll risk it, captain," was the response. "Now do vou gentlemen wish to sell her to me" for two hundred thousand dollars?" **l.do," said the chairman ferventlv. "I move you " began a banker, and in two minutes the Melville was li - v .„, so i cl T ,° ' J " I!U Snowden and 434,765.1-3 w<.-re ordered charged off to profit an-1 loss. "And may "we never have such a proposition on our hands again!''' ejaculated the president. The meeting over, John"Snowden walked out of the boardroom, his felt hat on the hack of his head. He stopped a moment in the superintend- ] ent's office.

"Say, captain.'' he remarked gently. leaning over that, officer's desk, ''what's the matter with that vessel anywav?"

The grizzled seaman looked up.

"If I wore a younger man I'd find out," ho replied. ''But -" ".Sure." said Snowden easily. '•'We need you here. 1 reckon I can find S'jiii'- one to take charge of her. If I can't I'll run her myself." He grinned Middoidy at the older man's blank face. "But vou're no .sailor," rumbled the

'•'! havt-i;"t had any real fun for fit- | 1 teen .war-." Snowden went on thought- I .■ fully.' "And this looks to me like a i heap n' fun." He walked out, leaving < ;li>'"--uj:erintendent to stare after him. For .1 week John Snowden might have been seen loafing round the San Fran- • cisco water-front, soft felt hat tilted on ■ his head, a cigar between his teeth. and an expression of good humor on every feature. At times he would walk down a pier and watch a ship warp in, or riggers at work far up among the lofty "spars of a sailing vessel. Now and" then he would go aboard of some likely-looking steamship and ask for the I captain. Sometimes he would merely introduce himself and chat a moment; at other times he would invite the skipper to lunch and there gently pump him as to the Melville. Meanwhile that craft rode to her anchor off Mission Rock in charge of a watchman. Twice Snowden broached the subject of a job on the Melville to master mariners who took his eye.; Both times he was given to understand that no captain in his senses would touch, the brute. After the last rebuff he smiled nlore warmly than: ever and said .to himself. '.'This is going to be fun." Gradually he. abandoned the big steamer and began to keep a keen eye on the tugs that went.in,and. put on ■their business. He became a familiar figure at the piers where the boats_ lay with steam up, and his cigars gained a reputation among the hard-worked superintendents and wharfingers. He spent two weeks watching the mates and skippers, took one trip outside, to see how' they managed to get hold of big sailing ships and tow them,in, and then drooped into. an. office ,on East street and asked for Captain Gaines. A tall, lanky man of thirty, came, out of an inside* room and shook hands with him. _. "Anj-thing yon want me for, Mr Snowden?" 'he asked, brushing his curly hair back under his cap. "Yes," said the ex-cattleman. "I want you to take charge of a. steamer of mine." "Mv word!' said the young captain. "Didn't know you needed me in the big line." , ~ "I'm not getting skippers for the company," Snowden remarked, offeringGaines a cigar. "I'm looking for a master for a vessel of my own. I'd like mighty well to have you take her. Gaines smiled. - . "I certainlv thought yon were going to offer me that Melville," he remarked.' "I understand that your company has offered her to everybody except myself and the watchman on the dock." "It is the Melville," Snowden drawled, puffing at his cigar. "I bought her from the company." The young man's smile broadened into "Sav Mr Snowden. are you a kind of marine Salvation Army ? Do yon really know the reputation of that packet? She's snnnosed to be a lost soul, all right." "So I'm told." Snowden went on; "but I generally like to liavo something to occivpv mv mind, and I've had michtv little to do for, a long while. I kind of thought the Melville would keep me busy." "You know I've got- a. pretty nice little tug." Gaines remarked. "It is a nice little tug," Snowden agreed; "but it's only a tug. The Melville is some bigger." "Some bigger!" Gaines snorted. " She's a good eight thousand tons, that Melville is—of wickedness!" "Maybe she's never been handled right." the cattleman suggested. "You've had three of the best men on the Pacific in her," was the crisp answer. "I'd really like you to take her, Snowden insisted gently. "She'll -be under charter to our company and all that. Only I own her and I'm responsible if she misbehaves. I have a notion that ship ain't ever been really taken charge of. She's young and sort of skittish " '•Skittish!" exclaimed the tugboat captain. "My word ! Look what she's done the last year!"

Snowden's voice suddenly became incisive.

"Will you go as captain of her?" "How much time have I got to think it over?" said Gaines, also dropping his languor. "Three minutes." was the reply. Gaines relaxed. "Oh. if you put it that way, what s the use of discussing it. I'll go."

"Come on." said Snowden. "Wait a minute until I throw up my job." was the response. "I'll be back in five minutes." . At the end of that time Gaines came out of the inside room with his cap gone and replaced by a hat. "The boss told me I was crazy," he remarked as they passed out into the street. .

"They intimated to me that I was kind of insane to buy the ship," Snowden returned.

"Well," said Gaines capably, "let's go and have a look at her. Maybe we can make the old girl .behave herself. We'll get a launch at Peterson's and run ud."

That night a launch deposited two dirty and tired men at the foot of Mission" Street. As they stretched their le«s across the olanks Snowden remarked:

"Is she in good, shape?" [ "Everything has been done except to cure her bad temper,". Gaines replied. "That's up to me. My word!" He shook his lanky figure and met his employer's eyes. "I appreciate your giving me the job," he said simply. "And you can have her ready for cargo by tho first of the week?" Snowden inquired with a slight wave of the hand.

"Sure. I'll get a crew to-morrow and berth her wherever you say on Monday morning. Now I must go down and get mv stuff off the tug. Good night!" Snowden walked to his rooms, changed his clothes, ate a hearty supper, and then took a car out to the home of the president of the California and Far Eastern. When he had been welcomed by three children he retired with his host into a den.

"Can you give mo a cargo on Monday morning for the"Melville, Sinclair?" he asked.

"Sure. But how in the dickens did you ever find a master for her?" "Oh, I've been, looking round and I came across -a young fellow running a tng who struck me as about the man I was after. I offered-him the job and he took it. Just let me know what pier you want him to berth her.at on Monday morning." * , Sinclair glanced at his associate and smiled. ■ , .

: "It's your funeral," he- remarked. "But I tell you I'm glad the Melville isn't on my conscience any mpre." His tone fell into earnestness. "And remember, old man, that the Melville may break yon. Just be ready to stand from under when she begins to pile the charges up on you. The man doesn't live who has money enough to finance a;hoodoo ship."

Snowden grinned. "I expect to make my .everlasting fortune out bFher."

"We've got 6000 tons of freight for the_ Columbia River ready for her," Sinclair added. "And you can. bring wheat down. Have you a good man for her?"

"I'll trust him," said Snowden quiet-

On Monday morning the ex-cattle-man stood on the end of a pier and watched six tug 3 trying to get the Melville into her.berth. He could sec theslim fitjure of Gaines on the bridge "'and hear the hoarse yells of ttigboat masters as the great hull refused to respond to their exertions. Twice sheer bows ! loomed up over the big slued.* piled high with preciorts freight and twice the tugs dragged her away just in time. For a full five, minutes the MelviJle lay in the fairway, held between wicd and tide. Then a while of white water foamed up under her high stern, and Snowden hoard the hoarse voire of the old superintendent in liis cars. 'You'd better come bacik with me. sir, Mr Snowden!"' he growled. "That packet will sure fetch ibis pier clean away! What kind of a fool have you got for a captain? Look at him! Say, he'll do a hundred thousand dollars'

worth of damage in the nest five, minutes!"

Snowden shook his head and watched the threat mass swing slowly and forge ahead. He heard the shout of a tugboat man. a scream of impotent rage from the superintendent who now danced agilely on the edge of the planks and waved frantic arms. Then he heard the screech of taut hawsers as the .six tugs backed furiously. A moment later the lofty stem slipped into the opening of the siip and nosed gently toward and along the fender piles. A •leaving line thumped behind him. He saw wire cables spin out from the steamer on every side. He looked up and saw Gaines smiling down at him. The -Melville was safe in her berth. The superintendent was wiping his forehead with a red handkerchief and staring into his hat. if or five days the freight poured into the big hatches of the Melville while Snowden either loafed about the captain's quarters or .sunned himself on the pier. The night of the fifth day Gaines came into his cabin. ""We're all . ready for sea," he remarked. "And that coastwise trip to the Columbia River .will certainly prove whether this packet is to be handled or not. My word!".... Snowden answered his.grin and. said: "I'm going up with you.'.'.. .'.-._: "Want : to. see;just how. the old girl behaves?" _.-.•'.

"Well," the ex-cattleman remarkedj "I never like-to ask ,a marrto take my risks:'-alone. I reckon I'll be just.about useless, but then. I can always: back you up." . .--. ...... "Take my room .here," said Gaines genially. "I'll hunk in the chartroom." .-"I'll take.-nobody's room," was the brief reply. "You sleep here, son. I guess I can find a bed. all right.". Gaines threw his cap on the desk and brushed his hair ..with brown fingers.

"Say," he burst put, "we'll have to show these people something. Did.ye hear. what the .old superintendent was howling at me that morning .we berthed here?"

"I heard him howl some," Snowden admitted, ''but I, didn't catch what he said." .

"Ho called me an infant navigator," Gaines replied with, a smile. "The old boy, couldn't, think of anything else to say. But there —I don't wonder he was afraid for his wharf. I was afraid myself!'' .-....*.. "You didn't look much scared."

"My word! If I looked scared every time.l was I'd.be an awful warning," snorted the young man. "And there have been mighty good men. on this ship." "Mighty good men aren't always good- enough," Snowden remarked. "I reckon you understand that this ain't a ship for mighty good men. It's a ship tor a man." "Much obliged," Gaines murmured. "If you'll excuse me I'll turn" in. It maybe my last good sleep." . "Who's your chief engineer?" Snowden inquired, rising. "Webber. Wait a moment and I'll bring him up and introduce you to him."

Snowden held up Lis hand. "No. You're running the ship. I'll meet him some other time. Goodnight!" An hour' later Snowden in his stroll along the deck met the chief mate anxiously surveying his moorings. That officer nodded and remarked: "They say she'll fetch adrift in a dead calm with twenty lines ashore." "Ever heeii on her before?" Snowden asked carelessly. "Who? Me?" demanded the mate. . "Not I. I'm along this voyage just because Gaines wouldn't listen to my tears. I've got a wife and children ashore, and 1 can't risk my ticket on such packets as these." v "I observe you are here," was the calm response. "And Gaines is my fault," murmured the owner. "This thing has got to go through all right." Next morning early two tugs appeared to chaperon the Melville into midstream, and as soon as they were fast alongside Gaines ordered his lines in and the deeply laden steamer slowly backed out of the slip. That she barely missed sinking a ferry boat elicited various shouted comments addressed to the imperturbable Gaines. He merely smiled. -" It took fifteen minutes to straighten the vessel out for the channel ; then the tugs cast off and Snowden felt the steady, heavy beat of the engines. He left his position at the rail and went to the bridge, where his captain paid no attention to him whatever until Alcatraz was astern and the Melville was swung for the Golden Gate. As they passed Mile Rock at a twelveknot dip Snowden saw the young skipper's face relax and heard his lowvoiced comment to the mate: "If we can miss the Farallones now we're all right." "Till we get to the Columbia Kiver bar," that officer returned gloomily. "By that time," said Gaines, "we'll have trained this ship to behave herself." Then he walked across to Snowden's side and remarked: "I'm not turning the engines up to their capacity. We'll make the bar at daylight at this gait. No use of butting in at night-time." All day long the Melville steadily ploughed along the coast, lifting now a mountain, now a cape, which rose, loomed largely and then diminished, astern. Snowden wondered how it was that so even-gaited a vessel could have gained a bad name. He was slightly curious at the evident and constant watchfulness of his young captain, whonever left the bridge for a moment and was always giving low-voiced orders through the trap-hatch to his-helms-man. Now and then he observed, a slight swing in the big, powerful bows, always followed by the rattle of the tiller ropes' and the champing of the steering-engines on the main deck; but he asked no questions. At intervals during the next night he came on deck to see the lanky figure of Gaines against the bridge rail. _ And the sight of that motionless and vigilant employee would make him smile to himself.* "I sure picked out the man for the job!" he thought. The day before they were to arrive off the bar Gaines came down from the bridge for luncheon. His eyes were bright and he gave no indication of fatigue, but his smile was less confident. When ho had eaten he accepted one of Snowden's cigars and-invited him to the bridge. Onco there he drew his employer into, a corner. "My word!" he remarked. "The ship is a'bad one!" "She's been behaving all right so far," Snowden replied. Gaines took off his cap and rubbed his head. "Maybe'she isn't loaded to suit her," he suggested... "At any rate,. she steers like.a waterlogged barge." A sudden brilliant, smile lit up his face. "Say, just wait till we get to the bar! Then you'll see some fun!" . Snowden frowned. "Can you handle her?"-

Gaines put on his cap. ."Leave that to me," he said curtly. . It'was-a gray,-: windy dawn when Snowden dressed and came on deck. Eight abreast he could: see the lightship, .her lamps-still lit, swinging to the long swell that'set in from the west. Far in he discerned a straggling line of piling, which he surmised'ivas-the south jetty. . A glance up assured him that Gaines was on the bridge. He walked forward and saw a little group on the forecastle head. - "I wonder what the mate is doing there!" he said to himself. .

On the bridge the. captain greeted him amiably and pointed to the double line of-white that fenced in the mouth of the river.

"Hough bar," he remarked; "but it's high water and we'll just drop right

"What's the mate doing forward there?" Snowden asked.

"He's ready to let go the anchor if we get in a tight place," was the reply. Snowden nodded and went to the end of the bridge and stared round at the mountains far in, at the buoys bobbing on the .surges, at the foaming and tossing breakers ahead. Suddenly the clang of a gong resounded from the depths and the engines stopped. A sailor on a little platform below him swung the load and oast it. Slowlv the Melville lost way.

For half an hour Snowden listened idly to the cries of the leadsman, the low orders to the man at the wheel, the intermittent clang of the marine telegraph to the engines. Then lie observed that the steamer was swinging wide. He heard Gaines' calm voice saying: ''Set those engines astern, Mr Holmes. We'll see whether the old girl will answer her helm." He felt the thudding of the propeller as it revolved —but the Melville still swung. A huge

swell hastening from the sea suddenly blossomed into foam, and the deck below became a boiling oblong of broken water. He heard Gaines say above the uproar: "Set the engines full speed ahead!" Then came a bump, a great jar whieh made the .steel .structure ol the bridge vibrate musically. Snowden 2 •danced "round and saw Gaines' lanky \ form against the rail. He was smiling i down at the murky water that swirled t alongside. There came another bump. The second mate muttered: "I knew ( she'd plav the deuce!" 1 Half an hour later the Melville was 5 outside once more, swinging round for the bar again. Gaines was speaking to ( the engine room and Snowden felt the 1 increasing tremor of the ship as the < engines were opened out. As the ship's < head pointed for the distant crossing i Snowden heard his shipmaster at ■ his •< elbow. . ; "Now she'll hare to. make it," the voting.maii was saying gently. "She 11 i take that bar at a good- sixteen knots : an-hour." . • "But—" Snowden demurred. "There aren'tany 'buts,' sir,".Gaines interrupted. •■",'.,'• ; Snowden.himself felt the-exhilaration of their growing speed-. His new ship cut crisply through" the great swells, throwing them in roaring fields of white to each side,- He heard Gaines' occasional calm • orders, saw the astonishment on the upturned face of the mate •forward, caught the quick: breathing of the second officer beside him.' _ - '•' ■: Suddenly a soaring surge.exploded, as it were, beneath them, and there shivered through the careering' steamer- a gentle shudder as if she were tensing her muscles" for : a leap. Something seemed to drag her almost to a standstill; then she plunged forward into the breakers. This time she did not swerve a hair's "breadth, „but kept directlv on. The drag eased away, the white "breakers fell behind. Snowden heard Gaines saying gently: "Haul her up for the next buoy, Mr Holmes." ' . ... He glanced round and saw the smileon his captain's face. The; mate: came aft, .wiping his forehead. As lie reached the bridge he gasped: "My God, sir, I thought we. were done for!" . , - ' "Oh, I don't know!" Gaines said' with a grin. "I've found out one thing about this old girl. She likes to go!" "Go!" echoed his" chief officer.. If we'd struck that time —why, we'd- —-' He flung out his open hand in an inclusive gesture. ' . "She didn't take the ground," was the curt reply. , To his dying day Snowden never will forget that trip up the Columbia. With engines turning up to their utmost • capacity, swinging at full speed round sharp curves, plunging swiftly by craft of all kinds, leaving staring mouths and open eves behind them, the Melville tore up" through the hills to Portland. "When she left the Columbia and entered the. Willamette'the pilot, who had apparently been stricken with paralysis within ten minutes after he had boarded the steamer at Astoria, uttered his first complaint. "Say, captain," he growled', "you;! I bust something yet!" Gaines pulled the whistle lever for the long bridge ahead and smiled'. I "D've say we must slow down here.' i "Six miles," was the response. "Better stop her now." "Stop nothing!" was the reply. And . he whistled again'. As the echo flowed down from the t high hills the pilot's face changed. "Stop her, before it is too- late!" "If they don't swing that draw in - time," Gaines remarked calmly, "we'll ' go right throught their bally bridge. ' 1 The draw'swung, and it was not unt til the Melville was almost to it that the voting captain stopped his engines. s As the vessel slipped through and was clear he started them again. I "You'll have to pay a fine," growled ) the pilot. "Better than losing time," was the • gentle answer. "This craft ain't got too good a reput tation," continued the pilot crossly, i "Nobody knew how to handle her," • Gaines returned. The other stared at him. L "Say, young man," he said austerely, ) "vou aren't a seaman. You're a cowf boy. That's what you are. You think » this big ship is a horse. It ain't a horse. - You'll find- it out to your cost." 1 Gaines turned to Snowden . - ."I believe we dock at the Albina I Dock, don't we?" "Yes," Snowden replied 1 . "All right. The Albina Dock. Mr - Pilot." An hour later that excellent functionary took his leave of the Melville. - "I'll never take your ship up the river - again!" he bawled from the dock. "Say, you're no seaman. You're nothing but r a crazy cowboy!" Gaines grinned down at him from the • height of the bridge. A week later the- Melville, loaded I with grain, left her dock and started - down the river.- Snowden saw that the - same pilot who had brought them up > was again on the bridge. He went up - and Gaines introduced him as the owner. ; The experienced and 1 soured- man gazed > at him. reproachfully. "You hadn't ought to let boys run your ships!" lie muttered. An. hour later, as the Mel--1 ville cleared au incoming vessel by a scant fifty feet, the pilot stamped 011 his I hard hat in rage, i "Put me ashore!" he bawled. : "Never!" said Gaines mildly. "I'm • going to take you to Astoria." ; "But- you nearly sank that steamer!" >- said the outraged' mariner. - "And they'd say 1 did it. I'll lose my i branch!" "You'll lose nothing," was the tart , answer; "but if you try to monkey with this old girl she'll make you sorry enough. Don't slow her down, for that turn, Mr Pilot! Keep her full speed!" Snowden felt his heart sink as the Melville stormed along toward' the "lofty cliff-dead ahead. Ho. barely heard the language of the pilot, who by this, time was almost beside himself. ~ Suddeiily he heard Gaines' sharp voice, the clang of the engine-room telegraph, and watched 1 with absolute amazement the steadyj sure swing of the ship away from the cliff and into the open reach beyond. The pilot stared about him, swore softly 'to himself and relapsed into a profound silence. 'When he left the Melville as she slowed- down at- As toria he turned his austere face once more to-the smiling face of the young man on the bridge, but he said nothing as he dropped- into the waiting launch. Gaines rang.the engines ahead and thesteamer went her way. Three days, later .Snowden "walked into the office of the president of the .California.and Far Eastern Steamship Company. ''Got another cargo for my ship?" he said. . The. president looked up. ' "Sa-ay!" he remarked'. "Where did you .find that skipper of yours? He's scared the wits, out of half the men on the coast." Snowden sat down. "0h,.. I picked him up on.the ranger," he" replied, lighting a cigar, "He's a sort. .of., cowboy ..of the sea and he's tamed that outlaw all right!" "That's it—nerve!" Snowden assented. / ', ...'-.•-./

"Well, you. got the vessel cheap enough: so you can take any risks you like,'-'. . "I'm taking no risks," sa : d Snowden, gently. "I'm betting on. a ; sure thing —a man. You gentlemen bet on a ship; I bet on the man that runs the ship. I win!"