Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

The mate gave a quick glance at the compass. "East by nothe, Jack," he

commanded.

"East by nothe, sir," repeated the quartermaster in mechanical tones,

spinning the big wheel to the left.

It was evident that the Nequasset had considerable company on the sea

that day. A little abaft her beam a tugboat was blowing one long and two

short, indicating her tow. She had been their "chum" for some time, and

Mayo had occasionally taken her bearings by sound and compass and knew

that the freighter was slowly forging ahead. He figured, listening again

to the horns, that the Nequasset was headed to clear all.

"You take a skipper who studies his book and is always ready to look

the department in the eye, without flinching, he has to mind his

own business and mind the other fellow's, too," said Captain Wass,

continuing his monologue of grouch. "Dodging here and there, keeping out

of the way, two days behind schedule, meat three times a day or else

you can't keep a crew, and everybody hearty at meal-time! My owners have

never told me to let the law go to hoot and ram her for all she's worth!

But when I carry in my accounts they seem to be trying to think up

language that tells a man to do a thing, and yet doesn't tell him.

What's that?" He put his head far out of the window.

Floating out of the fog came a dull, grunting sound, a faint and

far-away diapason, a marine whistle which announced a big chap.

"I should say it is a Union liner, sir--either the Triton or

Neptune."

They listened. They waited two long minutes for another signal.

"Seems to be taking up his full, legal time," growled Captain Wass.

"Since Marston has gobbled that line maybe he has put on a special

register to keep tabs on tooting--thinks it's waste of steam and will

reduce dividends. Expects us little fellows to do the squawking!"

The big whistle boomed again, dead ahead, and so much nearer that it

provoked the skipper to lash out a round oath.

"He is reeling off eighteen knots for a gait, or you can use my head for

a rivet nut!" He yanked the cord and the freighter howled angrily. The

other replied with bellowing roar--autocratic, domineering. With irony,

with vindictiveness, Captain Wass pitched his voice in sarcastic nasal

tone and recited another rule--thereby trying to express his irate

opinion of the lawlessness of other men.

"Article Sixteen, Mr. Mayo! He probably carries it in his watch-case

instead of his girl's picture! Nice reading for a rainy day! 'A

steam-vessel hearing apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of a

vessel, the position of which is not ascertained, shall, so far as the

circumstances of the case permit, stop her engines and then navigate

with caution until all danger of collision is over.' Hooray for the

rules!"