Adventure Magazine Cover, November 10, 1924 — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 weather-beaten face, straightened slowly. “It agrees wi’ the others,” he admitted grudgingly. — “You see, sir,” said Coleman quickly, “T was very careful. I’m always careful with the time signals, sir. It must be that something happened to the chronometer. I’m sorry that you doubted me—my—that you thought me careless, sir a “So am I,” interrupted Captain Mac. “T can’t doubt any longer, because I heard the signal with my own ears. By the way, what was that noise I heard in the other room?” ‘Noise, sir? In the sleeping room? Why—that must have been Brown, sir; he sleeps there. I think he’s asleep now, sir.”’ “Oh, I see,’’ said Captain Mac, and he followed the mate out the door. “Looks like I was wrong,” grumbled Tenny, as they made their way to the bridge. “Look like it,” agreed the captain, smiling thoughtfully. AT HER regular speed of thirteen ai and a fraction knots the Hawk SJ steamed down the latitudes, and noon the following day found her in latitude 26-56 N. and, if the chronometer were cor- rect, longitude 74-24 W., which position is a hundred and seventy miles north and two miles east of Watling Island. “At this speed,” said Captain Mac, “we'll have Watling a-beam by one o’clock in the morning; but I’ve decided after. all not to take a chance—we’ll cut down the speed so that we won’t pick up the island till after daybreak. Sunrise is at four-fifty-eight. Mr. Scott, tell the chief engineer to cut ’er down to sixty revolutions—ten knots.” “Ah, ye ain’t so sure that everything’s all right as ye was, are ye, Cap’n?”’ said old Tenny as the second mate went to the telephone. “No,” answered the little captain, “I’m not.” He rolled a cigaret, but before lighting it he swept the eastern horizon with his gaze. “Have you noticed,” he asked, “that every ship we’ve passed yesterday and today has been to the east’ard of us?” “T have,” said Tenny. “So have I,’ put in Tommy Downs. “I passed one at eleven o’clock this morning. She was well over to the east’ard.”’ The captain nodded, and stood silently gazing over the port bow. Two slender Wade Adventure masts stood up from the sea rim in the southeast, and from between them a ribbon of black smoke trailed off to the west- ward. ‘‘She’ll pass us to the east’ard too,” said Captain Mac, nodding toward the ship com- ing over the horizon. He turned suddenly on the old mate, and threatened to impale him with a long forefinger. “Mr. Tenny, if you wanted to run a ship off her course and put her aground, how would you do it?” Mr. Tenny was taken aback. | “Sir?” he gulped. “Come, now, put yourself in Breen’s place; with all your years of experience, and all your knowledge of ships and navigation, how would you put this ship aground if you set out to do it? Remember, you're all alone; everybody is against you and watch- ing you.” “I don’t know how I’d do it, Cap’n; lemme think.” “How would you do it, Mr. Scott?” “’d put a magnet in the compass bin- nacle,” said Scott promptly. “What! Why the binnacle is full of mag- nets now. All binnacles have them.” “T know that, sir, but I’d put another one in and—and——” ‘And what?” “And that would give the compass an error as “But the compass already has an error. All compasses have errors. And the com- pass error increases or decreases at every turn of the propeller. You know that.” “Yes, sir, I do. But another magnet would haul ’er around so that . “Mr. Scott, you know you're talking rot.” “T guess Iam. I spoke too quick.” “Of course you did. Any mate or master who would let himself be fooled by that old chestnut of a magnet stunt isn’t fit to be on the bridge. An intelligent ’prentice boy couldn’t be fooled with that one. If I thought you meant what you said I’d fire you.” “Yes, sir,” said Scott meekly. ‘“‘And how would you do it, Mr. Downs?” turning to the third mate. “Well, I’ve heard of ships getting in trou- ble because of fly-specks or ink-spots on the charts. Suppose somebody with a fine pen and a bit of India ink a “That idea is just a shade more sensible CoMmichoolk A) CO 5}