Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

-THE DERELICT, the wind again arose. There were living people to be thought of. The Koromanti, with double her quota of people aboard, required the attention of her officers. For her own safety, she was obliged to steam away from the other ship, leaving the other to fate. One message had been wirelessed from the Barbuda to the Koromanti, after the two ships parted company. This was a brief call from Baker, saying that he and every other man on the disabled ship had been ordered by the mate to assist him in getting oil-bags over the sides, in order to keep the rising seas from breaking aboard. It was the only chance they had to keep the Barbuda from being swamped, once the hurricane was in full force. He said he would get back to his set, as soon as possible, and let those aboard the Koro- manti know how they were faring. He had only storage batteries to work with, now, but believed they would suffice through the night. The operators aboard the Koromanti re- ceived this one message. It was the last word they ever had from Baker. The Koromanti, with lookouts doubled, steamed slowly to windward of the Bar- buda, keeping a good distance from where the latter was supposed to be for fear she would be driven down upon the other ship during the gale. There was but one feeble light aboard the disabled vessel—a lantern hastily hung by the overworked mate. This weak beacon did not penetrate the thick dark of the storm. All night long the operators on the Koro- manti tried to raise the Barbuda, but with- out success. They did not wish to believe in any fresh disaster—probably Baker was having trouble with his auxiliary set. All night long the officers of the two ships who were aboard the Koromanti huddled on the bridge, clinging to the rail and staring with unseeing eyes out into the terrible dark, trying, straining, praying to catch a glimpse of the other ship. The morning broke thick. The Bar- buda was nowhere to be seen. The Koro- manti steamed over a radius of ten miles, . all hands searching, searching, through the spume and haze for some sign of her. There 15 was none. Even late in the afternoon, when the weather finally lifted, there was still no sign. The news was flashed by the Koromanti’s wireless to every ship within radio commu- nication, appeals being made to watch for some sign, to listen for some aerial whisper —to seek, finally, some heaven-granted evi- dence that the Barbuda was still afloat. Then, having done what she could, and her coal and provisions being inadequate for further delay, the Koromanti shaped her course for Sandy. Hook. A week went by, and no trace of the missing ship was found. Her officers, be- cause they could not bear to believe that they had abandoned their skipper to his death, tried to think she was still afloat. It seemed as if Scenethang — sume news— must come to them. Then they despaired. Surely, Baker would have managed some temporary re- pairs to his auxiliary set, had that gone out of commission. Had the Barbuda out- lived that second storm, there must have come some word, some signal. Some ship traveling over her course must have sight- ed her. But none had. She was gone be- yond a doubt. After a while she would be posted at Lloyd’s as missing. The solemn tolling of the Lutine’s bell would sound her requiem. CHAPTER V. DESERTED. HEN Baker had wirelessed his last Xy message to the Koromanti, he had left the wireless-room and had started for the steep ladder leading to the saloon-deck. It was a wild night. Imme- diately he stepped into the open, he was engulfed by the dark, and the deck beneath his feet seemed loath to hold him. He found himself breathlessly clinging to ine rail for support. He started down the ladder, the steps of which yawed from his groping feet. Half- way down, he swung against some one com- ing up—the second steward trying to make the wireless-room with a message the skip- per wished sent. COMIC AOOLK (CO