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to the wild； dark storm strata beneath； it seemed that my spirits dropped
with the falling ship； and the buoyancy of hope ran low in sympathy。
The waves were running to tremendous heights； and the Coldwater
was not designed to meet such waves head on。 Her elements were the
blue ether； far above the raging storm； or the greater depths of ocean；
which no storm could ruffle。
As I stood speculating upon our chances once we settled into the
frightful Maelstrom beneath us and at the same time mentally computing
the hours which must elapse before aid could reach us； the wireless
operator clambered up the ladder to the bridge； and； disheveled and
breathless； stood before me at salute。 It needed but a glance at him to
assure me that something was amiss。
〃What now？〃 I asked。
〃The wireless； sir！〃 he cried。 〃My God； sir； I cannot send。〃
〃But the emergency outfit？〃 I asked。
〃I have tried everything； sir。 I have exhausted every resource。 We
cannot send；〃 and he drew himself up and saluted again。
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I dismissed him with a few kind words； for I knew that it was through
no fault of his that the mechanism was antiquated and worthless； in
common with the balance of the Coldwater's equipment。 There was no
finer operator in Pan… America than he。
The failure of the wireless did not appear as momentous to me as to
him； which is not unnatural； since it is but human to feel that when our
own little cog slips； the entire universe must necessarily be put out of gear。
I knew that if this storm were destined to blow us across thirty； or send us
to the bottom of the ocean； no help could reach us in time to prevent it。 I
had ordered the message sent solely because regulations required it； and
not with any particular hope that we could benefit by it in our present
extremity。
I had little time to dwell upon the coincidence of the simultaneous
failure of the wireless and the buoyancy generators； since very shortly
after the Coldwater had dropped so low over the waters that all my
attention was necessarily centered upon the delicate business of settling
upon the waves without breaking my ship's back。 With our buoyancy
generators in commission it would have been a simple thing to enter the
water； since then it would have been but a trifling matter of a forty…five
degree dive into the base of a huge wave。 We should have cut into the
water like a hot knife through butter； and have been totally submerged
with scarce a jarI have done it a thousand timesbut I did not dare
submerge the Coldwater for fear that it would remain submerged to the
end of timea condition far from conducive to the longevity of
commander or crew。
Most of my officers were older men than I。 John Alvarez； my first
officer； is twenty years my senior。 He stood at my side on the bridge as
the ship glided closer and closer to those stupendous waves。 He watched
my every move； but he was by far too fine an officer and gentleman to
embarrass me by either comment or suggestion。
When I saw that we soon would touch； I ordered the ship brought
around broadside to the wind； and there we hovered a moment until a huge
wave reached up and seized us upon its crest； and then I gave the order
that suddenly reversed the screening force； and let us into the ocean。
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Down into the trough we went； wallowing like the carcass of a dead whale；
and then began the fight； with rudder and propellers； to force the
Coldwater back into the teeth of the gale and drive her on and on； farther
and farther from relentless thirty。
I think that we should have succeeded； even though the ship was
wracked from stem to stern by the terrific buffetings she received； and
though she were half submerged the greater part of the time； had no
further accident befallen us。
We were making headway； though slowly； and it began to look as
though we were going to pull through。 Alvarez never left my side；
though I all but ordered him below for much…needed rest。 My second
officer； Porfirio Johnson； was also often on the bridge。 He was a good
officer； but a man for whom I had conceived a rather unreasoning aversion
almost at the first moment of meeting him； an aversion which was not
lessened by the knowledge which I subsequently gained that he looked
upon my rapid promotion with jealousy。 He was ten years my senior
both in years and service； and I rather think he could never forget the fact
that he had been an officer when I was a green apprentice。
As it became more and more apparent that the Coldwater； under my
seamanship； was weathering the tempest and giving promise of pulling
through safely； I could have sworn that I perceived a shade of annoyance
and disappointment growing upon his dark countenance。 He left the
bridge finally and went below。 I do not know that he is directly
responsible for what followed so shortly after； but I have always had my
suspicions； and Alvarez is even more prone to place the blame upon him
than I。
It was about six bells of the forenoon watch that Johnson returned to
the bridge after an absence of some thirty minutes。 He seemed nervous
and ill at easea fact which made little impression on me at the time； but
which both Alvarez and I recalled subsequently。
Not three minutes after his reappearance at my side the Coldwater
suddenly commenced to lose headway。 I seized the telephone at my
elbow； pressing upon the button which would call the chief engineer to the
instrument in the bowels of the ship； only to find him already at the
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receiver attempting to reach me。
〃Numbers one； two； and five engines have broken down； sir；〃 he called。
〃Shall we force the remaining three？〃
〃We can do nothing else；〃 I bellowed into the transmitter。
〃They won't stand the gaff； sir；〃 he returned。
〃Can you suggest a better plan？〃 I asked。
〃No； sir；〃 he replied。
〃Then give them the gaff； lieutenant；〃 I shouted back； and hung up the
receiver。
For twenty minutes the Coldwater bucked the great seas with her three
engines。 I doubt if she advanced a foot； but it was enough to keep her
nose in the wind； and； at least； we were not drifting toward thirty。
Johnson and Alvarez were at my side when； without warning； the bow
swung swiftly around and the ship fell into the trough of the sea。
〃The other three have gone；〃 I said； and I happened to be looking at
Johnson as I spoke。 Was it the shadow of a satisfied smile that crossed
his thin lips？ I do not know； but at least he did not weep。
〃You always have been curious； sir； about the great unknown beyond
thirty；〃 he said。 〃You are in a good way to have your curiosity satisfied。〃
And then I could not mistake the slight sneer that curved his upper lip。
There must have been a trace of disrespect in his tone or manner which
escaped me； for Alvarez turned upon him like a flash。
〃When Lieutenant Turck crosses thirty；〃 he said； 〃we shall all cross
with him； and God help the officer or the man who reproaches him！〃
〃I shall not be a party to high treason；〃 snapped Johnson。 〃The
regulations are explicit； and if the Coldwater crosses thirty it devolves
upon you to place Lieutenant Turck under arrest and immediately exert
every endeavor to bring the