"It does, Mr. Mostyn," agreed the postmistress. "It seems as if we are to lose you again."
"And about time too," added the youth, as he ripped open the long, buff-coloured envelope bearing the words "Broughborough International Marine2 Telegraph Company".
Peter Mostyn had been "on the beach" for nearly six months. In other words, he was out of a berth3. Not that it was any fault of his that a promising4 and energetic young wireless5 officer should be without a ship for such a protracted6 period. An unprecedented7 slump8 in British shipping9—when hundreds of vessels10 flying the Red Ensign were laid up, while the bulk of the world's trade was carried by the mercantile fleet of Germany—had resulted, amongst other ills, in the wholesale11 "sacking" of officers and men, who to a great extent had been the means of warding12 off the grim spectre of starvation during those black years of the World War.
Five times a week for over four months Peter Mostyn had ridden into Trentham Regis village in the hope of securing the long-expected missive giving him an appointment to another ship.
And now the anxiously awaited communication had arrived. The postmistress, a good, kindly13 soul to whom the affairs of every man, woman, and child in the Trentham Regis postal14 area were open secrets, was almost as excited as the recipient15, when she handed the envelope over the counter between the piles of groceries that comprised the commercial side of the shop.
For a brief instant Peter was assailed16 by the dread17 that the envelope would contain a stereotyped18 announcement to the effect that his application was still under consideration; then a look of undisguised relief and gratification overspread his tanned features.
"Yes, Mrs. Young!" he exclaimed; "I'm off in three days' time. Where? I hardly know, but I rather fancy it's East Africa. Good evening."
Leaving the postmistress to spread the news amongst the good folk of Trentham Regis—a feat19 that she would certainly accomplish to her unbounded satisfaction before the post office closed for the night—Peter mounted his motor-bicycle and rode after the fashion of the long departed Jehu, the son of Nimshi, leaving behind him a long trail of chalky dust in the still evening air. Short of wireless it was doubtful whether the good news could have reached "The Pines" in less time, for within the space of five and a half minutes Peter had covered the three miles that separated his home from Trentham Regis.
"Hello, Mater!" he exclaimed, bursting into the house like a young typhoon. "Where are you? Ah, there you are! I've got it!"
There was no need for Mrs. Mostyn to ask for further enlightenment upon the cryptic20 "it". She guessed the news at once.
"I'm so glad, Peter!" she exclaimed. "What ship this time?"
"The West Barbican, Mater. I fancy she's one of the Blue Crescent Line. If so, it's East Africa and possibly India, this trip. 'Tany rate, I'm to join her before noon on Thursday. Where's the Pater?"
"Not back from town yet. There was a board meeting on this afternoon."
"Oh yes, I remember. About the Kilba Protectorate contract. I suppose he'll return by the 8.50.... By Jove! What a topping stunt21! Fancy getting a ship again after all this time. Of course, Mother, it was nice to be home again, but, after all, it's a jolly long time to be kicking one's heels on the beach, isn't it?"
Mrs. Mostyn agreed, but solely22 upon her son's account. She was in no hurry to send her boy to sea again, but she realized that it was for his good that he should once more adventure upon the ocean. Coming of a seafaring family that for generations past had sent its sons down to the sea in ships—often never to return—she realized more than a good many mothers what was meant by the call of the great waters. She had drunk deeply of the cup of sorrow when the S.S. Donibristle, of which Peter was wireless officer, had been reported overdue23 and missing, and was afterwards given out by Lloyd's as a total loss. And in due course Peter had returned home, modestly making light of his hairbreadth adventures, his chief complaint being that the Broughborough International Marine Telegraph Company had not thought fit to appoint him to a ship belonging to the same fleet as did the S.S. Donibristle.
Peter's father, John Mostyn, was a retired24 Engineer Captain, R.N., who, having severed25 his connection with the navy at the conclusion of the Great War, had become one of the managing directors of the Brocklington Ironworks Company.
For a while the affairs of the newly formed company had flourished. Then came the inevitable26 slump. Labour troubles and foreign competition added to the difficulties of the firm. The reserve capital dwindled27 until there were barely sufficient funds to meet the weekly wages bill. Things looked black—decidedly so; but never once did the gloomy outlook daunt29 the cheery optimism of retired Engineer Captain John Mostyn.
When the fortunes of the Brocklington Ironworks Company seemed at their lowest ebb30, the firm had an invitation to tender for a big contract for the recently formed Kilba Protectorate. Comprising a vast extent of territory on the East Coast of Africa, Kilba was making a bold bid for prosperity under British rule. Amongst other schemes for the development of the country was the proposed construction of a railway linking up the coast with the rich mineral lands of the interior. One of the natural difficulties in the way of the railroad was the Kilembonga Gorge31, where the river of that name flows with great impetuosity between sheer walls of rock rising two hundred feet above the turgid stream. The bed of the river was of shifting sand, so that, even if the difficulty of the current could be overcome, there remained the question of how to build solid piers32 on such a doubtful foundation. Finally it was decided28 to throw a cantilever33 bridge across the chasm34.
Accordingly, the Kilba Protectorate Government asked tenders for the construction of the necessary steelwork, including delivery upon the site. British, American, Italian, Japanese, and German firms were invited to contract, although it was difficult to see why the Kilba Government should have asked these last to quote a price. It was not until later that a reason was forthcoming.
Among the British firms to tender was the Brocklington Ironworks Company, and it was then that Captain Mostyn seized his opportunity. He foresaw that a successful carrying out of the contract would be the turning-point of the firm's fortunes—that the kudos35 derived36 from that prosperous enterprise would give the Brocklington Ironworks Company a world-wide advertisement and place them at the forefront of engineering contracting firms.
Upon putting the circumstances of the case before his brother-directors, Captain Mostyn carried his point. He told them that the immediate37 financial results of the contract would be small—in fact, almost insignificant—but once having beaten all rivals, British and foreign, the future success of the company was assured.
"Capital?" echoed Captain Mostyn, in answer to a question from one of his fellow-directors. "Capital? We can find the capital. It will be a tight squeeze, a terribly tight squeeze, but we'll do it with a slight margin38 to spare. Let me have a talk with the men, and I'll warrant that, if they have the good sense I credit them with, we'll pull the thing off successfully."
Without delay the managing director went down to Brocklington, where he had what he called a straight talk with the firm's employees. He told them straight that if their whole-hearted co-operation were not forthcoming the works would have to close down, and that, with the present state of unemployment, it would be difficult, almost impossible, for the six hundred hands to find work elsewhere.
"I'm asking you to make sacrifices," he went on. "For the present neither the directors nor the shareholders39 are making money, and naturally we cannot run this business as a charity concern. I therefore propose a general reduction of wages in order for us to quote competitive prices, so that we may secure the contract and provide constant work for all. I am also authorized40 by the board of directors to state that fifty per cent of the profits of the contract—mind you that amount will be comparatively small—will be apportioned41 as a bonus to the workpeople."
Before Captain Mostyn left Brocklington the matter was clinched42, as far as the hands were concerned. There was a unanimous decision on the part of the workpeople to back up the firm, and once this step was decided upon Captain Mostyn knew that the greatest obstacle was removed, and that British grit43 and determination on the part of the employees would see the business through.
The Brocklington Ironworks Company sent in their tender and waited hopefully. Three months later came the news that they had secured the contract, which had been quoted at ￡50,500.
It was not the lowest tender. A couple of German firms were below this estimate, owing to the low value of the mark. One, the Augsburg Manufacturing Company, tendered at ￡30,000, while the Pfieldorf Company of Chemnitz offered to supply and deliver the material for a trifle over ￡20,000. The rest of the competing firms tendered considerably44 higher than the Brocklington Ironworks Company.
In the conditions of contract several "stiff" clauses had been inserted. The Kilba Protectorate Government required the completion of the work, including delivery, by the end of March; failing which, a heavy penalty was to be inflicted45. All the steelwork was to be examined by competent inspectors46, both in England and on the site, and any defective47 material was to be replaced at the contractors48' expense plus a fine equal to the value of the replaced work.
Gallantly49 the employees of the Brocklington Ironworks Company rose to the occasion. Work continued at high pressure in spite of sundry50 difficulties. When the supply of coal ran short, the smelting51 furnaces were fed with wood. When the railway companies dallied52 over the delivery of iron-ore, a fleet of motor lorries brought the stuff direct from the pits. Once, a series of unexplained explosions destroyed a part of the rolling mills, but within a week the machinery53 was in working order again, and by the end of October the whole of the steelwork was ready for the Government inspectors.
It was to receive the report of the latter that Captain Mostyn had gone to town. At 8.50 Peter met his father at Trentham Regis station.
"Why, Pater," exclaimed Peter, as his sire alighted, "what have you been doing—whitewashing?"
Captain Mostyn glanced at his shoulder. His coat was speckled with white dust.
"Oh, that," he replied carelessly. "I suppose it was when some fellow working above the board-room fell through the ceiling. He wasn't hurt, only a bit scared. I'll tell you all about it later. What's more to the point, Peter, the steelwork's passed the test with flying colours, and we're shipping it on Saturday on the S.S. West Barbican."
"My new ship," announced Peter.
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1
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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3
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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5
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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6
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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7
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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11
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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12
warding
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| 监护，守护（ward的现在分词形式） | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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14
postal
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| adj.邮政的，邮局的 | |
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15
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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16
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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17
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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18
stereotyped
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| adj.(指形象、思想、人物等)模式化的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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cryptic
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| adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的 | |
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stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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26
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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27
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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31
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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32
piers
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| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
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33
cantilever
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| n.悬梁臂；adj.采用伸臂建成的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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kudos
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| n.荣誉，名声 | |
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36
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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38
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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shareholders
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| n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 ) | |
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40
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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41
apportioned
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| vt.分摊，分配（apportion的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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43
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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44
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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45
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
inspectors
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| n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官 | |
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47
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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48
contractors
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| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
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49
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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50
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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51
smelting
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| n.熔炼v.熔炼，提炼（矿石）( smelt的现在分词 ) | |
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52
dallied
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| v.随随便便地对待( dally的过去式和过去分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情 | |
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53
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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