"Have you found out who that loud-voiced female passenger is?" inquired Peter of Anstey, as the two paced the almost deserted2 boat-deck.
He put the question with ulterior motives3, masking the main point of his curiosity.
"That queer specimen4?" rejoined the Third Officer. "No, I haven't, beyond the fact that she's a Mrs. Shallop, and her husband, that red-faced man, is a horse-dealer, who made a pile in the war by stopping at home and selling broken-down hacks6 to Government inspectors7 who hardly knew the bow of a gee-gee from the stern. Yes, we're going to have some fun out of Mrs. Shallop before long, old son. She's had a row with the purser, two with the chief stewardess8, and a few with the stewards9 thrown in as make-weights."
"What about?' asked Mostyn.
"Goodness knows," replied Anstey. "The purser was talking to the Old Man about it after breakfast. She's rather got on the poor chap's nerves. Apparently10 she's an imaginary grievance11 that they don't treat her like a 'lydy', so she's been ramming12 it down their throats that she's a naval13 officer's daughter—a captain's daughter."
"Well, isn't she?" asked Peter.
The Third Officer sniffed14 scornfully. Evidently Mrs. Shallop had fallen foul16 of him already.
"Naval captain's daughter!" he exclaimed. "Might be. Sub-lieutenants become captains, or at least some of them do; and subs have been known to do rash acts when they are young. But when a woman, whose accent, manners, and grammar are decidedly rocky, goes out of her way to assert that she's a naval officer's daughter, well then, snap goes the last thread of your credulity. My dear old thing, we're going to have some fun this trip, so get busy."
"Who is the girl—the girl who was almost the last on board?" asked Mostyn, broaching17 the long-deferred question at last. "Has she no friends on the ship?"
"Goodness only knows!" ejaculated the Third Officer fervently18. "She's a Miss Baird, and I think she's by herself. We'll find out in due course. Hark! Yes, at it again! It's poor old Selwyn getting it this time."
Through a partly open skylight came the now familiar voice of Mrs. Shallop, almost ear-piercing in its intensity19 and raucous20 in its tone. Mingled21 with the strident outbursts of the woman came short, incompleted protests from the doctor, who apparently was not able to hold his own.
"At it again," reiterated22 Anstey. "She's trying the naval captain stunt23 on the doc. I guess—by Jove! Wait till she tackles the Old Man."
Just then Dr. Selwyn appeared on the boat-deck. He was a dapper little man with the reputation of being a skilful24 and rapid surgeon. He could have commanded a large practice in town, but, preferring the country to city life, was content with a moderate income and plenty of hard work in congenial surroundings. In manner he was affable, and possessed25 an old-world courtesy that made him extremely popular. He was mild in speech, and rarely lost his temper; but when he came on deck it was obvious to both Peter and Anstey that he was labouring under suppressed anger.
"Morning, Doc," was the Third Officer's greeting. "Up for a breather?"
Selwyn braced26 his shoulders and gazed out to starboard. Nine miles to the nor'ard the white cliffs of the Isle27 of Wight stood out clearly against the dark grey clouds.
"Yes," he agreed. "A breather. Had a fairly stiff time with sundry28 patients. Sort of thing one must expect in the early days of a voyage. What's that land over there?"
"St. Catherine's," replied Anstey. "If it's clear enough we may sight the Isle of Purbeck, but I doubt it. So take your last look at Old England for a while, Doctor."
The three men remained in conversation for several minutes, but Anstey failed hopelessly in his attempt to "draw" Selwyn with reference to his encounter with the "tartar".
"I'd like to see your wireless29-cabin," remarked the doctor.
"Certainly," agreed Mostyn. "As a matter of fact I'm about to take over the watch."
Anstey, to whom the wireless-room was no novelty, "sheered off" and shaped a course for the smoking-room, while Peter and the doctor made their way for'ard to the former's post of duty.
Suddenly Peter stopped. From the open door of the wireless-cabin came the deep bass30 voice of Captain Antonius Bullock. He was "letting rip" vigorously, and there was anger in his tone. Then, trembling like a leaf, Watcher Plover31 appeared.
The Old Man, paying an unexpected visit, had found the Watcher fast asleep.
Already the skipper was "fed up to the back teeth" (to use his own words) with the two birds. Coming on top of the disconcerting incidents of the night, when both Watchers had severally dislocated the electric-lighting service, Plover's delinquency, serious enough in any circumstances, completely upset the Old Man's equilibrium32.
By this time he was fully15 convinced that the Watcher system was rotten to the core. On his previous voyage Captain Bullock had fallen foul of his wireless officers, but that was over technical matters. Otherwise he had had no cause for complaint, and, generally speaking, the relations between skipper and radiographers were harmonious33 if not exactly cordial. Now, thanks to a misguided attempt at economy, the Old Man could put no dependence34 upon Mostyn's assistants, and, in fact, he was inclined to blame Peter for not exercising more supervision35 over his subordinates.
Which was rough on Peter. In Captain Bullock's present mood it was useless to point out how many times during his "watch below" Mostyn had been called to the wireless-cabin. The fact remained that Partridge and Plover had been signed on for the trip. Even if the Old Man wished he could not land them this side of Las Palmas, and so for the present Peter must make the best of things, trusting that in due course the two incompetents36 might be "licked into shape".
As soon as Captain Bullock had retired37 to his cabin, Peter took over the watch, Selwyn standing38 by as the Wireless Officer made the usual tests.
"Now you can listen in, Doctor," announced Mostyn, after he had produced and connected up a supplementary39 pair of 'phones. "There's not much doing, I fancy."
Selwyn adjusted the ear-pieces, while Peter, similarly equipped, stood by pencil in hand in order to give his companion some inkling of any stray message.
"There's something!" exclaimed the doctor. He was excited. As cool as the proverbial cucumber when he was performing a deft40 and rapid operation upon which human life depended, he was now as delighted as a child with a new toy, when he heard the high-pitched buzzing sound that indicated a message in transit41.
"Niton," explained Peter. "Isle of Wight station. She's calling up—no—half a minute."
Mostyn's pencil was moving rapidly as he recorded the message.
"Cut out o.m. SOS signals out: stop sending."
Then almost immediately after came a plaintive42 wail43 from a ship:
"Please repeat whole of preamble44 and words after 'overcoat'."
"Explain, please," asked Selwyn.
Mostyn, busy altering the wave length in an attempt to pick up the SOS, did not reply. Explanations could come later.
A vessel45 fifty miles away was trying to obtain a repetition of a message from Niton. Part of it she had received, but her operator was doubtful about the preamble and the words following overcoat. It was a purely46 private message, of no interest to anyone save the sender. Niton was trying to make the operator stop sending, as there was an SOS message coming from somewhere. The ship's operator for some reason was persisting in his inquiries47 for the words following overcoat. In addition a distant high-power station was chipping in, and there were also "atmospherics" of high frequency.
Out of this chaotic48 "jam" Mostyn was trying to isolate49 the urgent wireless call for aid.
Almost deafened50 by the exaggerated reverberations of the ear-pieces as Mostyn pursued his efforts to tune51 in, Selwyn watched with unabated interest the Wireless Officer's deft manipulations of the set. Greek the doctor understood, but this was something far beyond his ken5.
At last. Faintly, almost indistinguishable from the cackling of the atmospherics, came the despairing SOS. It emanated52 from a vessel in dire53 distress54. Peter knew that she was using her comparatively low emergency set. That indicated the fact that her ordinary sending apparatus55 had broken down.
"SOS. S.S. Passionflower 17 miles s. by w. of Owers. Boiler56 explosion, ship making water rapidly; pumps inadequate57."
"Message received," sent Mostyn, then handing Selwyn the paper on which he had written the fateful message, "Captain, please," he said.
The doctor removed his telephones and departed on his errand. Meanwhile Mostyn was listening in for other vessels58 in the vicinity replying to the general and urgent call for aid.
In the chartroom the Old Man and Preston held a hasty conference. Only an hour previously60 the West Barbican must have crossed the track of the disabled Passionflower, within a few miles of her. Now a distance of between fifteen and twenty miles separated the two vessels, and to render assistance the former vessel would have to retrace61 her course. At fifteen or fifteen and a half knots it would take her more than an hour to close with the Passionflower. If she did, would she be the first on the scene?
Both the Old Man and the Acting62 Chief Officer doubted it. This part of the Channel was a busy one. Not only was there the "up and down" traffic, but a large number of vessels was plying59 between Southampton and the Normandy ports. In addition, the Passionflower was within an hour's run of Portsmouth, where there were Government tugs63 and destroyers ready to render aid.
The navigating65 officer's doubts were confirmed when Mostyn appeared with a report that already five vessels were proceeding66 to the rescue of the Passionflower. So the West Barbican held on her course.
A little later Peter, who had contrived67 to "cut out" the plaintive and persistent68 inquiry69 as to the words following overcoat, got into touch with the P. & O. liner Nowabunda. From her he learnt that the Passionflower had been sending out her SOS for an hour before the West Barbican had picked up the distress call.
Either Watcher Plover had been asleep for some time before being awakened70 by the skipper, or else his untrained ear had failed to detect the low notes of the distressed71 vessel's emergency set. The actual result was the same. The West Barbican, although nearest to the Passionflower when she first began the call for aid, had passed by unheedingly. Had she proceeded to the spot she could have towed the crippled vessel into Portsmouth or Southampton with very little difficulty.
This is what the Portsmouth tug64 Sampson did, the Passionflower being dry-docked just in time to save her from foundering72. In the Admiralty courts the salvage73 earned the Sampson ￡11,000, and this the West Barbican lost simply and solely74 through Watcher Plover's incapacity.
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1
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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4
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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hacks
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| 黑客 | |
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7
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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8
stewardess
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| n.空中小姐，女乘务员 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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10
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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12
ramming
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| n.打结炉底v.夯实（土等）( ram的现在分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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13
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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14
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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15
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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17
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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18
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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21
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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22
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
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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24
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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26
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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27
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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28
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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30
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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plover
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| n.珩，珩科鸟，千鸟 | |
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32
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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33
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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incompetents
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| n.无能力的，不称职的，不胜任的( incompetent的名词复数 ) | |
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37
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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supplementary
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| adj.补充的，附加的 | |
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40
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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41
transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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42
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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43
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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44
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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45
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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46
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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47
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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48
chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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49
isolate
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| vt.使孤立，隔离 | |
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50
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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51
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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52
emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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53
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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54
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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55
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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56
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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57
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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58
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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59
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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60
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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61
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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62
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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63
tugs
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| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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65
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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66
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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67
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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68
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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69
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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70
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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71
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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72
foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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73
salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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74
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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