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Rh incandescent steel sparks, surrounding the Assistant-Engineer as with an Aurora Borealis. They turned the hose on the display, and at last knocked the guard sideways, and it fell down somewhere under the shaft, so that they were at liberty to devote their attention to the starboard thrust-block, which was a trifle loose. Indeed, they had been trying to wedge the latter when the fireworks began all up their backs.

The thing that consoled them was the thought that they had not slowed down one single turn.

'She's a giddy little thing,' said the Chief Engineer. 'Come down and have a look.'

I declined in suitable language. Some day, when I know more, I will write about engine-rooms and stokers' accommodation the manners and customs of Naval Engineers and their artificers. They are an amazing breed, these quiet, rather pale men, in whose hands lie the strength and power of the ship.

'Just think what they've got to stand up to,' says Twenty-One, with the beautiful justice of youth. 'Of course, they are trained at Keyham and all that; but fancy doing your work with an eight-inch steam-pipe in the nape of your neck, an' a dynamo buzzin' up your back, an' the whole blessed shoot whizzin' round in the pit of your stomach! Then we jump about an' curse if they don't give us enough steam. I swear I think they're no end good men in the engine room!'

If you doubt this, descend by the slippery steel