anxious to know the
amount of ballast coal to be shifted from the holds before he can
commence loading. "Toosday morning, capt'n," he adds, as reason for his
anxiety--"Toosday morning--an' she's gotta go!" Tuesday, eh! And this is
Saturday morning! They will have to hustle to do it.

[Illustration: A TRANSPORT LOADING]

'Hustle'--as once he told us--is the superintendent's maiden name.
Already the narrow water-space between us and our neighbour is jammed
tight by laden barges, brought in to await our coming. Billets of steel,
rough-cast shells, copper ingots, bars of lead and zinc are piled ready
for acceptance. The shed on our inshore tide is packed by lighter and
more perishable cargo, all standing to hand for shipment. Preparation
for our rapid dispatch is manifest and complete. Before the pilot is off
the ship with his docket signed, the blocks of our derricks are rattling
and the stevedores are setting up their gear for an immediate start.
Barred, on the sea-passage, from communication by wireless, we have been
unable to give a timely advice of our condition to the dock. The factor
of the coal to be shifted--till now unknown to them--is the first of
many difficulties. We have no cargo to discharge (having crossed in
ballast trim), but--the storms of the North Atlantic calling for a
weight to make us seaworthy--we have a lading of coal sufficient to
steam us back to our home port. This has all to be raised from the holds
and stowed in the bunker spaces: the holds must be cleaned for
food-stuffs: for grain in bulk there is carpenter-work in fitting the
midship boards to ensure that our cargo shall not shift. Tuesday morning
seems absurdly near!

With a thud and jar to clear the stiffening of a voyage's inaction, our
deck winches start in to their long heave that shall only end with the
closing of the hatches on a laden cargo. The barges haul alongside at
the holds that are ready for stowage and loading begins. The slings of
heavy billets pass regularly across the deck and disappear into the void
of the open hatchways. In the swing and steady progression there seems
an assurance that we shall keep the sailing date, but our energy is
measured by the capacity of the larger holds. In them there is the bulk
of fuel to be handled. The superintendent concentrates the efforts of
his gangs on this main issue: the loading of the smaller compartments is
only useful in relieving the congestion of the barges overside.

Under