I placed the lever in the middle and closed the throttle-valve. My prompt execution of an order which he had plainly heard brought the engineer at once to his senses. Now for the first time he seemed to understand what I had kept shouting to him while we were struggling together; a deathly pallor overspread his bearded face, as some one came rapidly down the ladder.
"Don't ruin me," he murmured.
It was the captain, who wanted to see what upon earth was the matter below. Upon his good-natured honest face was still the trace of terror at the peril we had just escaped.
"What is the meaning of this, Weiergang?" he cried to the engineer.
"I was--I had--" he stammered.
"Seeing to the fire," I put in.
"And so--" he began again--
"We will look into this another time," said the captain, looking fixedly at the unfortunate man.
The captain knew his man. He saw that the man, whatever might have been his previous condition, was now thoroughly sober and fit for duty.
"We will look into it later," he repeated, and then turning to me, said: