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Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 949
R. Venkata Rao
Jan Taler Editors
Advanced
Engineering
Optimization
Through Intelligent
Techniques
Select Proceedings of AEOTIT 2018
Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Volume 949
Series Editor
Janusz Kacprzyk, Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Warsaw, Poland
Advisory Editors
Nikhil R. Pal, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
Rafael Bello Perez, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computing,
Universidad Central de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba
Emilio S. Corchado, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Hani Hagras, School of Computer Science & Electronic Engineering, University of
Essex, Colchester, UK
László T. Kóczy, Department of Automation, Széchenyi István University,
Gyor, Hungary
Vladik Kreinovich, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas
at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
Chin-Teng Lin, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Chiao
Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Jie Lu, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology,
University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Patricia Melin, Graduate Program of Computer Science, Tijuana Institute
of Technology, Tijuana, Mexico
Nadia Nedjah, Department of Electronics Engineering, University of Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ngoc Thanh Nguyen, Faculty of Computer Science and Management,
Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław, Poland
Jun Wang, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
The series “Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing” contains publications
on theory, applications, and design methods of Intelligent Systems and Intelligent
Computing. Virtually all disciplines such as engineering, natural sciences, computer
and information science, ICT, economics, business, e-commerce, environment,
healthcare, life science are covered. The list of topics spans all the areas of modern
intelligent systems and computing such as: computational intelligence, soft comput-
ing including neural networks, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computing and the fusion
of these paradigms, social intelligence, ambient intelligence, computational neuro-
science, artificial life, virtual worlds and society, cognitive science and systems,
Perception and Vision, DNA and immune based systems, self-organizing and
adaptive systems, e-Learning and teaching, human-centered and human-centric
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management, interactive entertainment, Web intelligence and multimedia.
The publications within “Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing” are
primarily proceedings of important conferences, symposia and congresses. They
cover significant recent developments in the field, both of a foundational and
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dissemination of research results.
** Indexing: The books of this series are submitted to ISI Proceedings,
EI-Compendex, DBLP, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and Springerlink **
Editors
Advanced Engineering
Optimization Through
Intelligent Techniques
Select Proceedings of AEOTIT 2018
123
Editors
R. Venkata Rao Jan Taler
Sardar Vallabhbhai National Cracow University of Technology
Institute of Technology, Surat Kraków, Poland
Surat, Gujarat, India
This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721,
Singapore
Conference Patron
Conveners
v
vi Conference Patron
vii
viii Preface
help. We are grateful to the team members of Springer Nature for their support and
help in producing these proceedings. We are confident that these proceedings would
benefit the optimization research community.
ix
x Contents
Dr. Jan Taler is a Professor and Director of the Institute of Thermal Power
Engineering of Cracow University of Technology, Poland. He has more than
40 years of teaching and research experience, having completed his M.Sc. in 1974,
Ph.D. in 1977, and D.Sc. in 1987. He has published about 300 articles in scientific
journals. He has authored 10 books and over 20 chapters in scientific monographs
and entries in the Encyclopedia of Thermal Stresses. He conducts research in the
field of heat transfer engineering and thermal power engineering with special
xvii
xviii About the Editors
Abstract In this work, a new intelligent and adaptive optimization for end milling of
four-layer functionally graded steel is presented in order to maximize the machining
performance, minimize the production costs, and maximize the metal removal rate
and ensuring the surface quality requirements. The proposed optimization consists
of intelligent modeling of cutting quantities and particle swarm optimization (PSO)
algorithm. Particle swarm optimization method is employed in real time to find
optimum cutting conditions considering the real tool wear. Adaptive neural inference
system is used to predict the tool flank wear timely on the basis of estimated cutting
forces. Cutting forces and finally surface roughness were estimated during machining
by using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The experimental results show that the
proposed approach found an optimal solution of cutting conditions which improved
the metal removal rate and improved the machining performance for 24% compared
to conventional machining with off-line optimized parameters.
1 Introduction
Machining of functionally graded steels fabricated by LENS technology [1] has been
commonly applied in the industry of sheet metal forming tools. The machinability
of these materials is problematic due to their composition that is not homogenous.
This is the main reason for sudden and unexpected cutting tool wear which results
in immense tool costs.
Cutting tool wear is directly connected to the set of chosen cutting conditions.
Therefore, there is a considerable practical interest in searching of economically
optimum cutting conditions. Many researchers were concerned with increasing the
productivity of machining processes [2] and improving surface quality [3] of the
final part through cutting parameters’ optimization.
In order to prevent excessive tool wear and its negative effects, the cutting condi-
tions are often selected conservatively and without taking into account the real cut-
ting tool condition. Progressive cutting tool wear is not considered in optimization
routine. Even if the cutting conditions are optimized by sophisticated, state-of-the-
art optimization algorithms such as teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO),
evolutionary algorithms (EA), and swarm intelligence-based optimization (PSO)
algorithms, they cannot be optimized–adjusted in real time during the machining
[4].
In most cases, such activities result in lowering the productivity and increasing
manufacturing costs.
Therefore, many optimization systems with an adaptation of cutting parameters
during machining have been developed and tested. They are designated as the adap-
tive optimization (AC) systems.
Zuperl and Cus [5] employed the ANN and three types of limitation equations
for multi-objective optimization of machining parameters. Ko and Cho [6] tested an
adaptive optimization technique to maximize the material removal rate in milling
based on artificial flank wear model.
Liu and Wang [7] developed an adaptive control with optimization for the milling
process based on the neural network for modeling and the neural network for control.
Chiang et al. [8] developed an artificial neural network for online determination of
optimal cutting parameters by maximizing material removal rate.
In this work, a new intelligent adaptive optimization is introduced for end milling
with the aim to maximize the machining performance, minimize the production costs,
and ensure the surface quality requirements.
The progressive cutting tool wear is incorporated into optimization algorithm.
Optimization structure is composed of (1) an intelligent prediction models that predict
cutting forces, flank wear, surface roughness and (2) an optimization module that
maximize the milling performance by consideration of cutting constraints.
The aim of the combined intelligent adaptive optimization is to improve the ball-end
milling performance by adjusting the feed rate (f ) and cutting speed (vc ) in real time.
The four-layer functionally graded steel is used in the cutting process.
The optimization takes into account gradually increasing tool wear, a machining
cost and a machining rate (represented by metal removal rate—MRR). Therefore, a
multi-objective optimization process with two conflicting objectives and with seven
limitation non-equations has to be performed to solve the defined task.
In order to find optimal cutting parameters, the particle swarm optimization (PSO)
algorithm was integrated with intelligent models that generalize the cutting forces,
Combined Intelligent and Adaptive Optimization in End Milling … 3
ANN
Cutting force
n, f, Fx, Fy, Fz
model n, f,
RD=k
AD=k
AD=k Adaptive optimizationmodule
VB(t) DNCSSO
ANFIS
n, f, n, f,
VB model VB(t)
RD=k R =k CNC
AD=k AD=k
AN
FIS
controller
Fagor 8040-M
VB(t)
Machine tool
n, f, function y
RD=k
AD=k
The performance function considered in this research is the quotient of the MRR
and machining costs. The performance index is calculated according to [9]:
The machining costs for milling operation consist of machining cost per effective
time of cutting (C 1 ) and cost of tool and regrind per change (C 2 ); t 1 is tool change
time. W 0 is maximum flank wear. TWR is tool wear rate. β parameter determines
the type of performance function [9].
Figure 2 presents block diagram of the intelligent adaptive optimization routine.
The adaptive optimization takes into consideration produced surface roughness and
actual value of tool flank wear. The adaptive optimization stops when the tool is
worn.
The ANFIS system is applied for predicting the values of flank wear VB(t) for
the whole tool life of the cutting tool during machining.
The ANFIS is chosen for developing the tool wear model due to its ability to
quickly determine the connections between machining parameters, cutting force,
and VB at a given time point.
The first developed ANFIS-based flank wear model is described in the work of
Zuperl et al. [10]. The inputs to the model are: vc , f, AD , RD , F x , F y , F z, and machining
time (t). The output is flank wear (VB(t)). The model predicts the flank wear with
maximal 4% error.
Firstly, a statistics is employed to simulate the Ra. In the statistical model, the
functional relations between the Ra, VB(t), F x , F y , F z and cutting conditions are
provided. Statistical model is obtained at 75% confident level. Validation results
reveal inaccuracies in modeling of the Ra at small feed rates.
Therefore, a simple three-layered feedforward network based on the backprop-
agation learning algorithm is used instead to predict the Ra. The developed ANN
has one output neuron for Ra, eight input neurons for vc , f, AD , RD , VB(t), and three
Combined Intelligent and Adaptive Optimization in End Milling … 5
Start PSO
fi, ni
Yes
No
Ignore F < Fref
Accept
Fx,y,z(si)
Machining time t
Clock No Yes
Stop
VB< VBmax Proceed
milling
VB(si, t)
ANN Ra prediction
Ra(si)
Yes
No
Ignore Accept
Ra<Raref
Ra(si)
y(s)
nopt, No
fopt Yes
CNC Best particle-optimum Found Modify particles´s speed
controller cutting conditions Update particles´s position
The proposed adaptive optimization routine has been validated with two machining
tests. In these experimental tests, the machining with constant AD and RD has been
carried out on a HELLER BEA02 milling machine.
Combined Intelligent and Adaptive Optimization in End Milling … 7
The first test is conventional milling with constant cutting conditions. In this test,
the cutting conditions are determined with the PSO and intelligent models before
machining (off-line optimization), and then, these conditions are kept constant during
the rest of machining.
The second test is milling with employed adaptive optimization routine which is
after that compared with machining experiment using constant cutting conditions in
order to analyze the obtained y and examine the efficiency of developed adaptive
optimization method. The sum of y was employed as a comparison criterion.
The objective of the adaptive optimization is to maximize the y and to maintain the
Ra at the defined Raref . The PSO algorithm starts with a population of 50 candidate
solutions (particles), which are continuously moving on function y and searching for
the maximum value of y.
In order to achieve the faster convergence of the PSO algorithm, the acceleration
constants c1 and c2 was initially set to 1.94 according to past experiences. The popu-
lation size of 50 was found to be appropriate. The wmin was set to 0.4, the wmax to 0.9
and the number of iteration to 150 in order to calculate the inertia weight factor w. A
uniform probability distribution was used to generate random numbers for updating
the velocity. The V max (maximum velocity) is determined by considering 10% of the
variable dynamic range. After the initial PSO parameters were set, the PSO algorithm
was run 10 times until convergence. The identical results are obtained in all runs;
therefore, the PSO parameters and swarm population are appropriate. Furthermore,
the perceived scattering of the particles in the swarm during all performed iterations
indicated that the PSO parameters were appropriate and should be used for optimiza-
tion of cutting conditions. The laser engineered functional graded steel material with
dimension 400 mm × 60 mm was used for machining tests. The four 0.8 mm thick
layers of the 316L powder were deposited on the 16MnCr5 substrate by the LENS
850-R 3D metal printer with 0.7 laser beam. The hardness of individual deposition
was 290 HV.
The test piece was machined by two flute ball nose end mill with 4 mm nose
radius. The material of the cutter was a sintered tungsten carbide K88UF coated with
PVD-TiAlN coating. The cutting material hardness was 1770 HV.
The second experiment is started with the following initial parameters and con-
straints: RD = 4 mm, AD = 1 mm, vc = 100 m/min, f = 250 mm/min, F ≤ 300 N,
100 ≤ f ≤ 400 mm/min, and n ≤ 4100 min−1 . Maximum tool wear (VBmax ) was set
to 0.2 mm. Figure 3 shows the response of cutting conditions and objective function
for milling with adaptive optimization. In this experiment, cutting speed and feed
rate are optimized adaptively in order to maintain the value of performance function
y at the maximal value. Figure 3a shows the response of cutting speed when adap-
tive optimization is carried out and the course of cutting speed during conventional
machining. In the first experiment, the cutting speed is constant and set to 85 m/min.
In second experiment, the cutting speed varies between 85 and 98 m/min. At the
beginning of machining, when the TWR is low, the adaptive optimization increases
the cutting speed up to 100 m/min in order to maximize the MRR and consequently
the y. During machining, tool wear increases and to compensate the higher TWR, the
system decreases the cutting speed. The lower cutting speeds decrease the values of
8 U. Zuperl and F. Cus
(a)
v c [m /m in ]
100
95
90
85
Inteligent adaptive optimization
80 Off-lin optimized cutting parameters
250
200
150
0.8
Performance function
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
Fig. 3 Response of feed rate and cutting speed during milling with intelligent adaptive optimization
and during conventional milling with off-line determined parameters
performance function y. Figure 3b shows the two responses of feed rate for adaptive
optimization and for conventional machining. From Fig. 3b, it can be seen that the
feed rate for the conventional milling is constant (235 mm/min) during the machin-
ing process. When milling with intelligent adaptive optimization, the feed rates have
reached the values that were significantly above the feed rates during the first 155 s
of conventional machining.
Combined Intelligent and Adaptive Optimization in End Milling … 9
The test results have confirmed the significant influence of feed rate on the Ra.
The increasing tool wear during machining also affects the Ra. Therefore, the opti-
mization system decreases the feed rates to maintain the Ra at the desired level and
to compensate the effect of the increased flank wear on the Ra. Figure 3c shows
the two responses of performance function y for both the adaptive optimization and
conventional machining with constant parameters.
In milling with fixed cutting conditions (Fig. 3c), the y exceeds the value of
adaptive optimization only after 205 s of machining. Before that, during milling
with intelligent adaptive optimization, the calculated value of y is about 120% higher.
First, the adaptive optimization routine abruptly increases the y up to 0.84 mm3 /$.
After the peak is reached, the value of the performance function is slowly decreasing
due to the reduction of vc and f.
In the first experiment, the flank wear rate is higher in the beginning of machining
and then became linear. Consequently, the y increases at the beginning of machining
and then remains almost constant during the rest of operation. The calculated sum of
y for proposed adaptive optimization routine was 46.4, compared to 35.5 for milling
with constant cutting conditions. That indicates that the total sum of y is for 24%
higher during milling with employed intelligent adaptive optimization. The sum of
y has increased despite the fact that the tool wear was much more intensive. During
the entire machining, the Ra was maintained at the desired level. Milling with the
proposed optimization routine increases the material removal rate and improves the
machine tool capacity.
In this paper outlined, adaptive optimization routine was compared with three non-
traditional adaptive control optimization systems (ACO) and conventional machining
with constant cutting conditions. The comparison results show that the intelligent
adaptive optimization based on a PSO method and intelligent prediction algorithms
outperforms the optimization strategy which is not connected to the machining pro-
cess. A cost reduction of 14% is established compared to conventional machining.
A cost reduction of 25% is established compared to adaptive control optimization
approaches. The proposed approach found an optimal solution of cutting conditions
which improved the MRR by 26% and reduced the machining time up to 18%.
Chiang et al. [8] used in adaptive control optimization (ACO) system a neural net-
work estimation module and an optimization module with evolutionary optimization
algorithms to minimize the production cost. A production cost reduction of 28% is
established compared to conventional machining with off-line optimized parameters.
Zuperl et al. [12] merged the off-line optimization algorithm with adaptive cutting
force control in end milling. In his work, the cutting force surface is the objective
function and the PSO is employed to adjust feed rate and thus to improve the MRR
up to 27% in comparison with the conventional machining.
10 U. Zuperl and F. Cus
4 Conclusion
In this work, the new intelligent adaptive optimization for milling of multi-layered
metal materials is developed. In machining of multi-layered metal materials, the
classical off-line optimization methods are not efficient due to intensive and unchar-
acteristic cutting tool wear. Therefore, it is needed to online optimize the cutting
parameters throughout the machining and to include the progressive tool wear in
optimization routine. The proposed optimization integrates two ANN models to pre-
dict cutting forces and Ra, the ANFIS model to predict the progressive flank wear,
the algorithm to asses the performance function and the PSO to find the appropriate
cutting conditions during the machining operation.
A test case has been presented to demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed
intelligent adaptive optimization. The experimental results show that the proposed
approach found an optimal solution of cutting conditions which improved the MRR,
reduced the machining time up to 17%, and thus improved the machining perfor-
mance for 24% compared to conventional machining with off-line optimized param-
eters. The results of optimization are also compared and analyzed using methods
of other researchers. The results indicate that the proposed optimization is effec-
tive compared to other techniques. The comparison results show that the adaptive
optimization based on a PSO method and intelligent prediction algorithms outper-
forms off-line optimization strategy and a larger cost reduction of 14% compared
to conventional machining is achieved. The study’s main findings are also that the
ANN and ANFIS methods are effective in precise modeling of milling quantities and
can be successfully integrated in the adaptive optimization algorithm. The proposed
intelligent adaptive optimization provides a novel way for maximizing machining
performance in end milling of multi-layered metal materials.
References
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(LENS) technology. Mater. Manuf. Processes 24(7–8), 750–753 (2009). https://doi.org/10.
1080/10426910902809776
2. Hamdan, A., Sarhan, A.A., Hamdi, M.: An optimization method of the machining parameters
in high-speed machining of stainless steel using coated carbide tool for best surface finish. Int.
J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 58(1–4), 81–91 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3392-5
3. Chandna, P., Kumar, D.: Optimization of end milling process parameters for minimization of
surface roughness of AISI D2 steel. World Acad. Sci. Eng. Technol. Int. J. Mech. Aerosp. Ind.
Mech. Manuf. Eng. 9, 3 (2015)
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roughness of AISI P20 steel. Asian J. Sci. Technol. 7(4), 2777–2787 (2016)
5. Zuperl, U., Cus, F.: Optimization of cutting conditions during cutting by using neural net-
works. Robot. Comput. Integr. Manuf. 19, 189–199 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0736-
5845(02)00079-0
6. Ko, T.J., Cho, D.W.: Adaptive optimization of face milling operations using neural networks.
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wear in end-milling. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 209(3), 1504–1511 (2009). https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.04.002
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adaptive adjustment of the cutting parameters during a ball-end milling process. Strojniski
Vestnik 51(9), 542 (2005)
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Bending over, Jack drove his strong teeth into the sail where his left
hand had a grip; then with the weight on his jaw, he shifted his hand
and groped for the bunt gasket, whilst Hank hurled furious profanity
at the frightened gambler, who was hanging on to the jackstay to
leeward, terrified, half-demented, quite useless.
The card-sharper made no attempt to move from his position, and
whilst Jack and Broncho passed the bunt gasket, Hank slid out along
the footrope and, grasping the jackstay with his left hand, hit fiercely
with his right at the face of the shirker.
There is a grim work sometimes aloft in the raging of a gale, the
work of heated blood and feelings overwrought by the cruel stress of
the moment.
The gambler flinched from the vicious blows and whimpered
miserably.
"The cur's no use, anyhow!" shouted Jack disdainfully, but Hank in
his mad rage heeded him not.
At last the sail was overcome; they swung themselves into the
rigging and slowly descended, struggling against the fury of the wind.
Each gust pinned them down as if spreadeagled, and it was a work
of difficulty and arduous labour shifting their feet from one ratline to
another. When they reached the deck they were streaming with
perspiration and nearly dead beat with their terrific exertions, but the
keen, chilly wind soon put new life into them. Paying no heed to the
buffeting of the storm, the flying spume, or the pattering hail, they
hastily hauled themselves along the weather rail in the pitch
darkness, knowing by long experience of night work the geography
of the ship.
They found the rest of the crew gathered round the main fife-rail,
about to haul up the main course.
The lull had passed and the wind was once more shrieking over
them in its mad turbulence. Hail, snow, and spindrift flew across the
straining vessel in solid sheets, whilst on every side the torn-up sea
lashed itself into smoking soap-suds, and in rushing breakers hurled
itself to leeward.
The ship, too heavily pressed under whole topsails and two courses,
ploughed her way straight through the rising seas, taking whole
mountains of green water over her weather rail forward which,
pouring aft, kept the maindeck continually awash.
A bright shaft of light from the carpenter's lamp suddenly flashed
forth upon the wild scene, illuminating with its rays the group of
sorely spent men amidships. Then it went out before the onslaught
of the furious wind, and the darkness seemed greater than before.
Muller, the German, was just slacking away the main-tack when a
furious gust came; he lost his head at the wrong moment and the
tack took charge.
In a second pandemonium reigned. A frightful slating arose from the
released sail, and the heavy block raged about at random,
threatening death at every spring, whilst the great ninety-foot
mainyard buckled like a bamboo cane.
The confusion for some minutes was indescribable, and by way of
improving the situation, the bosun and four of the best men were
washed from the clew-garnet into the lee-scuppers.
At the break of the poop the old man danced and screamed with
rage, swinging his arms and beating his fists on the rail in a very
whirlwind of passion.
Black Davis, hanging on with one hand and grasping a belaying-pin
in the other, clawed his way skilfully along the weather bulwark and
pounced upon the unfortunate Dutchman.
"Hell an' furies!" he screeched. "Yew infernal, stockfish poundin'
Dutch son of a shark, yew slab-sided, bean-swillin', dunderhead yew,
what yew think y'r doin', hey? Want ter carry away the mainyard, yew
slush-brained numskull?"
Crack! crack! crack! went the belaying-pin on the wretched man's
head.
Suddenly, in the midst of it all, the wind lulled again, and the bosun,
crawling up the sloping deck on hands and knees, gave tongue
lustily:
"Haul away there, haul away, haul away, haul away!"
Once more backs were bent and arms stretched out. Slowly the
buntlines came two blocks under the frenzied efforts of the half-
dazed men.
"Away aloft an' make it fast!" came the command.
The stumbling, panting crowd pushed and shoved and tumbled over
each other as they struggled to the rail and swarmed over it into the
rigging.
Headed by the untiring bosun, they raced up the ratlines and
scrambled out along the footropes.
"Dig your fingers in and on to the yard with her, boys. All together,
now, ay-hay an' up she comes!" roared the bosun from the bunt.
"Make a skin! make a skin!" he went on sharply.
"It's shore none easy," muttered Broncho.
"Now you have her! now you have her!" came the bosun's
overstrained voice again. "Roll her, boys, roll her!"
"She's a-comin'!" gasped some one, and with a last great effort they
got the sail on the yard.
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to the other's ear.
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regions," grunted Broncho to himself as he passed the gasket.
"Don't haul on it with both hands," suddenly cried the rover from the
footrope below him. "Keep fast hold of the jackstay with one hand.
Never trust a gasket, or one day you'll take a header to the deck."
"You can bet your moccasins I'll be a heap regyardful of what you-
alls advises. I'm none anxious to come flutterin' from my perch that-
away," observed Broncho, as he took Jack's advice.
Hardly was the main course fast before the wind shifted suddenly
into the west-south-west, and began to blow harder than ever.
The men were trooping off to man the fore and mizzen upper-topsail
spilling-lines, and Black Davis and the bosun were at the halliards;
but as the wind came astern, the old man thundered out:
"Hold all fast there! Weather crojjick brace!"
"Weather crojjick brace!" echoed the mate. "Let go o' that gear!" and
he crossed the deck to slack away the lee braces.
As the helm was put up and the ship went off, a heavy westerly sea
came up on each quarter, and soon converted the maindeck into a
raging flood, which made squaring the yards no child's play.
"Now you're going to see what a Cape Horner's maindeck is like in
heavy weather," remarked Jack to Broncho, as they took hold of the
brace, ready to haul away on the word of command.
"I ain't hankerin' after no sech spectacle," replied Broncho. "I've had
the vividest scrimmage of my life, an' I'm some jolted up an' chewed
from the effects tharof."
"Haul away!" roared Black Davis.
Hardly had three pulls been taken before the top of a sea fell upon
them, and the whole watch lay on their backs submerged and
hanging on to the brace for dear life.
Two or three unfortunates let go their hold and were washed
helplessly away, head under, at the sport of the mighty, swirling mass
of water. Bruised, battered, and choked, they were rolled over and
over and hurtled mercilessly forward in the cruel grasp of the raging
torrent.
As the water gradually drained off, Black Davis, who was clinging to
the lee crojjick brace, with which he had taken a rapid turn round the
pin, felt a heavy bundle of gasping humanity bump heavily up
against his sturdy sea-boots.
Long habit caused him to draw back his toe and deliver a shrewd
kick at the object.
A muffled yell broke forth.
"Oh, it's yew, is it, yew lump o' Dutch grease? Git up!" he snarled as
he repeated the dose.
Half senseless, chock full of salt water, breathless and bruised, with
sore head and sore ribs, the luckless Muller contrived to scramble
giddily to his feet and blunder hurriedly out of range.
As he once more took hold of the brace, the German gritted his teeth
and muttered ferociously:
"Vait, mine fine mister mate, I dink I vill my knife stick into you von
dark nacht; yah, mine Gott! Den you no more kick me, ain't it? Yah!"
Then other unfortunates gathered their scattered faculties together
as the thundering voices of the mate and bosun mingled with the
roar and the scream of the stormfiend.
Pinto disengaged himself from the rough embrace of the fife-rail and
crawled up on all fours. Studpoker Bob, who had clung wildly to the
poop-ladder after the first mad rush, appeared grumbling in his usual
surly fashion, and Jimmy Green limped painfully forth from behind
the hatch.
"Haul away!" roared the bosun.
A bright whisp of a moon now appeared, soaring like a flashing
scimitar into the eye of the wind, and it was very welcome as it shed
its cold beams upon the wild scene.
The wet, glistening decks, the mass of curved cordage bending to
the blast, the line of toiling men, the clear-cut figure of the old man
swaying at the break of the poop, the raging sea which rolled in great
snow-capped mountains of ink, the scudding ragged clouds, and the
rounded bosoms of the straining topsails—all these its silver rays
showed forth in rugged, strongly touched relief.
The wheel was now too much for the strength of little Angelino, and
though he worked furiously, heaving it up and down with all his
might, he was always too late in meeting her; the compass card
grew more and more unsteady in its movements, and the ship began
to swing a couple of points on each side of her course.
The result was that the tired men at the braces spent most of their
time under water.
"Somebody'll be overboard directly, if Angelino goes on letting her
run off like that," grunted Jack to the bosun, as they hung on, dipped
to their waists in the surging flood, and waited for the maindeck to
clear itself.
"This old Higgins is a bit of a wet ship, I'm thinkin'," reflected the
bosun. "She's as bad as any iron ship that ever I was on. Call 'em
diving-bells an' half-tide rocks—these here wooden Yankees are just
as bad."
Presently an extra big monster came along, and broke aboard high
over the men's heads, sweeping across the maindeck with a
deafening roar, and taking every man on the braces away in its
furious embrace.
This was too much for the old man. For a few moments his whole
crew disappeared from sight in the flood; then, as the water began to
pour off over each rail in turn, he caught sight of an odd leg or arm
poking out of the torrent for a second, like derelict boughs tossed
about in a swollen mountain stream.
With a furious imprecation he turned and pounced upon Angelino.
"Oh, it's yew again, is it? What in hell d'yew think y're doin', spinnin'
tops er what? Snakes! d'ye want to have her broach to? Hard up,
yew scattermouch, hard up! Thet's enuff! Neow then, meet her as
she goes off. Gol darn my skin, yew ain't got more strength than er
cockroach! Heave her down, man, heave her down——Gaul bust my
boots, down, I said—don't yew know down from up yet? Jeerusalem,
y're enuff to make the Archangel Gabriel bawl blue hell."
Then, giving the little dago a cuff on the ear, he rushed to the break
of the poop, bellowing,
"Lee-wheel, hyeh, send a lee-wheel along, Mister Davis, an' send a
man to relieve thet dago; he ain't more use than a bad egg."
By the time the yards were squared and the starboard watch allowed
to go forward, all but an hour of their watch below had passed.
"Well, Broncho," said Jack with a queer note of gaiety in his voice, as
they stripped off their oilskins, "this is something like, eh? This is the
weather to wash the mud out of a man and keep his blood from
getting sluggish and clogged." And he sang softly,
"See how she buries that lee cat-head;
Hold on, good Yankee pine!"
The foc's'le presented a dreary interior, and seemed more calculated
to produce melancholy and sourness than gaiety; yet, as the light
from the lamp fell upon the rover's face, there was a look of
exultation upon it; his eyes glittered and beamed with a great
content, whilst the corners of his lips curved and his mouth opened
with a bright, unconscious smile.
A born fighter, the blood of battle was surging in his veins, roused by
the tempestuous strife with the elements. The queer fascination of
danger gripped him; he gloried in the desperate struggle with those
two mighty ones, the wind and sea, in all the grandeur of their fearful
passions.
It is not given to every nature to feel this strange delight in battle, this
glorious uplifting of the soul in moments of great stress or peril, this
queer, sweet sensation of sheer personal joy which tingles through a
man's blood and converts it into electric fluid, whilst it cools his
nerve, clears and sharpens his brain, and enables him to take no
heed of hunger or thirst, heat or cold, bruises or knockdowns, but to
accomplish prodigies of strength, endurance, and valour with a cold,
icy courage and unwearying muscles.
Broncho stared at the rover with wondering eyes, then glanced
round as if to see wherein lay the cause of this strange joy.
On the floor of the foc's'le three inches of water washed steadily
backwards and forwards at each heave of the tumbling vessel; from
a line overhead suspended a row of yellow oilskin coats and pants,
which swayed gravely to the rolling like so many headless bodies.
Everything seemed damp and miserable; the air was close and foul
and the wet clothing steamed; a mess of debris and wreckage
washed wearily to and fro on the flood; tired men with aching limbs
lay silent between their damp blankets, whilst that great comforter,
the pipe, sent out great clouds of smoke from each pair of lips.
Outside, mingling with the crash of the seas, the stormfiend could be
heard playing his great oratorio.
"We shore seems to be havin' a mighty strenuous time of it," replied
Broncho slowly, "though how you contrives to accoomilate joy an'
delight tharfrom has me a heap surprised. What with the way this
here locoed ship's a-buckin' an' pitchin' worse'n the meanest cayuse
that ever wears ha'r, an' the waves like stampeded landslides a-
pourin' over one an' a-heavin' one around without consultin' nobody's
opeenions on the proposition, it's shore toomultuous an' is due to
have me some ravelled an' frayed if it keeps up this vigorous high-
flung gait."
"Waache eein bietje!" laughed Jack. "This cattle stampede's merely
beginning; it's just taking a preliminary pasear. Wait till we get into
the clutches of a Cape Horn snorter."
"A cattle stampede is low down an' ornery compared to this here
fatiguin' disturbance," returned Broncho in disgust.
"It bogs down as plumb dull an' no account before this impulsive
whirlwind, which I states emphatic is a whole team an' jest raises
Almighty discord from the heavenly vaults to the bottomless pit as
easy as winnin' a Jack-pot with four aces."
"Douse that glim," growled a voice, and soon the foc's'le resounded
with the deep, heavy breathing of tired men asleep in a foul
atmosphere.
CHAPTER XII
"A CALL FOR NERVE"
At midnight it was Jack's wheel and Broncho's look-out.
"How's she steering?" asked Jack, as he took the wheel from Hank.
"Oh, not so dusty. They've got the relievin' tackles rigged, an' she
only wants watching. Ain't yew got no lee-wheel with yew, though?"
"No, I guess I can manage."
"Waal, I reckon yew can tiew, though it'll come heavy on yew, durned
heavy."
It was now blowing a strong, steady gale, with squalls at intervals—a
good fair sample of "running easting down" weather.
The sky was almost clear, and the great Southern Cross gleamed
high up in the heavens.
The Higgins required careful watching to meet her in time as she
was hurled from mountain to valley. Down, down, down into the
depths, down she dropped until the foresail began to shake; then up,
up, up she went again, staggering desperately to reach the top as,
like a beast of prey, a great hill of whirling liquid with a seething crest
of foam swooped upon her.
High up above the helmsman it reared its raging top, a nerve-
shaking, a terror-giving sight as it threatened to overwhelm the
struggling ship with its huge bulk and roll her over and over, broken,
waterlogged, sinking—only one more ship to be posted as missing,
gone to an unknown grave in the vast depths of the mighty Southern
Ocean. But up swung the stern of the gallant clipper as, held steady
by Jack's cool hand, she ran dead before it, and the great roller
rushed by harmless and fell with a deafening clatter upon the flooded
maindeck.
In such a sea everything depends upon the helmsman, and the
bosun kept handy to the wheel, ready to give his powerful aid should
the emergency arise.
But the rolling-stone needed no help—he was thoroughly in his
element. A magnificent helmsman, a few spokes either way and he
kept the Higgins steady on her course.
The thought that the safety of the vessel and the lives of his
shipmates depended upon his skill and nerve was pure bliss to him.
He rejoiced in it, and mocked at the vainly pursuing seas.
The helm was heavy, however, for one man, and all his strength was
needed; yet he felt it not. His muscles rebounded to the call upon
them, and he threw the wheel up a turn with easy grace, where
another man would have been straining with cracking muscles.
With legs firmly planted on the grating, he stood to windward,
swaying easily with the motion of the vessel, whilst with keen eyes
he steered by a star at the yardarm, hardly taking a glance at that
deceiver, the compass.
This, this was life, strenuous, stern, full of fearful hardship, yet
wonderful bewitching joy—the life which sharpens the faculties,
quickens the wits, and hardens the backbone of a man, producing at
the same time a self-reliance not to be come at by any other method.
It is the strife, the struggle, the fierce endeavour which, once
experienced, make the quieter, more tranquil paths of life seem dull
and insipid.
It is the sense of safety in this life which palls upon men and drives
adventurers forth into the world, seeking anything that will arouse
their natures, grown sluggish and torpid in the monotony of the
modern daily round.
Some go and shoot big game, others climb mountains, a few
explore, and some rush gaily into foreign wars, all for the same
reason, to shake off the choking folds of security's sombre cloak and
feel the thrill of danger.
What is there to compare with this exulting feeling, this tasting of the
juice of peril in realms where the spice of life, the sweets of a hard-
fought victory, are known to the full?
In these realms the qualities of nerve and pluck are at a premium,
and he who has not sufficient goes under, broken and tossed aside
in swift defeat. In these realms a man is thoroughly tested and
tempered in the fire, and he must be "clean strain" or he won't
survive the ordeal.
Jack gazed with a look of defiance into the heart of the storm.
"Fight me, you raging sea and howling wind," he cried in his
exultation; "overcome me, if it is so fated, but I will give you a stiff
battle. All my cunning, all my nerve, all my endurance are ready to
my call. Exhaust them if you can, break them down, but first you
have to break my spirit, strain it, tear it, beat upon it, crush it down;
and if you are able to destroy it, you can take my useless body also.
Blow, ye winds; smite me, O sea, for I am ready!" And he hummed
the famous chanty:
"Blow the man down, Johnny, blow the man down!
To my aye, aye, blow the man down!
If he be white man or black man or brown,
Give me some time to blow the man down."
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