The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-08-18
"Poked Half Our Length Through the
Rotten Side"

door was opened a noxious, sitting
odor swept into the outer room.
IT'S no use," said Barton at last,
shut them off, Corrigan! They're
only eating up air-and that means
hours of life now!"
Ali the lights on the direct circuit
went out when the motors stopped,
leaving the interior shrouded in gloom
save for one small battery-incandes-
cent which shed it's feeble, saffron illu-
mination over a table in the center of
the living room.
Sleep was unconsidered; it was not
to be thought of there, and could come
to the men only when exhaustion
dragged them down.
IT'S getting bad in here already"
said Barton, as he noted the rapidity
of their limitations I'm afraid we'll
have to start the air. Stand two-houI
watches while it lasts. Corrigan, you
take the first turn
AS the engineer made his way slow
ly toward the corner where the little
brass controller of the air-valve pro-
truded from the wall beside the clock
faced gauge that recorded the pressure
in the priceless cylinder of air, Barton
Strengthened his sagging shoulders
resolutely. and raising his gaze to the
eye-level of the other men, searched
them keenly, without faltering, as If
to sum in swift appraisal the measure
of their weakness and their strength.
st would be useless for me to make
lion nf in
u.s." he said at length
His voice was pitched low, devoid of
infection, and so complete was his
self-restraint, lacking even in the
slightest betrayal of sympathy or
emotion. 1t was more like the per-
functory droning of some jurist re-
peating the ritual of mandatory SEN
tence; yet none the less clearly it
carried to the limits of the chamber.
Our very closeness to our destina-
ton means a scarcity of merchantmen
in these waters. And we are much too
far down, anyway, to be seen from the
surface. even if the periscope was not
gone. The only possible manner I
can conceive in which to attract atten-
ton is to keep the propellers going.
But sea making as it did last night
won't calm itself in day; so the COM
motion we might kick up wouldn't
have much chance.
Remotely, we might work loose.
It's almost hopeless possibility; but
it's here, with life Every five minutes
those engines work shortens that life
an hour. For one, l am loath to sur
render second. We've failed in our
mission. What it was / don't know;
but I'm going to find that packet, and
if it's in there I'll find out 1t might
not be too late to serve so long as a
chance of escape remains.
81 can't assure you of myself that
there is the millionth part of single
opportunity for US to win back our
freedom; but for the sake of the ones
we care for, want to cling to that
fraction. If anyone feels differently,
speak out!"
There was no audible response, al
though the boatswain's lips moved
silently. as they had continued to dc
since the reference to his wife. Pos
sibly he was praying again.
Barton stood waiting a moment;
then, nodding appreciation of the
wordless assent, he sat down at the
table From beneath it he drew forth
the fiat, metal box. There was nc
sound in the room while he turned
through the papers noiselessly. save
at several-minute intervals the release
of the air-Yalve which Kissed sharply