Tombstone epitaph., 1915-03-21

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 ot their weakness and their strength.
 Tt would be useless for me to make light of the conditions confronting us," 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. It was more like the per functory droning of some jurist re beating the ritual of a mandatory sen- tence; yet none the less clearly 1t 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 l can conceive in which to attract atten- tion is to keep the propellers going. But sea making as it did last night motion we might kick up wouldn't have much chance.
 Remotely, we might work loose. It's almost a 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 a second We've failed in our mission. What it was I don't know; but I'm going to find that packet, and if it's in there I'll find out It might not De too late to serve so long as a chance of escape remains.
 T can't assure you of myself that there is the millionth part of single opportunity for us 10 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. all though the boatswain's lips moved silently. as they had continued to do 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 crew forth the fiat. metal box. There was no sound in the room while he turned through the papers noiselessly. save at several-minute intervals the release of the air-valve which hissed sharply as if some fabled serpent in the black sea outside were voicing anger at it's inability to reach the men within.
 The lieutenant presently found the his eyes countered the forbidding stare of the lurid seal
 Then he split the wrapper length wise, and as he bent over the closely typed contents, Rolf instinctively edged nearer. Suddenly Barton's arms began to tremble upon their resting elbows; his hands gripped at the paper spasmodically. and it fell in a crumpled heap when the lieuten- ant pushed backward. staggering to his feet gasp:ngly, as if the air al ready had failed.
 Rolf snatched up the sheet, smooth ing it upon the table top. Marsh crowded behind him while he read. and Corrigan stretched at arm-length away from his post. Shorn of salu- tation. impertinent detail. and sub scription. the message ran as follows:
 Certain interests at Constantinople demand protection, and it is impera- tive that the Victory and Dauntlsss reach that port. They will be ordered through Marmora on the 30th. The Dardanelles are known to be heavily mined. Secret advices from the in telligence bureau are that mines will be fired under pretense of accident if attempt is made 10 pass. Inadvisable at present to recognize this informa- ton officially. B-23 will act under your orders. Instruct Lieutenant Bar ton to explore immediate waters care fully, charting a course through the strait which will avoid all difficult ties"
 He concluded the missive aloud, half hysterically. and looked at the others
 For an appreciable interval no one moved
 May the saints save thim whin they're going through, murmured Cor rigan at length. and awaking to his neglected duty. he reused the others from the spell by prolonged twist Of the valve-leyer.
 It was nearing the close of the first benighted day of confinement when Rolf succeeded in relighting the cleo tric beacon in the forepeak of the con ning-tower by wiring up several stor- age batteries in series. The feeble current did not produce a light of very great penetration, but the en- sign. nevertheless, climbed aloft to the little circular room in the hope that it might help him to discover just why the submarine would not move.
 As he peered through the forward port, the glance of the ensign fell unexpectedly upon cylindrical object barely piercing the lighted area be-