The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-03-19

Strengthened MS sagg1ng shoulder
! reso1utely. and raising his gaze to thu
r eye-level of the other men, searches
them keenly, without faltering, as /
: to sum in swift appraisal the measure
, of their weakness and their strength
: 1T would be useless for me to mak'
light of the conditions confronting
: U.s." he said at length.
His voice was pitched low, devoid O
infection, and so complete was his
self-restraiDt, lacking even in the
: slightest betrayal of sympathy OF
emotion. 1t was more like the per
J functory droning of some jurist re
peating the ritual of mandatory sen
tence; yet none the less clearly II
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 toe
far down, anyway, to be seen from the
surface, even if the periscope was not
gone. The only possible manner
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, / am loath to sur
render second. We've failed in our
| mission. What it was 7 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 a 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 QUIT"
There was no audible response, al
though the boatswains lips moved
silently, as they had continued to do
since the reference to his wife. Pos
sibly he was praying again.
Barton stood waiting 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 no
sound in the room while he turned
through the papers noiselessly, save
at several-minute intervals the release
of the air-valve which Kissed sharply
as if some tabled serpent in the black
sea outside were voicing anger at its |
inability to reach the men within.
The lieutenant presently found the |
packet, and for matter of seconds
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 systematically, and it fell
in crumpled heap when the lieuten-
ant pushed backward, staggering to
his feet gaspingly, 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-
i've that the Victory and Dauntless
reach that port. They will be ordered
through Marmora on the Both. The
Dardanelles are known to be heavily !
mined. Secret advices from the in
elligence bureau are that mines will
)e fired under pretense of accident If
attempt is made to pass. Inadvisable
It present to recognize this informa-
ion officially. B-23 will act under /;
rour orders. Instruct Lieutenant Bar ]
on to explore immediate waters care |
ully, charting a course through the Y
trait which will avoid all difficult {
les"
He concluded the missive aloud, Y
alf Historically, and looked at the {
theirs. I
For an appreciable interval no one
moved {
"May the saints save thin whln a
ney're going through" murmured Cor t
igan at length. and awaking to his a
eglected duty, he reused the others t
rom the spell by prolonged twist OF b
ne vaIve-lever. a
1t was nearing the close of the first a
enighted day of confinement when g
off succeeded in relighting the cleo fl
'ic beacon in the forepeak of the con- t.
ing-tower by wiring up several stor-
&c batteries in series. The feeble il
1rrent did not produce light OF Il
cry great penetration, but the en- g
gn, nevertheless, climbed aloft to g
le little circular room in the hope T
lat it might help him to discover just d
by the submarine would not move. m
AS he peered through the forward
,rt, the glance of the ensign fell pl
lexpectedly upon cylindrical object hi
rely piercing the lighted area be-
W on the starboard SIDE W
Pausing only to confirm his impress tn
On, he descended the ladder in haste. re