Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-03-12

reSolutely, and raising his gaze to the
eye-level of the other men. searched
them keenly without faltering, as II
to sum in swift appraisal the measure
OF their weakness and their strength.
ut would be useless for me to make
light of the conditions confronting
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 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-
ton is to keep the propellers going.
But sea making as it did last night
won't calm itself in a 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
|
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.
II 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 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-ninute intervals the release
of the air-valve which Kissed sharply
as If some tabled serpent in the black
sea outside were voicing anger at it's
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 spasmodically, 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 armslength
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 Dauntless
reach that port. They will be ordered
through Marmora on the Goth. The
Dardanelles are known to be heavily
mined. Secret advices from the in
telligence bureau are that mines will
be fired under preteuse of accident if
attempt is made to pass. 1nadvisable
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 course through the
strait which will avoid all difficult
ties"
He concluded the missive aloud,
half Historically, and looked at the
others.
For an appreciable interval no one
moved.
"May the saints save thin whin
they're going through" murmured Cor
rigan at length, and awaking to his
neglected duty, he reused the others
from the spell by a prolonged twist Of
the valve-lever.
It was nearing the close of the first
benighted day of confinement when
Rolf succeeded in relighting the cleo
trio 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
hopa11y nfara{r~ <ko 1iohkad orao ho.