Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18
lcopyrignt, Tho Frank 4. Munsey co.J

Within the battered, sweitering con.
ning-towsr of B.23, Lieutenant Barton
and his ensign. Rolf, marshaied the
utmost of their nautical skill against
the onslaught OF the elements, while
they stFove ct the wheel with united
Drawn to keep the rolling pitching
boat head-on 10 the seas.
All that day, from the great heart Of
the desert, the siroeco had pulsed
fsyerishly across the Mediterranean.
No word had passed between the
stocky. swart.visaged commander and
his iithe.bodied, blond-haired aid since
the periscope-staf had snapped by the
board In the FIRST crunch OF the raven.
Ing wind Then Rolt Ind reared above
the pounding OF the oombers against
the thick-glaased ports.
She'll never stand tho kick of this
aea We'd better sink her now or well
have 20 swim"
Orders" Barton had snapped In re-,
ply To the Dardanelles! Report to
the captain OF the Victory by the 18th.
Nocni' That's tomorrow: and we're
going through II the Gnomes don't
crack '.@
So they had struggled on grimly---
muscles writing under the strain and
knucklaa outstanding from knotted
asts hard as the spokes which they
gripped.
At the same time. behind them,
Frank Marsh, an aged bOatswaIn,
swung the lever that played the
searchiight, INCREASINGLY to and fro
and while be toiled. he sweated--and
prayed. Down below, behind q
stepped, steel door, the engineer, Jack
corrlgaF, Strengthened up from the
stinktng cylinders. and as no mopped
hia fat, red face--he awore.
These four men made up the roster
of this latest acquisition to tho British
Mediterranean fleet B.as was q new
typa Of submarine, built for special
purpose.
should the need arise, her duty was
TO fathom out the location OF planted
explosives In the deep murk OF harbor.
bottoms and then to render their con.
trolling wires useless through the &C.
tion OF the suiphuric acid which she
carried and which could be discharged
hot from the huge platinum syringe
built into her bow.
Seemingly opportunity had come
With the departure of tho Balkan
agents from the futile London con.
terence For II was ut the very mo.
Eiaent when the allied armies began to
tear down the web OF diplomacy spun
acrusa the Turks musty corner OF Eu.
rope thai H-2a had been detached from
the rest OF the flotillA at Gibraltar aud
nurie0 away on her secret mission.
No one ahoard vet knew the pur.
pose cf the trip
Barton'B tnstructions~-direct from
the admiralty were merely 10 reach
the auperdreadnaugh Victory, az the
Mediterranean end OF tho Dardaneliea,
not later than the hour mentioned and
b have his arrival wtrelessed at once
10 London. He had further 70 deliver
. paoket~--then locked In his strong.
box beiow-the Official red seal of
which atill remained unbruken.
Though Barton was bent upon car,
rying out these instructions. the els-
mants were not,
II was after B-as had passed Cape
Mataplan and. blowing desperately
against the overwhelming forces, had
worked well into the tanglements oil
the archipelago. that her tlood-gate
suddenly gave way.
With series of laundering CLUBS,
like the iilling OF some giant bottle,
the water surged into the jacket.
simultaneously headseam opened,
swapping the forward trimming.tank
and before either helmsman could
reach the planning lever of the hort
aontal rudder or throw the control ol
the balance-weight, the submarine dug
her anout into the waves and went
plunging beneath the surface like q
frightened narwhal
Frantieally, Rolf jerked at the
dangling hell'eord. while Barton leaped
toward the ladder from the hatch 60
the room below. The drive OF tho en-,
ginea ceased when the boats pronel.
lers sliced into the air. but her own
momentum thrust her onward. And
when gravity clutchad ut the logging
head, she dove In a short, swift arc,
coming, al instant later. to q grinding
scraping stop which shook Barton
from the rungs OF the ladder and sent
Rolf reeling against the lookout.port.
Barton ieaped to his feet, and be-.
fore rushing to inspect the damaged
tank wrenched open tho door OF the
enginerroom.
For God . sake." he shouted to Cor,
rigan. "quickl Get that gate shut and
the pumps goingl And the weight al
far aft as II will go. Flood that rear
tritnmingtank tool TILT her up, some,
howl.
Loosaned ny the hammering seas,
the automatic bolts had allowed the
gate to slip.
Gorrigan switched on the engines
and closed 1t again In a moment
where he held II by wedging the gears
HIT q single glance told Barton that
the rent forward could not be repaired
under water. A he hurried back. he
caught sight ct the balance.wstgki