Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-01
COnti@~ed from Eleventh Page

enemy vessel were bewildered suspect. Their
shots new vaguely and at longer intervals I
revealed my state Of mind to my lieutenant.
quite a relief"
They'll find our range again, captain"
But they are standing on a volcano ready
10 belch forth gasoline"
Il don't envy them, sir. Shot for shot, we're
better. off,"
I nodded assent heartily before clapped
my eye to the telescope In my hand A huge
flame burst without warning from the tankers
upper deck close to the funnel.
Shes h1t!" / cried the words aloud in ex-
cftement Those Of my crew on the submarine
deck shouted in chorus. All stared at a cloud
Of smoke that enveloped the tanker forward
AT last she ceased firing.
saw little dark spot on the surface Of
the sea. 1t broke away from the hull of the
doomed tanker and made painfully of across
the water. I could scarcely distinguish the
SihouetteS. The smoke was filling the horizon
and backening every prospect MY chief en-
gineer drew my attention to another region of
the horizon altogether.
"A steamer, captain! SPANISH"
The lieutenant was Of the same opinion. He
pronounced her passenger ship. I turned
from their speculation to the dark object near
the tanker. could make it out now for it
came straight toward us.
"A Iiteboat The Americans are paying us
q visit
1t in fact the crew of the tanker a
fine lot of young men. My heart sank within
me. These youths were in every state of DESC
lation, not few wearing little or nothing
They had quilted the tanker in the hottest
base and they had rowed desperately
Are you all here?"
He whom inferred to be the master of
the American tanker shook his head I'VE
left two aboard-killed'
The members of my crew had come up from
below with blankets. The Americans were in
ia afnr ~NF So
exhibited by two or three of them My shot
had done for two forever. The others had
been touched by the exploding gasoline. was
glad to see that our medicine afforded Slight
relief They were most grateful for the alb
sorbent cotton we were also able to supply.
THE Spanish passenger ship was meanwhile
coming across the water. It was already
within hailing distance told the Americans
that they had one Of two alternatives If
received them in the submarine they would be-
come prisoners OF war. If they went aboard
the passenger ship they would enjoy fresh air
anG freedom.
-creover." I concluded, ION the Spanish
shio you viii find not only neutrals-you will
mr. a doctor"
The Americans turned to stare at the ship
She was lowering her boats. The mate of the
crew Of the tanker came over to where I stood
beside the coming tower.
Captain" he said extending his hand will
you say Goodbye"
I took the pronered hand and shook it with
tlna~ected cordially. "Good-by" cried, "and
gooG luck!"
stepped forward and shook me by the hand,
saying, as the first had said. ''Good-by, cap
tain!'
I was delighted with these brave and gen
erous men. They gave me a feeling of good
fellowship. watched them as the boats bore
tn fha CVnoN icIn
and framed my opinion Of them in words to
the lieutenant. IAN Of them" declared, "are
good losers"
It happened one day in the course of a heavy
. storm that we found ourselves of the west
coast Of Sicily. 1t was well on in June of the
last year of the World War, 1918 am afraid
we might have got q little slack aboard If a.
convoy had not come over the edge Of the
horizon just as we were growing too dull and
stale.
I lost no time in ordering the submarine
below the surface. We ran a trife too deep
for any scanning of the horizon.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon when
we dived contrived to get heeting glimpses
of the convoy which appeared to steer right
for us. 1t consisted judged, of about half q
dozen ships led by large liner with a single
funncl and four maStS.
made up my mind to attack this leader
fiist Of all. The orders were soon given. The
crew, or rather the torpedo men, obeyed every
signal exclusively. was on the point of franz
Ing my lips for the order to fire when the ship
with TIE funnel and the masts turned to-
ward US.
The rcke I meant to deliver was paralyzed.
I'VE must dive deeper"
The lieutenant nodded. The boat obeyed
WI h Characteristic fitness for everything.
. think" 1 observed now that we might
ccr'c rr to the proper depth again."
""ope depth, captain?"
- fancy that liner must have passed
- :H.canion's face grew serious "I dare