Evening star., 1932-11-13

would hold. He hoped there would be no panic
Men ought to die with dignity.
Suddenly, for some unaccountable reason
the electric lights flashed on. But instead of
bringing cheer they only intensified the ghast-
illness Of the situation. Men with bloodshot
eyes glowing redly in their blackened faces
seemed to have been rendered articulate by
the light. They began to curse wildly-the
war, the ship each other.
Lieut. Farway, his glistening blond hair dank
and sooty, moved his swollen lips Bradford
was near enough to catch his words. We'll
both go, anyhow"
he had forgotten for the moment--came back
to him in rush. 80 you thinking" he
said, his voice cold that you alone might es-
cape in some miraculous way and go home
to Margaret"
Farway nodded I'VE can't help hoping"
he muttered. He choked on the gas. Whats
the hating each other any longer, Brad?
Neither of us will get her And after all,
we're men-cant we die like men?"
Were men of wsr-not men," said Bradford
bitterly. He was not conscious of punnng.
He spoke in despair-as a man who knows him.
self incapable of ascending new height.
The skipper, coming frcm somewhere for
ward entered the c.. o. C. and crossed over
to his two junior officers. IF the forward hatch
could be opened he said hastily, there's
chance that the incoming water would increase
the air-pressure within the boat so that we
could open the conning-tower hatch and
escape"
wouldn't we die from the bends if we
came suddenly to the surface?" Bradford
asked.
I'VE might. But it's our only chance If
we remain hera well die like rats"
"IH get the men together, SIR" said Brad
ford. He assembled the men and briefly ex-
planned the captains idea With faint cheer
they rushed to the forward hatch, and, re-
leasing the battens, tried to push it open.
f0o yUaQK roma hU e1Iffa irp
the pressure from without was too great-they
could not move the hatch. They worked des-
perately, in relays until they sank down ON
the deck painting and exhausted. They no
longed paid any attention to the officers direc-
tions, but, brutally pushing one another away,
wasted their strength in frenzed labor, urged
on by the terrible curses of their comrades.
Very soon the attempt had to be abandoned
altogether. 1t was cruel disappointment-a
trial by hope.
THE stern was now completely flooded, SO
that not only the liberated chlorine gas but
the rapidly increasing air pressure made it
more and more difficult to breathe The mo-
ment of suffocation was near.
Some of the men, uttering no word but
choking horribly, were waiting patiently to die
Others were curling and praying and singing
If the grooming whine that issued from their
lips could be so named One man, ramming
cotton waste in his ears and nostrfs, threw
himself into the now knee-deep water in the
boat. and was dragged out, kicking and strug-
CLING and screaming. Immediately seversI others
attempted to find oblivion beneath the oily
surface of the water
The panic was fast getting out of hand. Lieut..
Farway was already too weak to be of any
assistance Bradford and the captain, working
desperately to the men without the
prerogative of commanding that would have
only inf1amed their despair, realized that in a
short time their own strength would be
exhausted
Suddenly there was a rush of water from
somewhere forward. Bradford, standing nearest
the passage that led from stem to stern of the
vessel, felt it first and instinctively turned his
head. Immediately he grasped the situation
One of the gunners had opened torpedo tube!
Why hadn't this possibility occurred to some
one before?
Make for the coming tower ladder." he
yelled.
Strengthened by a new hope, men were
scrambling up the ladder. Some of the stronger
were helping their almost unconscious comrades
The water was pouring into the submarine
like cataract, roaring and swirling horribly.
Come along, Bradford--Farwayl" called the
captain
Bradford dived through the thick, surging
water for the ladder. He had advanced two
rungs when he happened to glance at Farway
The young man was making feeble, but futile
effort to follow. His face was ghastly; his eyes
CLASSY and expressionless. A sharp stab of
exultation pierced Bradford's chest. Margaret
wouldn't need to hesitate between them If Far
way was dead. And Farway was as good as
dead; he hadn't the strength to escape!
The next instant Bradford was by his rivals
side Come along, lad" he said gruf1y, "In
help you" He slipped his arm under the ether
mans shoulder. Farway smiled family. In his
helplessness he seemed very young.
There was a violent rush of water from