Evening star., 1939-06-11

d leW ScIOlluS, Dul IL was llO DcllSl 1 llS PIES
sure was there; it was something you couldn't
see
The "jaygee" twisted a valve wider and
now the incoming air roared, and the dial said
thirty eight pounds. Forrest, trying to shut
the thought of Allyne from his mind told him
self this was nothing. This compared only to
eighty feet of sea depth. A diver could 60 two
hundred feet without discomfort, so long as he
didn't come up too quickly
The little cry of pain from De Maris jerked
him around as if it had had physical force. The
"jaygee' closed the valve and left the pres
sure at forty pounds. De Maris was holding
both hands over his ears; his thin face was
twisted.
The other three men who were going to
simulate an escape from a sunken submarine
we're oldtimers, sitting calmly, stoidly. The
"jaygee" stepped to the boys side. Only
four pounds to co. son. he said kindly. ITS
that little cold the doctor said you have.
Swallow - hard Clear your ears.
De Maris gulped, and his face contorted.
Then it relaxed little. He lifted one hand.
'All right, sir" he said thickly. Il can i
can take it,
Four pounds to go. The ''jaygee" opened
the valve without taking his eyes from
De Maris' face. The air roared again Sweat
rolled down Bart Forrest face and stung his
eyes, The needle hit forty -four, and the Jay
gee' shut off the roaring.
This is the pressure encountered at one
hundred feet he said. 1--WE will let the air
fho HyoIl q
drummed his knuckles against the vertical
steel pipe, almost yard in diameter, that
dropped from the overhead. AFTER the water
has built up pressure in this chamber cor
responding to the pressure of the water in the
escape tower, the hatch in this pipe can be
opened You have all received instruction in
the use of the Momsen lungs Well let the
water in. now
The air rumbled out slowly and the needle
swung left on the dial. Bart Forrest was
thinking of ships white side, gay with
serpentine streaming down to the dock. OF
bands playing aloha" Faces above the rail.
Allyne's face, piquant, lovely. A little white
and tense, too, as it must have been during
those six hours last July, when all the world
knew the S-23l was on the bottom off Barber's
Point And Paul Tierney there beside her.
smiling because he had won
Water came in. 1t was cool. 1t rose in
circle over Bart Forests feet. The 'jaygee'
leaned over and handed him a Momsen lung
the oxygen and soda-l device which looks
like gas mask Mechanically, Bart strapped
it around his waist. The water rose higher,
with swish and a rumble Pressure grew
again
The ''jaygee" was talking: :" - above ALL
keep your head! Remember to grip the escape
line with both hands, and both feet. At each
of the stops on the line. check YOU, ascent
Take five complete breaths. Then 60 on. Any
questions?"
Noquestions The "jaygee's voice was calm.
Forrest wondered if he really was coward,
wondered if the ''jaygee" would be afraid if he
had stood in the control room of submarine
and felt the water rise like this. Only colder.
If he had felt the pressure grow, and had
known the weight of a responsibility greater,
even, than the pressure.
His throat was dry, taut. With an effort,
he swallowed and equalized the air pressure in
his ear passages. He was grateful for the water
over his knees; nobody could tell he was
trembling, now.
Thirty pounds pressure. The compressed
air was growing hot. At hundred and thirty