Evening star., 1940-03-17

With half-raised gun Spike stared at
their splashing bodies, trying to figure
out the play. They had sounded an
alarm and now were Scrambling deS-
perately for the shore. How could they .
hope to climb that cliff? He looked up
and caught the perpendicular line of
three-inch pipe clamped to the rock,
and while his eyes were still raised
there came frenzied tapping. some
guard above signalling in Morse along
the pipe with hammer
He saw the whole thing in fash
Oil and gas coming by truck to
Remedies to flow through pipe and
hose into the tanks of the submerged
submarine! Coco, unCrowned king of
the boatmen. bought over to guard the
secret he couldn't help but know.
Coco, ready to see his own boat shelled
in defence of that secret. sure of ample
reward Deep down, only far enough
ofshore for safety. the U-boat was
SulSly lynx, tIllo Wei HlSldIll
men were rushing to their stations in
answer to the hammered warning, the~
same men, beyond doubt. who had
sent the Dryad Hook to her doom!
Spike swung the boat stern to shore,
in line with the pipe, and screamed at
Beppo But he couldn't wait for Beppo
- already the boat must be over the
vital spot Snatching out the spanner.
he ripped paddock from hasp on the
barrel. opened the hinged hatch and
unbuckled the halter He twrled the
barrel and by main strength tipped its
contents nose down over the side.
The propeller!" sobbed Beppo.
staggering to his feet "You forgot to
crank the spring.
ITO hell with the propeller" yelled
Spike. reaching to kick the throttle
wide open, your torpedo will go down
straight, won't it,"
As the boat leaped forward under
the full drive of the motor, there rose
from its wake a muffled roar that
seemed to open sea. earth and sky. A
huge wave lifted the boat, swung it
broadside and sent it skittering like a
shell across pond. Out of the depths
emerged monstrous form, a dripping
black behemOth. 1t wallowed like a
wounded whale, then its funneled bow.
shot into the air. lowered high, swayed.
bowed twice and sank with the rush
of pile driver Again there came a Z
dull roar from far down. a reverbera
ton more felt than heard. and sud
den slick of oil began to spread still .
pool amid the angry waters. :.
Beppo was still sobblng as though
he had forgotten to stop. Spike fought
the helm through tanglc Of swlrllng
waves listened to the mad racing of
the propeller and felt it bite deep at
last. He sat weakly on the edge of the
deck and wiped the streaming sweat
from his eyes As soon as he could see,
he set his course for the north,
His job was done. Perhaps Coco and
his men had escaped. perhaps the boil
ing water had dashed them to pulp
against the cliff. He wouldn't know
which for years, perhaps never, be
cause he wasn't coming back But the
sub that had sent the Dryad Hook to
the bottom hadn't escaped. 1t had
asked for an answer and got it - the
only answer.
Pita's arm crept around him, her
cheek pressed hard against his shoul-
der. He took her hand and smoothed
it gently She raised her face and he
kissed her lips. There wasn't anything
to say after that kiss, no questions to
ask, no explanations to offer. (
Where now?" she breathed.
Key West" he murmured, land
Washington, and you
The End