Jack wheeled, bracing himself against the conning tower. They were now
within eight hundred yards of the derelict's broadside-on.
How the "Hastings" seemed to crawl over the last of the intervening water
space! Yet Hal realized, if Jack did not, how swiftly the submarine was
racing.
"Five hundred yards!" clicked Jack, and stepped inside the conning tower,
snatching up a megaphone.
Four hundred and fifty--four hundred--three-fifty--three-twenty-five!
"Fire!"
That last word was bellowed below through the megaphone. Jack, his eyes
staring forward, saw something leap near the bow, and saw an upward dash
of spray. The torpedo had left the tube.
"Hard-aport, Eph! Swing her right over. So!"
From his own post in the conning tower Benson signaled for slow speed,
now. It would never do to stop the overheated engines utterly. Besides,
seaway was needed, with the rival craft coming up behind.
His work in the conning tower done, Captain Jack sprang out on the
platform deck, bounding beside Lieutenant Danvers at the starboard rail.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186