Part 4 (1/2)
”Certainly, sir,” nodded Jack And then he continued as if reciting a lesson: ”Just give that firing lever at the back of the after port a quick shove to the right and doard That releases the charge of compressed air and forces the torpedo out At the same instant the forward port opens, so that the torpedo can be shot out into the water
The compressed air also serves to keep the sea water froh the torpedo tube When the lever is swung up and back again that closes the forward port, and it is then safe to open this after port”
”You've cohed the naval lieutenant
”Oh, we've often talked this over, all three of us,” smiled Jack
”Then, since you understand this part so well, Benson,” proposed Mr
Danvers, ”perhaps you'd like to go forward, on deck, and see when this dureed the submarine boy ”And Eph can just as well come with me”
The two submarine boys, therefore, hastened above, out on the platform deck, and then further forward on the upper hull, until they lay out along the nose of the ”Hastings”
Danvers reached Ewald's side in the tohile Biffens waited below, at the lever, for the firing signal
The ”Hastings” was now drifting, rather ai more than four hundred yards away fro all the while, the two sub a hard ti over the for speed and then brought the submarine boat within about three hundred yards of the scow, and at a position that pointed the nose of the ”Hastings” at the le with the scow
”Get ready to watch, out there!” warned the naval officer
”Now, Eph,” glowed Jack, ”we're going to see the thing we've so often dreamed about! We'll see that dummy torpedo leap forth, like a real one For a little way, at least, we ought to see the track of the torpedo”
”Feel like betting the du Somers, half doubtfully
”Of course it will,” retorted Jack Benson, scornfully, ”with naval experts on the job!”
Lieutenant Danvers gave the firing signal
In the silence that followed, the two sub over the nose of the boat heard just a oes!” shouted Jack Benson, with all the glee in the world
Down beneath thes” an object shot into brief view First the war-head, then the middle, then the tail and propeller of a fourteen-foot Whitehead torpedo swept away from them, two or three feet below the surface of the waves A line of bubbles caht and clean, for the stone-laden scow over on the ocean Then the torpedo, still under water, passed out of their range of view
”Hurrah!” yelled Jack Benson, leaping to his feet with all the glee and fervor of the enthusiast ”Hurrah!”
”Hurrah!” bellowed Eph Sootten into his blood, too Both submarine boys capered up and down on the platform deck
But Lieutenant Danvers sat with left hand on the conning tower steering wheel, his watch in his right hand He was counting the seconds
”Look out for the signal,” called the naval officer, coolly ”When I tell you, then look out for what happens over at the scow Er--now!”
They were too far away to hear the iht commotion in the waters under the scow's rail Then the du on the surface--spent!