Part 27 (1/2)
”What is it?” Jack managed to ask.
”We are caught in a whirlpool!” Mr. Henderson yelled as he leaped down the companionway and pulled the heavy steel cover after him.
Stricken with a nameless dread, Jack closed the water-tight door of the conning tower and made his way to the cabin. He could hardly get down the stairs, so swiftly was the s.h.i.+p whirling about.
He found the captain busy in the engine room and, in response to calls, Was.h.i.+ngton and Mark came hurrying in. They had been awakened by the commotion and the strange movements of the _Porpoise_.
”Turn on all the lights,” ordered the inventor. ”We must prepare for the worst.”
The incandescents were soon glowing and in the glare the frightened adventurers gathered about Mr. Henderson, wondering what new terror had befallen them.
”See!” exclaimed the inventor. ”We are going comparatively slow now, but we are on the outer edge. Wait until we reach the centre.”
He pointed to a compa.s.s and, as the needle pointed steadily to the north the card seemed to be going around like the hands of a clock that has lost the balance and escapement wheels. The s.h.i.+p made three complete circles a minute.
Pale and frightened, Mrs. Johnson came from her cabin, whence the terrified cries of Nellie could be heard.
”Are we sinking?” she asked.
”Sinking will never harm the _Porpoise_,” replied Mr. Henderson. ”This is something decidedly worse.”
”I know! It is a whirlpool!” exclaimed the lady.
”I'm dizzy; I'm so dizzy!” wailed Nellie. ”Please stop the s.h.i.+p from going round, Mr. Henderson.”
She came from her bed crying, and all her mother could do did not quiet her.
Meanwhile the submarine continued to whirl about faster and faster in the swirling waters. Five times each minute now it made the circuit, and, like the coils of a boa constrictor that is enfolding its victim, the circles continually grew smaller.
”We are being sucked down,” said Jack in a low tone as he glanced at the depth gage, and noted that it showed them to be thirty feet under water.
”That is so,” remarked Mr. Henderson quietly.
”What will be the result?” asked Mrs. Johnson.
”I do not know,” was the answer, and the captain turned aside. He seemed to have lost all courage in the face of the new disaster.
”Can't we empty the tanks and rise to the surface?” asked Andy.
”The tanks are not filled,” replied Mr. Henderson. ”What is taking us down is the force of the whirlpool and not the weight of water.”
”Then you fear for the worst?” asked Andy.
”I do,” said the captain simply.
”Don't give up the s.h.i.+p!” exclaimed the old hunter suddenly. ”Never say die! It's a long lane that has no turns! Hip! Hip! Hurrah!”
They all turned to stare at the old man.