Part 24 (2/2)
”Barton, did you take that ascending lever?”
”Yes; ha-ha-ha! It's a good joke on you! You thought you'd put ether”
”Barton,” pleaded Mr Barr, ”be rational Return that lever and you shall have immunity”
”It's too late now!” screaether in the depths of the sea, where dead men's bones rot and the fish eat their eyes out”
A hasty consultation followed between the ensign and Mr Barr The man was undoubtedly violently insane, and there didn't see him from his position
The situation was the more serious fro properly and the air inside the sub noticeably stale and foul
”We must rush that door; it's our only chance,” declared the officer in a whispered voice
”But he is liable to shoot,” objected Mr Barr, eying the blued-steel ly at them
”It cannot be helped It e him from that position, and a man in his condition cannot listen to reason”
”Well, what do you propose?”
”That you start talking to hiive up the lever Then I'll watch oodness, that door has no lock on it”
”Barton!” said Mr Barr, in a resonant voice
”Well?” snarled the lunatic
”Be calm now and listen to reason Is it money you wish?”
”No, blood! Human lives!” shrieked the maniac
At precisely that instant, like a projectile fron's powerful body shot forward Crash caainst the door
At the same instant there was another crash, the sharp crack of a revolver! In that confined space it sounded terribly loud
”He's shot hi of the kind The attack had been utterly unexpected by hiainst him with terrific force, he had been knocked down As he fell the revolver exploded; before he could pull the trigger a second ti officer of Uncle Saht like a wildcat, and with the superhuth of those afflicted with insanity
At last, however, he was overpowered and, raving incoherently, was tied hand and foot and carried out to the cabin where he was placed on a lounge Mr Barr, who knew so dose from the submarine's medicine chest, and he became less violent
”Barton, where did you put that lever?” den
The man whimpered like a child