Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 92: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

566 “Why, yes, second.” “Permission to stand by you, sir, until you go up.” I notices he takes his eyes out 0’ mine, and I says to myself: “ Ho, ho, old cap- tain!” “You may stand by awhile, second.” He’s evasive, and I catches it. ‘‘ You must take station when I reach for the air valves.”” Which I won’t, I decides, secret. “Ready for flooding. Air ready, sir,” the lieutenant gives him. “Stand by the hatch with the men, lieu- tenant,” he orders. “ Be ready to pull the vent lever for opening when I throw up my arm. Be sure the men are all under. Must make most of the first upward impulse.” “ How about you, sir?” “T’m steady now. I'll be coming along when I’ve got the air right.” His voice drops a bit. ‘Too bad to leave the ship, lieutenant.” If that able-bodied seaman really got through, we might have saved the old girl as well as the men. Chlorine puts us out of luck.” His voice goes firm. “Stand by to open. .Give the men my compliments and good luck to you, old man.” I stows my light and dodges behind the captain so the lieutenant won’t see me. His voice comes over from under the hatch, where the hand torches is makin’ a lot of bluish light. “Captain will be flooding in a minute. Hold hard and stand to it. When I open you won’t know what’s happened. Any- thing’s a bit of all right in face of chlor- ine. Altogether, and lusty now: ‘ God Save the King.’ ” God Save the King it is, lusty-all. There’s talkin’ now, kind o’ shrill, while the captain’s fingerin’ with the flood valves. “ Vou, Swipes,” torpedoes calls. “ What cheer, old soak?” Swipes wants to know. ‘“‘ That two bob you owes me against pay day. Lay you a wager on it.” “Take you up, you lubber. What's odds?” “Tf we makes the White Horse you owes me double. If we doesn’t Ul wipe it off. What say?” “Says you're dusty. Wet you up ina minute.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Breathe easy, men,” the captain calls, and pulls the flood valves. There ain’t much racket from the men, with the water pourin’ in, account o’ queer feelin’ to it. Sea’s all right outside, but disturbin’ in a manner when it’s comin’ up from your feet and you can’t step out o’ it. “Gosh, first cox’un,” Swipes grumbles. ‘“* How ’bout me gettin’ a slicker out o’ the kit?” ‘ Avast, gab,” says the first. The captain stands steady, me keepin’ behind. The water’s about up to knees and somebody complains, maybe it’s the kid. “Heads a buzzin’. Can’t get my breath.” “Stand to it, men,” the lieutenant braces ‘em, his voice kind.o’ heavy. “ Over pretty soon. Plenty of air on top.” The captain’s lips is movin’. The water’s comin’ faster, so I can’t hear. ’Sfunny, but I has the mind he’s prayin’ and men- tionin’ the ship’s company. I minds I’m to stand by the captain, hard-all. It’s up to shoulders now. Most of the torches is swimmin’ on the water, account o’ men lettin’ ’em go and keepin’ busy with their hands tryin’ to squeeze the buzz- in’ out o’ their heads. Pretty much stopped breathin’ altogether. : I’m not so cozylike in my own noodle, but I watch the captain’s hand when he closes the flood valves and I sees it shak- in’. He’s got to move, with the water impedin’, to reach the air valves. He reels a bit. I holds up my light with one hand and steadies him with t’other. “Thanks, second,” he sort 0’ whispers. ““ Must have the air now.” He makes the valve, me holdin’ him, and the air hisses. It’s three seconds, may- be four, when he stirs. I see he’s tryin’ to raise his arm and can’t. “ Lively, second,” he says, gaspy. “ Up my arm! Touch of chlorine’s got me. Up arm for lieutenant, then you jump for sta- tion. I'll be staying with the—” “Up arm, it is, sir,” I says, and raises his hand. He starts sinkin’ into the water where we stands, but I grabs him. The lieutenant pulls the hatch lever. Whether I see it or not, which I think I do, the hatch lifts back. There’s a suck- Gomichbooks (EO)