It was a get-away swift
enough---almost to take the breath of the midshipmen.
"You see, gentlemen," Lieutenant Benson explained quietly, "we
act on the theory that in submarine work every second has its
value when in action. So we have paid a good deal of attention
to the speedy start. Another thing that you will note is that,
aboard so small a craft, it is important that, as far as is possible,
the crew act without orders for each move. What do you note of the
crew just now?"
"That they performed their work with lightning speed, sir, and that
they have already gone below, without waiting for orders to that
effect."
"Right," nodded Jack Benson. "Had the crew been needed on deck
I would have ordered them to remain. As I did not so order they
have gone below, where they are out of the way until wanted.
A craft that fights always on the surface of the water should
have some men of the crew always on deck. But here on a submarine
the men would be in the way, and we want a clear range of view
all over the deck, and seaward, in order that we may see everything
that it is possible to see. Mr. Darrin, Mr. Dalzell and Mr. Farley
will remain on deck with me. The other young gentlemen will go
below to study the workings of the engines under Ensign Hastings."
Though it was a true pleasure trip for all six of the midshipmen,
it was one of hard, brisk instruction all the time.
"Here, you see," explained Lieutenant Jack, leading his trio just
forward of the conning tower, "we have a deck wheel for use when
needed.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78