"What's the matter, Mr. Hastings?" Jack inquired quietly. "Something
blow out of the motor?"
The submarine remained slightly tilted up at the bow.
"I don't know, sir, as yet, what has happened," Hal Hastings answered
back. "I'm going over the motor now."
In a moment more he stepped into the cabin, a much more serious
look than usual on his fine face.
"This, looks like the man Morton's work," Hal announced holding
a small piece of copper up before the eyes of the midshipmen.
"Gentlemen, do you notice that the under side of this plate has
been filed considerably?"
"Yes, sir," nodded Dan Dalzell, a queer look crossing his face.
"Won't the motor operate without that plate being sound?"
"It will not."
The other midshipmen began to look and to feel strange.
"Then are we moored for good at the bottom of the bay?" asked
Jetson.
"No; for we carry plenty of duplicate parts for this plate," replied
Ensign Hal. "Come into the engine room and I will show you how
I fit the duplicate part on."
Hal led the midshipmen, halting before a small work bench. He
threw open a drawer under the bench.
"Every duplicate plate has been removed from this drawer," announced
Hastings quietly. "Then, indeed, we are stuck in the mud, with
no chance of rising. Gentlemen, I trust that the Navy will send
divers here to rescue us before our fresh air gives out!"
CHAPTER X
"WE BELONG TO THE NAVY, TOO!"
"You mean, sir," asked Midshipman Jetson, his voice hoarse in
spite of his efforts to remain calm, "that we are doomed to remain
here at the bottom of the bay unless divers reach us in time?"
"Yes," nodded Hal Hastings, his voice as quiet and even as ever.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90