"
Presently Hal straightened up.
"Sir," he said gravely, "I have hopes that if you test the compressed
air apparatus you will find that this motor will do its share."
Midshipmen and crew drew back as Jack and Eph came out of the
engine room. Lieutenant Jack had his wrench in hand, and went back
to his former post.
"Young gentlemen," the commanding officer announced coolly, "we
will take up, at the point where we were interrupted, the work
of expelling the water from the compartments Are you ready, Mr.
Hastings?"
"Right by my post, sir," came from Hal.
The six midshipmen gathered about Benson with a stronger sense
of fascination than ever. Eph stepped past them to the stairs
leading---to the little conning tower.
With steady hand Jack Benson turned the wrench. The motor began
to "mote" and there was a sense of being lifted.
"Going up!" sang Ensign Eph, with a grin.
Nor could Dan Dalzell help imitating the grin and calling out
jovially:
"Let me out at the top floor, please!"
Having set the compressed air at work on the forward tanks, Jack
Benson quickly shifted the wrench, and without a word, getting
at work on the midship's compartments. Then the stern tanks were
emptied.
"May I come up, sir?" called Dan, his voice trembling with joy,
at the foot of the stairs.
"Very good," Eph sang back. "Room for only one, though,"
So Dan Dalzell hastily mounted the iron stairs until he found
himself side by side with Eph Somers.
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