She quivered under the whip
of the mighty lash of steel from above.
The German destroyer, driving full speed at the spot where they had
sighted the periscopes of the American tormentor, had crossed directly
over the _Monitor_ and dropped a depth bomb that had exploded nearly
upon the turret of the doughty fighter!
A great gap was torn in the turret through which the sea swept in
a torrent. Fighting madly for the exit hatch into the chamber below,
McClure was dashed off his feet by the lurch of the smitten submarine
and sprawled against the steel side of the conning tower. With the
spray dashing in his face Jack had a fleeting glimpse of his commander,
and by a superhuman effort drew himself back into the turret against
the mass of water. Hurling himself forward, he groped about for his
captain and found him finally on the floor of the turret. Exerting
all his strength, he succeeded in hurling "Little Mack" down into
the control chamber.
Blinded by the swirling water, the youth dived headlong for the opening
in a mad effort to escape the flood and get below that he might shut
off the crushed turret from the rest of the submarine and hold the
deluge in check.
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