"I agree with you, Mr. Binns," replied Ted.
And so, after another ten minutes' wait, the two decided to empty
the ballast tanks.
In another moment the weight of water filling the ballast tanks was
being thrown off under the force of the compressed air and the
_Monitor_ lifted off the bed of the harbor. Striking a match, Binns
leaned over the depth dial, watching the fluctuating hand that marked
foot by foot the progress of the _Monitor_ upward. To lighten the
load as much as possible and counterbalance the weight of water in
the wrecked conning tower Ted released the torpedoes remaining in
the tubes. In a few minutes the indicator hand pointed to zero and
the _Monitor's_ officers realized that now their craft was riding
awash with her deck fully exposed.
Making his way forward through the gloom, Ted sprang to the hatch and
raised the lid. As the morning light streamed in through the opening
a muffled cheer resounded from the interior of the sub. Vaulting up
the ladder, Ted leaped on deck and looked around him.
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