Action for Men, May 1960 — page 63: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Water trickled down from the distorted conning-tower hatch. Air bubbled audibly from a ruptured high-pressure air tank, send- ing to the surface a fixed marker for the destroyer to carry on his attack. The rend- ing blast had, they knew, almost certainly ruptured at least one fuel tank, adding a spreading slick to the air bubbles as a sur- face point of aim for the enemy. “Ready to answer bells on the starboard shaft,” came the word from the maneuver- ing room. “Port motor grounded.” Dave Hurt weighed their situation anew. In World War I it had been axiomatic among destroyer men that when air and oil came to the surface after an attack on a sub- marine and the sound gear detected only silence, the submarine had been destroyed. He hoped that the surface stalkers might think the same. “Rig silent,” auxiliaries.” Dave ordered. “Cut off all (THROUGHOUT the quiet ship, men could hear the sound of the destroyer’s propellers gaining in volume as she returned to their position. But trained ears, including those of Dave Hurt, noted that the beat was slower—too slow for a ship which intended to drop depth charges. The propellers grew nearer, stopped turning, ground in reverse as the destroyer checked her way, and then com- pletely silenced. After an interminable ten minutes, the de- stroyer’s propellers began to turn, first at moderate and then at high speed. They grew dim with distance, then faded altogether. In Perch’s hull, gray-faced men found the way and reason to smile—to smile in silence lest there be a sleeper patrol ship on the surface waiting quietly to pounce if the submarine should show evidence of life. The trickle of water continued from the conning-tower hatch, a steady stream flowed in through a cracked weld in the air-conditioning supply flange. Eventually, the water would rise to a level which would short out the power sup- ply, and combine with battery acid to fill the boat with fatally poisonous chlorine fumes. But that was hours away—hours which, if lived through in freedom from enemy attack, would give Perch a chance to wrest herself from the muddy tentacles which held her fast to the bottom. In the lengthening silence, men’s hearing became abnormally acute. The splash of water from the leaky hatch sounded like a mountain waterfall. Two hours crawled by. The dials on the bulkhead clock registered three in the morning. Sunrise would occur at six. Dave realized that if he were going to get to the surface he would have to make his play now. His men could not survive remaining sub- merged throughout the daylight period ahead, because the moderate leaks in the hull would by that time have raised the water to fatal depths. He gave his orders quietly : tions, surface!” There were torpedoes in both the forward and after ‘tubes. When Perch rose, he wanted her in trim to fight if the enemy were close aboard. “Blow bow buoyancy tank.” Lightened for- ward, Perch stirred perceptibly, but the soft mud into which she had sunk deeper during her trial by silence still held her fast. Dave knew that his propellers were now deep in the mud. It was useless to try their one good “Battle sta-- long, fits easily into pocket or purse. Ideal for sporting events, stage use (not available to Calif. residents). Not a lethal weapon—sold on money back guarantee. Send $1.00 deposit on C.O.D. orders: Comes for $6.95 ppd. from 42% Be Date Yate Te aI bitin The skilled hand of the German gunsmith is responsible for this .22 caliber, 6-shot repeater automatic with self-ejecting clip. Just 4” BEST VALUES, DEPT. A-373 \ Bass Fishermen will Say I'm Crazy . until they try my method! But, after an honest trial, if you’re at all like the other men to whom I’ve 403 Market St., Newark, New Jersey told my strange plan, you'll guard it with your last breath. Don’tjump at conclusions, I’m not a manufacturer of any fancy new lure. I have no reels or lines to sell. I’m a professional man and make a good living in my pro- fession. But my all-absorbing hobby is fishing. And, quite by accident, I’ ve discovered how to go to waters that most fishermen say are fished out and come in with a good catch of the biggest bass that you ever saw. The Savage old bass that got so big, because they were “‘wise”’ to every ordinary way of fishing. This METHOD is NOT spinning, trolling, casting, fly fishing, trot line fishing, set line fishing, hand line fishing, live bait fishing, jugging, netting, trapping, or seining. No live bait or prepared bait is used. You can carry all of the’equipment you need in one hand. The whole method can be learnedin twenty minutes —twenty minutes of fascinating reading. All the ex- tra equipment you need, you can buy locally at a cost ofless than a dollar. Yet ‘with it, you can come in after an hour or two of the greatest excitement of your life, with a stringer full. Not one or two miserable 12 or 14 inch over-sized keepers — but five or six real beauties with real poundage behind them. The kind that don’t need a word of explanation of the profes- sional skill of the man who caught them. Absolutely legal, too—in every state. This amazing method was developed by a little group of professional fishermen. Though they were public guides, they rarely divulged their method to their patrons, They used it only when fishing for their own tables. It is possible that no man on your waters has ever seen it, ever heard of it, or ever used it. And when you have given it the first trial, you will be as closed-mouthed asa man who has suddenly discovered a gold mine. Because with this method you can fish with- in a hundred feet of the best fishermen in the county and pull in ferocious big ones while they come home empty handed. Nospecial skillis required. Themethod is just as deadly in the hands of a novice as in the handsof an old timer. My method will be disclosed only to those menin each area who will give me their word of honor not to give the method to anyone else. Send me your name. Let me tell you how you can try out this deadly method of bringing in big bass from your local waters. Let me tell you why I let you try out my unusual method for the whole fishing season without risking a penny of your money. Send your name for details of my money-back trial offer. There is no charge for this information, now or at any other time. Just your name is all I need. But I guar- antee that the information I send you will make you a aap cle skeptic—until you decide to try my method! And then, your own catches will fill you with disbelief. Send your name, today. This will be fun. Eric T. Fare, Highland Park 1, Illinois Eric T. Fare, Highland Park 1, Illinois Dear Mr. Fare: Send me complete information | without any charge and without the slightest ob- | ligation. Tell me how I can learn your method of catching big bass from waters many say are | “fished out,” even when the old timers are report- | et ing “‘No Luck.” Se nee i oe Fe ee ae Se ae ene Sere | ee ee ae .... State... ee | COMmiclhOoOlkkS «oO