Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

PUV ey , ae! [7 ioe ' and heartened them. A- Burned Steak f “Cook, make a lot of coffee,” said Captain Griffin. “We need it.” The men drank the coffee, which the cook prepared on the electric range. It warmed Sheridan walked over and looked at the thermometer. Down to fifteen below, and the ice skin inside the hull was beginning to look frosty, instead of glistening. “Well, men, we know where we are, at any rate,” the captain’ announced as he drained his cup. ‘‘Five miles off the eastern end of the island. Smooth bottom and an even, straight slant up to ten fathoms half a mile out. Anybody want to get out and walk in?” ‘“‘Can’t we start the motors and push her along that slant, like a sled? She ought to slide fairly well,’’ ventured Burrell. “That ripped bottom would be catching every few feet,” replied the captain. “That wouldn’t work, but it gives me an idea. Can’t we back up?” At once every man was set at work, shift- ing every heavy weight that was movable far forward. Then half the crew, selecting the heaviest men, grouped as far forward as possible. The stern lifted a few inches. “Start your motors in reverse. Port your helm till I give the word. We must make a turn of sixty-two degrees to set her tail right.”’ Captain Griffin waited anxiously to see what the clutch would do in turning the screw. The motors hummed and the clutch took hold. The thrash of the screw began to sound. The crew started a cheer, but it was cut off in the middle as the clutch slipped again. “For dear Heaven’s sake, do something to that infernal clutch so it will hold!” begged the captain. ‘Burrell, try some- thing; do.” “T have tried. broken and pulverized glass, captain. I have tightened the clutch allI dared. I have tried about forty other schemes that have been suggested. I’m at the end of my rope, captain,” said Burrell. “We can’t experiments much more, cap- tain, or the batteries will give out,” warned the C. E. Wall. “Our next move must be worth while or it may leave us without motive power at all.” Sheridan Conway went to a tiny locker and took out a brass model of the Qo that he had been making. With it he lifted a sheet of emery cloth and he sat down to a 155 begin polishing the brass.. Wall, who had been very chummy with him, came over - and sat down beside him» ~ “Sparks, what you got on your mird be- y sides your hair? You look a lot too glum for ‘3 just a little trouble like this. Sten your. ="=s8 nerve?” “No,” answered Conway. ing myself proper.” 7 ‘““What’s up? Spill it,” said. Wall, look- — ing away from Sheridan. > “T will. You know Jessie pretty welland — know she is no whiner. Well, I made her cry her eyes out, acting the swine over os = nothing. She let a steak burn because I~ called her away from it. Then I put on — a lot of superior airs and acted high and 3 =e mighty. We were both set for trouble — someway, and it only took a little to tip us into a real, first-class row. She cried and = | I cussed. You know how it is. a “Then I went off while I was hot and took on for another hitch after promising her I wouldn’t. Blast my eyes, but I would | like to be home just long enough to tell her I’m sorry. No chance, though. It looks © like curtains for us, and she will never know | I was sorry. How long do you think we will live, Wall?” x “T don’t know, Sparks. What’s the dif? — Funny you scrapped with Jess. I thought — you cared too much for that, but I know why. Your nerves are ragged and sore from everything a sub can do to a man; and that’s plenty. You felt sorry for yourself and didn’t realize that she has gone to —— with you every day you were away. I tell you, Sparks, it’s the women that get it.the worst, and her nerves have been worn thin, just like an E string on a fiddle after it’s been played on a long time.” “I believe you’re right,” said Sheridan — Conway, speaking slowly. “T never thought — of how much strain she had been under. — a fool, Wall.” He dropped the little model in fis Jap and sat still, looking at the ice-coated hull only two steps away. His thumb rasped back .and forth on the emery cloth. He was thinking hard. 3 He set his lips tightly, and his eyes > narrowed to slits. His thumb paused inits = rhythmic rubbing and he glanced down at the emery cloth. Suddenly he leaped to his — a feet and hurried over to Burrell. “Burrell, Pl cut this emery cloth into rs squares and you feed them into the clutch _ “Just damn- a io Gomichboo