Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

WHEN THE S-12 WENT DOWN. the able-bodied I has there. Sandy beats me to it. ‘“‘ Hard-a-port it is, sir,’ he calls about as quick as Jack Robinson. “Everything flooded. All open, sir,” first cox’un sings out. Blimey! If I don’t think first cox’un’s clear off his nut, he sounds that merry. “Clear for’ard,’ captain orders. The lieutenant makes it for’ard. “ All clear for’ard,” he calls back. “Close watertight doors.” “You, Sandy!” I yells, and he turns the wheel over to the able-bodied, who can keep it there now that Sandy has it full hard-a- port. The whirrin’ and buzzin’ overhead is closer. But louder is the sound of the water rushin’ into everything made to hold it. There’s a ringin’ clang of a metal door, and Sandy’s voice, faint: “ For’ard water- tight door closed, sir.” The lieutenant gives it to the captain. Clang, goes my door, which ain’t actin’ right, but has to close, the way my mind’s made to it. “ After water-tight door closed, sir,” and the lieutenant takes me up: “‘ Water-tight doors closed, sir.” The captain takes the engine room tube. I’m thinkin’ he’ll bust it with the roar in his voice. ‘“‘ Push the motors, damn ’em! Push ’em.” The lieutenant’s slippin’ and slidin’ to- ward the cox’un’s controls. ‘Sink her. Hard-a-dive—” Then she hits. For’ard. Daintylike, at first, as if somethin’ was just flirtin’ with the S-12, kissin’ her tender, like maybe it was Bella kissin’ Sandy in between times. Then grindin’, rippin’, tearin’ furious. Crunch! : Down I goes on my face and spits out some teeth. Blimey! I was chokin’ on ‘em. 3 There’s a crackle and a flash like all the lightning from here to Kingdom Come bustin’ loose at once. Before I goes blind I has the idea Sandy’s boundin’ back like a bloomin’ rubber ball from hittin’ tHe wheel. Then, Sandy bein’ shut out account 0’ me bein’ blind, and not knowin’ whether 559 he hit fair or foul, I see him and me and Bella eatin’ that rabbit. Then the smoke gets me. It’s the first himself who pulls me onto my feet and shakes a bit o’ knowin’ into me. ‘* Aye, aye, first cox’un,” I says. We turn to gettin’ the captain onto his feet, but we go down again together. There’s another crash. This time it’s aft. Not so hard, but there’s a rip and a tear in it. It’s dark, save for the lieu- tenant’s hand torch. We hears him report- in’, not knowin’ that the captain’s under us. “Hit fore and aft, sir. Torches.” The captain’s dazed, and sways a bit. He feels his head, tentative. He gives it a hard shake, stubbornlike, and takes com- mand again, weak, sort of. “ Cox’uns!”’ “ Aye, aye, sir!” “Everybody amidships. Count your men. Why is it so damned dark?” ‘‘ Switchboard’s gone, sir,” says the lieu- tenant. ‘“ Blown out, clean.” First cox’un and me haven’t noticed it before, but realize all at once how quiet itis. Not a buzz left in the Diesels. Captain’s himself now. ‘“ Gauge!” I grabs a hand torch from an able-bodied and gives a look to the readin’. ‘‘ Goin’ down hard, sir.” “ Blow all, lieutenant!” The lieutenant swings his torch and makes out that we’re standin’ by, ready to jump. * Quick, cox’uns. All hands! Close vents. Full air in everything. Close all Kingstons. Screw them tight.” While I’m jammin’ Kingstons home, I orders Sandy to get all torches and flashes he can find. He stops to give me some gab, forgettin’ ship’s discipline. What he says in my ear, is: “If either one of us—Bella?” And I gives it back to him, straight: “Tf either one of us—Bella.” The lubber’s gone crackpot for botherin’ to ask. “Main ballast’s all empty, sir. Auxil- iaries empty, sir. Kingstons closed,” I re- ports to the lieutenant. COPNIE OOO KS (E@)