IN THE MIDST OF FIRE
"Pull the secondary emergency lever!" cried the professor through the
speaking tube to Washington. "We must reach the surface at once!"
"Are we damaged?" asked Andy, scrambling to his feet, for the shock had
knocked him down. The professor had not fallen because he clung to the
steering wheel.
The ship gave a sudden lurch.
"We're sinking!" cried Bill, rushing to the conning tower from the
engine-room.
"That's only the action of one of the emergency levers," said the
professor calmly. "It forces compressed air into the tanks the more
quickly to empty them of water. I think we are safe."
"What is it?" asked Mark, as, followed by Jack, he came forward.
"We tried to do the torpedo act to one of Uncle Sam's ships," explained
Andy.
The electric lights had been switched on, and, with the _Porpoise_
flooded with the bright beams, those on board waited anxiously for what
was to happen next.
Suddenly an upward motion was experienced. The next instant the craft
bounced out of the water and fell back in a smother of foam, shaking and
shivering, alongside a small armored warship that was anchored about two
miles and a half from shore.
"Open the manhole," commanded Mr. Henderson.
Mark sprang up the iron ladder that led to the opening in the deck of
the _Porpoise_ and threw back the cams that held the heavy iron in
place. Then he swung the cover back and stepped out on the small
platform, followed by the professor, Andy and Jack. They looked up to
find themselves observed by a curious throng that crowded to the rail of
the warship.
[Illustration: A CURIOUS THRONG CROWDED TO THE RAIL OF THE
WARSHIP.--_Page 28._]
"What are you trying to do? Ram me with a new-fangled torpedo?" asked an
angry voice, and a man in a gold laced uniform, who, from his importance
plainly showed himself to be the captain of the ship, shook his fist at
Mr. Henderson.
"I might ask what right your ship has to get in my path," replied the
inventor. "It was all an accident."
"Mighty queer," muttered the naval commander. "Looks very suspicious.
How do I know but what you're a torpedo from some foreign nation?"
"Because this is not a torpedo," replied Mr. Henderson. "It is a new
submarine boat of my invention, and I was giving it a trial spin."
"I guess you'd better come aboard and do your explaining," went on the
captain. "I don't like the looks of things. Lower a boat!" he shouted,
"and bring those chaps to my cabin. I want to question them."
It did not suit Professor Henderson to have his plans upset in this
fashion. Nor did he care to give a detailed description of his ship to
officers of the war department. He had many valuable inventions that
were not patented. So he determined to outwit the pompous commander of
the cruiser.
The noise made in preparing the small boat for lowering over the side of
the big ship could be plainly heard.
"Go below, all of you, and as quietly as you can," whispered Mr.
Henderson.
Andy, Mark and Jack obeyed. At that instant the side of the warship was
almost deserted, for the sailors who had gathered to observe the
_Porpoise_ had gone to lower the small boat.
No sooner had Jack, who was in the rear, disappeared through the manhole
than the professor, with a quick jump, followed him.
"Here! Come back!" shouted the warship's captain as he saw Mr.
Henderson's head disappearing from view. "Come back I say!"
But with a quick movement the inventor pulled down the manhole cover and
clamped it. Then he sprang to the conning tower, and, with a jerk,
opened the levers that admitted water to the tanks. The _Porpoise_ began
to sink slowly, and then more suddenly, so that, in less than a minute,
she was out of sight beneath the waves, and the angry, gold-laced
captain was staring in wonderment at the place where the submarine had
been. The spot was marked only by a few bubbles and some foam.
"I guess he'll wait some time for an explanation," spoke Mr. Henderson,
as he started the big screw and sent the _Porpoise_ ahead at a swift
pace.
"That was rather a narrow escape," observed Jack, standing at the foot
of the conning tower stairs and talking to Andy and Mr. Henderson, who
was steering.
"It certainly was," agreed the professor. "I have not yet become used to
seeing things very far ahead in the dimness caused by being under water.
But we'll soon get used to it. Luckily, the _Porpoise_ was not damaged
by the shock."
For several hours the _Porpoise_ was kept on her course. She behaved
handsomely, and nothing excepting slight and easily remedied defects
were found. The professor steered well out to sea, increasing both the
forward speed and the depth to which the vessel sank. Presently the
craft came to a stop with a little jolt.
"What's the trouble?" asked Mark, somewhat alarmed.
"Nothing at all," replied the professor with a smile, as he stepped out
of the conning tower and entered the engine-room. "I thought it was time
for dinner so I stopped the ship. We are now resting on the ocean bed,
about half a mile below the surface. Look!"
As he spoke he slid back the slides covering the plate glass windows.
The boys saw that the ship rested in the midst of an immense forest of
sea weed. Some of the stalks were as large around as trees. In and out
among the snake-like, waving branches swam big fishes. It was a weird,
but beautiful sight.
"Come, Washington, serve dinner," ordered Mr. Henderson, and the colored
man soon had a good meal prepared. Few repasts have been eaten under
such strange circumstances.
Desiring to be back at his secluded dock by nightfall, Captain Henderson
soon started the _Porpoise_ up again. Without any accidents the return
trip was made and by nine o'clock the _Porpoise_ rode safely at the
dock where she had been launched.
The night was spent in the cabin on shore. Early the next morning Mr.
Henderson paid a visit to the ship, to make a thorough examination by
daylight, and see if the craft had suffered any damage.
"I think you and Mark will have to make a trip to town," he said to Jack
at the breakfast table. "I need a new monkey wrench and some other tools
and some small pieces of machinery. I'll give you a list of them, and
you can bring them back in a valise, for they will be quite numerous."
After the meal the inventor made a record of what he needed and the boys
started off.
"In case the machine shop does not have everything and you have to wait
for something, you had better stay in the town all night," the captain
of the _Porpoise_ said. "It is quite a long trip and I don't want you
traveling after dark. Put up at the hotel if you are delayed."
Provided with money for their purchase, and a large valise in which to
carry them, the boys started off. They had to walk two miles to where a
trolley line was built that ran to the town of Easton, where they were
to get the tools and parts of machinery.
They made the trip safely and without incident. When they gave the
machinist, to whom they had been directed by Mr. Henderson, the list of
the things needed, the man looked puzzled.
"I'll have to make one piece," he said. "You'll have to wait for it.
Can't promise it before to-morrow morning about eight o'clock."
"That will be all right," remarked Mark. "We'll call for it then."
So, bearing in mind Mr. Henderson's instructions, the boys engaged a
room at the hotel, which was quite a large one, for Easton was a
favorite summer resort and the town was filled with visitors. The lads
strolled about the town, had their dinner, and then went for a bath in
the surf. They retired early, for they were tired.
In the middle of the night Mark began to dream that he was on board the
_Porpoise_ and that the submarine blew up. There was a loud noise, he
saw a bright flash of flame, and saw rolling clouds of smoke. So vivid
was the vision that he thought he tried to leap out of the boat, and
awoke with a jump, to find Jack shaking him.
"What's the matter?" inquired Mark.
"The hotel's on fire!" shouted Jack.
Mark sprang out of bed and with Jack rushed to the window, for their
room was filled with thick smoke. They could see the dull glare of
flames, which every moment were becoming brighter.
The next instant a loud explosion shook the building. It swayed and
seemed likely to topple over. Outside the boys could hear excited shouts
and the puffing and whistling of fire engines.
"Quick! Run!" yelled Mark. He opened the door leading into the corridor,
but was driven back by a rush of flames and smoke that almost stifled
him.
"We must try the fire escape!" shouted Mark.
"Don't forget the valise with the tools;" exclaimed Jack, and Mark
hastened to where he had placed it under the bed.
Then the two boys rushed to the balcony on which their front windows
opened, and whence the fire escapes led down to the streets. The lads
had only time to slip on their coats, trousers, shoes and caps.
As they were preparing to clamber down the iron ladders they heard
someone on the balcony next to them shout:
"Here, you boys! Stop! I want you!"