the water splashing in his
face, Ted braced himself against the side of the control chamber and
pulled with all his might. Inch by inch Jack's body was dragged
through the aperture, Navigating Officer Binns leaping to the assistance
of Ted and hauling away until finally Jack's limbs cleared the opening
and the steel partition closed entirely, shutting off the volume of
water above.

"Are you hurt, chum?" asked Ted.

"Yes, but don't mind me," came the reply, as Jack sprawled out with
both legs hanging limp and useless. Gritting his teeth to stifle a
groan, Jack drew himself up into a sitting posture. By his side lay
McClure unconscious. All around them flowed water, working its way
fore and aft through the submarine.

"Go aft, Ted; find out how things are in the engine room," directed
the injured executive officer. "And you, Binns, make an inspection
forward."

The two officers hurried to make an investigation, returning soon to
report that the boat had not suffered from the depth bomb so far as
could be ascertained except for the damage to the conning tower.
Jack directed that the _Monitor_ be submerged until she rested on the
bottom of the channel. The vessel dropped away until it came to
rest shortly with the depth dial showing one hundred and forty-two feet.

McClure, stunned by a blow on the head, sustained when he was hurled
against the side of the conning tower, was carried away still unconscious
to his bunk. Jack, his limbs bruised, torn and partially paralyzed,
insisted upon remaining at his post of duty and directed the dressing
of his wounds.

"I'll be all right in a little bit," he murmured in response to
inquiries.

Ten minutes passed, twenty and then a half hour, while the crippled
submarine lay inactive with a foot of water in her hull and her
commanding officers seriously injured. And then came an added horror
when the electric lights throughout the vessel began slowly to fade
away into darkness. Chief Engineer Blaine came hurrying into the
control chamber:

"Batteries short circuited by the saltwater!" he exclaimed in a tone
of dismay.

"And that means chlorine gas," added Jack.

"Yes, we notice it already aft," said Blaine all righted.

The pungent odor of the deadly fumes swept into the control chamber
as he spoke!

CHAPTER XXVI

THE STARS AND STRIPES

The salt water worked its way into the batteries of the _Monitor_ the
deadly acid was generated and the gas perme