Hancock Harrie Irving - Dave Darrin and the German Submarines. Or, Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters стр 23.

Among them crept the destroyer Logan, her sailors throwing lines, while a side gangway was also lowered for the use of those who could swim to it.

Scores of soldiers were soon on the Logans deck. These were directed to seek warm quarters below where they could dry their clothing. Many of the soldiers preferred to remain on deck to aid in the rescue of their comrades. Having cast off after finishing

her job of towing, the Adams was now busy, too, in rescue work.

At last, when no more heads appeared on the water, and no more men were in evidence on the decks of the sinking transport, the order was signalled for the rescue-work destroyers to stand clear.

Shell plunge by the head within five minutes, Dalzell declared, as the Logan steamed clear.

Bang! bang! bang! Destroyer and troopship guns, up near the head of the line, had suddenly begun blazing away.

Half a dozen periscopes showed short lengths, briefly, above the water, but the number of faint streaks across the sea showed that other enemy submarines were attacking without first taking periscope sights.

Its the general attack on the fleet, that we expected! Dave Darrin shouted from the bridge. Stand by! Remember that fractions of seconds count in carrying out orders now.

Then Lieutenant Beatty caught sight of a periscope above the water, some eight hundred yards away. One of the Logans forward guns spoke in sharp challenge. The biggest submarine sea fight of all was now on!

CHAPTER X THE HOTTEST WORK OF ALL

Sorry, but you soldiers will all have to go inside and remain there, ordered Lieutenant Dan Dalzell. We have no room for any one on deck except our crew.

To most of the soldiers it seemed hard to be deprived of a view of the only thing that interested them, but Navy officers, in issuing orders, have a way of speaking that does not admit of doubt as to their meaning.

There goes the Castle City by the bow, called a lookout, but Dave Darrin, his eyes searching for a torpedo trail, took his word for it and did not turn to look.

Torpedo wake, sir, three points off port bow! sang out a lookout.

Dave turned this time; the telltale line was there. His orders rapped out and the Logan started by the shortest cut to reach that line and to locate its source.

Even as they raced to find that submarine, a gunner on the Logan fired at the briefly visible periscope of another enemy craft.

Suddenly, not more than two hundred yards away, a periscope reared itself in their path, though not more than two feet of its length appeared above the water.

Intensely alert, Lieutenant Beatty himself sighted and gave the order to fire. Nor was this an easy task, for the destroyer, to avoid ramming and ripping out part of its own hull, veered aside from the direct line.

Fire! yelled Beatty.

The shell gave a good report of itself. It was plain that it had made a hit of some sort, though below the surface.

The destroyer swung again to face its prey. Higher came the periscope, then the conning tower emerged. It was then observed that the conning tower had been struck and a hole put through it on one side. Small though the hole was, if the craft had submerged further instead of rising, she would have been submerged for all time.

Lieutenant Beatty calmly sighted for the next shot. Just as the deck of the undersea boat came awash the manhole sprang open and the heads of two German sailors appeared.

Theyre going to try to man a gun and fight us, Darrin concluded, swiftly.

Fire! ordered Beatty, calmly.

That shot could not have been better placed. It struck the tower fairly, exploding inside. It killed both men at the manhole, hurling them into the sea. Probably it killed the officer in the conning tower as well.

Beatty did not stop here. Another shell had been loaded in at the breech of the gun, and he bent forward to sight just as the upper part of the hull came into view.

Fire! It was a clean hit, just at the water line. Hardly an instant later, it seemed, the same gun spoke again another water-line hit.

Bye-bye! murmured Dave, as he ordered the course changed. There was no need to wait, or to plant another shot, for the inrush of water had settled the fate of that submarine so speedily that there wasnt the slightest chance for any of the Huns to save themselves. That pest settled quickly, then disappeared from view.

Clean work great, Mr. Beatty! Dave called down briskly.

Mr. Beatty, though he acknowledged the compliment with a salute, did not turn to look at his superior, as prescribed by regulations, for his keen, swift glance was sweeping over the waters ahead.

And not more than a hundred yards ahead of them a faint wake crossed their bow, headed for one of the ships of the

transport fleet. Instantly the Logan turned into that trail, following it back at racing speed.

It looked like Dave Darrins lucky day, for they plunged over the dark, heavy shadow of something that was not far below the surface.

Knowing his speed and the length of his own craft Dave timed the instant just right, then shouted: