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CHAPTER XV
SERVING IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE, NOT WAR
"It seems almost a shame to have to go below," sighed Lieutenant McCrea.
It was evening, the time about nine o'clock. For nearly an hour the
"Pollard" had been running out to sea at something below her full speed.
She was now something like a dozen miles off the coast.
Commander Ennerling had just decided that it would be a good time to test
the diving capabilities of the submarine.
Ventilators were shipped, and all other preparations had been made for
going below the surface.
Eph was left in the conning tower, Lieutenant McCrea with him.
"How far do you want the dive to be made, sir?" asked Jack Benson.
"A depth of forty feet ought to serve the purpose," stated the president
of the board.
"Then, sir, we will make a sloping dive to that depth, then complete the
curve until we strike the surface again," proposed the submarine boy.
"How will that suit you, sir?"
"Excellently," agreed the Navy commander.
"Do you want to take the record with your stop watch?"
"Yes?"
"All ready, sir."
As Captain Jack gave the word he threw open the forward water tanks, so
that water rushed in, tilting the bow of the craft downward. The
"Pollard" moved on a decided slant until Captain Jack read the depth of
forty feet on the gauge. Then, with a barely perceptible rest. On an
even keel, the young submarine expert threw compressed air into the
forward tanks, expelling the water, at the same time admitting water to
the tanks aft.
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