EM EM : monthly magazine - 01.09.1941, Side 33

EM EM : monthly magazine - 01.09.1941, Side 33
Em Em jjistincnveíy x reacnea ror my air valve' and shut off my air sai that I could listen for the native; diver. There was no slightest sound save that which came over the telephone line from the Whip- ple; someone barking orders, the patter of feet on the declt, and then suddenly my name, “Leslie! Leslie!” y “Got you, Dick, “I spoke softly, for I knew from experience how soimd carries in the vvater. “They’ve got a diver down, all right.” “Don’t I know it!” I answered guardedly. “I just tangled with him. Gaught him trying to cut my air line. We rolled down the deck into the mud.” I heard Hoffman curse and shout an order. Then, “X’m send- ing an armed boat crew over to the Juarto. I’ve already ordered Huertas to haul up his man. Are your lines clear?” “I doubt it. You might give a pull and see.” A little pause. “We’re pulling.” “No go. I rolled all the way down the deck from the top rail. Couldn’t help but foul on some- thing. Got to have air now. See you in a minute.” I didn’t open my air valve at once. X waited for several min- utes, every nerve on edge, strain- ing for tlie slightest sound that would betray the position of the other diver. "’aen I heard a faint, almost inaudible squish as a foot was pulled out of the mud. The sound came from in front of me and could not have traveled far. I gripped my knife tightly and raised my arm. Opening my air valve wide, I inhaled a dozen deep lungsful and aliowed the foul air in the suit to clear. Then I shut off the air and listened. No sound save the swift pound- ing of my heart and the faint noises from the declc above. The water was still inky black and gave no indication of clearing. I; realized that we were in a virtual; pocket on the floor of the sea, pro-i tected from whatever slight cur-' rents there were by the deck and: the superstructure, which rose oh three sides of us. It might be hours before tlíq water cleared sufficiently for us to see one another. Hours of playing hide and seek in the darkness, with death the stake. I didn’t like lt a little bit. Again I heard that faint squish as a foot was lifted from the mud. It came, now, from a little to my right. I knew the other man war searching for me, moving blindly throutrh the water. readv a.t the liioLcun, ta cTOitn'&v 1,0 meran t-pen my suit. Well, two could play at tlxatj game. I was about to turn on my air when I heard a call from Hoff-i man. “Listen, Ray! My boat crevvi just signaled back that the othefl diver's lines are fouled. Tliey or- dered Huertas to pull him up and! when he refused they grabbed the life line and tried to haul him themselves. The line is fouled, all right.” “Fair enough,” I said. “So are mine. That makes us even.” “Are you crazy, Ray? Listen, guy! My men have just signaled asking if they should cut the other; diver’s air line. How about it? If- you say the word—” “No!” I ansvvered shortly. “But Lord, man! We haven’t another rig. We can’t send dovvn a man to help you. If that diver cuts—” “No! Let us alone. I refuse to allow you to murder the man by cutting his line. He started this thing. I’m going to finish it. It’s my fight and I’ll see it through in my own way. That’s all now. Got to have air.” I opened my valve. I heard Hoffman’s protesting voice, but his words were lost in thc roar of air in my ears. I smUed, despite the situation—it was a good thing Dick Hoffman was my friend; superior officers may be defled, but not often with impunity. With my legs wide apart, ray left hand stretched out likc a fighter on guard, my right dxawn. back to plunge home mv knife, I waited ln the inky darkness. I had not shifted my position since I first gained my feet after that plunge down the deck. And I had' no intention of moving, for I knewj that when finally we came in con-' tact, as inevitably we must, the advantage would lie with the man who was on balance with both feet on the ground. Possibly 10 minutes passed.í They seemed as many hours toi me. From time to time I shut offl my air and listened for the otherj diver. I heard nothing further, no( slightest sound that would betrayi the Andegoyan’s position. “He’s decided to play a waitingí game,” I reflected. “Fair enough!! I can wait as long as he can.” i The minutes dragged slowly by.; Once or twice .Hoffman tried toi persuade me to®.xllow his men tol cut the native’s air line. Eachj time I curtly refused and tumedj on my air to cut off further con-: versation. . aíi Timf passéd, an hour with every nerve on edge, every muscle 'tense and straining. Then I noted 'that a faint light was beginning to penetrate my face plate. The 'slowly moving currents on the floor of the sea vvere at vvork. The roiled water vvas gradually jclearing. Another hour, possibly less, and we would be able to see each other. : I was fully conscious of my dan- ger, and thinking about it wasn't pleasant. If, when the water cleared, I chanced to have my back to the native—well, it would be just too bad. However, I re- flected grimly, if the situation hap- pened to be rev’ersed, it would be too bad for the native. Unless the Andegoyan’s air line was cut—and I knew Hoffman would not cut it without my or- der—there was no way of avoid- ing a fight. Neither of us could escape to the surface without la- boriously climbing up on deck and releasing his fouled lines, and neither of us dared make the first move. Thus the situation vvhile the sluggish tide moved about the foundered ship and cleared the muddy water with exasperating,t nerve-racking slowness. The light* that penetrated from above grew istronger. I could see my outstretched 'arm, weary now and cramped. Myj jstraining eyes peered this way and ithat, striving for a glimpse of the* ’native. My heart throbbed under jthe tenslon of waiting. Hot blood jpoured through my veins and 1 felt exhilarated, eager, like a well-, trained and confident boxer vvait- ing for the gong. High presssure does queer things to a man. There is no accounting for the vagaries of current at the bottorn of the sea. Possibly the tide changed. Possibly the Juarto or the Whipple turned over her en- gines to shift her position slight- ly. Whatever the cause, the slug- gish current that moved through that pocket in the sea was sud- denly increased. One minute I could see my out- stretched arm mly dimly. The next minute, the current was sweeping away the mist of silt like a sudden gust of wind clears away the smoke above an anchored ship. I leaned forward on my toes, knife ready, every sense alert. The light grew brighter. The last of the roily water was swept avv’ay. And then, not 10 feet avvay, I made out the form of the other diver. We saw one another at the same instant- Knivea outthmst w»

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