登陆注册
15489100000010

第10章 Chapter 3(2)

Several of the other men now asked permission to come on deck, and soon all but those actually engaged in some necessary duty were standing around smoking and talking, all in the best of spirits.

I took advantage of the absence of the men upon the deck to go below for my breakfast, which the cook was already preparing upon the electric stove. Lys, followed by Nobs, appeared as Ientered the centrale. She met me with a pleasant "Good morning!"which I am afraid I replied to in a tone that was rather constrained and surly.

"Will you breakfast with me?" I suddenly asked the girl, determined to commence a probe of my own along the lines which duty demanded.

She nodded a sweet acceptance of my invitation, and together we sat down at the little table of the officers' mess.

"You slept well last night?" I asked.

"All night," she replied. "I am a splendid sleeper."Her manner was so straightforward and honest that I could not bring myself to believe in her duplicity; yet--Thinking to surprise her into a betrayal of her guilt, I blurted out: "The chronometer and sextant were both destroyed last night; there is a traitor among us." But she never turned a hair by way of evidencing guilty knowledge of the catastrophe.

"Who could it have been?" she cried. "The Germans would be crazy to do it, for their lives are as much at stake as ours.""Men are often glad to die for an ideal--an ideal of patriotism, perhaps," I replied; "and a willingness to martyr themselves includes a willingness to sacrifice others, even those who love them. Women are much the same, except that they will go even further than most men--they will sacrifice everything, even honor, for love."I watched her face carefully as I spoke, and I thought that Idetected a very faint flush mounting her cheek. Seeing an opening and an advantage, I sought to follow it up.

"Take von Schoenvorts, for instance," I continued: "he would doubtless be glad to die and take us all with him, could he prevent in no other way the falling of his vessel into enemy hands.

He would sacrifice anyone, even you; and if you still love him, you might be his ready tool. Do you understand me?"She looked at me in wide-eyed consternation for a moment, and then she went very white and rose from her seat. "I do," she replied, and turning her back upon me, she walked quickly toward her room. I started to follow, for even believing what I did, Iwas sorry that I had hurt her. I reached the door to the crew's room just behind her and in time to see von Schoenvorts lean forward and whisper something to her as she passed; but she must have guessed that she might be watched, for she passed on.

That afternoon it clouded over; the wind mounted to a gale, and the sea rose until the craft was wallowing and rolling frightfully.

Nearly everyone aboard was sick; the air became foul and oppressive.

For twenty-four hours I did not leave my post in the conning tower, as both Olson and Bradley were sick. Finally I found that I must get a little rest, and so I looked about for some one to relieve me.

Benson volunteered. He had not been sick, and assured me that he was a former R.N. man and had been detailed for submarine duty for over two years. I was glad that it was he, for I had considerable confidence in his loyalty, and so it was with a feeling of security that I went below and lay down.

I slept twelve hours straight, and when I awoke and discovered what I had done, I lost no time in getting to the conning tower.

There sat Benson as wide awake as could be, and the compass showed that we were heading straight into the west. The storm was still raging; nor did it abate its fury until the fourth day.

We were all pretty well done up and looked forward to the time when we could go on deck and fill our lungs with fresh air.

During the whole four days I had not seen the girl, as she evidently kept closely to her room; and during this time no untoward incident had occurred aboard the boat--a fact which seemed to strengthen the web of circumstantial evidence about her.

For six more days after the storm lessened we still had fairly rough weather; nor did the sun once show himself during all that time. For the season--it was now the middle of June--the storm was unusual; but being from southern California, I was accustomed to unusual weather. In fact, I have discovered that the world over, unusual weather prevails at all times of the year.

We kept steadily to our westward course, and as the U-33 was one of the fastest submersibles we had ever turned out, I knew that we must be pretty close to the North American coast. What puzzled me most was the fact that for six days we had not sighted a single ship. It seemed remarkable that we could cross the Atlantic almost to the coast of the American continent without glimpsing smoke or sail, and at last I came to the conclusion that we were way off our course, but whether to the north or to the south of it I could not determine.

On the seventh day the sea lay comparatively calm at early dawn.

There was a slight haze upon the ocean which had cut off our view of the stars; but conditions all pointed toward a clear morrow, and I was on deck anxiously awaiting the rising of the sun. My eyes were glued upon the impenetrable mist astern, for there in the east I should see the first glow of the rising sun that would assure me we were still upon the right course. Gradually the heavens lightened; but astern I could see no intenser glow that would indicate the rising sun behind the mist. Bradley was standing at my side. Presently he touched my arm.

"Look, captain," he said, and pointed south.

I looked and gasped, for there directly to port I saw outlined through the haze the red top of the rising sun. Hurrying to the tower, I looked at the compass. It showed that we were holding steadily upon our westward course. Either the sun was rising in the south, or the compass had been tampered with. The conclusion was obvious.

I went back to Bradley and told him what I had discovered.

同类推荐
  • 那先比丘经

    那先比丘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 公冶长听鸟语纲常

    公冶长听鸟语纲常

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝三元无量寿经

    太上洞玄灵宝三元无量寿经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Antigone

    Antigone

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 香祖笔记

    香祖笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 心灵旅程

    心灵旅程

    几个来自不同地区,拥有不同职业的底层社会青年,因为一场很普通的旅行而相遇相知,这一路上,他们各自讲述了发生在自己身上的故事,有的震撼人心,有的发人深省,有的让人义愤填膺,有的让人潸然泪下……这些故事的主角,就是平凡的我们。这些故事不传递任何价值观,不想说明任何道理,只是想告诉你们,在世界的另一端,有这样一群和你们价值观不同的人,他们也可以生活得很好。
  • 国际贸易实务

    国际贸易实务

    本书针对高职高专类院校人才培养特色和学生学习就业特点而编写,相对于其他同类教材,在编写上更注重实操性,突出一个外贸业务员从入门到成长的全过程。教材内容完全基于进出口业务流程,站在一个外贸业务员的视觉来阐述相关知识点。全书从熟悉商品、了解国际市场、选择境外客户开始,到出口报价、交易磋商以及合同履行全过程,共分为十二章。
  • 嫡庶分

    嫡庶分

    有道是嫡庶有别,嫡出和庶出从出生起就注定不一样,嫡庶差距显现尽在嫡庶分;四个手帕交姐妹一生的故事。
  • 生死神降

    生死神降

    不过是一死,却死于窝心;不过是一生,却生于神降。齐伟,本自碌碌无为,碾转城市的一条鱼,死,遥远而又迫近的一场,生,但当如何雄立世间!!!当睁眼开到的世界,已是群魔乱舞,我为刀俎,一条虫,绝不做刀尖上的那条虫,神降我身,我自当啸歌人间!!
  • 千年墨殇瑾年琉璃醉

    千年墨殇瑾年琉璃醉

    因为有星,夜才不会黑暗;因为有你,我的世界一片灿烂;如果你是那个一直站在前面保护我的人,那么我就一定是那个一直站在你身后默默陪伴支持你的人。人定胜天。薛沫瞳再次用自己的努力证明了这句话。只有任何时候都不放弃,才能迎来最后的光明。
  • 血魂泣神

    血魂泣神

    白灵骨火传说中一种灵火,充满着诡秘的色彩,是众多强者最渴求的东西。然而却在机缘巧合之下被罗恩得到。平凡,普通甚至因为瘦弱而被人轻视和欺负的罗恩却拥有着一颗强者之心,罗恩也因为白灵骨火而一步步实现着他的强者之梦。罗恩战胜了一个又一个的强者,直到众神降临,面对着冷酷强大的众神的审判,罗恩又要如何处之……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 淡爱淡恋:恋无可恋

    淡爱淡恋:恋无可恋

    我舍不得,我可怜,我输给了时间。所以我还爱你。愿未来所有好时光都有你相伴。
  • 天龙骑背格

    天龙骑背格

    特殊的命格造就一段奇异的人生!从来都是宝寻人,又有谁能找到宝!楚九离带着汇聚四兽灵的任务来到人间,有七彩霓虹护身,有陆压道君相助,他就是维护天地人三道秩序的代言人!一身妙法走天涯,两兄妹情比天大,三位红颜共携手,霓虹破天定华夏!用自己的人生经历为框架,勾勒出一副亦真亦幻的玄妙画卷,有奇幻、有武侠、有灵异、有穿越、有言情,既有历史传承,又有天马行空!来吧,进入九离的世界,还等什么?
  • 都市降灵人

    都市降灵人

    挣扎在命运边缘。入道,明道,悟道,行道,得道。看一个只想过正常生活的落魄青年,如何一步步走上回归本源的道之路。万物皆存在,万物皆虚幻,道主宰着一切。宿命若空,因果不空,决定命运的原来是……自己。本书QQ书友群:586374159