Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/171

 dred pounds less than the weight of the torpedo and water together was before. So next thing we do we close the outer cap again. Then we pump seven hundred pounds of that water back into the filling tank. After that we blow the rest of the water in the tube into what's called the compensating tank. Now, then, we've still got the same weight aboard as we had before we parted with Mr. Torpedo. Do I make myself plain?"

"Quite, thanks. It—it's rather wonderful, isn't it?"

"Well, it's ingenious. I'll say that much for it. After all the water is out we open this inner breech again and we're all ready to slip in another torpedo. And that's how that's done! Jimmy here could have doped it out better for you, but I guess you've got the general idea. How's the air, fellows?"

"Getting a bit thick, I'd say," replied the one alluded to as Jimmy. He sniffed knowingly and then took a deep breath. "Wonder how it is on the surface."

"Blowing like the Old Harry, I guess. When did we dive? I was asleep."

"About three-twenty, I think it was. We're good for another fifteen or sixteen hours yet, but I hope he'll pop up before that. It's the bat- 146