Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/178

 side sway. The captain moved a lever in front of him gently.

"Sixty, sir!" announced the officer at the gauge.

"Hold her at fifty," said the captain.

"Ay-y-y, sir!"

The men at the diving rudder controls moved imperceptibly.

"Fifty-seven! Fifty-five! Fifty-three!"

The captain swung the lever again. The sensation of climbing upward passed and the submarine rode on an even keel, the men at the wheels turning them slowly, their eyes on the indicators. The Q-4 was in less quiet water now, for she swung sidewise and dipped fore and aft. The first officer spoke across the compartment.

"Still at it up there."

The captain nodded, peered at the gyroscopic compass and turned about. "We'll give her another three hours, I think. Pass the word for all hands off watch to bunk in and get some sleep."

Nelson climbed into his bunk, after removing boots and jacket, which was as much as any of the others took off, and did his best to get to sleep. But, although he couldn't keep his eyes open save by an effort, sleep was elusive. He finally fell into a sort of doze during which he was more than half aware of movement and sound about 153