With a rubber glove on his hand he took hold of one of the levers and tried to swing it over.
At first it refused to budge. Then came a snap and a click and the lever slid over to where he wanted it and three notches further.
Instantly the Holland XI. gave a shiver from stem to stern and started to run in a small circle.
The engines pounded away as before and the submarine craft tilted until it was next to impossible to stand on the floor.
Then came an explosion from the engine room and Captain Oscar was enveloped in a blueish smoke which threatened to strangle him on the spot.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE FIGHT OFF CAPE NOME.
"Captain, are you dead?"
It was Gilson who uttered the cry, as he rushed forward through the smoke, to where Oscar was leaning against a post, gasping for breath.
"No—no, Gilson," was the answer. "But we—we must have some fre-fresh air!"