“No, sir!” declared Jimmie promptly. “You’re in no condition to attempt anything like that. You’re worried, and your heart action is not right just now. My mind is a blank, and my heart is as sound as a bullet! I’m just the one for the job!”
As if the matter were understood, Jimmie began divesting himself of his clothing. He deposited his jacket on the locker beside Ned.
“Harry,” he said, turning to his chum, “will you see that the torpedo tube is connected up and in working order? You might try a discharge for practice. We can spare a little of this air!”
By the time Jimmie had stripped and secured a knife to a belt about his waist, Harry pronounced the tube ready for operation.
“Now, fellows,” said Jimmie, shaking hands with his chums, “there’s about one chance in a million that I won’t get through this all right. If you are not up to the surface in five minutes, you may know that I’ve failed. Then you’d better send out another lad!”
“Me next!” shouted Jack, beginning to remove his shoes.
Harry was peering from the heavy glass protecting the forward porthole. As Jimmie stepped forward to enter the torpedo tube, Harry held up a warning hand. He turned an anxious face to his friends.
“There’s something outside here!” he announced in an anxious tone. “I saw it once, but didn’t get a clear view!”
“What did it look like?” asked Jimmie. “Is it alive?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s another submarine!”