"I'll be all right in a little bit," he murmured in response to inquiries.
Ten minutes passed, twenty and then a half hour, while the crippled submarine lay inactive with a foot of water in her hull and her commanding officers seriously injured. And then came an added horror when the electric lights throughout the vessel began slowly to fade away into darkness. Chief Engineer Blaine came hurrying into the control chamber:
"Batteries short circuited by the saltwater!" he exclaimed in a tone of dismay.
"And that means chlorine gas," added Jack.
"Yes, we notice it already aft," said Blaine all righted.
The pungent odor of the deadly fumes swept into the control chamber as he spoke!
CHAPTER XXVI
THE STARS AND STRIPES
The salt water worked its way into the batteries of the Monitor the deadly acid was generated and the gas permeated the air. Gasping for life, half the engine crew retreated forward, covering their eyes and noses to escape the asphyxiating vapor. With bloodshot eyes Chief Engineer Blaine stumbled into the control chamber.
"Impossible to stay back there longer!" he exclaimed brokenly, addressing himself to Hammond.