“Then I’ll get you to crawl down one of those broken funnels if we can’t get in this way,” continued Clif, winking at Joy.
“Oo! I wish we were on the Monongahela,” complained Nanny, not at all pleased at the prospect. “I don’t want to go down the funnel.”
“You are a big baby,” sneered Judson Greene.
“We may give you a chance to prove that you are full-grown,” said Clif, coldly. “You are not too large for the funnel.”
“I am not afraid,” retorted Judson, walking aft.
A combined onslaught was made on the conning tower door. At first it resisted the efforts of the four boys, but finally, after Trolley had pounded the edges with the oar handle, it yielded slightly.
“All together now,” said Clif, bracing his feet against the curved side of the conning tower. “One! two—three, pull!”
The four cadets tugged sharply on the rope that had been passed through the handle, there was a complaining of strained hinges, then the door flew back with a crash.
And out through the opening tumbled the body of a man, half-clothed and ghastly in death!