"Yes, sir."
"Take the wheel, then. I will send two more men up here to observe with you."
Stepping down to the cabin floor, Jack chose two more midshipmen, ordering them up into the tower.
"The rest of you will crowd about me, as I handle the submerging machinery," called Jack, raising his voice somewhat. "Ask any questions you wish, at appropriate times."
"I thought, sir," spoke up one of the middies, "that you controlled the diving apparatus from the conning tower."
"It can be done there, when the officer in charge of the boat is up there," Jack answered. "The diving, and the rising, may be controlled at this point in the cabin. Mr. Hastings, give us eight miles ahead from the electric motors."
"Yes, sir," came the word from Hal.
"Pass the word to Mr. Surles to keep to the course," added Benson.
Under the impetus from the electric motors, which were used when going under water, the propeller shafts began to throb.
"We're going down, now, gentlemen," called Jack. "Observe the shifting record on the depth gauge, as we go lower and lower. Also, look out for your footing, for we dive on an inclined plane. Now—here we go!"