The crowbar landed with a crash!
CHAPTER XVII
THE GET-AWAY
Both lads leaned against the machinery, limp, dripping cold
perspiration. Caradoc was the first to speak.
"Didn't have its war head in!"
Leonard mumbled something through the slime in his mouth.
"I ought to find the connection and explode it," repeated Caradoc
doggedly.
Madden moved weakly over beside him. "No you won't. You aren't going to
murder us all... not going to do it!"
Caradoc remained motionless, his long face gray under the electric
lights. "I fail--at everything," he mumbled.
Leonard sat down on the edge of the torpedo case and looked at the long,
slender destroyer. He had a watery feeling, as if just arising from a
long illness.
"Let's get out of here," he breathed.
"Wait... we must seem normal. You--you look blue--spotted."
"I feel blue and spotted. I was scared--never was so scared in all my
life."
"Sit here till you get over your j-jolt."
"What are you going to do?" asked the American apprehensively as Smith
arose.
"I must disable this machinery and give the tug a chance to escape."
"Still got that in your head?"
"I must do _something_--I ought to explode that torpedo!"
"You're not going to do that, Caradoc. You're not! I have no--no
appetite to be a martyr.
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