shell fire and where now a thin stream of water was
percolating through the crevice.

"We've got to submerge, boys; that destroyer is almost on top of us
now!" cried McClure in frenzied tones. "Get down into the control
chamber---hurry!" he commanded.

Ted dived down the hatch as fast as he could scramble, followed
closely by Jack, who observed by now a steady stream of water pouring
into the turret of the _Monitor_ and splashing on clear through to
the flooring of the chamber deep down into the hold.

As Jack lowered himself away into the inner chamber amidships the
_Monitor_ was clutched suddenly by a terrific explosion that rocked
the already crippled submarine with the force of a hurricane and
swamped it as though by a tidal wave. She quivered under the whip
of the mighty lash of steel from above.

The German destroyer, driving full speed at the spot where they had
sighted the periscopes of the American tormentor, had crossed directly
over the _Monitor_ and dropped a depth bomb that had exploded nearly
upon the turret of the doughty fighter!

A great gap was torn in the turret through which the sea swept in
a torrent. Fighting madly for the exit hatch into the chamber below,
McClure was dashed off his feet by the lurch of the smitten submarine
and sprawled against the steel side of the conning tower. With the
spray dashing in his face Jack had a fleeting glimpse of his commander,
and by a superhuman effort drew himself back into the turret against
the mass of water. Hurling himself forward, he groped about for his
captain and found him finally on the floor of the turret. Exerting
all his strength, he succeeded in hurling "Little Mack" down into
the control chamber.

Blinded by the swirling water, the youth dived headlong for the opening
in a mad effort to escape the flood and get below that he might shut
off the crushed turret from the rest of the submarine and hold the
deluge in check.

"Close the steel partition!" he yelled to Ted as he leaped for the
opening.

His chum, grasping the air lever, rolled shut the heavy curtain, but
in such precipitate haste that it caught Jack just above the knees
and pinned him fast. There he hung head down with the water pouring
in all around his body.

"Pull me through, Ted! Hurry! Pull me through!" gasped the young
executive officer, as he winced in pain from the smashing blow dealt
his limbs by the steel partition.

Grasping his chum under the armpits, with