nd butted him up
and around, and both disappeared in a swirl of water into the inky
shadows of the trap's ceiling.

Ken closed his eyes. He knew what was happening. He could not move. But
it came to him, as he lay there sick with horror, that he would never
have a better chance than now, while the killer was occupied.

Recklessly he forced himself out of the niche. Up above there was
commotion, a whirlpool of churning water. The current helped him: he got
caught in it and was swept sprawling right over to the torpoon's side.

He clutched at the port, expecting each instant the tear of monster
fangs; but he made the interior and clicked shut the port. No matter the
water that had come into the main compartment with his entrance. He
pulled the starter over, and heard the familiar drone of electric
engines, safe inside their water-tight division. He felt no relief at
this. There was only the same sick horror.

He raised the torpoon a little. There was one thing to do. Perhaps it
was mad to try to destroy that killer whale in so narrow a space, but he
was going to attempt it. It would not be so bad to join Chan, if he
failed....

A terrific blow struck the stern of the torpoon and spun it around
dizzily. Ken made out the killer lifting its flukes for a second blow.
Quickly he sped the torp ahead, and turned as best he could. Flashing on
his powerful bow-beam, he found the killer to his left, slightly above.
Carefully he maneuvered into firing position: then coldly, with deadly
accuracy, he centered the sights of his nitro-shell gun on the vital
spot behind the eyes. He pressed the trigger: again, and yet again. The
projectiles hurtled out.

The monster started; its beady eyes settled on the torpoon; with a lunge
it darted forward, jaws gaping wide. And as it came another shell sped
true into the tooth-rimmed mouth.

It halted then, and doubled in the water. Shock after shock shook the
torpoon as the shells exploded in the whale. For a little while the
sea-beast flurried, and once or twice the torp shivered from chance
fluke-blows. But then at last came peace. The body rolled over, showing
its white belly, and drifted towards the trap's ceiling....

The brown-skinned heads had disappeared from the inner entrance. Kenneth
Torrance glanced in that direction for a last time, then looked sadly
around.

"So long, Chan," he murmured. "So long."

The torpoon squeezed through the bars of the outer entrance and sped
fort