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cross thirty with impunity； and doubtless they would return to be heroes at
home； but how different the home… coming of their commanding officer！
The wind had dropped to a steady blow； still from west by north； and
the sea had gone down correspondingly。 The crew； with the exception of
those whose duties kept them below； were ranged on deck below the
bridge。 When our position was definitely fixed I personally announced it
to the eager； waiting men。
〃Men；〃 I said； stepping forward to the handrail and looking down into
their upturned； bronzed faces； 〃you are anxiously awaiting information as
to the ship's position。 It has been determined at latitude fifty degrees
seven minutes north； longitude twenty degrees sixteen minutes west。〃
I paused and a buzz of animated comment ran through the massed men
beneath me。 〃Beyond thirty。 But there will be no change in
commanding officers； in routine or in discipline； until after we have
docked again in New York。〃
As I ceased speaking and stepped back from the rail there was a roar
of applause from the deck such as I never before had heard aboard a ship
of peace。 It recalled to my mind tales that I had read of the good old days
when naval vessels were built to fight； when ships of peace had been man…
of…war； and guns had flashed in other than futile target practice； and decks
had run red with blood。
With the subsistence of the sea； we were able to go to work upon the
damaged engines to some effect； and I also set men to examining the
gravitation…screen generators with a view to putting them in working order
should it prove not beyond our resources。
For two weeks we labored at the engines； which indisputably showed
evidence of having been tampered with。 I appointed a board to
investigate and report upon the disaster。 But it accomplished nothing
other than to convince me that there were several officers upon it who
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were in full sympathy with Johnson； for； though no charges had been
preferred against him； the board went out of its way specifically to
exonerate him in its findings。
All this time we were drifting almost due east。 The work upon the
engines had progressed to such an extent that within a few hours we might
expect to be able to proceed under our own power westward in the
direction of Pan… American waters。
To relieve the monotony I had taken to fishing； and early that morning
I had departed from the Coldwater in one of the boats on such an
excursion。 A gentle west wind was blowing。 The sea shimmered in the
sunlight。 A cloudless sky canopied the west for our sport； as I had made
it a point never voluntarily to make an inch toward the east that I could
avoid。 At least； they should not be able to charge me with a willful
violation of the dead lines regulation。
I had with me only the boat's ordinary complement of men three in
all； and more than enough to handle any small power boat。 I had not
asked any of my officers to accompany me； as I wished to be alone； and
very glad am I now that I had not。 My only regret is that； in view of what
befell us； it had been necessary to bring the three brave fellows who
manned the boat。
Our fishing； which proved excellent； carried us so far to the west that
we no longer could see the Coldwater。 The day wore on； until at last；
about mid…afternoon； I gave the order to return to the ship。
We had proceeded but a short distance toward the east when one of the
men gave an exclamation of excitement； at the same time pointing
eastward。 We all looked on in the direction he had indicated； and there； a
short distance above the horizon； we saw the outlines of the Coldwater
silhouetted against the sky。
〃They've repaired the engines and the generators both；〃 exclaimed one
of the men。
It seemed impossible； but yet it had evidently been done。 Only that
morning； Lieutenant Johnson had told me that he feared that it would be
impossible to repair the generators。 I had put him in charge of this work；
since he always had been accounted one of the best gravitation…screen men
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in the navy。 He had invented several of the improvements that are
incorporated in the later models of these generators； and I am convinced
that he knows more concerning both the theory and the practice of
screening gravitation than any living Pan…American。
At the sight of the Coldwater once more under control； the three men
burst into a glad cheer。 But； for some reason which I could not then
account； I was strangely overcome by a premonition of personal
misfortune。 It was not that I now anticipated an early return to Pan…
America and a board of inquiry； for I had rather looked forward to the
fight that must follow my return。 No； there was something else；
something indefinable and vague that cast a strange gloom upon me as I
saw my ship rising farther above the water and making straight in our
direction。
I was not long in ascertaining a possible explanation of my depression；
for； though we were plainly visible from the bridge of the aero…submarine
and to the hundreds of men who swarmed her deck； the ship passed
directly above us； not five hundred feet from the water； and sped directly
westward。
We all shouted； and I fired my pistol to attract their attention； though I
knew full well that all who cared to had observed us； but the ship moved
steadily away； growing smaller and smaller to our view until at last she
passed completely out of sight。
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2
What could it mean？ I had left Alvarez in command。 He was my
most loyal subordinate。 It was absolutely beyond the pale of possibility
that Alvarez should desert me。 No； there was some other explanation。
Something occurred to place my second officer； Porfirio Johnson； in
command。 I was sure of it but why speculate？ The futility of
conjecture was only too palpable。 The Coldwater had abandoned us in
midocean。 Doubtless none of us would survive to know why。
The young man at the wheel of the power boat had turned her nose
about as it became evident that the ship intended passing over us； and now
he still held her in futile pursuit of the Coldwater。
〃Bring her about； Snider；〃 I directed； 〃and hold her due east。 We
can't catch the Coldwater； and we can't cross the Atlantic in this。 Our
only hope lies in making the nearest land； which； unless I am mistaken； is
the Scilly Islands； off the southwest coast of England。 Ever heard of
England； Snider？〃
〃There's a part of the United States of North America that used to be
known to the ancients as New England；〃 he replied。 〃Is that where you
mean； sir？〃
〃No； Snider；〃 I replied。 〃The England I refer to was an island off the
continent of Europe。 It was the seat of a very powerful kingdom that
flourished over two hundred years ago。 A part of the United States of
North America and all of the Federated States of Canada once belonged to
this ancient England。〃
〃Europe；〃 breathed one of the men； his voice tense with excitement。
〃My grandfather used to tell me stories of the world beyond thirty。 He
had been a great student； and he had read much from forbidden books。〃
〃In which I resemble your grandfather；〃 I said； 〃for I； too； have read
more even than naval officers are supposed to read； and； as you men know；
we are permitted a greater latitude