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Updated: May 4, 2025
It was but the work of a moment for the crew to "dog down" the doors of that compartment to segregate the damage and prevent the flooding of other compartments. But even then, the Y-3 was in a bad way, and all on board realized it. "I guess we are gone this time," said Frank quietly to Jack. "Looks like it," was Jack's cool reply. "However, while there is life there is hope."
"So be it, then," said Lord Hastings. "I shall remain here with the Sylph until you return." Both lads thanked Lord Hastings heartily for giving them this opportunity of seeing something of under-the-sea fighting aboard a British vessel. "How soon do you plan to start?" Lord Hastings inquired of Captain Nicholson. "Immediately," replied the commander of the submarine Y-3.
Having no batteries for submerged running now, the Y-3 had to remain on top of the water, or else sink to the bottom and lie still; and for this reason Captain Nicholson kept prepared for a quick submersion. Mines were the worst dangers the Y- 3 bad to encounter now, and a careful watch was kept and the speed of the vessel reduced.
An hour after sunset, the Y-3 came once more to the surface. There was no sign of an enemy. The sky was still banked with heavy clouds, and there was a choppy sea running. Captain Nicholson started to run for safety at full speed ahead.
"I hate to use any electricity out of my batteries now," said Captain Nicholson, "for it is likely to be very precious later. However, I don't want to run chances of being discovered. We'll dive." The three made their way below. The entrance was hermetically closed, and soon the tanks were being filled. A moment later the Y-3 began to submerge.
The fort was getting the range now, and shells fell all around the Y-3. One struck the water nearby, hurling water over the conning tower and drenching the three who stood there. "Well," said Captain Nicholson, "they may get us, but we got three of them." "And there is some satisfaction in that, anyhow," said Frank. "You bet there is," Jack agreed.
"We'll find all the water on the bar that is ever there." There was to be no more sleep now on the Y-3. From the gunner's mate down every man of the crew was on the qui vive. As the submarine neared where the bar was charted, it came up till the pressure gauge showed only ten feet of water above. "Ten feet to hide us from the forts' lookouts and guns," explained Captain Nicholson.
"I have not yet told the men what I propose to do," Captain Nicholson informed the boys, ass they made their way aboard the Y-3. Captain Nicholson introduced the lads to the man at the helm. "Old Jansen," he said with a flourish of his arm. The boys acknowledged this introduction, and Old Jansen touched his cap.
Captain Nicholson steered a course straight to the starboard side of the first Turkish cruiser, to launch the torpedo just forward of amidships at a distance of about 300 yards. The lookout on the cruiser had not picked up the submarine. Captain Nicholson saw an officer at the stern, sighting the fort with his glass. The Y-3 crept on unnoticed.
"What's the matter?" he gasped. "Shot hit us, I guess," was Frank's calm reply. The lad was right. Two small Turkish gunboats, whose presence in the harbor was not known to Captain Nicholson, had approached the scene of battle, and making out the submarine's periscope, had opened on her with the big guns. One shot had gone true, and it was this that had sent the Y-3 careening to the bottom.
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