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done a magnificent job； and you could see that they all regarded that job as being as good as over。 No one appeared to doubt Swanson's ability to blow a hole through the ice。 If it hadn't been for the presence of the ghost at the feast； myself； they would have been positively jovial。
〃We'll pass up the extra cups of coffee this morning； gentlemen；〃 Swanson said。 〃Drift Station Zebra is still waiting for us； and even though I'm assured everyone there will survive； they must be feeling damned cold and miserable。 The ice machine has been in operation for almost an hour now； at least we hope it has。 We'll drop down right away and test it； and after we've loaded the torpedoestwo should do it； I thinkwe'll blow our way up into this lead at Zebra。〃
Twenty minutes later the 〃Dolphin〃 was back where she belonged； 150 feet below the surface of the seaor the ice cap。 After ten minutes' maneuvering； with a close check being kept on the plotting table to maintain our position relative to Drift Station Zebra； it was clear that the ice machine was behaving perfectly normally again； tracing out the inverted ridges and valleys in the ice with its usual magical accuracy。 mander Swanson nodded his satisfaction。
〃That's it； then。〃 He nodded to Hansen and Mills； the torpedo officer。 〃You can go ahead now。 Maybe you'd like to acpany them； Dr。 Carpenter。 Or is loading torpedoes old hat to you？〃
〃Never seen it；〃 I said truthfully。 〃Thanks； I'd like to go along。〃 Swanson was as considerate toward men as he was toward his beloved 〃Dolphin〃； which was why every man in the ship swore by him。 He knew； or suspected； that apart from the shock I felt at my brother's death； I was worried stiff about other things。 He would have heard； although he hadn't mentioned it to me and hadn't even asked me how I had slept； that I'd spent the night prowling aimlessly and restléssly about the control room； he knew I would be grateful for any distraction； for anything that would relieve my mind； however temporarily； of whatever it was that was troubling it。 I wondered just how much that extraordinarily keen brain knew or guessed。 But that was an unprofitable line of thought so I put it out of my mind and went along with Hansen and Mills。 Mills was another like Raeburn； the navigation officer； he looked to me more like a college undergraduate than the highly petent officer he was； but I supposed it was just another sign that I was growing old。
Hansen crossed to a panel by the diving console and studied a group of lights。 The night's sleep had done him a great deal of good and； apart from the abraded skin on his forehead and around the cheekbones where the ice spicules of last night had done their work； he was again his normal； cheerfully cynical； relaxed self； fresh and rested and fit。 He waved his hand at the panel。
〃The torpedo safety lights； Dr。 Carpenter。 Each green light represents a closed torpedo tube door。 Six doors that open to the seabow caps； we call themsix rear doors for loading the torpedoes。 Only twelve lights； but we study them very； very carefullyjust to make sure that all the lights are green。 For if any of them were redany of the top six； that is； which represent the sea doorswell； that wouldn't be so good； would it？〃 He looked at Mills。 〃All green？〃
〃All green。〃 Mills echoed。
We moved for'ard along the wardroom passage and dropped down the wide panionway into the crew's mess。 From there we moved into the for'ard torpedo…storage room。 Last time I'd been there； on the morning after our departure from the Clyde； nine or ten men had been sleeping in their bunks； now all the bunks were empty。 Five men were waiting for us： four seamen and a petty officer； Bowen； whom Hansen； no stickler for protocol； addressed as Charlie。
〃You will see now；〃 Hansen observed to me； 〃why officers are more highly paid than enlisted men； and deservedly so。 While Charlie and his gallant men skulk here behind two sets of collision bulkheads； we must go and test the safety of the tubes。 Regulations。 Still； a cool head and an iron nerve： we do it gladly for our men。〃
Bowen grinned and unlatched the first collision…bulkhead door。 We stepped over the eighteen…inch sill； leaving the five men behind； and waited until the door had been latched again before opening the for'ard collision…bulkhead door and stepping over the second sill into the cramped torpedo room。 This time the door was swung wide open and hooked back on a heavy standing catch。
〃All laid down in the book of rules；〃 Hansen said。 〃The only time the two doors can be opened at the same time is when we're actually loading the torpedoes。〃 He checked the position of metal handles at the rear of the tubes； reached up； swung down a steel…spring microphone； and flicked a switch； 〃Ready to test tubes。 All manual levers shut。 All lights showing green？〃
〃All lights still green。〃 The answering voice from the overhead squawk box was hollow； metallic； queerly impersonal。
〃You already checked；〃 I said mildly。
〃So we check again。 Same old book of rules。〃 He grinned。 〃Besides； my grandpa died at ninety…seven and I am out to beat his record。 Take no chances and you run no risks。 What are they to be； George？'
〃Three and four。〃
I could see the brass plaques on the circular rear doors of the tubes； 2； 4； and 6 on the port side； 1； 3； and 5 on the starboard。 Lieutenant Mills was proposing to use the central tubes on each side。
Mills unhooked a rubberized flashlight from the bulkhead and approached number 3 first。 Hansen said； 〃Still no chances。 First of all George opens the test cock in the rear door； which will show if there is any water at all in the tubes。 Shouldn't be； but sometimes a little gets past the bow caps。 If the test cock shows nothing； then he opens the door and shines his light up to examine the bow cap and see that there is no obstruction in the tube。 How is it； George？〃
〃Okay； number 3。〃 Three times Mills lifted the test…cock handle and no trace of water appeared。 〃Opening the door flow。〃
He hauled on the big lever at the rear； pulled it clear； and swung back the heavy circular door。 He shone his kam up the gleaming inside length of the tube； then straightened。 〃Clean as a whistle and dry as a bone。〃
〃That's not the way he was taught to report it；〃 Hansen said sorrowfully。 〃I don't know what the young officers are cornmg to these days。 Right； George； number 4。〃
Mills grinned； secured the rear door on number 3； and crossed to number 4。 He lifted the test…cock handle and said； 〃Oh…oh。〃
〃What is it？〃 Hansen asked。
〃Water；〃 Mills said tersely。
〃Is there much？ Let's see。〃
〃Just a trickle。〃
〃Is that bad？〃 I asked。
〃It happens；〃 Hansen said briefly。 He joggled the handle up and down and another spoonful of water appeared。 〃You can get a slightly imperfect bow cap； and if you go deep enough to build up sufficient outside pressure you can get a trickle of water ing in。 Probably what has happened in this case。 If the bow cap was open； friend； at this depth the water would e out of that spout like a bullet。 But no chances； no chances。〃 He reached for the microphone again。 〃Number four bow cap still green？ We have a little water here。〃