The navy eternal, which is the navy-that-floats, the navy-that-flies and the navy-under-the-sea . thin light of a sickle moon tipped tHecrest of each swift-running sea with rest was a purple blackness, throughwhich the north wind slashed like a knife,and the sound of surf on a distant shoal wascarried moaning. At intervals a bank ofracing clouds trailed across the face of themoon, and then all was inky dark for a while. It was during one of these periods ofobliteration of all things visible that a slender,perpendicular object rose above the surfaceof the sea. Gradually the dim light
The navy eternal, which is the navy-that-floats, the navy-that-flies and the navy-under-the-sea . thin light of a sickle moon tipped tHecrest of each swift-running sea with rest was a purple blackness, throughwhich the north wind slashed like a knife,and the sound of surf on a distant shoal wascarried moaning. At intervals a bank ofracing clouds trailed across the face of themoon, and then all was inky dark for a while. It was during one of these periods ofobliteration of all things visible that a slender,perpendicular object rose above the surfaceof the sea. Gradually the dim light waxedagain : a wave, cloven in its path, passedhissing on either side in a trail of spray, andthe object slowly projected until it toppedthe highest wave. Presently about its basea convulsive disturbance in the water wasfollowed by the appearance of a conical shape,a solid blackness against the streaked glim-mering obscurity of the water breaking allabout its sides and streaming in cascadesfrom the flat railed-in top. A hatchwayopened, and two figures crawled out, clinging 76 IN THE TWILIGHT. to the rail oftheir swayingfootholdwhile the fullforce of thewind clawedand batteredtheir maintaineda terse conversa-tion by dint ofshouting in turnwith their lips toeach others ears,while the conning-tower of the sub-marine on whichthey stood movedforwardintheteethof the half an hour they went plunging and IN THE TWILIGHT 77 lurching onwards, clinging with numbedhands to the rail as a green sea swept abouttheir legs, wiping the half-frozen spray fromtheir eyes to search the darkness aheadwith night-glasses. Then one pointed awayon the bow. Hows that ? he bawled. A point onthe bow something dark tumbled amid thewaves and flying spindrift. The other stareda moment, shouted an order to the invisiblehelmsman through a voice-pipe, and the windthat had hitherto been in their streamingeyes smote and buffeted them on the leftcheek. A scurry of sleet whirled momentarilyabo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectgreatbr, booksubjectworldwar19141918
