time, roughly cylindrical in contour--and dark as the pit of perdition.

As I gave the command which sent the U-33 slowly ahead, I could

not but feel a certain uncanny presentiment of evil. Where were

we going? What lay at the end of this great sewer? Had we bidden

farewell forever to the sunlight and life, or were there before

us dangers even greater than those which we now faced? I tried to

keep my mind from vain imagining by calling everything which I

observed to the eager ears below. I was the eyes of the whole

company, and I did my best not to fail them. We had advanced a

hundred yards, perhaps, when our first danger confronted us.

Just ahead was a sharp right-angle turn in the tunnel. I could

see the river's flotsam hurtling against the rocky wall upon the

left as it was driven on by the mighty current, and I feared for

the safety of the U-33 in making so sharp a turn under such

adverse conditions; but there was nothing for it but to try.

I didn't warn my fellows of the danger--it could have but caused

them useless apprehension, for if we were to be smashed against

the rocky wall, no power on earth could avert the quick end that

would come to us. I gave the command full speed ahead and went

charging toward the menace. I was forced to approach the

dangerous left-hand wall in order to make the turn, and I

depended upon the power of the motors to carry us through the

surging waters in safety. Well, we made it; but it was a

narrow squeak. As we swung around, the full force of the current

caught us and drove the stern against the rocks; there was a thud

which sent a tremor through the whole craft, and then a moment of

nasty grinding as the steel hull scraped the rock wall. I expected

momentarily the inrush of waters that would seal our doom; but

presently from below came the welcome word that all was well.

In another fifty yards there was a second turn, this time toward

the left! but it was more of a gentle curve, and we took it

without trouble. After that it was plain sailing, though as far

as I could know, there might be most anything ahead of us, and my

nerves strained to the snapping-point every instant. After the

second turn the channel ran comparatively straight for between

one hundred and fifty and two hundred yards. The waters grew

suddenly lighter, and my spirits rose accordingly. I shouted

down to those below that I saw daylight ahead, and a great shout

of thanksgiving reverberated through the ship. A moment later we

emerged into sunlit water, and immediately I raised the periscope

and looked about me upon the strangest landscape I had ever seen.