I was startled suddenly to hear the motors stop. There was no more
of that interminable buzzing. The Z99 responded promptly to the
air pressure that was forcing the water out of the tanks. The
gauge showed that we were gradually rising on an even keel. A man
sprang up the narrow hatchway and opened the cover through which
we could see a little patch of blue sky again. The gasoline motor
was started, and we ran leisurely back to the dock. The trip was
over--safely. As we landed I felt a sense of gladness to get away
from that feeling of being cut off from the world. It was not fear
of death or of the water, as nearly as I could analyse it, but
merely that terrible sense of isolation from man and nature as we
know it.
A message from Burke was waiting for Kennedy at the wharf. He read
it quickly, then handed it to Captain Shirley and myself.
Have just received a telegram from Washington. Great
excitement at the embassy. Cipher telegram has been
despatched to the Titan Iron Works. One of my men in
Washington reports a queer experience.
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