Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floor by Raymond Abrashkin & Jay Williams

Author:Raymond Abrashkin & Jay Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, sci-fi, young adult, middle grade, adventure
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2016-11-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

”Our Ship Is Sinking!”

For a short time after Dr. Grimes’s outburst, things were very quiet aboard the Sea Urchin. Captain Beaversmith began fussing with his controls; Professor Bullfinch busied himself about the cameras; and Dr. Grimes, as if somewhat ashamed of his temper, began working at the bench on some specimens. Danny looked about for a place to store his recorder.

“I can’t put it on the floor,” he whispered to Irene, “because somebody may trip over it and then I’ll be blamed. And it looks as if every inch of space on the shelves is full of bottles or jars.”

“How about underneath the collecting tank?” Irene said.

“Things are too busy around there,” Danny frowned. Then his face brightened. “There’s the spot,” he said.

Up forward, where Captain Beaversmith sat, the ship was crowded with instruments and gauges, but just above the pilot’s seat there was an empty shelf. It was very narrow, but it would hold the tape recorder. Danny softly put his machine on this shelf—so softly that not even Captain Beaversmith noticed him—and lashed it down with a cord. About half of it stuck out over the shelf but at least it was out of the way.

Just as he got it stowed Captain Beaversmith said, “Professor! Dr. Grimes! Have a look at the sonar.”

The two scientists hurried forward. The sonar was the device which bounced sound waves off the bottom and recorded their echoes. In this way, the various depths and the shape of the bottom could be observed on a screen. Dr. Grimes bent over this screen.

“A canyon,” he muttered.

“No doubt of it,” the Captain replied. “We didn’t spot it on our other trips.”

“We weren’t exactly over this area,” said the Professor. “My, my. It’s nine thousand feet deep. Almost two miles. Perhaps we ought to explore it?”

“Not with the children aboard,” said Dr. Grimes.

“No, of course not. Let’s see if it’s on the chart.”

He went back to the chart table and pulled out a map showing the coastal waters. He and Dr. Grimes bent over it.

Captain Beaversmith pulled down a small handle on the control board, and then uttered an exclamation of annoyance. Danny, who was leaning on the back of his seat, said, “What’s the matter, sir?”

“When those camera lights went off, something must have overloaded,” the Captain said. “The tank pumps aren’t responding. I’d better have a look-see.”

He pulled up the cover of the control panel and began probing into the maze of wires inside. With a flashlight in one hand and an insulated screwdriver in the other, he began unfastening connections.

“Can I help?” Danny asked.

Captain Beaversmith, with his head buried in the control box, said, “Do you know anything about electricity?” At the same time, he put down his screwdriver and began fumbling among the loose wires that stuck up from the side of the box.

“Everything,” said Danny boldly. “I learned all about wiring when I was only a little kid. The Professor taught me. Here—is this the one you’re looking for?”

He picked up one of the wires and thrust it into the Captain’s hand.

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