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diff --git a/27609-h/27609-h.htm b/27609-h/27609-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c72c79 --- /dev/null +++ b/27609-h/27609-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1381 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Undersea Tube, by L. Taylor Hansen + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,.bk1 {text-align: center;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figcenter {margin: 1em auto; width: 300px;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; width: 434px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + img {border: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {margin: 2em auto; line-height: 1.5em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Undersea Tube, by L. Taylor Hansen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Undersea Tube + +Author: L. Taylor Hansen + +Illustrator: Hans Waldemar Wessolowski + +Release Date: December 25, 2008 [EBook #27609] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE UNDERSEA TUBE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="434" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<h1>The <big>Undersea Tube</big></h1> + +<h2><small>BY L. TAYLOR HANSEN</small></h2> + +<div class="bk1"><b><big>Classic Reprint from<br />AMAZING STORIES, Nov., 1929</big></b><br /> +<i><small>Copyright, 1929, by E. P. Incorporated</small></i></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">If</span> my friend the engineer had +not told me the Tube was dangerous, +I would not have bought +a ticket on that fatal night, and +the world would never have +learned the story of the Golden +Cavern and the City of the Dead. +Having therefore, according to +universal custom, first made my +report as the sole survivor of the +much-discussed Undersea Tube +disaster to the International +Committee for the Investigation +of Disasters, I am now ready to +outline that story for the world. +Naturally I am aware of the +many wild tales and rumors that +have been circulated ever since +the accident, but I must ask my +readers to bear with me while I +attempt to briefly sketch, not +only the tremendous difficulties +to be overcome by the engineers, +but also the wind-propulsion theory +which was made use of in +this undertaking; because it is +only by understanding something +of these two phases of the Tube's +engineering problems that one +can understand the accident and +its subsequent revelations.</p> + +<p>It will be recalled by those +who have not allowed their view +of modern history to become too +hazy, that the close of the twentieth +century saw a dream of +the engineering world at last realized—the +completion of the +long-heralded undersea railroad. +It will also be recalled that the +engineers in charge of this stupendous +undertaking were greatly +encouraged by the signal success +of the first tube under the +English Channel, joining England +and France by rail. However, +it was from the second tube +across the Channel and the tube +connecting Montreal to New +York, as well as the one connecting +New York and Chicago, that +they obtained some of their then +radical ideas concerning the use +of wind power for propulsion. +Therefore, before the Undersea +Tube had been completed, the engineers +in charge had decided to +make use of the new method in +the world's longest tunnel, and +upon that decision work was immediately +commenced upon the +blue-prints for the great air +pumps that were to rise at the +two ends—Liverpool and New +York. However, I will touch upon +the theory of wind-propulsion +later and after the manner in +which it was explained to me.</p> + +<p>It will be recalled that after +great ceremonies, the Tube was +begun simultaneously at the two +terminating cities and proceeded +through solid rock—low enough +below the ocean floor to overcome +the terrible pressure of the body +of water over it, and yet close +enough to the sea to overcome +the intensity of subterranean +heat. Needless to say, it was an +extremely hazardous undertaking, +despite the very careful surveys +that had been made, for the +little parties of workmen could +never tell when they would strike +a crack or an unexpected crevice +that would let down upon them +with a terrible rush, the waters +of the Atlantic. But hazard is +adventure, and as the two little +groups of laborers dug toward +each other, the eyes of the press +followed them with more persistent +interest than it has ever followed +the daily toil of any man or +group of men, either before or +since.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Once</span> the world was startled +by the "extree-ee—" announcing +that the English group +had broken into an extinct volcano, +whose upper end had apparently +been sealed ages before, for +it contained not water but air—curiously +close and choking perhaps, +but at least it was not the +watery deluge of death. And then +came the great discovery. No one +who lived through that time will +forget the thrill that quickened +the pulse of mankind when the +American group digging through +a seam of old lava under what +scientists call the "ancient +ridge," broke into a sealed cavern +which gleamed in the probing +flashlights of the workers +like the scintillating points of a +thousand diamonds. But when +they found the jeweled casket, +through whose glass top they +peered curiously down upon the +white body of a beautiful woman, +partly draped in the ripples of +her heavy, red hair, the world +gasped and wondered. As every +school child knows, the casket +was opened by curious scientists, +who flocked into the tube from +the length of the world, but at +the first exposure to the air, the +strange liquid that had protected +the body vanished, leaving in the +casket not the white figure, but +only a crumbling mass of grey +dust. But the questions that the +finding of the cave had raised remained +unanswered.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="600" height="231" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>Who was this woman? How +did she get into the sealed cavern? +If she had been the court +favorite of that mythical kingdom, +now sunk beneath the +waves, and had been disposed +of in court intrigue, why would +her murderers have buried her +in such a casket? How had she +been killed? An unknown poison? +Perhaps she had been a +favorite slave of the monarch. +This view gained many converts +among the archaeologists who +argued that from all the evidence +we have available, the +race carrying the Iberian or +Proto-Egyptian culture, long +thought to have been the true +refugees from sinking Atlantis, +were a slight dark-haired race. +Therefore this woman must +have been a captive. Geologists, +analyzing the lava, announced +that it had hardened in air and +not in water, while anthropologists +classed the skull of the +woman as essentially more modern +than either the Neanderthal +or Cro-Magnon types. But the +engineers, secretly fuming at the +delay, finally managed to fill up +the cave and press on with their +drills.</p> + +<p>Then following the arguments +that still flourished in the press, +came a tiny little news article +and the first message to carry +concern to the hearts of the engineers. +The sea had begun to +trickle in through one slight +crack. Perhaps it was only because +the crevice was located on +the English side of the now famous +"ancient ridge" that the +article brought forth any notice +at all. But for the engineers it +meant the first warning of possibly +ultimate disaster. They +could not seal the crack, and +pumps were brought into play. +However, as a month wore on, +the crack did not appear to +widen to any material extent +and the danger cry of a few +pessimists was forgotten.</p> + +<p>Finally, it will be remembered, +that sounders listening in +the rocks heard the drillers of +the other party, and then with +wild enthusiasm the work was +pushed on to completion. The +long Tube had been dug. Now it +only remained for the sides at +the junction to be enlarged and +encased with cast iron, while +the work of setting up the great +machines designed to drive the +pellet trains through, was also +pushed on to its ultimate end. +Man had essayed the greatest +feat of engineering ever undertaken +in the history of the +planet, and had won. A period of +wild celebration greeted the first +human beings to cross each direction +below the sea.</p> + +<p>Did the volume of water increase +that was carried daily +out of the Tube and dumped +from the two stations? If it did, +the incident was ignored by the +press. Instead, the fact that +some "cranks" persisted in calling +man's latest toy unsafe, only +attracted more travel. The Undersea +Tube functioned on regular +schedule for three years, became +the usual method of ocean +transit.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">This</span> was the state of matters, +when on the fourth of March +last, our textile company ordered +me to France to straighten +out some orders with the France +house, the situation being such +that they preferred to send a +man. Why they did not use radio-vision +I do not care to state, +as this is my company's business.</p> + +<p>Therefore, upon entering my +apartment, I was in the midst of +packing when the television +phone called me. The jovial features +of "Dutch" Higgins, my +one-time college room-mate and +now one of the much-maligned +engineers of the Undersea Tube, +smiled back at me from the disk.</p> + +<p>"Where are you? I thought we +had a sort of dinner engagement +at my apartment, Bob."</p> + +<p>"By gollies I forgot, Dutch. +I'll be right over—before it gets +cold."</p> + +<p>Then immediately I turned +the knob to the Municipal Aerial-car +yards, and ordered my +motor, as I grabbed my hat and +hurried to the roof. In due time, +of course, I sprang the big surprise +of the evening, adding:</p> + +<p>"And, of course, I'm going by +the Tube, I feel sort of a half-partnership +in it because you +were one of the designers."</p> + +<p>A curious half-pained look +crossed his face. We had finished +our meal, and were smoking with +pushed-back chairs. He finished +filling his pipe, and scowled.</p> + +<p>"Well? Why don't you say +something? Thought you'd be—well, +sort of pleased."</p> + +<p>He struck his automatic lighter +and drew in a long puff of +smoke before answering.</p> + +<p>"Wish you'd take another +route, Bob."</p> + +<p>"Take another route?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. If you want it straight, +the Tube is not safe."</p> + +<p>"You are joking."</p> + +<p>But as I looked into his cold, +thoughtful blue eyes, I knew he +had never been more serious.</p> + +<p>"I wish that you would go by +the Trans-Atlantic Air Liners. +They are just as fast."</p> + +<p>"But you used to be so enthusiastic +about the Tube, Dutch! +Why I remember when it was +being drilled that you would call +me up at all kinds of wild hours +to tell me the latest bits of news."</p> + +<p>He nodded slowly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was in the days before +the crack."</p> + +<p>"Yet you expected to take care +of possible leaks, you know," I +countered.</p> + +<p>"But this crack opened after +the tunnel had been dug past it, +and lately it has opened more."</p> + +<p>"Are the other engineers +alarmed?"</p> + +<p>"No. We are easily taking care +of the extra water and again +the opening seems to remain at +a stationary width as it has for +the past three years. But we cannot +caulk it."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to publish +these views?"</p> + +<p>"No. I made out a minority report. +I can do no more."</p> + +<p>"Dutch, you are becoming +over-cautious. First sign of old +age."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," with the old smile.</p> + +<p>"But after all it is now more +than three years since we have +had a talk on the Tube. After it +began to function as well as the +Air-Express you sort of lost interest +in it."</p> + +<p>"And the world did too."</p> + +<p>"Certainly—but the public +ever was a fickle mistress. Who +said that before me?"</p> + +<p>He laughed and blew out a +long puff of smoke.</p> + +<p>"Everyone, Bob."</p> + +<p>"But as to the Tube, if I +cross under the sea, I would want +to be as well informed on the +road as I was three years ago. +Now in the meantime, you have +dropped interest in the long tunnel +while I have become more interested +in textiles—with the result +that I have forgotten all I +ever did know—which compared +to your grasp of the details, was +little enough."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">But</span> his face showed none of +the old-time animation on +the subject. What a different +man, I mused to myself, from +that enthusiastic engineering +student that I used to come upon +dreaming over his blue-prints. +He was considered "half-cracked" +in those days when he +would enthuse over his undersea +railroad, but his animated face +was lit with inspiration. Now +the light was gone.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dutch, how about it? +Aren't you going to make me +that brief little sketch of the +length plan and cross-section of +the Tube? I remember your +sketch of it in college, and it +tends to confuse me with the +real changes that were made +necessary when the wind-propulsion +method was adopted."</p> + +<p>"All right, old timer. You remember +that the Tube was widened +at the sides in order that we +could make two circular tubes +side by side—one going each +way."</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten that they +were circular."</p> + +<p>"That is because of the pressure. +A circle presents the best +resistance," and picking an odd +envelope from his pocket, he +made the following sketch and +passed it to me.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="300" height="218" alt="CROSS-SECTION OF TUBE" title="" /></div> + +<p>I nodded as I recognized the +cross-section.</p> + +<p>"Now the plan of the thing is +like this," he added, putting aside +his pipe and pulling a sheet of +paper from the corner of his +desk.</p> + +<p>Rapidly, with all his old accuracy, +he sketched the main plan +and leaned over as he handed it +to me.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="300" height="276" alt="PLAN OF UNDER-SEA TUBE" title="" /></div> + +<p>"You see," he explained, picking +up his pipe again, "both +pumps work at one time—in fact, +I should say all four, because +this plan is duplicated on the +English side. On both ends then, +a train is gently pushed in by an +electric locomotive. A car at a +time goes through the gate so +that there is a cushion of air +between each car. The same +thing happens at Liverpool. +Now, when the due train comes +out of the suction tube, it goes +on out the gate, but the air behind +it travels right on around +and comes in behind the train +that is leaving."</p> + +<p>"But how are you assured that +it will not stall somewhere?"</p> + +<p>"It won't be likely to with +pressure pumps going behind it +and suction pumps pulling from +in front. We can always put extra +power on if necessary. Thus +far the road has worked perfectly."</p> + +<p>"How much power do you +need to send it through, under +normal conditions?"</p> + +<p>"Our trains have been averaging +about fifty tons, and for +that weight we have found that +a pound pressure is quite sufficient. +Now, taking the tunnel's +length as four thousand miles +(of course it is not that long, +but round figures are most convenient) +and the tube width +eleven and one quarter feet each +and working this out we have +3,020,000 cubic feet of free air +per minute or 2,904,000 cubic +feet of compressed air, which +would use about 70,000 horse +power on the air compressor."</p> + +<p>"But isn't the speed rather +dizzy?"</p> + +<p>"Not any more dizzy, Bob, +than those old fashioned money-carrying +machines that the department +stores used to use—that +is in comparison to size. +The average speed is about 360 +feet a second. Of course, the +train is allowed to slow down +toward the end of its run, even +before it hits the braking machinery +beyond the gate."</p> + +<p>"But how much pressure did +you say would be put on the +back of the diaphragm—I remember +that each car has a flat +disc on the back that fits fairly +tightly to the tube ..."</p> + +<p>"The pressure on the back is +less than seven tons. However, +the disc does not fit tight. There +are several leaks. For instance, +the cars are as you know, run on +the principle of the monorail +with a guiding rail on each side. +The grooves for the rails with +their three rollers are in each +car. There is a slight leakage of +air here."</p> + +<p>"You used the turbo type of +blower, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Had to because of the noise. +We put some silencing devices +on that and yet we could not +kill all of the racket. However a +new invention has come up that +we will make use of soon now."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"But</span> I can't understand, +Dutch, why you seemed so +put out when I announced my +intention of going to Europe via +the Tube. Why, I can remember +the day when that would have +tickled you to death."</p> + +<p>"You followed the digging of +the Tube, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course."</p> + +<p>"You remember the volcano +and lava seams?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do not believe that +the crack was a pressure crevice. +If it had been, we were far +enough below the ocean floor to +have partly relieved the situation +by the unusually solid building +of the Tube. The tremendous +shell of this new type of specially +hardened metal—"</p> + +<p>"And the rich concrete that +was used as filling! That was +one job no one slipped up on. I +remember how you watched it—"</p> + +<p>"Yet the crack has widened, +Bob, since the Tube was completed."</p> + +<p>"How can you be certain?"</p> + +<p>"By the amount of water coming +through the drain pipes."</p> + +<p>"But you said that once more +it was stationary."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that is the very +thing that proves, I believe, the +nature of the crack."</p> + +<p>"I don't follow you."</p> + +<p>"Why it isn't a crack at all, +Bob. It is an earthquake fault."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, you don't +mean—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. I mean that the +next time the land slips our little +tube will be twisted up like +a piece of string, or crushed like +an eggshell. That always was a +rocky bit of land. I thought in +going that far north, though, +that we had missed the main +line of activity; I mean the disturbances +that had once wiped +out a whole nation, if your scientists +are correct."</p> + +<p>"Then you mean that it is +only a matter of time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I have been informed +by one expert that the +old volcanic activity is not dead +either."</p> + +<p>"So that is what has stolen +away your laugh?"</p> + +<p>"Well I am one of the engineers—and +they won't suspend the +service."</p> + +<p>"Fate has played an ugly trick +on you, Dutch, and through your +own dreams too. However, you +have made me decide to go by the +Tube."</p> + +<p>He took his pipe out of his +mouth and stared at me.</p> + +<p>"Sooner or later the Tube will +be through, and I have never +been across. Nothing risked—a +dull life. Mine has been altogether +too dull. I am now most +certainly going by the Tube."</p> + +<p>A bit of the old fire lit up his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Same old Bob," he grunted as +I rose, and then he grasped my +hand with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Good luck, my boy, on your +journey, and may old Vulcan be +out on a vacation when you pass +his door."</p> + +<p>Thus we said good-by. I did +not know then that I would never +see him again—that he also took +the train that night in order to +make one last plea to the International +Committee, and so laid +down his life with the passengers +for whom he had pleaded.</p> + +<p>It was with many conflicting +thoughts, however, that I hurried +to the great Terminus that fatal +night, where after being ticketed, +photographed and tabulated by +an efficient army of clerks, I found +myself in due time, being ushered +to my car of the train.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">For</span> the benefit of those who +have never ridden upon the +famous "Flier," I could describe +the cars no better than to say +that coming upon them by night +as I did, they looked like a gigantic, +shiny worm, of strange +shape, through whose tiny port-holes +of heavy glass in the sides, +glowed its luminous vitals.</p> + +<p>I was pompously shown to the +front car, which very much resembled +a tremendous cartridge—as +did all of the other segments +of this great glow-worm.</p> + +<p>Having dismissed the porter +with a tip and the suspicion that +my having the front car was the +work of my friend, who was willing +to give me my money's worth +of thrill, and that the porter was +aware of this, I stowed away my +bags and started to get ready for +bed. I had no sooner taken off +my coat than the door was opened +and an old fellow with a mass of +silver hair peered in at me.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir, but I +understand you have engaged +this car alone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I can get no other accommodations +tonight. You have an extra +berth here and I must get to +Paris tomorrow. I will pay you +well—"</p> + +<p>I smiled.</p> + +<p>"Take it. I was beginning to +feel lonesome, anyway."</p> + +<p>He bowed gravely and ordered +the porter to bring in his things. +I decided he was a musician. +Only artists go in for such lovely +hair. But he undressed in dignified +silence, not casting so much +as another glance in my direction, +while on my part I also forgot +his presence when, looking +through the port-hole, I realized +that the train had begun to move. +Soon the drone of the propelling +engines began to make itself +heard. Then the train began to +dip down and the steel sides of +the entrance became too high for +me to see over. My friend of the +silver hair had already turned off +the light, and now I knew by the +darkness that we had entered the +Tube. For some time I lay awake +thinking of "Dutch" and the +ultimate failure of his life's +dream, as he had outlined it to +me, and then I sank into a deep, +dreamless sleep.</p> + +<p>I was awakened by a terrible +shock that hurled me up against +the side of the compartment. A +dull, red glow poured through the +port-hole, lighting up the interior +with a weird, bloody reflection. +I crept painfully up to the +port-hole and looked out. The +strangest sight that man has +ever looked upon met my eyes. +The side of the wall had blown +out into a gigantic cavern, and +with it the rest of the cars had +rolled down the bluff a tangled, +twisted mass of steel. My car +had almost passed by, and now it +still stuck in the tube, even +though the last port-hole through +which I peered seemed to be suspended +in air. But it was not the +wrecked cars from which rose +such wails of despair and agony +that held my attention, but the +cavern itself. For it was not really +a cave, but a vast underground +city whose wide, marble streets +stretched away to an inferno of +flame and lava. By the terrible +light was lit up a great white +palace with its gold-tipped +scrolls, and closer to me, the golden +temple of the Sun, with its +tiers of lustrous yellow stairs—stairs +worn by the feet of many +generations.</p> + +<p>Above the stairs towered the +great statue of a man on horseback. +He was dressed in a sort of +tunic, and in his uplifted arm he +carried a scroll as if for the people +to read. His face was turned +toward me, and I marveled even +in that wild moment that the +unknown sculptor could have +caught such an expression of appeal. +I can see the high intellectual +brow as if it were before me +at this moment—the level, sympathetic +eyes and the firm chin.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Then</span> something moving +caught my eyes, and I swear I +saw a child—a living child coming +from the burning city—running +madly, breathlessly from a +wave of glowing lava that threatened +to engulf him at any moment. +In spite of all the ridicule +that has been showered upon me, +I still declare that the child did +not come from the wreckage and +that he wore a tunic similar to +the one of the statue and not the +torn bit of a nightgown or sheet.</p> + +<p>He was some distance from +me, but I could plainly see his +expression of wild distraction as +he began to climb those gleaming +stairs. Strangely lustrous in +the weird light, was that worn +stairway of gold—gold, the ancient +metal of the Sun. With the +slowness of one about to faint he +dragged himself up, while his +breath seemed to be torn from his +throat in agonizing gasps. Behind +him, the glowing liquid +splashed against the steps and +the yellow metal of the Sun began +to drip into its fiery cauldron.</p> + +<p>The child reached the leg of +the horse and clung there.</p> + +<p>... Then suddenly the whole +scene began to shake as if I had +been looking at a mirage, while +just behind my car I had a flashing +glimpse in that lurid light of +an emerald-green deluge bursting +in like a dark sky of solid water, +and in that split-second before +a crushing blow upon my +back, even through that tangle of +bedclothes, knocked me into unconsciousness, +I seemed to hear +again the hopeless note in the +voice of my friend as he said:</p> + +<p>"—an earthquake fault."</p> + +<p>After what seemed to me aeons +of strange, buzzing noises and +peculiar lights, I at last made +out the objects around me as +those of a hospital. Men with serious +faces were watching me. I +have since been told that I babbled +incoherently about "saving +the little fellow" and other equally +incomprehensible murmurings. +From them I learned that +the train the other way was +washed out, a tangled mass of +wreckage just like my car, both +terminus stations wrecked utterly, +and no one found alive except +myself. So, although I am to be +a hopeless cripple, yet I am not +sorry that the skill and untiring +patience of the great English +surgeon, Dr. Thompson, managed +to nurse back the feeble +spark of my life through all those +weeks that I hung on the borderland; +for if he had not, the world +never would have known.</p> + +<p>As it is, I wonder over the +events of that night as if it had +not been an experience at all—but +a wild weird dream. Even the +gentleman with the mass of silver +hair is a mystery, for he was +never identified, and yet in my +mind's recesses I can still hear +his cultured voice asking about +the extra berth, and mentioning +his pressing mission to Paris. +And somehow, he gives the last +touch of strangeness to the +events of that fatal night, and in +my mind, he becomes a part of it +no less than the child on the +stairs, the burning inferno that +lit the background, and the great +statue of that unknown hero who +held out his scroll for a moment +in that lurid light, like a symbol +from the sunken City of the +Dead.</p> + +<div class="bk1"><b>THE END</b></div> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was first published in <i>Amazing Stories</i> November 1929 +and was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> May 1961. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Undersea Tube, by L. Taylor Hansen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE UNDERSEA TUBE *** + +***** This file should be named 27609-h.htm or 27609-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/6/0/27609/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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