ONE of the men twisted metal dogs which secured a hatch-like steel panel in a wall of the submerged tank. This swung back. It revealed a box riveted to the hull. The box had the dimensions of a large trunk. It barely accommodated Monk's bulk as he was jammed inside.
At the end of the box was another steel hatch. But this was obviously secured tightly on the outside.
A small petcock protruded from the box ceiling. One of Kar's men opened this with a key. He fitted a grille over it.
A thin stream of water entered.
The hatch into the tanklike craft clanked shut. The dogs rattled loudly as they were secured.
Monk flounced about, wrenching at his manacles. He could not snap them with all his prodigous effort.
He tried to stop the inrush of water through the petcock. He failed. The petcock construction was such that he could not block it, due to the grille covering.
The water had risen above his ankles by now. The clammy wetness was like the creep of death.
Monk beat the steel plates of the outer hatch with his shackled legs. They held. Nothing less than nitroglycerin could shatter them.
- The Land of Terror (1933) Chapter 7
A great bubble arose a few yards out in the river. A second came. Then a blub-blub-blub series of them!
This was air leaving the underwater cell in which Monk was imprisoned. The escaping air made room for the water that was drowning Monk.
But Doc knew only that the phenomenon was something suspicious. He waited to see what would happen next. Nothing did, except that the bubbles ceased to arise.
Doc dropped into the river. He drew plenty of air into his lungs before he struck. He swam, beneath the surface, out to the spot where the bubbles arose.
His powerful hands soon touched the steel tanklike submersible which lay on the river bottom. He explored along it. He found a box of a protuberance. This was the size of a very large trunk.
He heard faint struggle sounds from within the box.
Instantly, his great fingers went to work on the hatch which gave admission to the box. He got it open.
Monk toppled out.
- The Land of Terror (1933) Chapter 9
