With the chief-of-the-boat’s help, the port valves were soon opened, and with the water now flooding in the port ballast tanks, the ship began to right the big list to starboard. What a relief! All of this had happened in the space of a few seconds. The Captain, seeing that the dangerous list was rapidly correcting itself, quickly looked around to make certain that the main induction had been properly closed and secured—and saw it was wide open to the sea! He sprang to close it. The chief seeing his action, suddenly realizing what he had forgotten, shouted “My God, the main induction!” and rushed to help the Captain, but at that very instant—a split second too late—a telltale stream of water hit them in the face—an insignificant stream, just leakage around the valves; but it meant that the hull was below the surface and water was rushing through the big leads to the torpedo-room forward and the engine-room aft. The Captain and the chief—both powerfully built men—struggled with the valve, but it was instantly apparent that they would never get it closed against the great pressure of the inrushing water. [Illustration: The chief shouted, “My God, the main induction!” and rushed to help the Captain—but a second too late.] “Surface!” ordered the Captain. This is an emergency order. Water is blown from tanks; diving-rudder men use “Hard rise” rudder; the motors go ahead full speed; the bow-buoyancy tank is blown to lift the bow. Normally these extreme measures will make the ship shoot to the surface. “Close watertight doors!” was the next order—scarcely a second after the first. * * * * * Realizing the almost certain disaster that was upon us, I rushed to the torpedo-room, while Bud made a dash for the engine-room. Each had the same thought—to get the stop valves at the ends of the main induction closed, if humanly possible. When I got to the torpedo-room, with my heart pounding as if it would jump right out of my chest, I saw that already the water was filling the bilges. The torpedo-men were striving with all their strength to get their stop closed, but it was the same story again—the pressure of the inrushing water was too great to overcome. As the water was pouring in so rapidly, it was only a matter of seconds before it would be too late to get the watertight door between compartments closed, and moreover, salt water might get into the batteries in the next compartment, which would cause chlorine gas and consequent strangulation, so I ordered everyone out of the torpedo-room.