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Barnu us around and set our stern on her ard side"

"After we take another battering getting in position to take on a tow-line, Captain, what then?"

Barnum stared pensively at the Ocean Wanderer "We wait," he said slowly "We wait and see what Pitt has up his sleeve after he waves his ic wand"

Pitt studied the detailed plans of the iven him by Morton He, Giordino, Morton and Emlyn Brown, the hotel's chiefaround a table in Morton's office

"The cables will have to be reeled in before we know their length after parting"

Broho had the wiry build of a college track-and-field h a bush of jet-black hair "We've already reeled in as left of theed in the rocks it ht cause the hotel to twist around under the devil's waves and cause dae"

"How far out did cables three and four break fros?"

"I can only guess, host about two hundred, maybe two hundred and twenty yards out"

Pitt looked at Giordino "That doesn't leave Barnuh safe latitude for maneuver And if the Ocean Wanderer should sink, Barnum's creill have no tied down to the botto with the hotel"

"If I know Paul," said Giordino, "he won't hesitate to take the gamble with so many lives at stake"

"A cables as towing lines?" inquired Morton, who stood on the opposite side of the table "I was told your NUMA vessel is an oceangoing tugboat"

"She was once," replied Pitt "But nointo a research ship The big winch and tow cable were removed when she was refitted All she has now is a crane for lifting submersibles We'll have to iot"

"Then what good is she?" Morton derily

"Trust me" Pitt looked hih power in her engines to tow this hotel"

"Hoill you get the ends of the cables over to the Sea Sprite?" Brown queried "Once they're unreeled, they'll sink to the bottom"