“I don’t think it matters,” his father assured him. “Disbrow’s sure to investigate.”
“For that matter, we can row out and meet them,” suggested Rawlins. “We’ve got perfectly good boats.”
“Of course,” agreed Mr. Henderson, “although it would be more risky than waiting here. Disbrow might not sight us and then we’d be worse off.”
“Yes, we’ll wait here a reasonable time at any rate,” declared Mr. Pauling, “Ah, I believe it’s getting lighter.”
Very soon the eastern sky grew bright and presently there was enough light to distinguish surrounding objects clearly.
“There she is!” exclaimed Rawlins, pointing towards the spot where their submarine had been moored. “Didn’t go clear under. Too shallow for her.”
Above the water, the top of the submarine’s conning tower was visible with the slender aerial wires faintly discernible in the soft morning light.
“We’re all right!” declared the diver. “We can get that aerial off the sub, rig it up between a couple of these palms and get the destroyer here in double quick time. But I would like to know what sunk the old tub.”
Acting on Rawlins’ suggestion, the boats rowed over to the wreck and the men busied themselves stripping the aerial from the submarine. By the time this was accomplished it was broad daylight and the warm sun was shining brightly upon the water and beach.
“Sam,” said Rawlins, turning to the Bahaman who, up to his waist in water on the submarine’s deck, was unfastening a wire. “What do you think of diving down and having a look around. I’m blamed anxious to know how the old sub got full of water.”