“And up on the bridge the captain keeps a constant vigil in addition,” added Tom excitedly, for it would be impossible for any one not to be deeply impressed with all these thrilling events happening around him every minute of the time.
“Yes. And there are others of the crew watching also. They know what it must mean to be torpedoed. I shouldn’t be surprised if some of them have passed through the experience at least once; for the survivors, I’m told, hunt another berth right away on landing.”
Noon came and went. In spite of many false alarms nothing untoward had happened. Some of the passengers even began to pluck up courage and an occasional laugh was heard again; something that had been foreign to the promenade deck for twenty-four hours at least.
The afternoon too was wearing away.
Both boys lounged in their chairs; indeed, it was next to impossible for any of the trans-Atlantic travelers to keep below longer than was necessary to eat their hurried meals. They wanted to be in the open air all the time. There was some sort of unexplained fascination about having the opportunity to see the danger when it bore down on them, if so be they were fated to endure an attack.
The sea was not calm, but could hardly be called rough. The waves rose and fell in a methodical way that allowed a splendid view of the near distance. Even the dorsal fin of a hungry shark that was sweeping around in eccentric circles in his search for food, was plainly visible.
Just then there were exclamations of interest, not unmixed with alarm, coming from a group of passengers close to where the boys with reading matter gripped in their hands, lay under their steamer rugs.
“What is it?” asked Jack, as he glanced hurriedly up.
“Porpoises wallowing, I should say,” replied the other, adjusting his binoculars to his eyes. “Yes,” he added, “I guessed it right the first shot. They are having a great time off there and I can see no end of the dumpy things rolling along, all following the same general direction.”
After that the same vigil was continued. The captain had not left the bridge long enough to eat his dinner, some of the passengers said, but had had it carried up to him. If anything came to pass, and a tragedy occurred, it could never be said that the commanding officer, who belonging to the British Naval Reserve, had neglected his duty.