An officer, with blanched face but steady voice, came up to Summers.
"What was it, Grimes?"
"It seems to have been a bomb, sir. There was no powder down there."
The face of the Ensign darkened with suspicion and alarm.
"A bomb? So they were going after us—the enemy! We'd better get right up and back to port, Grimes."
"I have to report, sir—the pumps are disabled."
Summers turned with a look of pity toward Pauline, who stood at his elbow.
"And we can't get up again?" she questioned.
"There is one chance, but—" He stopped openly and listened. "Open that locker," he commanded.
A seaman pulled back the door of the locker and disclosed the cringing form and defiant face of Catin.