Jack obeyed. Once, twice, thrice he gave it, with no result. Then the man who had answered the signal came running into the cabin.
“Something wrong, sir,” he said quietly. “I can’t budge her, sir.”
“You mean you cannot force out the water?” asked Lord Hastings quietly.
“Yes, sir.”
“It is as I feared,” said the commander. He turned to officers and crew who had gathered about. “It is all over,” he said quietly. “We are done for. If we cannot force the water from the tanks, we cannot go to the surface. It is impossible to fix the break beneath the water. That is all, men.”
As the men started slowly from his cabin, Lord Hastings raised a hand.
“One moment,” he said quietly. “There is a chance for all but one of us. As I am the commander of this vessel, and should be the last to leave, that one shall be me.”
“What do you mean, sir?” asked one of the men, stepping forward.
“The torpedo tubes,” said Lord Hastings quietly. “All but one of us can be shot to the surface by means of the torpedo tubes.”
The face of every member of the crew lighted up with hope.