For perhaps ten minutes Captain Griswold moved the hose to and fro. Then he pulled it forth and motioned Jack to turn the screw again. This the lad did. Captain Griswold then motioned the others to follow him, and led the way below.
At the foot of the conning tower they stumbled across several figures, overcome by the fumes. These were quickly bound and passed up on deck to the men who remained behind.
The search of the submarine took perhaps half an hour. Every nook and cranny was explored. The gas had done its work well. Apparently it had poured in so rapidly that the crew had had no time to open the portholes, for they were all closed. Captain Griswold opened them now.
Then he led the way on deck, and closing the conning tower, removed his gas mask. The others followed his example.
"Simple, wasn't it?" said the captain of the Ventura to Jack, grinning like a boy. "Lucky I happened to come back."
"It is indeed," said Jack. "But won't this gas affect us, Captain?"
"Not out here," was the reply. "It's not strong enough. You can barely smell it now. Now what are you going to do with the submarine?"
Jack considered a moment.
"I'll tell you Captain," he said, "it strikes me that this submarine is really the prize of the Ventura. At all events, I cannot be bothered with it, for there is still patrol work to do in these waters. Can't you tow her into port?"
"Can't I?" shouted Captain Griswold. "You bet I can. You give the word and I'll tie her on behind right now."