“I’ll get him!” cried Bob, hastening toward the pilot house, along a well-lighted passage way. The whole interior of the submarine was illuminated by incandescents, which were always kept aglow. Naturally this was necessary for, speeding along under water as she had been ever since Jerry and his chums came aboard, the craft was in utter darkness.
As he sped to summon the commander Bob saw the whale draw off a little to one side, though still keeping pace with the submarine.
“He’s getting ready to charge!” cried Jerry.
Bob lost no time. He found Dr. Klauss in the pilot house, peering ahead into the dimly lighted path of radiance along which his craft was speeding. The commander had before him a bewildering array of controls, while near his ears were the diaphragms that, by their buzzing sound, would give telephonic warning of any obstruction.
“Dr. Klauss! Dr. Klauss!” gasped Bob. “There’s a big whale alongside the main cabin! He acts as though he was going to ram us. Can he do any damage? Hadn’t you better do something?”
“Ach! So!” exclaimed the German in his deep, guttural voice. He glanced at Bob with rather a friendly look. In fact Dr. Klauss seemed to have forgotten his recent insane outburst.
“A whale; eh? Well, it is not the first time I have been rammed by one, but it is not pleasant, and deranges the machinery. I think we must stop this one.”
Setting the automatic steering gear, which, in a way, was like the one that had been on the Comet, Dr. Klauss hastened after Bob.
“If the whale is still there,” said the German as they went along the passage, “you shall see a curious sight. I have no desire to take animal life except in the interest of science, but I cannot have my craft damaged.”
“How can you kill him? By ramming—going at him full speed?” asked Bob.