“We might try it,” suggested Ned, who, the more he thought of it, the more he desired to try a trip in a submarine.
“All right,” assented Jerry. “I’ve no objections.”
“There doesn’t seem to be much life about it,” remarked Bob, as he looked toward the strange craft.
This was very true. The submarine lay on the surface of the sea, moving slightly with the swell. And it was such a submarine as the boys had never seen before, save on that first occasion. There was not a single projection to mar the outer shell, which did indeed look like a whale’s back. There was no conning tower, no periscope tubes, and no projecting hatchway by which access could be had to the interior.
Doubtless there was one of these, for entrance must be made through the top, but it was probably flush with the deck, or else the hatch, in the form of a tube, was collapsible and could be raised or lowered at will.
From their low position, with the Comet on the surface of the ocean, the boys and Professor Snodgrass could not see very well, and Jerry, as were his chums, was anxious to go aloft whence a better view could be had.
“There doesn’t seem to be even a flat place for a deck,” remarked Ned, trying to get a glimpse of it. “The back of that craft is just like the back of a fish without a fin sticking up. I don’t see how those sailors we saw managed to keep their footing on here.”
“That’s so she can make speed,” spoke Jerry. “There must be a slightly flattened place somewhere to allow for getting on and off.”
“Well, let’s get in motion, and see if they’ll take us in,” suggested the professor. “I am exceedingly anxious to get to the bottom of the sea, and capture some of those rare crabs.”
“We can try, but I’m not very hopeful,” observed Jerry, as he remembered how the submarine had fled before at the sight of the airship. “They seem very suspicious.”