A moment more and the submarine began to settle downward.
“What are you going to do when we get near the fort, Bob?” asked Speake.
“I don’t believe the rebels have had time to plant any submarine mines,” said Bob. “It takes some time to do that, and not enough time has elapsed since Don Carlos reached the fort and reported that the submarine had been captured. We’ll pass the fort under water, and chance the mines. Better that than running on the surface and being bombarded.”
Patter, patter came a ringing hail on the deck.
“Ah!” cried Gaines; “the soldiers are taking a whack at us!” He laughed derisively. “I guess we can stand as much of that as they want to give us. Their lead slides from the deck like water off a duck’s back.”
Smash!
“Great guns!” cried Bob. “What was that? Something broke.”
“The periscope ball!” gasped Speake. “They’ve put the periscope out of commission. Empty the tanks!” he yelled into the tank-room tube.
The periscope table reflected nothing of the treacherous channel along which the current and the propeller were carrying the Grampus at a terrific pace. It was necessary to come to the surface as quickly as possible and use the conning-tower lunettes.
“Reverse your engine, Dick!” cried Bob to the motor room. “Full speed astern!”