The head of the whale was torn to shreds, fat and blood spattering all sides of the companionway and the apartment around it.
With the head torn away, the body slid from the top of the Holland XI. into the sea.
"We are free!" gasped Andy, as soon as he could speak.
"Shut the trap!" ordered Oscar, and it was done, old George Dross cleaning off the slide with a broom.
Then the order came to sink the new Holland and they went down in the very midst of the whales, who had parted for the instant after the explosion and the sight of their headless companion.
"That was an adventure I don't care to repeat," remarked Oscar, when all danger was passed. "Who would have thought of a whale trying to get into the Holland XI.?"
"Reckon he knew a good thing when he saw it," grinned Andy.
It took quite some work to clean up the mess and there was little sleep for anybody for the balance of that night.
The next day came a thunder storm.
The lightning was terrific and when the Holland XI. came up for some fresh air it seemed to play all around the steel plates of the submarine ship.