One of the men went on deck and was hurled backward by the shock, with such force that he died an hour later, having had his skull fractured.
This was the first death which had occurred on board of the new Holland, and it cast a gloom over everybody.
The trap was closed and the vessel sunk thirty feet below the surface.
Here all was silent, for the heavy storm above could not reach them at such a depth.
The body of the dead man was placed in a canvas shroud and consigned to the ocean, Oscar reading a chapter from the Bible and making a brief address and prayer.
Then they resumed the course eastward.
Twenty-four hours later the storm had passed away and the lookout announced several steamships in sight.
As they came closer they made out an American steamship loaded with merchandise for the Philippines.
The merchantman was being chased by two Japanese warships.
The warships had already sent a ball through the merchantman's upper works, but the latter still held to her course.