"Now what's to do, captain? How are you going to control that current?"
The question was one not easy to answer.
"I'll have to make a thorough examination first," replied Oscar. "In the meantime you attend to the others and see if some of them at least are not alive."
"Lieutenant Greggs don't look much alive," said Gilson. "Nor does George Dross. But I'll do what I can for all hands."
Left to himself, Oscar made the entire rounds of the submarine craft, surveying all of the intricate electric machinery with care.
"It's a wonder the lightning didn't set off some of the torpedoes or dynamite bombs," he said to himself. "If they had gone off we would have been blown to kingdom come."
The result of the examination was far from satisfactory. Many of the electric wires on board had become badly "crossed," and a new machine, called an electrogratrode, used for regulating the current, was running in a manner that completely puzzled the young inventor.
"This is a brand new experience, that's sure," he told himself. "If I ever get out of this alive I'll beware of thunderstorms in the future."
The new Holland continued to dash along over the surface of the water and at every big wave a large quantity of water came pouring down the companionway, until the well-hole was full and overflowing in spite of the fact that the pumping engine was working faster than ever before.
"Something has got to be done," muttered Oscar, with set teeth. "If that water gets too high it will carry the electricity everywhere and we'll be killed on the spot."