Pieces of the shell came down through the trap-door, hitting both of the young men on the head and hands and in the face.
Andy had the skin taken from one cheek and Oscar's left hand was somewhat bruised.
But they and the Holland were saved!
By this time George Dross was running forward to shut the trap-door with an instrument made for that purpose.
"What's up?" he asked, in astonishment.
"Shut the trap first and I'll tell you," gasped Oscar. For the moment he could scarcely speak.
Once the trap was closed the new Holland sank down to a depth of thirty feet.
The movement came none too soon.
The Ivan II. now had several guns trained on the submarine craft and the balls from these struck the water and swept past them with no room to spare.
"We'll fix you for that!" murmured Oscar.