"Yes, sir; they have it located."
"Did you see the way that man Hickey, handled the signal flag, Coates?"
"Yes, sir; I observed him."
"The boy is all right, in spite of his clumsiness. Can you make out the torpedo, Coates?"
"No; but I see the whaleboat putting off for it. The water there is evidently too shallow for the steamer to get in."
Sam's glass was at his eye, as he balanced himself lightly on the iron railing surrounding the signal box.
"Whaleboat number one signals that they have the torpedo, sir," sang out Sam Hickey.
"Very good. You will fire the starboard torpedo next, will you not?" asked the captain of the ordnance officer.
"Yes, sir, as soon as the men get that one on board."
The whaleboat made fast a rope to the torpedo, and then the steamer, taking the smaller boat in tow, headed for the ship, towing the monster in their wake. Beaching the ship, the torpedo was hauled aboard with a derrick and placed on the deck, to be taken apart and shipped back to the torpedo room below.