"That's just what I'm trying to study out."
"I presume the man who went down is there for good," Frank suggested.
"He probably went down to see why the torpedoes didn't go off and got caught," Ned replied.
"Perhaps the Shark will go down to see about it directly," the other ventured.
"I hardly think she could lift again with that water chamber door open and the chamber full of water," Ned went on. "It is my opinion that they will remain on top."
"I should think she'd be afraid of the traps she set for us, anyway. I wish she would get caught in one of them."
"Not while she has that mysterious packet on board," smiled Ned. "We have traveled a long way to get that."
No more submarine explosions came, and the boys sat on the dark conning tower until nearly midnight, watching the people on the Shark flying about, evidently laboring under great excitement.
The diver had not returned. The machinery was evidently out of order and the Shark might as well have tied to the bottom for all the speed she could make.
"I'm afraid some ship friendly to these pirates will come along," Ned said, after a long silence. "I think I'd better go aboard the Shark and find out what she intends doing."