Almost instantly the forward end of the craft began to rise. Very shortly the deck was in a level position. Then, as Harry continued to empty the water ballast, Frank and Ned, assisted by Jimmie and Jack, threw the clutch on the propeller shaft out of contact in order to permit the tail shaft to turn without moving the engines.
They then endeavored to turn the portion of the shaft which projected through the stern bearing in the back up motion to free the propeller. They hoped thus to release the rope which they believed to be wound around the outboard portion of the shaft.
Strive as they might, however, the shaft stubbornly refused to move. Their utmost efforts were unavailing.
At length, out of breath and exhausted, Ned sank back upon a locker. He looked at his companions with a curious expression.
“What’s the matter, Ned?” inquired Jack anxiously. “Are you ill?”
“I feel badly, boys,” replied Ned. “Unless we can devise some means to free that line from the shaft, we are in a pretty tight fix!”
“How near the surface can you bring the boat, Harry?” asked Frank.
“The gauges show that we’re about two and a half fathoms down at present,” replied Harry. “I have pumped a lot more water out than would ordinarily be required to bring us to the surface.”
“Then we must be held by that line!” declared Ned.
“Let’s try some other maneuver with the ship before we give up!” put in Jack. “We’re not half though our experiments yet!”