"Nearer by a few inches, sir," Runkle called over his shoulder while the men with him swabbed and loaded. Again Runkle fired.
"The shell must have passed aft of the turret by about six inches," remarked Darrin, catching through his glass a glimpse of the splash of water where the little shell struck the waves.
"I'll do better, or drown myself, sir," growled Runkle.
"Quick! She is submerging rapidly," commanded Darrin.
Bang! An instant after the report a smothered exclamation came from the unhappy gunner. The submarine had safely submerged. Not even her periscope was above water now.
"If the turret had been four inches nearer the sky you'd have put it out of commission," declared Ensign Darrin.
"Rotten work," growled Runkle in disgust.
"It's night shooting, my man," Dave answered. "Good work just the same."
Runkle had an excellent gunnery record, and Darrin did not like to see that fine fellow fretting when he had done his best. None the less it was highly important to send that submarine to the bottom and quickly at that.
"We've got to go by bubbles, now," Darrin declared. "She isn't likely to show her eye again."