"Perhaps the German craft has been covered up with drifted sand," suggested Captain Austin.
Wilberforce thought that over for a moment.
"That hadn't occurred to me," he resumed after a moment. "There may be something to that. You see, we are just off the Delaware River breakwater and there are all kinds of cross-currents here."
For an hour or more the two officers discussed the project and collaborated on their plans for the morrow.
"I've got some pretty good divers with me," said Captain Austin as he made ready to return to the Nemo for the night. "I'll stack them against anything in the world. If they can't find that U-boat then nobody can find it."
"Good enough, I'm sure they'll do their best." Commander Wilberforce had thought well of Jay and Dick, and had so expressed himself during the afternoon as he saw the boys in action.
With the morning sun the boys were up and ready for the day's explorations. They were anxious to get down to business. And furthermore, they were anxious that one or the other should get the first assignment of the day. Weddigen was along, but Captain Austin had not ordered him into diving armor the previous afternoon, and the Brighton boys were hopeful that the task of searching for the U-boat was to be entrusted to them alone.
Jay was first to go over the side of the Nemo. The sea had looked calm and placid as a mountain lake as he started and he figured no difficulty in getting about over the bottom. But, as every diver knows, the sea is the most deceptive thing in the world. Stand on the shore on a quiet day and look out to sea over waters unruffled save for the roll of the surf. Everything lovely; yet, down deep, mighty forces heaving and tossing like a hidden monster seeking some prey to devour.
From hummock to hummock the young diver was tumbled over the submarine sandbars. First he would be knocked down and then as quickly stood up once more. At intervals he would be lifted off his feet and swirled along in the vortex of a deadly current. Then he would be slammed down hard again and pinned with such force against the ocean bed that it seemed he never would get to his feet again. Occasionally he found himself sprawled out on hands and knees like a creeping crustacean.