The second shot struck the water not fifty feet distant from the first one.
"Do you think they will fire another?" asked Alfred.
"Probably not," answered the captain.
"What is that little boat going over there for?" asked Ralph, as one of the torpedo boats boldly advanced over the spot where the two shells had entered the water.
The captain nodded his head for a few moments before speaking.
"The shots were successful."
"I can see that now," said Ralph. "Look at the oil coming up and covering the sea."
It was, indeed, a sad sight to witness, knowing that the shots meant the death of thirty or more human beings.
"Well, I am awfully sorry for them, even if they had no sympathy for us, and didn't wait to see whether or not we were put into safety before they sent our ship down," said Alfred reflectively, as he turned and entered the conning tower.
The scene had its fascination for Ralph, although he felt the horror of it all as he stood leaning over the railing, gazing at the patrol boats which were sailing back and forth in and around the spot where the petroleum was fast covering the surface of the water in all directions.