“Mither save us!” came a voice from the corner; “shure, it’s kilt I am intoirely!”
“Barney!” cried Frank, “what has happened?”
“Begorra, Misther Frank, divil a bit kin I tell yez. I think, though, that we have run ferninst a reef, sor!”
“Well, that’s pretty work!” cried Frank angrily. “What do you mean by such stupidity?”
“Shure, sor, I hope yez will not blame me too much. Me fut slipped an’ I fell.”
There was nothing to be done but make the best of it, though Frank gave the Celt a good reprimand.
Then he made haste to examine the exact position of the submarine boat and her chances.
It was an affair more than ordinarily serious. The reflection that they might be immovably fixed on the reef gave all the voyagers a chill.
The electric lights were quickly turned on, and the engines carefully inspected.
These fortunately were fond to be uninjured.