Then, rubbing their bruises, they looked about to see what harm had been done.
But the boat was apparently uninjured, and floated lightly on the rolling waves.
But certainly something had happened to bring the boat to the surface in such a startling manner.
What this was Hartley tried to think. Then all came to him.
“By the north star!” he cried, “that was a torpedo those rascals exploded, thinking to annihilate us!”
“A torpedo!” exclaimed Pomp. “Den it am berry lucky dat we was not blowed up!”
“Indeed it was!” exclaimed Hartley. “I wish I had a gun; I’d sink their infernal craft!”
“Hi, dar—look out!” yelled Pomp. “Dey hab got a gun fo’ suah!”
A puff of smoke leaped from the side of the Aurelian. There was a distant boom, and a shot passed not a foot above the vessel’s rail.
The aim was not so close as it would be next time, and Hartley knew it.