"Blow main ballast-tanks," was the next order.
The submarine now showed a certain liveliness, although in her present trim she ought to be floating with nearly six feet of freeboard.
"She's trying to lift herself aft, sir," reported Fordyce.
"Is she, by Jove!" exclaimed the Lieutenant-Commander. "Send all available hands for'ard, and see if that makes any difference."
Quickly the men made their way to the first and second compartments, and, taking their time from the Lieutenant, ran from side to side as far as the congested state of the vessel permitted. At the same time the motors were running full speed astern.
For full five minutes the manoeuvre was mantained without tangible result; then, with dramatic suddenness, R19 shot obliquely towards the open air.
The first intimation that the submarine had "broken surface" was the terrific and disconcerting racing of the engines as the twin propellers revolved at high speed in the air.
Promptly the artificers switched off the current, and R19, well down by the bows, floated motionless.
Momentarily expecting a fusillade from one, if not more, German destroyers, the Hon. Derek rushed up the ladder to the conning-tower and strove to open the hatch. The locking-bolts refused to budge. The blow that the submarine had received before her latest dive had jammed the closely-fitting metal plate.
The after hatch gave better results. Followed by Fordyce, the Hon. Derek gained the open air.