As rapidly as he had gone down the sub was shot to the surface. Again he was within the range of the whirlpool, for its centre, instead of being stationary, was moving in an ellipse.
Unable even to struggle, Denbigh was again sucked down. This time, incapable of holding his breath, he swallowed a quantity of water. The pressure on his chest was excruciating. Then torture gave place to a strange calmness. On an instant, recollections of practically the whole of his past life flashed across his mind. The mental pictures faded away and all became blank.
CHAPTER XVII
A Bid for Freedom
When Denbigh opened his eyes he found himself in the now familiar cabin on board the Pelikan. There were several people in the limited space. He did not feel any interest in them. They irritated him. He wanted to sleep.
Gradually it dawned upon him that he had a narrow escape. Then he remembered that O'Hara was with him when he was swept off the side of the Myra.
"You there, Pat?" he asked, half afraid to put the question in case his chum was gone.
"Sure," replied a deep voice from the opposite bunk.
Denbigh attempted to sit up. He felt horribly sick. His head was whirling. It reminded him very forcibly and unpleasantly of his spiral flight around the vortex of the whirlpool.