It was soon evident that the men at their disposal were not sufficient to straighten out the buckled plate. It was a job which would have to be undertaken at Malta Dockyard, should the submarine have the good fortune to return from her hazardous mission.
"Hard lines!" muttered Huxtable. Then aloud he exclaimed: "Pass the thing below, lads; what can't be cured must be endured."
The useless rudder was lowered through the torpedo hatch, all lights below being switched off during the operation, lest a stray beam should reveal the presence of the British craft to an alert hostile ship or battery.
Presently one of the artificers appeared and saluted the Lieutenant-Commander.
"Is that you, Parsons?" asked the latter, for in the gloom he was unable to distinguish the petty officer's features.
"Yes, sir," replied the artificer. "I'd like to make a suggestion, sir, about that damaged rudder."
"Carry on, then."
"We've a piece of steel plating in the engine-room—a part of the floor over the lubricating-oil tanks. It's just about the size of the rudder—a question of a few inches either way at the very outside. I thought we might perhaps drill it, and use the braces that came off the old rudder."
"How long will it take you?" asked the skipper.
"A matter of twenty minutes to drill the holes, sir, and say another twenty to ship the thing and connect up the rods."