"That's done it!" exclaimed the sub. "Suppose you won't reopen your offer?"
"Dead off," replied the lieutenant, laughing.
"That motor-bike will give the mermaids a chance of joy-riding.... Hullo! we're preparing to anchor."
Deep down the "Tantalus" carried but little way. Already her motion through the water was hardly perceptible. On the fo'c'sle the hands were hard at work clearing away, setting back the compressors and slacking off the cable-holders.
"Stream the buoy!"
Smartly the canvas-clad seamen stepped clear of the cable as the watch-buoy and rope were thrown over the side.
"Let go No. 1 Bower!"
Deftly a hand told off for the purpose removed the pin of the releasing lever; to the accompaniment of a rumbling, metallic sound, as the chain surged through the hawse-pipe, the enormous anchor, weighing a little over five tons, went plunging to the bottom.
The "Tantalus" brought up in nine fathoms, to settle on the sandy bed until the time came for that gaping hole in her side to be repaired.
The moment had now arrived for the order "Abandon ship!" With absolute precision and deliberation the davit boats on the starboard side were lowered. The sick-bay cases, with stewards in attendance, were the first to be sent away; the members of the diplomatic mission followed; and then the seamen took their places in the boats until the latter had received their full complement. The boats in davits on the port side were useless, owing to the extreme list of the ship, while with the final break-down in the engine room, steam could not be used to work the main derrick. Nor was it deemed advisable to get out the boom boats by hand, as the additional weight of the heavy craft would endanger the already slight reserve of stability of the heeling ship.