"Satisfactory job?" inquired Raxworthy laconically.
"After-part blown clean away, sir," replied Broadmayne. "All the other compartments are full of water."
"Any signs of bodies?"
"No, sir."
"Did you see any?" inquired the lieutenant-commander, turning to the seamen-divers.
"No, sir," answered the man who used the air-tube pattern dress. "I went right round the wreck on the outside—starboard side first and then port to the full extent of my life-line. No doubt, sir, the men in her were blown to bits. There was a plate torn right out close to her bows, I noticed. That shows how strong the force of the explosion was."
Captain Raxworthy nodded.
"Then there's no possible doubt about it," he remarked to the officers standing by. "Well, our work's done. The Alerte's destroyed." He paused and glanced over the side across the tranquil waters of the bay. "I'm rather sorry for that chap Cain," he continued. "He evidently was a bit of a sport. I'd like to have met him." Before sunset, H.M.S. Canvey was steaming to the nor'ard, homeward bound.
* * * * * * *
Pengelly was found guilty and sentenced to a long term of penal servitude. The surviving members of the Alerte's ship's company received lighter sentences, but of sufficient severity to deter others who might wish to emulate the misdeeds of the captain and crew of the pirate submarine.