"Give it up, then," rejoined the second officer. "But how is Captain Restronguet?"
"Coming round, thank Heaven. But it's the after effects I am anxious about. By Jove! That's a flash."
It was indeed a vivid fork of dazzling blue light that seemed to corkscrew along the deck of the vessel and dart up over the for'ard conning-tower, till the submerged craft looked as if she were surrounded by a supernatural light. The phenomenon lasted only an instant, but that instant was enough for the chief officer to realize the "Aphrodite's" peril.
"BEATING DOWN, AND READY TO RAM THE APHRODITE, WAS ANOTHER SUBMARINE!"
Beating down, and ready to ram the "Aphrodite" amidships, was another submarine! But its similarity to the former Devoran had no doubt as to what it was. It was the "Vorwartz."
"Hard a-port!" he shouted through the telephone to the helmsman. At the same moment Kenwyn elevated the horizontal rudders in a vain endeavour to make the "Aphrodite" dive under the on-coming attacker. It was too late. With a rending crash the knife-like bows of the "Vorwartz" crashed into the 'midships compartment of her hitherto unsuspecting rival.
CHAPTER XX.
RAMMED AMIDSHIPS.
In the captain's cabin Hythe heard Devoran shouting for the helm to be put hard a-port. He felt the vessel begin to slew round, then a crash that shook the "Aphrodite" from stem to stern, sent him and the other occupants of the cabin reeling against the starboard side.