Captain Restronguet touched him on the shoulder.
"Mr. Hythe, you have had experience with landing parties. I have had none. Will you, then, take charge of our automatic quick-firer? I am sending it ashore with nine men."
"Very good, sir," replied the sub unhesitatingly, although he was still at sea as to how the men could be landed.
"Blow all the ballast tanks!" ordered the Captain. "A leadsman for'ard."
Then the sub realized the plan of action. Captain Restronguet was going to take the "Aphrodite" across the bar.
With no more ballast than the two sections of iron bolted to her keel for use in emergencies, the "Aphrodite" drew but five feet for'ard and seven aft. The first soundings gave four fathoms: soon the depth decreased to three.
Yet unhesitatingly Captain Restronguet held the "Aphrodite" on her course, heading towards the smooth patch in the line of breakers that marked the entrance to the creek.
Suddenly the submarine gave a jerk that almost capsized every man on deck. She had stuck right in the centre of the bar, with threatening breakers only a few yards off on either hand.
Simultaneously came a hail of bullets from the opposite bank to which the crew of the tramp steamer were holding. A strong body of Somalis, seeing the helpless state of the "Aphrodite," had commenced to direct a heavy fire upon the stranded submarine.
CHAPTER XXII.