Under the lee of the submarine the men boarded their haven of refuge. One glance sufficed to show that poor Gwennap was no more. The Somalis, not content with slaying outright, had hacked his body in a most atrocious manner. Polglaze still showed signs of life, for protected by his comrade's body, he had escaped the demoniacal fury of the savages. Nevertheless the spear-thrust through his left shoulder looked very dangerous.
What had to be done must be done quickly, for night was approaching, and the Somalis were evidently making preparations to remove the gun which had been left in their hands. As long as daylight lasted the rifle fire from the deck of the submarine would effectually check any attempt in this direction, while an additional deterrent was provided in the form of a powerful rocket. This could only be fired at an angle of less than five degrees from the perpendicular, and in consequence could do no physical hurt to the Somalis. Nevertheless the moral fear it inspired served to make the natives clear off to a respectful distance, where they waited for nightfall.
It was obvious that the attempt to recapture the quick-firer must be made early for other reasons. The wind was now blowing strong from the east'ard, and with the rising sea landing would be a very difficult matter; while, floating light, the submarine stood a good chance of being blown from her anchorage.
As soon as night had fallen twenty men led by Hythe fell in on the upper platform. Rifles were discarded as encumbrances, but each of the party carried an automatic pistol in his belt, the weapon holding ten cartridges, while separate clips, each containing a similar number, were placed in their ammunition belts.
Into the stern-sheets of the "Iticaba's" cutter was stowed a coil of three inch rope--the "coil" measuring the orthodox one hundred and thirteen fathoms. One end of the rope was made fast to the "Aphrodite's" for'ard capstan, while to the other end was spliced a length of flexible steel wire rope.
With muffled oars the boat's crew gave way, Mylor the quartermaster paying out the rope as the boat stole shorewards. There was little need for silence, for the thunder of the surf on the reef drowned every other sound.
All went well till the cutter grounded on the shore, then from a distance of nearly two hundred yards along the bank the darkness was pierced by the flash of the Somalis rifles, while a swift rushing sound indicated that swarms of fierce foes were charging down upon the boat.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OVER THE BAR.
Although the air seemed alive with the screech of the bullets the Somalis fired so high that not a man was hit. At the first volley Hythe ordered the quartermaster to haul the cutter off, then bringing her broadside on, he gave the word to open fire.