Nearer and nearer to the danger zone the "Aphrodite" headed. Suddenly there was a dull thud. She was aground aft. The boats in tow came surging alongside, only to be swept backwards with a tremendous jerk on the hawser as a roller came swinging by.
That wave did it. Lifting the "Aphrodite's" heel clear of the sand it enabled the submarine under the action of her powerful engines to glide into deep water, followed by the half water-logged flotilla of boats.
As soon as a safe distance had been placed between her and the inhospitable shore the submarine eased down; the "Iticaba's" boats were brought alongside and the work of bringing the "Aphrodite's" spare gear on board again was pushed forward with feverish energy.
All the boats save the largest whaler were cast adrift, as if kept in tow they would have made a great difference in the submarine's speed, and anxious to fall in with the piratical "Vorwartz," Captain Restronguet ordered a course to be shaped for Zanzibar at the utmost capacity of the "Aphrodite's" motors.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE AERO-HYDROPLANE.
"I want you men to promise me," said Captain Restronguet, addressing the survivors of the "Iticaba's" crew, who were drawn up in the submarine deck--"I want you to give me your word of honour that on landing, and in a period of fourteen days from that time, you will make no mention whatsoever about the 'Aphrodite' being still capable of action. Mind, I do not bind you down by conditions, threats, or intimidation of any sort. I would not insult a body of true-hearted British seamen by so doing. I merely ask, in the interests of every vessel within range of the 'Vorwartz's' atrocities, that the presence of the 'Aphrodite' should not be revealed."
The submarine was now within ten miles of Ras Nungwe, the northernmost part of Zanzibar Island, and the "Iticaba's" people were about to be sent ashore. They had, through their skipper, expressed their most grateful thanks for their gallant rescue in the nick of time, and in replying Captain Restronguet had made this request with reference to the "Vorwartz."
"Strikes me very forcibly, sir," answered Captain Rees, "that you have made a very difficult request. You see, there's bound to be an inquiry by the Consul, and a report will have to be sent to Lloyd's before the owners can recover the insurance. And without I make a clean breast of it the Board of Trade will take away my ticket."
"By Jove, I hadn't thought of that!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet. "As you say, it is a very difficult point to take into consideration. Yet in an affair of this description, where so much depends upon the issue, the ordinary routine followed in cases of shipwreck ought to be put aside, at least for a few days."