Glad of an opportunity of doing something the sub borrowed a working suit, and with a bowline under his arms was lowered over the stern, where the two men were already astride the propeller brackets.
Hitherto the sea had been fairly calm, but with provoking suddenness the wind piped up, and vicious little wavelets began to splash over the energetic toilers. Desperately they hacked at the stubborn rope, removing the coils piece-meal. Higher and higher rose the waves, till the work became hazardous.
"Pass me that long marline-spike, Gwennap," exclaimed Hythe. The man leant forward with the pointed piece of steel in his hand. As he did so a sea swept over him; he dropped the marline-spike and grabbed frantically at one blade of the propeller; missed it, and the next instant was struggling in the sea.
"HE GRABBED FRANTICALLY AT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER."
One glance sufficed to show the sub that the unfortunate man could not swim a stroke. However competent he was underneath the sea in his diver's dress it was a certainty that he was absolutely helpless when it came to keeping on the surface. He raised his hands above his head, and in consequence sank. By the time he came to the surface again, the submarine, now light and high in the water, had been blown ten yards astern. The officers and men on deck were all equipped in heavy working-suits and sea-boots, while the dinghy, the only above-water life-saving appliance on board, was down below. There was not even a rope handy that was long enough.
Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and several others were struggling to cast off their cumbersome clothing and boots, but they were too late, for Hythe, slipping out of the bowline, dived into the water. Although more than fully clad, since he had donned overalls over his uniform, he fortunately was not wearing sea boots.
Striking out vigorously he gained the spot where Gwennap had sunk just as the man appeared for the second time. Bearing in mind the instructions laid down in official directions for saving life Hythe used a fair amount of precious breath in bawling in a loud voice that the drowning man was safe. Gripping Gwennap by the collar he jerked him on to his back, the man struggling furiously the while. Hythe, realizing that once the frantic and powerful fellow gripped him, it would be "all up," had his work cut out to avoid the man's arms. One glance showed him that the "Aphrodite" was drifting fairly fast to leeward; his assurance that the drowning man was safe seemed a hollow mockery.
"Don't struggle, you idiot!" spluttered Hythe, as the crest of a wave broke over his head. "Don't you see you'll do for the pair of us?"
But Gwennap evidently did not see, for if anything he struggled the more.