In the captain's and officers' cabins the electric light was still in working order, although in the quarters previously occupied by the hostages lamps and candles were the only means of artificial illumination allowed. There was enough good fare to allow all the new masters of the after part of the ship to partake of a sumptuous meal, which, after the meagre fare they had been compelled to subsist upon, was appreciated with great gusto.
"I wonder how Cervillo will get on without the use of his cabin?" asked Cardyke.
"He can jolly well go on short commons, as we had to do," growled Fielding. "Finished, Cardyke? Good! Now cut below, take Hardy with you, and make an examination of the bread-room, and the compartments in the flats. Be sure to find out whether there is any fresh water. Either the wardroom pump is out of order or the supply is getting low."
Accompanied by the faithful coxswain the mid. descended the several flights of iron ladders till he reached the flats. An examination of the fresh-water tank showed that there was barely enough to last over another day. The bread and spirit rooms were comparatively well stocked.
"We'll do the rascals out of their grog, sir, if we don't do anything more," observed Hardy, pointing to the open spirit-room.
"They've plenty for'ard, I don't doubt," replied Cardyke. "Those fellows don't follow service routine. They've most likely a pannikin of rum at their fingers' ends or a few puncheons of wine ready broached. But what's in this place, I wonder?"
The mid. pointed to a store-room adjoining the after submerged torpedo compartment, which, unlike the spirit-room, was securely padlocked.
"Can't say, sir," replied Hardy. "Used to be the store for warheads of torpedoes; but they can't very well have got hold of any o' they."
"We'll jolly soon find out," asserted Cardyke. "It's something of importance, for there's been a sentry stationed here; look at the cigarette-ends. He must have bolted up on deck at the time of the collision."
"Then he won't return to his post just yet awhile," rejoined Hardy. "D'ye want me to prise the door open, sir? I suppose there ain't dynamite or stuff of that sort stowed away here?" And the coxswain drew his revolver.