He pointed to a compass and, as the needle pointed steadily to the north the card seemed to be going around like the hands of a clock that has lost the balance and escapement wheels. The ship made three complete circles a minute.
Pale and frightened, Mrs. Johnson came from her cabin, whence the terrified cries of Nellie could be heard.
"Are we sinking?" she asked.
"Sinking will never harm the Porpoise," replied Mr. Henderson. "This is something decidedly worse."
"I know! It is a whirlpool!" exclaimed the lady.
"I'm dizzy; I'm so dizzy!" wailed Nellie. "Please stop the ship from going round, Mr. Henderson."
She came from her bed crying, and all her mother could do did not quiet her.
Meanwhile the submarine continued to whirl about faster and faster in the swirling waters. Five times each minute now it made the circuit, and, like the coils of a boa constrictor that is enfolding its victim, the circles continually grew smaller.
"We are being sucked down," said Jack in a low tone as he glanced at the depth gage, and noted that it showed them to be thirty feet under water.
"That is so," remarked Mr. Henderson quietly.