Ah Sin was seeking to blow up the submarine, annihilating not only the boat, but those aboard as well.
On Matt alone depended the salvation of the Grampus and her crew. And he was almost helpless in the grip of the baneful spell that had fallen over every one on board, with the exception of the Chinaman!
Matt lifted the revolver unsteadily. A report rang out, sending wild echoes clattering through the steel hull.
The bullet missed the kneeling Chinaman, struck clanging against the curved iron plates, glanced against the bulkhead above the locker, and dropped flattened and harmless at the side of Glennie.
Owing to Matt's unsteady hand the Chinaman had escaped the bit of lead, but he was startled and frightened. Leaping up he whirled and peered at Matt. The latter still clutched the revolver, but his hand swayed back and forth as he leveled it.
Ah Sin made a quick jump toward Matt, evidently with the intention of disarming him; but there was something in the lad's wide, straining eyes that caused him to change his mind. Swerving aside he rushed at the ladder, mounted swiftly, and disappeared through the hatch.
With a fierce effort Matt concentrated his wandering wits upon the bomb. Someway, somehow, he must reach the infernal machine and extinguish the fuse.
Dropping the revolver, he rolled over and over, a lurch of the boat, running erratically with no guiding hand at either wheel or motor, helping him to reach the foot of the periscope table.
With the utmost difficulty he caught the legs of the rigidly secured table and pulled himself to his knees. The cup, from which he had taken only a few swallows of coffee, stood on the floor just below the end of the table, and not more than a foot from the burning fuse. By a miracle the cup had not been overturned.