"How can we help it?" inquired Clackett.
"We can follow it," asserted Speake.
"We haven't any business taking the Grampus from her anchorage while Matt's ashore," said Gaines.
"I guess Matt wouldn't mind if we took a dive along the bottom of the bay to overhaul that runaway torpedo," remarked Dick.
"Sure, nod!" chimed in Carl. "Matt vill be as madt as some vet hens ven ve tell him der dorpeto skyhooted avay mit itseluf und ve ditn't do nodding to shdop id."
"We'll chance it, anyway, mates," said Dick. "I'm always in command whenever our old raggie is off the boat. Get down to the motor, Gaines. Clackett, get after the tanks. Come below, the rest of you, and let the last man down secure the hatch."
Speake was the last one to drop down the hatch. The ballast tanks were already filling as he stepped off the iron ladder upon the floor of the periscope room.
Dick was at the wheel.
"Turn on the electric projector, Speake," said Dick. "I'm going up into the tower and do the steering from there."
Dick got just two rounds up the ladder when a muffled roar enveloped the Grampus, and she was heaved violently over until the tower was almost on a level with her keel.