Just at that moment the Grampus gave a wild roll, nearly upsetting Captain Nemo, Jr., and almost throwing Matt from the locker. A bucket of water came sloshing down the conning-tower hatch.
"The squall's hit us!" roared Cassidy. "The weather's so thick with rain and flying scud I can't see the steamer."
"Did the boys get aboard?"
"Yes, and they've had time to get back into the whaleboat again, but there's been some sort of a hitch."
The Grampus was rolling and wallowing frightfully, and it seemed at times as though she must surely turn turtle. The slap of waves on her steel sides and against the conning tower caused a thunderous noise to echo through the boat.
"Close the hatch, and come down, Cassidy!" shouted the captain. "We'll have to submerge her, and try to pick up the steamer with the periscope."
Cassidy could be heard clamping down the hatch. While he was coming down the ladder, the captain turned to one of the speaking tubes that entered the periscope room.
"Let the water into the ballast tanks, Clackett!" he called. "A ten-foot submergence. Slow speed ahead, Gaines," he added through another tube. "Keep her south by west, Cassidy," said he to the mate.
"South by west it is, sir," answered Cassidy, posing himself by a small binnacle and laying hands on a steering wheel.
From a distance Matt heard the old familiar rhythm of the gasoline cylinders. There was a splashing as water poured into the ballast tanks, followed by a very perceptible sinking motion. The frightful wallowing and pitching ceased to a great extent, and the Grampus hung on a fairly even keel.