"There's a ring of hooks around the rim of the tower, Matt," he explained, "and by fitting the edge of the tarp over them you'll keep us from being drowned out down here."
"I understand," answered Matt.
That was not his first voyage in the Grampus, and he was fairly familiar with the boat's equipment.
When he was ready, Cassidy handed him the coil of wet rope recently used by the captain to get Matt aboard.
"When you get tired, Matt," said the captain, "come down and Cassidy will relieve you."
"I hope we'll find the boys before then," answered Matt hopefully. "They were drifting, and if we go with the wind we ought to overhaul them."
"We'll keep track of operations through the periscope and do all we can to lay you alongside the boat if we sight her."
Matt climbed the ladder, pushed back the lever that held the air-tight hatch in place, and threw over the cover just in time to get a barrel of water over his head and shoulders.
Quickly as he could he pushed on until his body, from the waist upward, was over the top of the conning tower. Then, with deft fingers, he made the circular tarp fast along the edge of the hatch. A minute more, when he had leisure to look around over the riotous waters, the novelty of his position caused his pulses to leap.