[CHAPTER VIII.]
THE OVERTURNED BOAT.
Matt's heaviness of spirit was reflected in his face.
"Don't be discouraged," said the captain. "We'll cruise around in this part of the gulf and I feel pretty sure we'll find your friends. It would have been difficult to locate them during the storm, and the Grampus might have passed within a cable's length of the whaleboat without seeing it or being seen; but, on a day like this, we've got the range of the ocean for miles, and the whaleboat can't get away from us!"
"Providing it's afloat," replied Matt apprehensively.
"Breakfast!" yelled Cassidy from the periscope room.
"That means us," said Captain Nemo, Jr.
The present complement of the submarine consisted of the captain, mate and three men. The duties of the captain and mate kept them constantly in the periscope room and conning tower. Gaines had charge of the hundred and twenty horse-power gasoline motor, Clackett looked after the trimming tanks, and Speake was general utility, taking care of the electric supply and compressed air and preparing the meals. Each had his particular station, and when the boat was running the officers rarely saw any of the crew.
Gaines' room was aft, Clackett's was nearer the waist of the boat, and Speake was forward in the torpedo room.