"I don't know what I believe," confessed the president of the board, shaking his head. "It seems to be clearly established that no other submarine was near enough to have fired a torpedo to cover the range I have just been informed by Commander Ellis that the recovered torpedo has been examined, and has proved to have contained the full war charge. More as a matter of form than anything else we will now order the remaining submarine boats alongside, and have them searched for a missing torpedo."
That search was accordingly made, but not one of the boats had a torpedo less than the four that it was supposed to carry.
The object of the lightning cruise having been accomplished, in the destruction of the half-sunken derelict, the order was given to sail back to Groton Bay at less speed than had been used on the outward trip.
As far as evidence went the mystery of the attempt to destroy the
"Hastings" appeared to be as big a mystery as ever.
CHAPTER XIX
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORCED DOOR
It was nearly dark, on the day following, when the submarine flotilla made its way up Groton Bay.
As soon as the craft was at its moorings the "Hastings" was immediately lighter by the going of one passenger.
Jacob Farnum went post-haste to the hospital, to inquire after David
Pollard's condition.
The inventor was in a good deal of pain, yet cheerful. The surgeons reported that his broken bones were healing slowly.