Part 42 (1/2)

”Aye, aye, sir.”

There followed several minutes of tense waiting, the rhythmic ”clank!”

”clank!” of the apparatus that supplied the diver with fresh air being the only sound save the lapping of the water to break the stillness.

”He's found the mine, sir,” called the diver's a.s.sistant.

”Very good. Davis, signal the s.h.i.+p that we have located the mine.”

Dan stood up, flas.h.i.+ng the message through with a few swift dips of the signal flag. Sam wondered how they knew the man, Kester, had found what he was in search of. What he did not know was that the men in the other boat were able to hold a limited conversation with the diver by means of a signal rope, certain jerks meaning certain words or questions.

”The mine is secured, sir,” called the a.s.sistant.

This meant that the diver had succeeded in making fast to the lost mine one of the ropes that he had taken down with him.

”Shall we raise the mine first before getting Kester up, sir?”

”By all means. He has not asked to be brought up, has he?”

”No, sir.”

”Haul away, then, lads.”

A warning signal was sent to the man below, after which the a.s.sistants in the boat began pulling and tugging at the rope attached to the mine.

Evidently the mine was imbedded in the sandy bottom, for it refused to move, the men jerking this way and that to free it from its resting place.

All at once it did come away, and with a suddenness that caused the men to sit down in the bottom of the boat, losing control of the line.

”Clumsy! Look out or you will lose it again,” cautioned the ensign.

Quickly pulling themselves up, they began hauling in on the line. Very slowly the sphere moved upward, at last appearing above the surface of the water, s.h.i.+ning and almost menacing Dan thought as he gazed at the object.

”Now be careful in getting it over the side,” warned the officer.

The diver had put what he considered to be a strong hitch on the mine with the end of the hauling rope. On account of the depth at which he was working, however, the darkness compelled him to operate solely by the sense of feeling.

The mine was now swaying on the gunwale of the rolling small boat, the waves from the rising sea breaking over into the cutter as well as into the other boat, until the men were standing in the salt brine.

”Look out! There she goes!”

With a great splash the mine struck the water, having slipped its las.h.i.+ngs, and quickly sank out of sight.

”Warn the diver!” shouted the ensign.

A jerk on the signal cord conveyed the message that the mine was falling toward him.

”Does he answer?”