for there were several to
spare lying on the thwarts, Ross took the whaler closer in, since he
had now more means of propulsion at his command.

Four more followed, and were picked up by Vernon's men. Meanwhile the
bows of the _Orontabella_ were rising high out of the water, as the
stern sank correspondingly deeper, until those of the officers and crew
who still remained on board had to cling desperately to the rails to
prevent themselves slipping into the maelstrom that surged over the
submerged part of the sinking ship.

Suddenly the vessel dived. Where a few seconds previously a towering
mass of black and red plating rose high above the boats, there hung a
cloud of smoke, steam, and spray, while all around the water was
thrashed white with foam.

"Give way, men!" shouted Ross.

The rowers were too late. Before the boat could pull clear of the
scene of disaster, a vicious, crested wave, so hollow that the lean
quarters of the whaler were unable to rise to it, poured into the frail
craft.

The next instant Ross and his crew were struggling in the confusion of
the broiling sea.

Vernon, although farther from the spot, narrowly escaped the fate of
his chum. It was surprising what a terrific commotion the
_Orontabella_ caused at the last. For some minutes he could see
nothing beyond the tips of the blades of the oars. Everything else was
enveloped in smoke, steam, and spray.

Gradually the waves subsided and the wind dispersed the pall of vapour.
The sea was dotted with the heads of swimmers. Ross's boat, with her
stem and stern-posts just visible above the surface, was waterlogged,
yet retained sufficient buoyancy to support half a dozen men.

Here, indeed, was a pretty pickle. At the very most, Vernon's boat
would hold fifteen or sixteen men. The _Capella_ was almost out of
sight. The whole attention of her officers and crew would be centred
upon the U-boat. So long as there was any indication of the latter's
whereabouts, the patrol-vessel would cling tenaciously to her quest.

There was very little left floating from the sunken ship. A few
gratings, handspikes, a couple of breakers, and fragments of the
shattered boats, but nothing substantial enough to support a man above
water; and in mid-Channel, although it was only September, the sea was
too cold to enable the swimmers to keep afloat very long without almost
certain danger of cramp.

Vernon looked around for his chum. He saw him sharing a