Through the darkness came muttered exclamations and partly stifled groans. Down-stream the _Paradox's_ siren, for want of better means of communication, was wailing in long and short blasts.
"I have brought up to starboard," was the message. "You may feel your way past me."
"There's no may about it," thought Stirling grimly; then, leaning on the twisted bridge rails, he shouted in stentorian tones: "The hands will fall in on the port side of superstructure facing outboard. Bugler!"
"Sir!" replied a boyish voice through the impenetrable gloom--a voice without a tremor save of excitement.
A silence brooded over the stricken monitor. Even the wounded forbore to groan. Then someone appeared from the superstructure bearing a couple of "battle lanterns". Lights, too, began to glimmer through the hatchways, while with admirable promptness the electrical staff set to work to renew the carbons of the searchlights and to test the circuits of the internal lighting system.
Already the wounded were being carried below by their messmates. Four scorched and maimed forms lay motionless on the low fo'c'sle. There was no need to bestow medical attention upon them.
By this time Denbigh was aware that besides Stirling and himself only three persons remained on the bridge. Neither of them was O'Hara. Nor could he find the mate of the _Myra_, who on the first alarm had hurried with the others to the bridge.
The sub made his way to the ladder. Two steps did he descend, then his foot encountered nothingness. The rest of the ladder had been swept out of existence.
Grasping the still intact handrail Denbigh lowered himself to the superstructure. Almost the first man he met was Armstrong, who was mopping his cheek with a blood-stained handkerchief.
"It's nothing," replied the mate in answer to Denbigh's enquiry. "Didn't discover until I went below."
"Seen anything of O'Hara?" asked the sub anxiously.
"Yes, I've just carried him below, and I was on my way back to look for you."
"Thanks," said Denbigh briefly. "And what's happened to O'Hara?"
"Only shaken, I believe. He was blown off the bridge with the signal locker for company. They both fetched up against a splinter screen. O'Hara swears it isn't much, but I have my doubts."