"I can see, now, that to keep that in our control would be the main thing," said Ralph.
"The officer has not yet given any orders to put the boxes in the passageways aside, and he will not do so, probably, until they are able to ascertain whether or not the ship will free itself; under the circumstances, Alfred, I must delegate you to secure a half-dozen of the revolvers, or remove them from the box so that we can secrete them later," said the captain.
As Ralph crawled from the cabin and moved toward the main gangway, the captain added: "If you remember where one of the ammunition boxes is you might smuggle it into this room, but proceed very cautiously."
Ralph soon made his way back, carrying with him one of the revolvers. "There are a dozen in the box," he said, "and I brought one over to show you. You see, it is the kind from which the cylinder can be removed. Wouldn't it be a good idea to take the cylinders out of all that we can't use?"
"Capital idea," said the captain. "If you can find any wire, put it where you can quickly place your hands on it."
"I found a box of ammunition also," continued Ralph, "but I haven't tried whether it would fit the revolvers."
An examination revealed the fact that the cartridges were not of the same calibre. It was, indeed, a terrible disappointment.
"Here it is," said Alfred, as he slipped into the door of the room.
"Ah, this is a different size; you have the right ones, fortunately," said the captain.
"Now, let me give you a few words as to the next,----"
A pronounced lurch in the vessel's position interrupted the captain. The seamen were now rushing around frantically, and talking excitedly.
"Hold your tongues!" shouted the sub-lieutenant.
The vessel was, evidently, moving. Occasionally, there would be a heavy, rasping sound, and the rear end of the boat would seem to settle down a few feet.
"It's coming all right," said Ralph in excitement.
"Connect forward motor!" again shouted the sub-lieutenant.
The motor turned smoothly without producing a disturbing influence on the ship, indicating that the propeller was still in the air.
"I fear that the sub-lieutenant does not know his business any too well," remarked the captain.
The boys wondered at the remark which the captain had made, and were about to ask him for an explanation, when the electric lights suddenly died out, and all were left in total darkness. The captain crawled past the boys and felt his way toward the stern of the vessel.