A hatch forward of
the tower opened, and a quick-firing gun on a disappearing carriage swung
smoothly and silently up from its lair.
The other officer, looking down, started violently.
"_Verdammt_! What's this?"
The first rejoined him. "Impossible!"
"Impossible or not--a man or a cadaver!"
"Have him up and see...."
By order, two of the crew dragged Lanyard up to the bridge, supporting him
by main strength while the officers examined him.
"At the last gasp, but alive," one announced.
"How the devil did he get out here?"
"From the _Assyrian_--"
"Impossible for any man to swim this far since our torpedo struck--"
"Then he must have gone overboard before it struck--or was thrown--"
A cry of alarm from the group about the gun, awaiting final orders to open
fire upon the _Assyrian's_ boats, interrupted the conference. The officers
swung away in haste.
"Hell's fury! what's that searchlight?"
"A Yankee destroyer--in all probability the one we dodged yesterday
afternoon."
"She'll find us yet if we don't submerge.
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