But the red head of Sam Hickey appeared above the surface of the water almost at once. He struck out for the boat, blowing the water from mouth and nose, while his companions shouted encouraging words to him. Several made ready to go overboard to the lad’s rescue, but as soon as he was able to free his mouth and nose of water he called to them not to do so. Despite the severe effort of swimming against a strong tide, Hickey finally made the boat, though well-nigh exhausted when at last he stretched up his hands, grasping the gunwale of the whaleboat. The jackies hauled him in, joking over his misfortune. “Didn’t soak the color out of your hair, did it, red-head?” “No; all fast colors, warranted not to run,” retorted Sam quickly. In the meantime, Dan Davis was standing up in the little wherry making efforts to attract the attention of the battleship. At last he succeeded in doing so. “Mine number six gone overboard,” he wig-wagged. “How much water?” asked the battleship. “Three and a half fathoms.” “Ask for orders,” commanded the officer in charge. “Orders?” signaled Dan. “Wherry lay to, to locate the mine. All other boats come in.” “I understand,” answered Dan. “Signaling again, sir,” informed Dan. “What do they say?” “They have ordered that the signalman from the whaleboat number two remain here in the wherry, sir.” “Very well, call the signalman from whaleboat number two. We shall have this wherry so heavily loaded that she’ll sink if we get in much of a seaway.” Dan wig-wagged with his sound hand to the whaleboat, giving the orders to Hickey to join him in the wherry. The officer in charge of the whaleboat grumbled at being thus obliged to turn back and travel some distance to reach the wherry. The latter had by this time cast out an anchor so as to hold the boat in place near the spot where the mine had gone down. “What is this for?” demanded Sam, clambering over into the wherry, his clothes still wet and dripping. “I did not think best to ask the captain for his reasons for giving the orders,” answered Dan, with a meaning smile. “I didn’t mean that. Look out, the ship is making signals. Why don’t you tend to your business?” demanded Sam. Dan’s spyglass quickly went to his eye. He lowered the glass after a moment, turning to the officer in command of the wherry. “Diver coming out to go down for the mine, sir.” “Very good. I knew they would send out a diver.” “Is he going to dive for it?” questioned Sam, a new interest showing in his eyes. “Yes; he will go down in one of those diving suits we saw on deck this morning. Did you never see a diver at work?” “Never,” answered Sam. “I should like to.” “You will have the opportunity very soon.” “I think the boat is coming over there now, sir,” added Dan, addressing the ensign. “Cast the lead line over and see if you can locate the mine, lads.” They could not. In a short time the boat with the diver and diving apparatus pulled up and began getting ready for work.