Assisted by two of his brother officers the sub was taken below, and in a very short space of time Doctor Hamworthy succeeded in bringing him to a more normal state. Meanwhile Admiral Hobbes, hardly able to conceal his impatience beneath a cloak of official reserve, was engaged in animated conversation with Captain Warborough upon the eventful incidents that had necessitated the return of the Fleet to Spithead. "Commander-in-Chief coming off, sir!" reported the lieutenant of the watch. Tearing as hard as her sixty horse-power motors could drive her the Admiral’s pinnace containing the Commander-in-Chief, the Admiral-Superintendent of the Dockyard, and the military Governor of the Fortress headed towards the "Ramillies." Received with due ceremony and formality the officials came over the side, and on being welcomed by Vice-Admiral Hobbes were taken below to the latter’s cabin. "Well, Hobbes, what do you make of this business, eh?" asked Sir Peter Garboard. "Have you taken any steps to investigate?" "Sent three divers down," replied the Vice-Admiral. "I am even now awaiting their report." "Then the sooner the better," rejoined the Commander-in-Chief. Admiral Hobbes touched a bell and a marine orderly entered the cabin. "Pass the word for Mr. Watterley." The marine orderly saluted and doubled along the half-deck, nearly bowling over the staff-surgeon and the first lieutenant who were already on their way to make their report to the captain. "What’s this? Mr. Hythe frightened by something he saw beneath the surface?" demanded Vice-Admiral Hobbes. "No, sir," replied Doctor Hamworthy. "He is suffering from a shock to the nervous system; the symptoms are almost identical with those resulting from a severe electric shock." "You don’t mean to say that Mr. Hythe is the victim of a submarine discharge?" "I do not assert, sir; I merely stated my opinion based upon observations." "And how is he now?" asked the Vice-Admiral impatiently. "Fairly fit; he could be judiciously cross-examined," replied the staff-surgeon. "But, unless absolutely necessary----" "It is absolutely necessary," interposed Admiral Hobbes; then turning to the first lieutenant he continued:-- "And what were the other men doing? I understand that there were two seamen sent down. Were they injured?" "They saw nothing unusual, sir," replied Mr. Watterley. "I subjected them to a strict examination. They walked in opposite directions from the shot-rope, athwart the tide, while Mr. Hythe went dead against the current. The water was very muddy. The men said they could see about ten yards in front of them. Banks, after the question was repeated, said he fancied he felt a cross-current that might have been the following-wave of a submerged vessel moving at high speed----" "By the by," interposed Sir Peter Garboard. "I suppose you ascertained that none of our submarine flotilla were manoeuvring at Spithead?"