"It is too early to form a definite opinion," replied the sub, anxious to put a bold face upon the matter, although in his mind he had his doubts. "I remember on the old ’Velox,’ we had a signal-man struck by lightning. He was unconscious for nearly three days; yet he recovered, and was passed for duty after a week in the sick bay." "Yes, that’s all very well," rejoined the chief officer, "but----" A violent ringing of the bell of the "steering sentry" interrupted Devoran’s remark. Both men crossed the cabin and consulted the tell-tale compass. The "Aphrodite" was fifteen degrees off her course, and the "steering sentry," an automatic instrument that gives a warning in the captain’s cabin when the vessel deviates from the course set, was ringing incessantly, showing that the error in direction was a grave one. "What are you up to, Lancarrow?" asked Devoran through the telephone communicating with the fore conning-tower. "Anything in the way?" There was no reply. The chief officer hailed again. Still an ominous silence. "What’s up now, I wonder," he muttered as he hastened towards the conning-tower. To his surprise he found Lancarrow huddled up on the floor, with his hands tightly clenched. Left to herself the "Aphrodite" was gradually describing a wide circle to starboard, and only the action of the automatic alarm had called attention to the fact. Steadying the submarine on her course, Devoran shouted for a couple of hands to carry the unfortunate helmsman below. This done he told Carnon to take charge of the helm, while he made a tour of the vessel to make sure that all was in order. Devoran realized that he was now in command and that the responsibility was great. The mysterious striking down of the former steersman, whether by violence or by natural causes, could not be at present explained; but since a similar thing might happen to others who were on duty he felt it necessary that he should visit all the men at their stations and make sure that everything was in order. Carclew was still at the detector. He had nothing to report. The instrument was as silent as the Sphinx. Kenwyn in charge of the horizontal rudders and the trimming tanks was attending strictly to his duty. He had been unaware of the affair in the other conning-tower, and since it was not his business to consult the compass and not knowing what course had been given to the helmsman, he had not remarked the erratic steering of the vessel. "Do you think the lightning struck Lancarrow down?" asked Kenwyn. "Bless my soul, I hope not!" ejaculated the first officer. "One affair of this sort is quite enough. Why did you ask?" "The flashes have been terrific. They seemed to play upon the deck, even though we are nine fathoms down." "Had Lancarrow been touched by the electric fluid it is reasonable to suppose that the electrical steering gear would be affected. As a matter of fact it isn’t."