Kenwyn had meanwhile opened the scuttle in the bottom plates of the vessel in order to guide her on her descent. Since the after portion alone possessed propelling machinery it was necessary that the fore part should be disconnected first. "Down with it!" exclaimed Devoran, at the same time operating a switch. Hythe instantly depressed the lever as he had been instructed. The motion following the action was similar to that experienced in the sudden rising of a lift. The damaged midship section had been abandoned to its ocean grave. Directly the sub liberated the after portion of the vessel the hiss of the inrushing water could be heard, and, as in the case of the fore part, the surface was still several fathoms off when the upward tendency was checked. At a few feet from the bottom Kenwyn announced that the required depth was reached, and the chief officer gave the order for "Half speed ahead." The best engine-driver in the kingdom could not have brought his locomotive up to a train of waiting carriages easier than Devoran manoeuvred the after part of the "Aphrodite" up to the fore compartment. There was no perceptible shock, in fact nothing to indicate the fact that the union had been accomplished except that telephonic communication was automatically reestablished in all parts of the reduced "Aphrodite." Into the air locks next to each exterior bulkhead divers were quickly sent. As soon as the water was admitted into these spaces new locking bolts were passed through and secured, and within twenty minutes of being placed in position the two parts of the submarine were made one. But instead of her two hundred feet from stem to stern the new "Aphrodite" was reduced by about one third. Nearly seventy feet of valuable length had been sacrificed; but, as Devoran remarked, "It might have been worse." "That is true," agreed Hythe. "But what will Captain Restronguet say?" CHAPTER XXI. CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET LEARNS THE NEWS. For three whole days the "Aphrodite" lay on the floor of the Red Sea. Captain Restronguet was making steady progress towards recovery, but the news of the disaster had been studiously kept from him. All on board knew that sooner or later their leader must learn of the catastrophe; but every one was in favour of deferring the evil day, fearing what the consequences would be in the case of a highly strung man who was still suffering from a severe physical and mental shock. But until Captain Restronguet did know Devoran stoutly refused to take any action in the navigation of the vessel. Nor would he open up wireless communication. It was desirable, nay imperative, that Karl von Harburg should think that his coup had been entirely successful, and on that account the danger of unauthorized news leaking out had to be strongly guarded against.