Drawing a great-coat over his sleeping-suit Captain Restronguet walked out of the cabin. Hythe and Devoran looked at each other and by a common impulse followed. At the end of the alley-way terminating at the watertight transverse bulkhead Captain Restronguet stopped as if he were about to ascend to the after conning-tower; but changing his mind he opened the watertight door. One glance was sufficient. Instead of the midship compartment he was looking down the passage of the fore part of the ship. "Well, Devoran, we’ve had a mishap, I see," he remarked in a casual tone. "Yes, sir; a very unfortunate----" "But at the same time unavoidable accident, Devoran. Of that I feel sure. No, no, there is no need to apologize. If ever a man would do his best to save the situation, that man is my chief officer. But how did it occur?" In a few words Devoran told the story--a plain unvarnished statement of actual facts, while Hythe stood mutely by, marvelling at the captain’s calmness at the news. "I am not surprised, Devoran," continued Captain Restronguet. "Not in the least. I had a presentiment that Karl von Harburg would score at one time. Besides, have I not prepared for such a contingency by providing three distinct compartments to the ’Aphrodite’? But after von Harburg’s success my counter-stroke will hit the harder. I know it, Devoran. I feel certain that we shall score in the long run. Were any men lost or injured in the collision?" "No, sir." "Thank God for that!" ejaculated Captain Restronguet fervently. "And are all the electric circuits working properly?" "No, sir. The detector is entirely out of gear, and so is the offensive apparatus." "H’m, unfortunate, but we will set that right. And the wireless?" "I have not used or tried it, sir. Until you were fit to command I preferred to remain here and make no communication whatsoever." "An excellent policy, Devoran. Unfortunately we must resume our wireless communications otherwise we are in the dark as to the movements of the ’Vorwartz.’ But our Highgate operator is to be implicitly trusted, and if all messages are sent in code it matters little whether they are picked up by other ships or stations. Get Kenwyn to send a message asking whether any news of von Harburg has been received, and let me know directly you have a reply. I am going to my cabin now. I want to be alone. But do not feel anxious on my account. I shall be perfectly fit for duty in a very short space of time." "Didn’t he take the news calmly?" remarked Hythe after Captain Restronguet had gone back to his cabin. "It was enough to drive a fellow off his head." "It’s his way," said Devoran slowly. "It is his way. Reverses that are seemingly overwhelming and would be so to almost every one else, only spur him to renewed activities. Believe me the fun is now about to commence."