With seamen’s true contempt for danger the crew of the "Iticaba" had neglected to make any preparations for defence against hostile tribesmen. They knew that they were cast ashore upon a district over which the Italians exercised something less then a nominal sway, and that the Somalis were noted for their excesses upon any strangers who had the misfortune to fall into their hands. Yet they suffered themselves to be surprised by eighty savages while they were straggling inland to find brushwood to light a fire. The crew paid dearly for their rashness. Four men fell under the keen broad-bladed spears of the Somalis. The rest contrived to form up and open fire; and finding that their self-imposed task had already cost the lives of twenty of the Faithful, the Somalis beat a retreat in order to summon the neighbouring tribes to aid them. From north, west and south the fanatical warriors assembled, till, with numbers sufficient to overwhelm the handful of Englishmen, they advanced to the second attack. Profiting by experience the crew of the "Iticaba" had meanwhile constructed rough-and-ready defences. They realized that they were fairly trapped, for to attempt to put to sea in open boats with the probability of encountering a gale would be sheer madness. On the other hand it was possible that they might hold out against the attackers, until either the weather became fair or means of rescue were afforded them. "Well, the sooner we get you out of this mess the better," said Hythe, when the master of the "Iticaba" had concluded his narrative. "Strikes me you are no better off than we are," remarked the old skipper. "There’s too much sea running on the bar for you to get out. What water d’ye draw?" The sub told him. "Suppose you are one of those new-fangled craft--all top-sides and no draught in a manner o’ speaking," remarked the "old man" bluntly. "Well, hardly," replied Hythe smiling. "You see yonder vessel is the submarine ’Aphrodite,’ of which you may have heard." The master of the "Iticaba" looked at the sub for a few seconds, then shrugging his shoulders he replied, "Look here, sir, I’m grateful for your assistance, but Cap’n Nick Rees isn’t a man to be bamboozled. I know for a fact that that cursed ’Vorwartz’ destroyed the ’Aphrodite’ some days ago. I heard the news from official sources while I was lying at Aden." "News from official sources is apt to be misleading, Captain Rees. It is in this case. That vessel is the submarine ’Aphrodite’ and there is Captain Restronguet standing abaft the after conning-tower. There is no doubt but that he may be able and willing to afford accommodation for you and your crew. The quarters will be somewhat cramped, I fear. But as soon as we can get out of the creek it will not take us very long to tow your boats to Mombassa or Zanzibar as you suggested. How are you getting on, Polglaze?"