But Captain Restronguet had taken precautions to counteract the surprise. Simultaneously the two starboard search-lights were switched on and swung abeam till the powerful rays flashed full in the faces of the astonished Somalis. To the latter it savoured of magic. Blinded by the glare, galled by the fusillade from the automatic pistols, and harassed by the fire from the deck of the "Aphrodite" they fled. Some, however, too terrified to move, flung themselves on the ground, which was already littered with the bodies of several of their comrades. "Give way," ordered the sub. Directly the boat touched shore all hands save two jumped out, and carrying the rope, dashed for the gun, that now stood revealed as if outlined in silver in the rays of the search-light. In a trice Mylor had secured the steel wire rope to the trail. A long and a short blast on Hythe’s whistle was the signal that this part of the task had been satisfactorily performed. The electric capstan on the submarine’s deck began to revolve, and the heavy gun with a succession of jerks was hauled through the yielding sand. "Avast heaving!" shouted the sub, as the recovered weapon reached the water’s edge. "Look out, sir!" shouted O’Shaunessey, and raising his pistol the Irishman shot through the head a Somali who, feigning death, had allowed Hythe to approach within three yards of him ere, springing to his feet, he was about to hurl his spear at the sub’s back "Thanks, O’Shaunessey," exclaimed Hythe. To the accompaniment of a desultory and erratic fire from a distance of over a thousand yards the gun was dismounted and "parbuckled" into the cutter. The carriage and limber followed piecemeal, and without a casualty beyond a few bruised knuckles and jammed fingers the landing party re-embarked. It was tricky work transhipping the gun to the submarine, for the "Aphrodite," with nearly fifteen feet freeboard, was rolling heavily. The men were working in the dark since the searchlight could not be swung from off the shore without attracting the Somalis to closer range. Even as it was chance bullets were impingeing upon the submarine’s plating, while one cut a clean hole through the side of the cutter, fortunately without hitting any of the men on her. As soon as the gun was safely housed below steps were taken to spend the rest of the night in quietness. The boats of the "Iticaba" were heavily ballasted and their bungs removed, so that they sunk to the bottom of the creek. Thus they were immune from danger from the enemy’s rifle bullets, while, when occasion arose, they could easily be raised and again pressed into service. Reluctantly the survivors of the "Iticaba" went below. The men were temporarily quartered for’ard in one of the store compartments, their comrades of the "Aphrodite" making them as comfortable as they could; while Captain Rees and his first mate were accommodated in Kenwyn’s cabin, that officer having to share Devoran’s quarters.