THE AERO-HYDROPLANE. "I want you men to promise me," said Captain Restronguet, addressing the survivors of the "Iticaba’s" crew, who were drawn up in the submarine deck--"I want you to give me your word of honour that on landing, and in a period of fourteen days from that time, you will make no mention whatsoever about the ’Aphrodite’ being still capable of action. Mind, I do not bind you down by conditions, threats, or intimidation of any sort. I would not insult a body of true-hearted British seamen by so doing. I merely ask, in the interests of every vessel within range of the ’Vorwartz’s’ atrocities, that the presence of the ’Aphrodite’ should not be revealed." The submarine was now within ten miles of Ras Nungwe, the northernmost part of Zanzibar Island, and the "Iticaba’s" people were about to be sent ashore. They had, through their skipper, expressed their most grateful thanks for their gallant rescue in the nick of time, and in replying Captain Restronguet had made this request with reference to the "Vorwartz." "Strikes me very forcibly, sir," answered Captain Rees, "that you have made a very difficult request. You see, there’s bound to be an inquiry by the Consul, and a report will have to be sent to Lloyd’s before the owners can recover the insurance. And without I make a clean breast of it the Board of Trade will take away my ticket." "By Jove, I hadn’t thought of that!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet. "As you say, it is a very difficult point to take into consideration. Yet in an affair of this description, where so much depends upon the issue, the ordinary routine followed in cases of shipwreck ought to be put aside, at least for a few days." "I could answer for my men," continued the old skipper, and a lusty chorus of "Ay, ay," that had a ring of sincerity in it, came from the survivors of the ill-fated tramp. "But, you see, sir, it’s a ticklish business trying to bamboozle the Board." "If I were to write a letter to the President of the Consular Court--no, I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll go myself," declared Captain Restronguet. "Mr. Devoran, keep an offing, will you? I’m going ashore in the ’Iticaba’s’ boat; I’ll hire some sort of craft to get back, so keep a sharp look-out for me on the west side of Bawi Island, that’s over yonder. It is on the north side of the Western Pass, as the approach of Zanzibar Town is called. Should any large craft come in sight, don’t hesitate to dive. We must preserve our secret at all costs." "Are you going alone, sir?" asked Hythe. "I did think of so doing; but why? Would you like to accompany me ashore?" "I should, sir. You see, I know the place fairly well. Spent three months in the East Indies flagship in these waters when I was a midshipman."