Hythe felt his blood tingle in his veins. He realized that he was to be the spectator of a duel to the death between a cruiser and a submarine--the first engagement of such a character that had ever taken place in naval history. "Four miles, sir," announced Devoran, as the position of the "Vorwartz" was reported to him by the seaman stationed at the detector. "She’s coming straight for the cruiser, by Jove!" "I thought she would swallow the bait," exclaimed Hythe. "Let us hope she will swallow more than is good for her," added Kenwyn. "By Jove! The ’Topaze’ has opened fire." A flash like distant lightning seemed to leap from the cruiser’s deck, followed by another, and then by a regular salvo of quick-firers. Ere the first deep report reached the ears of the watchers on the "Aphrodite" the "Topaze" unscreened her search-lights and played them on a spot about four hundred yards on the starboard hand, where the shells were churning up a perfect cauldron of foam and spray. "Good heavens! they’ve hit something!" exclaimed several voices. Those of the "Aphrodite’s" crew who possessed glasses could see a dark mass, rent in deep furrows by the projectiles, appear amid the columns of foam; then throwing itself ten feet into the air the object disappeared from view. Captain Restronguet clenched his fists. He deeply regretted his action in allowing the captain of the "Topaze" a free hand. His quest was over. The rival submarine had been sent to the bottom with all hands, and he---- "Cruiser signalling, sir," announced Kenwyn, who was perched upon the rounded top of the fore-conning-tower. "Reports having wasted ninety rounds of ammunition by firing at a whale, and requests to know whether the captain of the ’Aphrodite’ has been guilty of a senseless joke?" "Senseless joke, indeed!" ejaculated Captain Restronguet. "If those fellows in their excitement mistake a whale for a submarine they will be rudely awakened when the ’Vorwartz’ does show. Senseless joke, indeed! Look here, Mr. Kenwyn, reply that my detector does not record the presence of whales, but it does record the presence of the ’Vorwartz.’ She is now only--how many miles, Mr. Devoran?" "Two and three quarters from us, sir." "Only three quarters of a mile from the ’Topaze,’" continued the Captain. "It was quite possible that that wilful waste of ammunition made the valiant Karl von Harburg turn tail; but evidently such is not the case. It has made the task of the ’Topaze’ still more difficult, since the ’Vorwartz’ is now aware that she is not about to tackle a merchant vessel." The "Topaze" had now shut off her searchlights, and was slowly circling to port. After the deafening cannonade there seemed an ominous silence in the air. The detector showed that the "Vorwartz" was still approaching. "She will be within range shortly," remarked the sub. "I hope to goodness those nets will ward off the torpedoes. What charge do they carry, sir?"