"We are going to dive to eight fathoms," he announced. "It is advisable
since we are approaching the Straits of Gibraltar. Perhaps you would
care to have a look on deck before going to bed?"
On gaining the upper platform Hythe found that the "Aphrodite" was
running nearly awash, with no navigation lights. Even the lamps in the
conning-towers were screened. It was a pitch-dark night, although the
atmosphere was clear. The water was exceptionally smooth for the
Atlantic seaboard of the coast of Spain and Portugal.
Away on the starboard hand were several large vessels, each showing
their green navigation lights, denoting that they were bound north. One,
brilliantly illuminated, was evidently a liner on which the passengers
were keeping a late night, for the distant strains of a string band were
just audible above the subdued noise of her powerful engines.
"You know this coast, I suppose?" asked Captain Restronguet. "Do you
recognize yonder light?"
The sub looked intently in the direction indicated. Through the
darkness shone a fixed white light which increased and diminished in
intensity, attaining its maximum glare every thirty seconds.
"Yes, Cape Trafalgar," he replied. "And we are within twelve miles of
it."
"Otherwise it would appear to be a flashing light," added Captain
Restronguet. "I see your knowledge of the various lights is
exceptionally good. Had it been daylight we might have found time to
let you have a sight of some of Nelson’s relics, for we are passing over
the scene of that ever-memorable victory. The bottom of the sea here is
strewn with the remains of the French and Spanish vessels that were
either sunk in action or foundered in the storm that arose after the
fight was over."
"I have seen enough of naval disasters for the time being," remarked
Hythe.
"You will soon get used to sights of that description," said the captain
with a shrug of his shoulders. "Some day, all being well, I hope to
visit the remains of the Russian vessels sunk at Tshushima. Not simply
for idle curiosity, but with a definite motive. But it blows cold, so I
think we may as well descend."
When Hythe awoke next morning the "Aphrodite" was at rest. Throwing
back the metal slide over his cabin scuttle he looked out. The submarine
was below the surface and in a fairly crowded anchorage, for dimly in
the sunlit water he could distinguish more than one mooring chain and a
mushroom anchor deeply embedded in the ooze.
"This must be Gib.," he thought, as he prepared to dress.
Although breakfast was laid, Captain Restronguet was busy writing as
Hythe entered the cabin.
"Excuse me while I finish," said the former apologetically. "Here is a
copy of this week’s ’Gibraltar Herald’; it was published only yesterday,
so it is fairly recent. Perhaps you might care to look at it?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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