"With that we knew you were still alive, and that the submarine had not collapsed under the pressure of the water, as Captain Brookes had feared. Shortly afterwards the grab engaged, and we found that under a strain of half a ton it was beginning to come home. It was an anxious time, as the cable was only tested to twelve hundredweights, but it held, after all, as you know." "How is Palmer?" "Bad. The strain coming on top of the narcotic has played havoc with him. The other men are progressing favourably; but Gerald, old man, where's your shaving-mirror? Then hold it so that you can see the back of your head." Tregarthen did so, and to his surprise he found that on his dark brown hair was a patch as white as snow, almost the size of a man's hand. "That's strange, Jack. I remember putting my hand to my head when the boat began to tilt. It's a case of utter funk, I suppose." "You've something to remember the eighty-fathom dive by for the rest of your natural life." "I don't want that to remind me," replied Gerald, with a shudder. "Well, it's all over now, and little harm done; but do you know there was something very remarkable about that message you sent up? You gave an account of everything that happened save one thing--the object of your trip. You never mentioned the missing wireless gear." [Illustration: chapter XXIV] CHAPTER XXIV A FRUSTRATED PLOT THE recovered reciprocators were none the worse for their prolonged submersion, thanks to the protection afforded by the steel cylinders in which they were encased. A diver having removed them from the body of the ill-fated airman, the wrecked monoplane was released and allowed to sink once more to the bottom of the sea. The aviator's body was brought on board the _Olive Branch_ in order that it might be given a decent burial, and then it was that an astonishing discovery was made. The man was not an American. Papers found on him, carefully concealed in the double thickness of his indiarubber coat, revealed the fact that he was the agent of a certain European power, and that it was his intention to find out as much about the _Olive Branch_ as he was able to do. The flight across the Straits of Messina was part of a prearranged plan, and, though his fall into the sea under the influence of the Z-rays was not strictly in accordance with his programme, it materially helped to mature the plot that had all but succeeded. The damage done to the Z-rays apparatus was considerable, necessitating the removal of the diagram board and the wires between the dynamo and the conning-tower. While this was being done the ZZ-rays were consequently out of action, hence Captain Brookes's anxiety to have the work put in hand without a moment's delay. In this partially crippled state advantage was taken of the proximity of the Santorin Islands to clear the cruiser's under-body of the marine deposit that was already beginning to have an appreciable effect on her speed.