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"There were others besides me," insisted Moore. Ned made an examination of the end of the three cords. All had been cut. All had been tied to something, for the ends were frayed as if by being twisted about in the hands. "I presume you thought you were cutting the air-hose?" asked Ned, tentatively. "I reckon I know a line from a hose," was the reply. "So you did cut them?"
Think of the signals on the surface cars in little Old New York." "And keep your eyes out for signs of air-hose and lines on the bottom," Frank put in. "All right," the boy cried, cheerfully. "You have a long air-hose and a very long line," Ned went on, "so you can go up the bay where the Shark lies quite a distance after we stop the Sea Lion at the point."
"I guess I'd better shoot," he said, calmly. "I suppose you've cut the boys' air-hose, and I'll have to get back to New York the best way I can alone. So, you see, I can't be bothered with you." The captive ceased his struggles and managed to rise to a sitting position. His eyes were not so threatening as before. "No," he declared, "I didn't cut the hose." "Why? You're equal to such a trick."
"Gettin' ready to cut our lines, probably," interposed Jimmie. "That's a fact," Jack said. "If there are men working in the ship they must be supplied with air by a submarine. How could that be done, I'd like to know." "They might anchor the submarine some distance away," replied Ned, "and lay an air-hose along the bottom.
He was trying to put away the thought that the intruder had cut the air-hose attached to the helmets of his friends. For all he knew all three boys might be lying drowned, on the floor of the ocean. The thought was unbearable, and he resolved to banish it in action. His first impulse was to disconnect the exhaust and fill the chamber with water.
The air-hose seemed to be clear, but Jimmie was afraid that the flounderings of the serpent might break it. The horror was certain to do some thrashing about when he felt the keen edge of the steel. The only way was to strike some vital spot. That would end the combat at once.
Ned moved along one side of the wreck, as far as his air-hose would permit him to go, and was satisfied that he had found the lost mail ship. The sand was already drifting against her sides, but she was still far from buried. On the port side, about a third of the way to the stern from the bow, the boy discovered the wound which had brought the stately vessel to her present position.
"Scared!" roared Jimmie. "Alarmed at what?" demanded Frank. "I didn't see anything to be alarmed at." "I have no theory as to what it was I heard," Ned went on, "but I'm going to get a longer air-hose, shift the Sea Lion so she will hang over the wreck, and go down again right away." "I'm ready!" laughed Jack. "I want to hear that noise again."
Leaving Frank, as the most cautious of the boys, to guard the lines and air-hose when they touched sharp angles, Ned, accompanied by Jack, advanced down the main companionway and was soon in the large and handsomely furnished cabin. Then the electric searchlights were put to use, and the great apartment lay partly exposed to view.
He left the hold and, without giving the others to understand that he had discovered anything of importance, began an examination of the sand along the line of the bottom. His air-hose was not long enough to admit of passing entirely around the vessel, so he motioned to the boys to accompany him and turned back to the submarine.
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