sinking her," he added, as a gauge showed the craft to be
descending. "Nelson knows his business all right."

"He is your captain?" asked Mr. Hardley.

"One of the best, yes. He'll go with us on the search for the
Pandora."

They talked of various matters, Tom relating to Mr. Hardley how
a tug had rammed the brick scow some years ago, and sunk it in
the river.

The submarine was now about forty-eight feet below the surface,
and suddenly they all became aware that her speed had increased.

"Guess he's going to give the motors a good try-out," observed
Tom. "I think I'll go back to the engine room. You may remain
here, if you like, and you'll probably see--"

A cry from Mr. Damon interrupted him.

"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! Look!" cried the eccentric man.
"We're going to ram a mud bank!"

As he spoke they all became aware of a solid black mass looming
in front of the bull's-eye window. An instant later the submarine
came to a jarring stop, as if she had struck some soft, yielding
substance. There was a confused shouting throughout the craft,
the noise of machinery, a trembling and vibration, and then
ominous quiet.