182 FOR THE FLAG

vessels, having on board Count d’Artigas, Serké, Captain
Spade and his crew—with the exception of half a dozen
men occupied in the navigation of the submarine boat,
which ‘was under the control of a mechanician named
Gibson, a very clever and adventurous Englishman.

The program of this performance consisted of various
evolutions on the surface of the ocean, followed by an
immersion of several - hours’ duration, after which the
apparatus had orders to reappear when it reached a buoy
several miles out to sea.

The moment having come, and the upper hatchway
being closed, the boat manceuvred at first on the sea, and
its speed and steering obtained the well-merited admira-
tion of all the spectators.

Then at asignal from the £déa the machine sank slowly,
‘and disappeared from sight.

A few of the ships made for the spot at which its
reappearance was to take place.

Three hours passed—the boat had not yet risen to the
surface.

But none could have guessed that by a concerted plan
between Count d’Artigas and the engineer, this sub-
marine vessel, in reality the schooner’s secret tug, was
to emerge several miles beyond that point. With the
exception of those in the secret, there was no doubt
in any mind that it had been destroyed by an accident
either to its hull or to its machines. On board the Edda
consternation was well acted; on board the other ships
it was ‘more real.