A slight tremor went through the boat - the torpedo had gone. `Beware, when it is released!' The death-bringing shot was a true one, and the torpedo ran towards the doomed ship at high speed. I could follow its course exactly by the light streak of bubbles, which was left in its wake.

`Twenty seconds,' counted the helmsman, who, watch in hand, had to measure the exact interval of time between the departure of the torpedo and its arrival at its destination.

`Twenty-three seconds.' Soon, soon this violent, terrifying thing would happen. I saw that the bubble-track of the torpedo had been discovered on the bridge of the steamer, as frightened arms pointed towards the water and the Capitan put his hands in front of his eyes and waited resignedly. Then a frightful explosion followed, and we were all thrown against one another by the...