feet.

The difficult work of unsealing the conning tower was then
proceeded with in the presence of Admiral de Saint Vilquier,
whose prowess as a midshipman is still remembered by British
Crimean veterans--and of the Mayor of Falaise, M. Jacques de
Wissant.

At last there came a guttural exclamation of "_Ca y est!_" and
Dr. Tarnier stepped downwards, to emerge a moment later with the
first body, obviously that of the gallant Commander Dupre, who
was found, as it was expected he would be, in the conning tower.

Once more the doctor's burly figure disappeared, once more he
emerged, tenderly bearing a slighter, lighter burden, obviously
the boyish form of Lieutenant Paritot, who was found close to
Commander Dupre.

The tide was rising rapidly, but two more bodies--this time with
the help of a webbed band cleverly designed by Dr. Tarnier with
a view to the purpose--were lifted from the inner portion of the
submarine.

The four bodies, rather to the disappointment of the large crowd
which had gradually gathered on the quays, were not taken
directly to the shore, to the great hall where Falaise is to
mourn her dead sons; one by one they were reverently conveyed,
by the Admiral's orders, to a barge which was once used as a
hospital ward for sick sailors, and which is close to the mouth
of the harbour. Thence, when all twelve bodies have been
recovered--that is, in three or four days, for the work is only
to be proceeded with at night,--they will be taken to the Salle
d'Armes, there to await the official obsequies.

On the morning following the night during which the last body was lifted
from within the _Neptune_, there ran a curious rumour through the
fishing quarter of the town. It was said that thirteen bodies--not
twelve, as declared the official report--had been taken out of the
_Neptune_. It was declared on the authority of one of the seamen--a
Gascon, be it noted--who had been there on that first night, that five,
not four, bodies had been conveyed to the hospital barge.

But the rumour, though it found an echo in the French press, was not
regarded as worth an official denial, and it received its final quietus
on the day of the official obsequies, when it was at once seen that the
number of ammunition wagons heading the great procession was twelve.

* * * * *

As long as t