"You'll note the little horns standing out from the top of the mine,"
explained Mr. Hartley, pointing to the circular mine. "These horns are
usually called studs. Hit one of these studs even a light blow with a
tack hammer, gentlemen, and the mine would explode. A mine like this is
more deadly than the biggest shell carried by a super-dreadnaught. Let
this mine explode, for instance, under our hull forward, and it would
tear us to pieces in a way that would leave us afloat for hardly sixty
seconds. Moreover, it would kill any man standing at or near the rail
over the point of contact."

He had no more than finished speaking, while the mine was being hoisted
aboard, than a terrified gasp escaped the workers.

For the mine slipped from its tackle, and slipped back toward the water,
striking the side hull in its downward course!

Dave Darrin did not move. He knew there would not be time to escape!

CHAPTER VI

IN THE TEETH OF THE CHANNEL GALE

SPLASH!

The mine sank below the surface.

A quick turn by the helmsman at the wheel, and the course changed
violently on the instant.

"No stud struck or scraped the side as the mine went down!" exclaimed Mr.
Hartley, in a voice as cool as though he were discussing the weather.
"That was what saved us."

"That, and the presence of mind displayed by your man at the wheel," Dave
calmly supplemented. "That quick turn of the wheel saved your hull under
the water line from striking against the infernal thing."

"I thought we were goners!" exclaimed Ormsby.

"So did I," Dave nodded, "until I saw the thing sink and then realized
how prompt the helmsman had been to act without orders."

"The helmsman's act was almost routine," Hartley continued. "On a craft
like this every man instinctively knows what should be done in any moment
of escapable peril."

Dave now withdrew the elbow which, up to now, he had leaned against the
rail. He knew that he had been within a hair's breadth of instant death,
but there was nothing in his bearing to betray the fact.

Hartley quickly gave the order to put about.

"Another try for that slippery customer, eh?" queried Ormsby.

"I'd feel like a murderer, if I knowingly left that thing in the sea, to
destroy some fine craft," declared Mr. Hartley, gravely. "Once we've
located a mine we never leave it. We'll make the 'catch' again, but we'll
inspect our tackle before we try to take it aboard. I think you gentlemen
had better step bac