f the room. Well, they were not there this morning when the
regular steward went into the room. They have disappeared. But the
contents of those bags are still somewhere on board this ship. And if
they are not found in time, by gad, sir, we will all be in Kingdom Come
before we know it."

CHAPTER IV.

The first explosion occurred at eleven minutes past six. The chart-house
and part of the bridge were blown to pieces. Three dull, splintering
crashes ensued in rapid succession, proving beyond question that the
bombs were set to automatically explode at a given time. One of them
wrecked the engine-room; another blew a great hole in the stern of the
ship, above the water line; the third destroyed the wireless house and
carried away a portion of the deck with it.

There were eight in all of these devilish machines in the heart of the
Doraine. Some time prior to the first explosion, the feverish searchers
had uncovered four of them, cunningly planted in the most vital parts
of the ship. Two were taken from the lower hold, one at each end of the
vessel, and two more were found close to the carefully protected section
of the vessel in which a rather insignificant but deadly shipment of
high explosives was stored.

The discovery of the four bombs and their immediate consignment to the
sea saved the ship from being blown to bits. With another hour to spare,
it is more than probable the remaining four would have been found,
notwithstanding the amazing cleverness with which they were hidden, so
thorough and so dogged was the search. Confusion, terror, stupefaction
and finally panic followed the successive blasts. The decks were strewn
with people prostrated by the violent upheavals, and many there were who
never got up again. Stunned, dazed, bewildered, those who were able to
do so scrambled to their feet only to be hurled down again and again.
Shrieks, groans, prayers,--and curses,--filled the brief, ghastly
silences between the muffled detonations. The great vessel surged and
rolled and plunged like a tortured animal.

The splintering of wood, the rending of plates, the shattering of glass,
and above all this horrid turmoil the mighty roaring and hissing of
steam!... And the wild, gurgling cries of the frantic unfortunates who
had leaped into the sea!

Out of the chaos with incredible swiftness came the paralysis of
despair, and out of that slowly but surely groped the never-failing
courage of the men who go do