“About 3 a.m.—We reach and pass, without trouble, a triple series of
obstructions similar to the preceding ones. Sure of our position, I
steer so as to pass between the north coast and the line of big ships,
along which we move for about 200 meters, now always fighting against
the current.
“It is late, and we fear that the air pressure of 120 atmospheres
will not be sufficient to insure our return to the chaser. After
consultation, we agree to continue as far as the flagship, which had
been pointed out to us as of special importance. After sinking this
we will endeavor to land on the north coast, sink our apparatus and
dispose of our waterproof suits. Then, in the uniform of Italian naval
officers, which we wear underneath the waterproof, we will try to reach
a place called Fontaine, near Rovigno, where it has been agreed that
a motor boat will wait for us each night from the 2d to the 7th of
November.
“As we move toward the ship I detach a small device that had been
added at the last moment. It is supposed to insure an easy mooring for
the propelling apparatus, but fails to work. To rid ourselves of this
incumbrance I unsheathe my knife, lose the sheath, and am obliged to
stick the knife into the wooden cover of the apparatus. (I mention this
merely because it will explain why, later, I was so long under the
_Viribus Unitis_.)
“At this time an incident occurs that very nearly puts an end to the
whole business. We find that, with no apparent cause, our apparatus is
gradually, unmistakably, sinking—especially at the stern, where I am.
Greatly disturbed, I endeavor to counteract this sinking by crossing
my legs beneath the stern, and by accelerating the motor, at the same
time working to open the little valve that lets air into the balance
tank at the stern. After a hurried examination, I find that the valve
for flooding the afterpart is open; how it happened I cannot imagine.
The valve is finally closed, and when air is readmitted the apparatus
returns to its normal condition. Without doubt these were the most
exciting moments of the trip.
[Illustration:
_Drawn by Joseph Cummings Chase._