Some seventy-five yards in length was the new
open space, where at least as much of the retaining wall as was visible
above the water had been blown out.
"Slow down, Cordon," ordered Tom. "All we want is headway."
"All right, sir."
Tom drifted in within a few feet of the former site of the retaining wall.
The "Morton" moved slowly by, Tom, by the aid of the searchlight, noting
the extent of the disaster.
"Get back aft, Evarts," ordered the young engineer, turning and beholding
the late foreman. "We don't want you here."
For a moment or two it looked as though Evarts would refuse. Then, with
a growl, he rose and picked his way aft. By this time the other men who
had been in his gang were awake. They regarded their former foreman with
no great display of sympathy.
"I'll confess I'm mystified," muttered Tom, watching the scene of the
latest explosion for some minutes after the engine had been stopped.
"When daylight comes and we can use the divers we ought to know a bit more
about how such a big blast is worked in the dead of night when the
scoundrels ought to make noise enough to be heard. It must have been a
series of connected blasts, all touched off at the same moment, Mr.
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