Punch (90.1886)

February 27, 1886.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

99

days under water, and were running short of ozonised
air. He gasped as he gazed out into the dark wilder-
ness that surrounded them, and could make nothing
out.

"I think, Sir," he said, creeping slowly back again,
and addressing the Admiral, who was now rubbing his
head, "that we must be passing through a shoal of
mackerel. But," he added, drily, if you have any com-
munication to make to the Fleet, no doubt we should be
able to find it for you, with the Electric Shrimp Torpedo ;
we should then possibly discover some means of delivering
your message."

The Admiral was still rubbing his head, but he in-
stantly rejoined,—

"A happy thought, Mr. Flag-Lieutenant. Let the
Electric Shrimp Torpedo be manned; and if they come
across one of the enemy's ships, they can go at it.

"Ay! ay! Sir," responded the Flag-Lieutenant.

The order was no sooner given than it was carried into
effect. In a few minutes the three volunteers, who not
very cheerfully came forward for the work, were packed
tightly in the recesses of the diminutive but formidable
little engine, and it was launched forthwith on its erratic
course through the side of the submarine iron-clad by
a discharge of dynamite. It darted off at lightning speed
in quarter of a mile shoots, illuminating the dense water
in _ every direction as it advanced. The receding wire
paid out from the delicate instrument on the Admiral's
table jerked at times ominously. It was clear that the
Electric Shrimp Torpedo was all over the place. After a
short interval there was a shout through the self-acting
telephone. The Admiral was all attention.

'' We have come up with a portion of the British Fleet,
entangled in a bed of seaweed," continued the voice.
" What is the order of the day P "

"England expects every man to do his duty," was
the tentative reply. "I think," continued the Admiral,
addressing the Flag-Lieutenant, " that they mayn't
have heard that Jbefore. It ought to inspirit 'em. And
now, if you please, we will follow up the course of the
Electric Shrimp Torpedo, and prepare for action."

No sooner was the order given than all was activity
within the confined space of the ingeniously constructed
craft. The fore, aft and side-screws began to revolve
rapidly as the deck slowly lowered to within two feet
of the cabin floor. The Admiral was lying on his face
now, under the cuddy table. He could not sit up. But he
had put on his cork leggings, life-buoy tunic, and floating
cocked hat, and with the telephone in one hand, and a fog-
horn in the other, was ready for the fray. The Flag-Lieu-
tenant drew himself along on his knees, and resumed his
position in the projecting glass bull's-eye. The men loaded
the guns, and then themselves got inside the breeches to
economise the room. They would have cheered, but at
this depth,—they knew they were in ninety-two fathoms
of water,—they felt it would be of no use. Still, the
submarine craft sped swiftly on its way. The Flag-
Lieutenant peered hopelessly, through the projecting
glass bull's-eye, into the impenetrable gloom without. At
one moment he thought he distinguished an enemy's ship
approaching. But he was mistaken. It was merely a
porpoise in hysterics. The Admiral referred to the tele-
phone, but could get no reply. Something had happened
to the Electric Shrimp Torpedo. The situation was
awkward. The Admiral felt the responsibility. He
counted the minutes on his chronometer.

Suddenly the silence was broken by ' a weak shout.
" Look out! " cried the Flag-Lieutenant. " I see lights.
We are, I think, in the midst of the enemy's fleet."

The Admiral sounded his fog-horn. "Hooray! Give
it them hot, boys! " he responded. " Fire! "

But at that moment, with a tremendous crash, the
craft parted amidships, and blew up with a terrific explo-
sion, m two fragments. The Electric Shrimp_ Torpedo
had gone right through them. In another minute the
liberated Admiral, borne upwards by his buoyant suit,
was rising rapidly to the surface of the water.

" This comes of fighting under the sea," he grumbled,
shaking the sea-weed out of his hair as his head emerged
on the calm, smiling, yacht-dotted horizon above. "But
I might have known what it would be. I have been
blown up by my own orders!"

Old Saw New Set.—Deuce take the Hyndman!

0)

to

THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER Ef

T&mMnson. "Good-bye, Miss Eleaxoba-" E|S

MissElcanora. "But you've alubadt said Goc =_
Tomlinson (who is always ready with some pri -
Well, one can't do a Pleasant Thixq too oisj

" UP A TEEE ! W

Sir,—The East Kent Foxhounds, who are se = ° w
famous old sea-dogs, the Thanet Harriers, had a zr— *w
After, no doubt, beating the Dover Bathmg-Ma -
expected at this inclement season of the year, c =" * v
Whip of the pleasant party discovered three foxe — oi ~°
to the athletic exercises so necessary an adjunc — DC
eccentric Hunt to which he belongs, the Whip "s' ^_ —
in dislodging a fox, who gave the pack a "good = Q
apparently being lost ultimately in an unuse ^J?
Delighted with their unusual sport (as foxes at ] ^ 4-1
been too plentiful) the Hunt promptly returned t —
again swarmed it, another fox was dislodged. U = s ™" g
recover from his fall and regain his feet, he was ' —— Q

CD
CD ■

by some honorary member of the pack—say a sport = » * > (9
colley. As the oak had proved so productive, ar =~ \J
other covert (the Thanet Harriers being no doubt — to
their Margate and Herne Bay line of country), -
to " swarm" the tree. Again a fox was unwoodec ij»
been seemingly muzzled until Master Reynard ha = w
spin of a quarter-of-an-hour, or thereabouts, was =_H? ^-
luckily, but not surprisingly, the fox proving to 1 = / Pj
soon lost his way on the cliffs, and was killed at — \J
2 propos of the East Kent Foxhounds, it is run = ^
date, Mr. Sanger, of the Kamsgate Hippodrom =—
This would be a great gain to the " Hunt," as the = ^
put the vast resources of his menagerie at theii = ^_
chasing in England possible. Yours,

~E- O

Squaring the Circle.—The problem which = ^ —

be hoped, immortalise himself by solving;—Ho^r:— Q
Mr. Parnell is the centre.

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