Mordaunt bounded with one step to the cabin and kicked open the door.
“Empty!” he exclaimed; “the infernal demons!”
“We must pursue them,” said Groslow, “they can’t be gone far, and we will sink them, passing over them.”
“Yes, but the fire,” ejaculated Mordaunt; “I have lighted it.”
“Ten thousand devils!” cried Groslow, rushing to the hatchway; “perhaps there is still time to save us.”
Mordaunt answered only by a terrible laugh, threw his torch into the sea and plunged in after it. The instant Groslow put his foot upon the hatchway steps the ship opened like the crater of a volcano.