He telegraphed for half-speed ahead. The engine-room bell had not clanged a minute when the propellers began to churn. Hurriedly the cable was slipped, and the anchor with eighty fathoms of studded steel chain was lost for ever in the muddy bed of the Mohoro.
The youthful lieutenant-commander's first duty was to avoid the danger of being fouled. He could not go astern until the Paradox was safely under way. Regarding the Pelikan he was as yet uncertain whether to order the sea-boats to board her and drop anchor, if by chance her ground tackle were ready for instant use, or whether to sink the raider without further ado.
His deliberations were cut short by a tremendous explosion on the bank of the river on the starboard quarter of the Crustacean . Where the stranded barrels had been was a
