It flashed across my mind at that moment that as those on board the Abraham Lincoln, having once seen the effect of Ned Land's harpoon when it struck the Nautilus, could not but have concluded their enemy was no monster of the deep--though indeed a monster of man's contriving--the warships of all nations would now be on the look-out for the Nautilus, and we on board it could scarcely hope for mercy.

Which definition provides the correct denotative meaning for the word flashed in the passage?

A.
glimmered slightly
B.
flickered quickly
C.
appeared suddenly
D.
sparked boldly