The Boy Allies At Jutland

or

The Greatest Naval Battle of History

By Ensign ROBERT L. DRAKE

AUTHOR OF

 "The Boy Allies Under the Sea" "The Boy Allies In the Baltic" "The Boy Allies on the North Sea Patrol" "The Boy Allies Under Two Flags" "The Boy Allies with the Flying Squadron" "The Boy Allies with the Terror of the Seas"

1917

CHAPTER I

H. M. S. "QUEEN MARY"

A great, long, gray shape moved swiftly through the waters of theThames. Smoke, pouring from three different points in the middle ofthis great shape, ascended, straight in the air some distance, then, caught by the wind, drifted westward. 

It was growing dark. Several hours before, this ocean greyhound--one ofGreat Britain's monster sea-fighters--had up-anchored and left herdock--where she had been undergoing slight repairs--heading eastwarddown the river. 

Men lined the rails of the monster ship. These were her crew--or someof her crew, to be exact--for the others were engaged in duties thatprevented them from waving to the crowds that thronged the shore--asdid the men on deck. 

Sharp orders carried across the water to the ears of those on shore. The officers were issuing commands. Men left the rail and disappearedfrom the view of the spectators as they hurried to perform theirduties. Came several sharp blasts of the vessel's siren; a moment laterher speed increased and as she slid easily through the waters of theriver, a cheer went up from both shores. 

The crowd strained its eyes. Far down the river now the giantbattleship was disappearing from the sight of the men and women wholined the banks. In vain, a few moments later, did many eyes try topierce the darkness. The battleship was lost to sight. 

The vessel that had thus passed down the Thames was H. M. S. _QueenMary_, one of the most formidable of England's sea fighters. It waswith such ships as the _Queen Mary_, supported by smaller and lesspowerful craft, that Great Britain, for almost two years of the greatwar, had maintained her supremacy of the seas. 

This great ship was new in service, having been completed only a fewyears before the outbreak of the war. She was constructed at a cost of$10, 000, 000. She was 720 feet long, of 27, 000 tons burden and had acomplement of almost 1, 000 men. For fighting purposes she was equippedwith all that was modern. 

In her forward turret she carried a battery of six 16-inch guns. Aft, the turret was similarly equipped. Also the _Queen Mary_ mounted otherbig guns and rapid firers. She was equipped with an even half-dozen12-inch torpedo tubes. She was one of the biggest ships of war thatroved the seas. 

The _Queen Mary_ was one of the fleet of battleships that had patrolledthe North Sea since the outbreak of hostilities. Already she had seenher share of fighting, for she had led more than one attack upon theenemy when the Germans had mustered up courage enough to leave thesafety of the great fortress of Heligoland, where the main German highsea fleet was quartered. 

It had been in a skirmish with one of these venturesome enemy vesselsthat the _Queen Mary_ had received injuries that necessitated her goinginto dry dock for a few days, while she was given an overhauling andher wounds healed. True enough, she had sent the foe to the bottom; butwith a last dying shot, the Germans had put a shell aboard the _QueenMary. _

Her damage repaired, the _Queen Mary_ was now steaming to the openwaters of the North Sea, where she would again take up patrol duty withthe other vessels that comprised the British North Sea fleet, undercommand of Vice-Admiral Beatty, whose flagship, the _Lion_, had takenup the additional burden of patrolling the _Queen Mary's_ territorywhile the latter was being overhauled. 

Aboard the battleship, the British tars, who had become fretful at thedelay, were happy at the thought of getting back into active service. While they had been given an opportunity to stretch their legs ashore, they, nevertheless, had been glad when the time to steam back into theopen sea had come. Now, as the _Queen Mary_ entered the mouth of theThames and prepared' to leave the shores of Old England for the broadexpanse of the North Sea, they sang, whistled and laughed gaily. 

They were going back where they would get another chance at the enemy, should he again venture from his lair. 

Forward, upon the upper deck, stood two young officers, who peered intothe darkness ahead. 

"To my mind, " said one, "this beats a submarine. Just look about you. Consider the size of this battleship! Look at her armament! Think ofthe number of men aboard!"

"You may be right, " returned the second officer, "but we have had somegrand times beneath the sea. We have been to places and seen thingsthat otherwise would have been impossible. "

"True enough; but at the same time, when it came to a question offight, we have had to slink about like a cat in the night, afraid toshow ourselves to larger and heavier adversaries. Now, aboard the_Queen Mary_, that will be done away with. Now we are the cat ratherthan the mouse. "

"It may be that I shall come to your way of thinking in time, " said thesecond speaker, "but at this moment I would rather have the familiarfeel of a submarine beneath my heel. I would feel more at home there. Besides, we have lost one thing by being assigned to the _Queen Mary_that hits me rather hard. "

"I know what you mean, " said the first speaker. "We indeed have lostthe companionship of a gallant commander. Captain Raleigh undoubtedlyis a first class officer--otherwise he would not be in command of the_Queen Mary_--but we are bound to miss Lord Hastings. "

"Indeed we are. Yet, as he told us, things cannot always be as wewould like to have them. He was called for other service, as you know, and he did his best for us. That is why we find ourselves here as minorofficers. "

"Yes; and it's a whole lot different than being the second and third incommand. "

At that moment another young officer hurried by. 

"Coming, Templeton? Coming, Chadwick?" he asked as he passed. 

"Where?" demanded the two friends. 

"Didn't you hear the call for mess?"

"No; By Jove! and I'm hungry, too, " said the young officer addressed asTempleton. "Come along, Frank. We have been so busy talking here thatwe had forgotten all about the demands of the inner man. "

The two hurried after the officer who had accosted them; and while theyare attending to the wants of the inner man, as Templeton termed theirappetites, we will take the time to explain how these two lads came tobe aboard the giant battleship, steaming into the North Sea in searchof the enemies of Great Britain and her allies. 

Frank Chadwick was an American youth of some eighteen years. Separatedfrom his father in Naples at the outbreak of the great war, he had beenshanghaied aboard a sailing vessel when he had gone to the aid of a manapparently in distress. There he was made a prisoner. 

Some days later he had been rescued by Jack Templeton, a youngEnglishman, who had boarded the vessel off the coast of Africa, seekingpayment for goods he had sold to the mutinous crew. The two lads hadbeen instrumental in helping Lord Hastings, a British nobleman, putthrough a coup that kept Italy out of the war on the side of Germanyand Austria. Lord Hastings had become greatly attached to the lads, andwhen he had been put in command of a vessel, he had both boys assignedto his ship. 

Through gallant service Frank and Jack had won their lieutenancies. Later Lord Hastings had assumed command of a submarine and had madeJack his first officer and Frank his second officer. 

Through many a tight place the lads had gone safely, though they hadfaced death more than once, and faced it calmly and bravely. Also, atthis period of the war, they had seen service in many seas. They hadbeen engaged in the first battle of the North Sea, when Great Britainhad struck her first hard blow; they had participated in the sinking ofthe German Atlantic squadron near the Falkland islands, off the coastof Argentina, in South America; they had fought in Turkish waters andin the Indian Ocean, and also had been with the British land forceswhen the Japanese allies of the English had won the last of the Germanpossessions in China. 

In stature and disposition the boys were as different as could be. Frank, though large for his age, looked small when alongside of Jack. The latter, though no older than his friend, was a huge bulk of a boy, standing well over six feet. He was built proportionately. Strong as anox, he was, and cool of head. 

Here he differed from Frank, who had something of a temper and waslikely to do something foolish on the spur of the moment if he becameangry. Jack had served as a damper for his friend's anger andenthusiasm more than once. 

That they could fight, both boys had shown more than once. Jack, because of his huge bulk and great strength, was, of course, harder tobeat in a hand-to-hand struggle than was Frank; but what the latterlacked in this kind of fighting, he more than made up in the use ofrevolver, rifle or sword. 

Frank was a crack shot with a revolver; and more than once thisaccomplishment had stood them both in good stead. Each was a goodlinguist and conversed in French and German as well as in English. Thisalso had been of help to them in several ticklish situations. 

On their last venture, at which time they had been under command ofLord Hastings, they had reached the distant shores of Russia, wherethey had been of some assistance to the Czar. In reaching Petrograd ithad been necessary for them to pass through the Kiel canal, which theyhad done safely in their submarine in spite of the German warships andharbor defenses. Also they had managed to sink several enemy vesselsthere. 

Returning, Frank and Jack had gone home with Lord Hastings, where LadyHastings had insisted that they remain quiet for some time. This theyhad done and had been glad of the rest. 

One day Lord Hastings had come home with the announcement that he hadbeen called back into the diplomatic service. It was the aim of theBritish government to align Greece and Roumania on the side of theAllies. Realizing that they could not hope to accompany Lord Hastings, and not wishing to remain idle longer, Frank and Jack had requestedLord Hastings to have them assigned on active duty at once. LordHastings promised to do his best. 

And this was the reason that Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton foundthemselves aboard H. M. S. _Queen Mary_ when she steamed out to the NorthSea on an evening in the last week of May, 1916. 

CHAPTER II

A BIT OF HISTORY

Up to this time the German Sea fleet, as a unit, had sufferedcomparatively little damage in the great war. Sheltered as it wasbehind the great fortress of Heligoland, the British sea forces hadbeen unable to reach it; nor would the Germans venture forth to givebattle to the English, in spite of the bait that more than once hadbeen placed just outside the mine fields that guarded the approach tothe great German fortress itself. 

To have attacked this fortress would have been foolhardy and theBritish knew it. The British fleet, powerful though it was, would havebeen no match for the great guns of the German fortress, even had thebattleships been able to force a passage of the mine fields; and thislatter feat would have been a wonderful one in itself, could it beaccomplished. 

Upon several occasions German battleships, cruisers and submarines hadventured from behind the mine field and had delivered raids upon theBritish coast, almost 400 miles away. How they escaped the eyes of thewaiting British was a riddle that so far had not been explained. Butwhile they reached alien shores in safety, they had not returned withthe same success. Twice the British had come into contact with theseGerman raiders and in each case the enemy had come off second best. Several German cruisers had been sent to the bottom. 

After occasions like these, the Germans would lie long behind theirsnug walls before venturing forth into the open again. They held theBritish navy in too great awe to treat it lightly. 

But the fact that the British were able to keep the German fleetbottled up was a victory in itself, though a bloodless one. Practicallyall commerce with Germany had been shut off. It settled down to aquestion of how long the German Empire could survive without thenecessary food and other commodities reaching her shores. What littlein the way of foodstuffs did reach Germany came by the way of theScandinavian countries--Norway, Sweden and Denmark; also some grain wasstill being shipped in by the way of Roumania and was being transportedup the Danube, which had been opened to traffic again after Serbia hadbeen crushed. 

But these supplies were not great enough to take care of the wholeGerman population. In the conquest of Russian Poland, Germany hadimproved her lot somewhat, for the fertile fields had immediately beenplanted and a good crop had been reaped. 

And the one thing that prevented Germany from importing the things thatwould in the end be necessary to her existence was the Britishsupremacy of the sea, abetted now somewhat by the navies of France, Italy and Japan. German commerce had been cleared from the seven seas. What vessels of war had been scattered over the world at the outbreakof the war had either been sent to the bottom, captured or wereinterned in foreign ports. These latter were of no value to Germany. 

It had been more than a year now since the last German commerce raiderhad been sunk. The German commercial flag was seen no more in the fourcorners of the globe. It appeared that Germany was nearing the end ofher rope. 

And yet, bottled up in Heligoland, remained the German high sea fleetpractically intact. It was a formidable fleet and one, it seemed, thatshould not be afraid to venture from behind the protection of thefortress. And some day, the world knew, when all other ways had failed, this great fleet would steam forth to give battle to the British, in alast effort of the German Emperor to turn the tide in his favor; andwhile, in the allied nations at least, there was no doubt of theultimate outcome of such a struggle, it was realized that the Germanfleet would give a good account of itself when it did venture forth. 

Therefore, it was considered just as well that the British keep theGerman high sea fleet bottled up and give it no chance to reach theopen, where, although the greater part might be sent to the bottom, some vessels might escape and embark upon a cruise of commerce warfare. This bloodless victory, it was pointed out, was of just as great valueto Great Britain as if all the German ships of war had been at thebottom of the North Sea. Bottled up as they were, they were just asineffective. 

This was the situation, then, when the _Queen Mary, _ with Jack andFrank aboard, steamed down the Thames and out into the North Sea totake up again her patrol of those waters; and there was nothing to warnthose on board of the great battle that even now was impending and thatwas to result disastrously for Great Britain, even though the Germanswere to suffer no less. 

Mess over, Frank and Jack made their way to their own quartersamidships. Here they sat down and for some time talked over the eventsof the days gone by. 

"I guess there will be nothing for us to do this night, " said Frank atlast. "We may as well turn in. "

"I am afraid there will be nothing for us to do for some time to come, "was Jack's reply. "I am afraid it will be rather monotonous sailingabout the North Sea looking for German warships, when the latter areafraid to come out and fight. "

"Well, you can't tell, " said Frank. "However, that's one beauty of asubmarine. You don't have to wait around for something to happen. Youcan go out and make it happen. "

"That's so. But, by Jove! I wish these fellows would come out andfight! Maybe we could put an end to this war real quickly. "

"Yes, but we might not, " returned Frank. 

"Why, don't you think we can thrash them?"

"I suppose we can; but at the same time they can do a lot of damage. Besides, some of them have come out. We've sunk some, of course, butthe others have returned safely enough. I can't see any excuse forthat. "

"It does seem that they should have been caught, " Jack agreed, "but Iguess Admiral Jellicoe, Admiral Beatty and the admiralty know what isgoing on. "

"Sometimes it doesn't look like it, " declared Frank. "I suppose thereare still some of these German submarines scooting about almost underour feet. "

"I suppose so. However, ordinarily, as you know, they won't attack abattleship. It's too risky. If they miss with the first torpedo, thechances are they will be sunk. "

"Well, we sunk a few, " said Frank. 

"I know we did; but we took long chances. "

"The Germans take long chances, too. "

"You must have a little German blood in you, Frank, " said Jack, with asmile. "If I didn't know you better, I would think you were sticking upfor them. "

"No, I'm not sticking up for them; but they do things we seem to beafraid to do. To my way of thinking, we should have gone and cleaned upHeligoland a long time ago. "

"By Jove! You want the enemy to win this war quickly, don't you?"

"No, but----"

"Come, now. You know very well what would have happened if we had triedto take a fleet into Heligoland. They would have blown us out of thewater. "

"Well, such things have been done, " grumbled Frank. "I can tell you acouple of cases. At Mobile Bay----"

"Oh, I've heard all that before. But conditions now are absolutelydifferent. What was done fifty years ago can't be done today. "

"They aren't being done, that much is sure, " replied Frank. "But thisargument is not doing us any good. Me for a little sleep. "

"I'm with you, " said Jack. 

And half an hour later, as the _Queen Mary_ still steamed due east, Frank and Jack slept. 

Above, the third officer held the bridge. The great searchlight forwardlighted the water for some distance ahead, and aft a second light castits powerful rays first to port and then to starboard. There was notanother vessel in sight. 

Farther to the east, other British battleships patrolled the sea, theirlights also flashing back and forth. It would be a bold enemy who wouldventure to run that blockade; and yet, in spite of this, the strictestwatch was maintained. For the fact still remained fresh in the minds ofthe British that upon two occasions the Germans had run the Britishblockade; and both times the failure of the British to intercept themhad resulted in heavy loss of life on the coast, where the Germanwarships had shelled unfortified towns--against all rules of civilizedwarfare--killing thousands of helpless men, women and children. 

It was against some such similar attack that the British warships werepatrolling every mile of water. The British coast must be protected. Nomore German raiders must be allowed to slip through and bombardundefended coast towns. 

Also, strict watch was kept aloft. For almost nightly now, huge GermanZeppelins were sailing across the sea and dropping bombs upon the coastof Kent, upon Dover, and close even to London itself. It was fearedthat one of these monsters of the air might swoop down upon thebattleships and, with a well directed bomb, send the vessel to thebottom of the sea. 

All British war vessels were equipped with anti-aircraft guns and thesewere ever loaded and ready for action; for there was no telling whatmoment they might be called into use to repel a foe. Upon severaloccasions attacks of the Zeppelins had been beaten off with these guns, though, up to date, none had been brought down. 

But now there had been perfected a new anti-aircraft gun. With this itwas believed that the battleship stood a good chance of bringing down aZeppelin should it venture near enough. 

With such a gun the _Queen Mary_ had been equipped as she wasoverhauled in dry dock. With this gun went four men. One to stand bythe gun at night and keep watch of the sky and a second to do duty inthe day time. The other two men stood relief watches and were ofadditional need should one of the first men be injured, taken sick orkilled. 

And so it was that, as the _Queen Mary_ continued on her way, one ofthese men stood by his gun just aft of the bridge, watching the sky. Nor did he shirk his task. 

Almost continuously his eye swept the dark heavens, following, as wellas he could, in the path of one or the other of the searchlights. Heused powerful night glasses for this purpose. Suddenly he gave a start. He looked closely again through his glasses. Then he uttered a cry ofalarm. 

The third officer, on the bridge, gave an exclamation. 

"What do you see?" he demanded. 

"Zeppelin, " was the reply. "Douse the light aft. Have the man forwardsee if he can pick up the craft with his flash. About two points eastby north. "

There came sharp commands aboard the _Queen Mary. _

CHAPTER III

WARSHIP AND ZEPPELIN

A bell tinkled in the engine room of the _Queen Mary_. The ship sloweddown. Captain Raleigh had been called by the third officer. He took thebridge and issued his orders sharply. 

There was no telling whether the Zeppelin sighted by the man at the gunwould attack the ship, but Captain Raleigh considered it best to be onthe safe side. That was why he had left orders to be called immediatelyshould an enemy appear. 

Again a bell tinkled in the engine room, following an order from thecommander of the _Queen Mary_. 

The great engines stopped and became silent. 

"Cut off all lights!" was the next command. 

A moment later the great ship was in darkness. 

Frank and Jack, in their quarters, were awakened by the sounds ofconfusion above. All hands had not been piped on deck, so most of themen still lay asleep, unconscious of what was going on above, but thetwo lads, dressing hurriedly, made their way on deck. They walkedforward, toward the bridge. 

All was dark and it was this that told Frank and Jack that somethingwas going on. 

"Wonder what's up?" said Frank. 

"Airship, I guess, " was the reply. "Can't see any other reason forextinguishing all lights. "

Near the bridge the lads stopped and waited to see what would happen. All was quiet aboard. Not a sound came from the officers or the men ondeck. Then Captain Raleigh commanded:

"Try the forward searchlight there. See if you can pick her up!"

The light flashed aloft; and there, so far above the _Queen Mary_ as tobe little more than a tiny speck, hovered a giant Zeppelin; and even asthey looked, the airship came lower. 

"She's sighted us, " said Captain Raleigh to his first officer, whostood beside him. "Try a shot, Mr. Harrison. "

The first officer passed the word and a second later there came thesound of the anti-aircraft gun. The gunner had taken his range at themoment the flashlight revealed the airship. 

The shot brought no noticeable result. 

"Fifteen knots ahead, Mr. Harrison!" ordered the captain. 

He was afraid that the Zeppelin might drop a bomb on the ship; and fromthat moment until the end of the battle the _Queen Mary_ did not pause. First she headed to port and then to starboard, manoeuvering rapidlythat the German airmen might not be able to reach her with a bomb. 

"Another shot!" commanded Captain Raleigh. 

Still no result. 

"Funny she doesn't rise and try and escape, " said Frank. 

"No, it's not, " returned Jack. "They don't know anything about this newanti-aircraft gun. They believe they are out of range. "

"Well, they're likely to hit us with one of those bombs, and then wherewill we be?" said Frank. 

"If they hit us you won't know anything about it, " was Jack's response. 

Again the _Queen Mary_ tried a shot at the Zeppelin. 

A cheer went up from the members of the crew who stood upon deck; forthe Zeppelin was seen to wabble. 

"Nicked her, " shouted the first officer. 

Jack, standing near the rail, heard something whiz by his head. Instinctively the lad ducked. He knew in a moment what had passed him;he heard something splash into the sea. 

"Bomb just missed us, sir!" he cried, stepping forward. 

"Where?" demanded Captain Raleigh. 

"Right here, forward, sir, " replied Jack. 

Captain Raleigh gave a quick command to his first officer, who passedit to the man at the wheel. 

"Hard a-port!" he cried. 

The ship veered crazily; and at the some moment, Frank, who wasstanding where Jack had been a moment before, heard something swishpast. 

"Another bomb, sir!" he reported. 

There was no reply from the bridge. Captain Raleigh felt that, bybringing the ship's head hard to port, he had spoiled the range of theenemy in the air. 

For some time no more bombs dropped near. 

Again the _Queen Mary_ fired at the Zeppelin; and again and again. 

The last shot was rewarded by another cheer from the crew. The giantZeppelin was seen to drop suddenly. 

The crew cheered loud and long for it appeared that the Zeppelin wasabout to drop into the sea. Down she came and still down; and then herdescent suddenly halted. 

To those aboard the _Queen Mary_ this was unexplainable. 

"Fire again, quickly!" shouted the captain. 

The air gun boomed. At the same moment a man was seen to lean over theside of the Zeppelin. He dropped something. 

Again Captain Raleigh acted promptly and brought the head of the _QueenMary_ around. The German bomb missed. Before another could be dropped, the man who manned the anti-aircraft gun fired again. 

Another cheer from the crew. 

The Zeppelin began to sink slowly. 

"Full speed ahead!" cried Captain Raleigh. "They'll sink us!"

The _Queen Mary_ leaped ahead just in time. 

And then the Zeppelin dropped. 

With a splash it hit the water perhaps a quarter of a mile from theBritish battleship. Came cries from the men, caught beneath the gasbag. At that moment Jack stood close to the bridge. Captain Raleigh sawhim. 

"Man a boat, Mr. Templeton, " he called, "and rescue those fellows inthe water. "

Quickly Jack sprang to obey. Frank leaped after him. Hurriedly a smallboat was gotten out and launched. A half dozen sailors sprang in andtook up the oars. Frank and Jack leaped in after them. 

The oars glistened in the glare of the searchlight as the men raisedthem and awaited the word. 

"Give way, " said Jack. 

The boat sped over the smooth surface of the sea. 

Close to the wreckage of the Zeppelin it approached; and cries toldJack that some of the Germans still lived. 

"Hurry!" he cried, and the men increased their stroke. 

Near the wreckage Jack gave the command to cease rowing. A German swamtoward the boat. Hands helped him in and he lay in the bottom panting. Other forms swam toward them. These, too, were lifted in the boat. Andat last Jack counted fifteen Germans who had been saved. 

"Are you all here?" he asked of a German officer. 

"All but Commander Butz, sir, " was the man's reply. 

Jack commanded his men to row closer to the wreckage. 

"Ahoy there!" he shouted, when he had come close. 

The lad thought he heard a muffled answer, but he could not make sure. He called again. This time the answer came plainer. 

"Where are you?" asked Jack. 

"Under the wreckage, " was the reply. 

Jack scrutinized the wreckage closely. 

"Looks like it might sink any minute, " he said "But we can't leave himthere. "

"What are you going to do?" asked Frank. 

For answer Jack arose in the boat. Quickly he threw off his coat andkicked off his shoes. Then he poised himself on the edge of the boat. 

"I'm going after him, " he replied. 

Before Frank could reply, he had dived head first into the sea. 

With a cry of alarm, Frank also sprang to his feet and divested himselfof his coat and shoes. 

"Stay close, men!" he commanded. "I'll lend a hand if it's needed. "

He, too, leaped into the water. 

Rapidly, Jack swam close to the wreckage. He continued to call to theGerman, and while he received an answer each time, he could not locatethe man. Twice he swam around all that remained of the huge Zeppelin. By this time Frank had come up with him. 

"Can't you find him?" he asked. 

"No, " returned Jack, "and I am rather afraid to swim under there. Theballoon may sink and carry me under. But if I were certain in exactlywhat spot the man is imprisoned, I'd have a try at it. "

Frank listened attentively; and directly the German's voice came again. To Frank it seemed that the voice came from directly ahead of him. 

"Lay hold of this end here, " he said to Jack. "If you can lift it a bitI'll go under and have a look. "

"Better let me do it, Frank, " said Jack. 

"No; you're stronger than I am. You can hold this up better. "

Jack did as his chum requested and a moment later Frank disappearedunder the wreckage, diving first to make sure that he got under. 

Under the water the lad swam forward. His hand touched something thatwas threshing about. 

He felt sure it was the German. He rose. His head came in contact withsomething, but the lad opened his eyes and saw that he was above thesurface. The imprisoned German was close beside him. 

"Dive!" said Frank. "You can come out all right. "

"Can't, " was the reply. "My arm is caught. "

Frank made a quick examination. 

"I can loosen it, " he said at last, "but I'll probably break the arm. "

"Loosen it, " said the German, quietly. 

Frank took a firm hold on the arm at the elbow and gave a quick wrench. He felt something give, and when he released his hold on the man's arm, the latter sank suddenly. 

Frank dived after him quickly. It was even as the lad feared. TheGerman had fainted from the pain of the arm, which Frank had brokencleanly as he released it. 

Frank dived deep and his outstretched hand encountered the German. Thelad grasped the man firmly by the collar and then struck upwards. Amoment later he succeeded in making his way to where Jack still tuggedat the balloon. 

Jack lent a hand and they dragged the German from beneath the wreckage. Then they towed him to the boat and other hands lifted him in. Frankand Jack clambered aboard. 

"Give way!" said Jack, sharply. 

The boat moved toward the battleship; and even as it did so, the massof wreckage suddenly disappeared from sight with a loud noise. 

Jack shuddered. 

"Pretty close, Frank, " he said quietly. "You can see what would havehappened if you had still been under there. "

CHAPTER IV

ATHLETICS

"Can you fight?"

The speaker was a young British midshipman. Jack and Frank stood at therail, gazing off toward the distant horizon, when the young manapproached them. The lads turned quickly. 

"Can you fight?" demanded the young man again. His eyes rested on Jack. 

"Well, " said the latter with a smile, "I can if I'm pushed to it. Whowants to lick me now?"

The young midshipman also smiled. 

"It's not that kind of a fight I'm talking about, " he said. "You're newaboard, so I'll explain. "

"Do, " said Jack. 

"Well, there has been considerable rivalry between the men of our shipand the crew of the _Indefatigable_. We had an athletic contest lastyear and they beat us, carrying everything but the standing broad jump. This year we are better fortified and we hope to get even. Among otherthings there will be a boxing match. Jackson, that's the man we hadentered in that event, is ill. I have been elected to find asubstitute. I sized you up as being able to hold your own with most. "

"Well, if that's the way of it, you can count me in, of course, " saidJack. "When does this come off?"

"As soon as we come up with the _Indefatigable_. Probably tomorrow. "

"What other events are there?" asked Frank. 

"Plenty, " was the reply. "Besides the boxing match and standing broadjump are the running broad jump; high jumping, a match with foils and arevolver contest. "

"And are your lists filled?" asked Frank. 

"I believe so. Why?"

"Well, I'd like to get in the revolver contest, " replied the lad. "I'mpretty handy with a gun. "

"I'll see what can be done, " returned the midshipman. "By the way, myname is Lawrence. "

They shook hands and walked off. 

"Well, that's something to liven things up a bit, " said Frank. 

"Yes; but I didn't know they were doing such things in time of war. "

"Neither did I; but it seems they are. "

It was late that evening when Lawrence again approached the two lads. 

"You're in luck, " he said to Frank. "We are still one man shy on ourrevolver team. I have named you for the place. "

"Thanks, " said Frank. "I'll promise to do the best I can. By the way, where is this match to take place?"

"Right here. Last year it was pulled off on the _Indefatigable_. "

It was drawing toward night when the _Queen Mary, _ steaming swiftly, sighted smoke upon the horizon. Two hours later she slowed down a shortdistance from three other vessels, which proved to be the_Indefatigable_, the _Invincible_ and the _Lion_, the latter theflagship of Vice-Admiral Beatty. 

The commanders exchanged salutations; and among other things madearrangements for the athletic contest that was to take place aboard the_Queen Mary_ the following day. This was explained to the men. 

The day's events were to begin at nine o'clock. They were to come inthis order: Standing broad jump, running broad jump, high jump, foilmatch, revolver contest and boxing match. 

"You're last on the card, Jack, " said Frank, with a laugh, when theywere informed of the manner in which the events were to be pulled off. 

"Hope I'm last on my feet, too, " said Jack, with a laugh. 

"Oh, I'm not worrying about you. You'll come through with flyingcolors. I hope I am not nervous, though. "

"You won't be, " said Jack, positively. "I know you and that revolver ofyours too well. "

"Guess we had better turn in early so as to be fit, " said Frank. 

And they did, retiring several hours after mess. 

Every man aboard the _Queen Mary_ was astir bright and early thefollowing morning. Each man was filled with enthusiasm and each wasready to wager his next year's pay on the outcome of each event. Butthere was to be no gambling. Admiral Beatty had issued orders to thateffect. 

At eight o'clock the championship entrants from the _Indefatigable_came aboard, accompanied by many of their companions, who would bepresent to cheer them on. Officers as well as men were greatlyinterested in the day's sports. Admiral Beatty could not be present, but Captain Reynolds, of the _Indefatigable_, stood by Captain Raleigh, of the _Queen Mary_, as the first event was called. 

"We're going to get even with you this time, Reynolds, " said CaptainRaleigh. 

"Oh, no you won't. The score will be two in our favor after today. "

They became silent as four men, two from each ship, made ready for thestanding broad jump. 

The jumping was superb. After eight attempts one man from each ship waseliminated; and at length the _Indefatigable_ man won. 

"Two points for us, Raleigh, " said Captain Reynolds, jotting downsomething on the back of an envelope. 

"Don't crow, we'll get you yet, Reynolds, " was Captain Raleigh's reply. 

The running broad jump was won by the _Queen Mary's_ entrants. Then itwas Captain Raleigh's time to smile. 

"Told you so, " he said to Captain Reynolds. 

"Oh, you won one event last year, " was the reply. "This high jump comesto us. "

And it did. The score was now four to two in favor of the_Indefatigable_. Then came the match with foils and this also went tothe _Indefatigable_, making the score nine to two, for this matchcarried five points for the winner. Also, the pistol contest and theboxing match carried five points each. 

"We've got you now, Raleigh, " laughed Captain Reynolds. "Nine to two. You've got to take both of the next two events to win. It can't bedone. "

"It has been done, " was the reply. 

"It won't be this time, " was the reply. "I think we will win therevolver contest, for I have some pretty fair shots, but if we don't, we are sure to take the boxing match. We've a surprise for you there. Here they go. "

The revolver match was on. There were three men on each team. The firstmark was set, a target at twenty yards with a six-inch bull's eye. Frank fired first. He hit the bull's eye easily. So did the others, allexcept one of the _Indefatigable_ crew, who was thus eliminated, muchto his disgust, as the spectators jeered him. 

The next shot at a smaller mark eliminated one of the _Queen Mary's_crew. An _Indefatigable_ man and a _Queen Mary_ man both missed thenext mark and there remained but Frank for the _Queen Mary_ and a mannamed Simpson for the _Indefatigable_. 

The target had been removed to sixty yards and the bull's eye was buttwo inches. Frank fired and scored a hit. So did Simpson. Next both hitthe mark ten yards farther back. 

A one-inch bull's eye was substituted. Frank fired first. He scored aclean hit. Simpson also hit the eye, though not so squarely. Still itcounted a hit. 

Now the bull's eye was reduced to half an inch, and at seventy yards itseemed almost impossible to hit it. This time Simpson was to firefirst. Carefully he took deliberate aim and fired. 

A shout went up from the _Queen Mary_ men who stood near. 

"Missed it by a hair, " said one. "Beat it, Chadwick! Beat it!"

"He can't beat it! Hooray! We've won!" This from the _Indefatigable's_crew. 

"Good shooting, old man, " said Frank, quietly, as he took his position. 

Carefully he measured the distance with his eye. 

Then he raised his revolver slowly, and seeming scarcely to take aim, fired. 

And a yell went up from the _Queen Mary's_ crew. 

"Bull's eye! Bull's eye!" they cried, and danced and capered about thedeck. 

Frank had won. He had hit the bull's eye squarely. 

The men rushed up and danced about him. 

"Good work!" they cried. "Five points for us. Nine to seven now. We'llwin this yet!"

Simpson approached Frank and extended a hand. 

"Good shooting, son, " he exclaimed. 

Simpson was a man well along in years, and he put this touch offamiliarity to his words to make Frank realize that they were sincere. "I used to be something of a shot myself, " he said. "But I guess youare better than I ever was. "

Frank took Simpson's hand. 

"You would probably beat me next time, " he said. 

Simpson shook his head. 

"Not in a thousand years, " he said, and walked off. 

Meantime, Captain Raleigh and Captain Reynolds were having it out. 

"Told you so! Told you so!" exclaimed the former, as pleased as a boy. "We'll beat you yet, sure. "

"No, you won't, Raleigh, " said Reynolds, with a wink. "I'll tell yousomething. Ever hear of a man named Harris?"

"Yes; I know several men by that name. "

"Ever hear of Tim Harris?"

"By George! You mean Tim Harris, of the _Queen Elizabeth_?"

"The same. "

"The champion of the British fleet, eh? You mean to tell me you haverung him in on us?"

"We didn't ring him in, " was the reply. "He was transferred to the_Indefatigable_ before the _Queen Elizabeth_ went to the Dardanelles. We've been saving this up as a little surprise. "

Captain Raleigh had lost his look of optimism. 

"Then our man should be warned, " he said. "He may wish to withdraw. "

"It is only fair to tell him who his opponent is, " agreed CaptainReynolds. "I guess we should have done it long ago. "

"I'll tell him, " said Captain Raleigh. 

At this moment there was a loud cheer from the crew of the _QueenMary_. 

"Here he comes!" they shouted. 

Jack, stripped to the waist and wearing a pair of trunks, had appearedon deck. Two men accompanied him. These, it seemed, were to be hisseconds. Jack caught sight of Frank and smiled. 

And again the crew of the _Queen Mary_ went wild. 

CHAPTER V

THE FIGHT

The champion of the _Indefatigable_ had not yet appeared on deck; andthe crew of the _Queen Mary_ strained their necks hunting him out. 

"Bring out your champion!" they called. "What's the matter with him? Ishe afraid?"

The men of the _Indefatigable_ returned these compliments with jeers oftheir own. 

"Oh, just wait!" they howled. 

Captain Raleigh, in the meantime, had approached Jack and his seconds. 

"It is only fair to warn you, " he said quietly, "that the man whom youare to oppose is Tim Harris, champion of the British fleet. "

Jack was surprised. 

"I didn't know that, sir. I thought he was with the _Queen Elizabeth_. "

"Well, he's here; but I didn't know it until a moment ago. It will beno dishonor to you if you wish to withdraw. A man must be in perfecttrim to stand before Harris. "

"Why, " said Jack, in surprise, "I can hardly do that now, sir. The menare depending on me. "

Captain Raleigh smiled frankly. 

"You are all right, boy, " he said. "At your first words I thought youwere afraid. But you cannot hope for victory. "

"I always hope for victory, sir, and I shall do my best. I am nonovice. "

"Perhaps not; but Harris is almost a professional; in fact, I may say, a good deal better than many professionals. He is fast for a man of hissize and has a terrible right-hand punch. I have seen him box often. Ifyou are decided to go on with this, a word of warning. Watch that righthand of his like you would a hawk. "

"I shall remember, sir, " replied Jack. "Thank you. "

"All right then, " said Captain Raleigh. "I like your spunk. Good luckto you. "

Captain Raleigh walked back to Captain Reynold's side. 

"Will he withdraw?" asked the latter. 

"He will not. He says the men are depending on him and he must gothrough with it. "

"By Jove! a fine spirit!" exclaimed Captain Reynolds. "I hope he is nottoo easily disposed of. "

"I don't think he will be, " said Captain Raleigh, quietly. "Someway, Ihave a feeling that you haven't carried off the honors yet. "

"But it's foolish to talk like that, Raleigh, " said Captain Reynolds. "You know this man, Harris. "

"I suppose it is foolish, but it's the way I feel just the same. Ah!There's Harris now. "

Tim Harris had appeared on deck; and the crew of the _Indefatigable_went wild. Now for the first time the crew of the _Queen Mary_ knew whoJack's opponent would be; and after a look at Harris, they becamestrangely silent. Then one voice called:

"Never mind who he is. Templeton can lick him, anyhow!"

The others took up the cry and Jack smiled. 

Now the referee called the principals to him and gave them theirinstructions. 

"No hitting in clinches, and clean breaks, " he said. 

Jack and Harris nodded that they understood. As the two stood theretogether, the crowd sized them up. 

Jack, standing well above six feet, still was not as tall as hisopponent, who topped him by a full inch. Their arms were about of alength, but Harris was big through the chest and his arms seemed morepowerful than Jack's. A close observer, however, would have seen thatwhile Jack was in perfect physical condition, Harris carried a trifletoo much fat--not much, but still a trifle. With the battle anywherenear equal, this fat might prove to Jack's advantage. 

Jack's arms showed strength, but the muscles were not knotted likethose of Harris. Harris was perhaps twenty-eight years old, Jack almostten years younger. Jack had the youth, but Harris had the experience ofmany hard encounters. It appeared that the odds were heavily againstJack. 

Jack and Harris sized each other carefully. Jack smiled. So did Harris. As they touched gloves, Harris said:

"You're a nice boy. I don't want to hurt you too much, so I'll makethis short"--the referee had announced that the match was to be for tenrounds. 

"Don't worry about me, " said Jack. "I can take care of myself. If thematch is short you won't find me on the deck. "

Harris would have replied, but at that moment the referee called:

"Time!"

Jack leaped lightly backward even as Harris aimed a vicious blow at hishead, apparently trying to make good his word to end the battle atonce. The blow missed Jack's face by the fraction of an inch. Harrisfollowed up this blow with a right and left, which Jack blocked neatly, and then brought his right up, trying to upper cut. 

Jack leaped backward and the blow grazed his chin. Before Harris couldrecover, Jack stepped quickly forward and planted a sharp right and ahard left to Harris' nose. Harris stepped back and wiped away a streamof red. 

It was first blood for Jack and the crew of the _Queen Mary_ sent up awild cheer. 

But Harris only smiled. He was not to be caught so easily again. 

These two blows had given the _Indefatigable_ champion some respect forJack's ability. He advanced more carefully this time. He feintedrapidly and shot his left forward, quickly followed by his right. ButJack had not been deceived and caught both blows upon his forearms. 

"You're all right, boy, " said Harris, admiringly, "It's a pleasure tobox with you. "

"And I may say the same, " said Jack. 

They fell to it again. 

As Harris stepped quickly forward his foot slipped and he fell to oneknee. 

"Hit him when he gets up!" came a cry from the crowd. 

Instead, Jack lowered his guard and extended a hand. He helped hisopponent to his feet. Then he stepped back and the battle continued. 

Now Jack decided that he would feel the other out. He feinted rapidly, once, twice, and struck out with a right; and he staggered backsuddenly, for something had suddenly come up under his chin withterrible force. In a moment Jack realized what _it_ was. It wasHarris' right, which Captain Raleigh had warned him against. Had theblow been timed perfectly, Jack realized, the fight would have beenover then and there. 

Guarding desperately, Jack managed to fall into a clinch, where he hungon until his head cleared. As he stepped back the referee called time. The first round was Harris' by the margin of that hard uppercut. 

"I'll be a little more careful of that right, " Jack confided to hisseconds, as he again advanced into the ring. 

Again the lad assumed the offensive, keeping careful eye on hisopponent's right fist. Again Harris tried to reach Jack's chin, butthis time Jack blocked the blow. He knew he would not be caught thatway again. Jack feinted three times, twice with his left and once withhis right, and then the right crashed against Harris' ear. The manstaggered back and before he could recover Jack planted two hard blows--right and left--to his sore nose. Desperately, Harris rushed into aclinch. 

Again the crew of the _Queen Mary_ cheered. 

"And what do you think of that, eh?" asked Captain Raleigh of CaptainReynolds. 

"The boy is a fighter, " was the latter's reply. "But wait; experiencewill tell. "

Harris became more cautious. He circled around Jack, lightly, dancingabout on his toes. The lad followed him quietly. Suddenly, Harris' leftfist shot out. Jack blocked, but before he could recover, Harrislaunched himself like a catapult and a series of right and leftsdescended on Jack's face, neck, ears and abdomen. 

Jack staggered back and Harris followed him closely, giving him no restJack was still retreating at the bell. 

Again in the third and in the fourth round Jack seemed to be gettingthe worst of it. In the fifth he braced and sent in as good as hereceived. In the sixth he almost floored Harris with a straight rightto the side of the jaw; and in the seventh Harris was kept on thedefensive. 

But in the eighth Jack again encountered Harris' right and the force ofthe blow sent him reeling. All through the round Harris followed upthis advantage, and at the bell, it seemed that Jack would be unable tocontinue the fight. 

But his head cleared in the one minute rest period; and he foughtthrough the ninth round carefully. The lad realized now that, so far, Harris had the better of the encounter and that, if he hoped to win, itmust be by a knockout. So, while Harris was trying in vain to put in afinishing punch, Jack husbanded his strength, determined to make astrong effort in the final round. 

The rest refreshed him still more; and as time was called for thetenth, Jack cast discretion to the winds and leaped forward. 

In spite of this, he was cool, however, and kept his eye peeled for themovement that would tell him Harris was about to launch his right. 

A right and left he landed to Harris' sore nose. Then Harris rushed. Jack was forced back around the ring by the force of this rush andbacked against the ropes; but he bounded out with great force andlanded a vicious left to the side of Harris' jaw. Then they clinched. 

As the referee parted them, Jack saw the movement for which he had beenwatching. Harris again was about to launch that terrible right. The ladwaited calmly. 

"Swish!"

It flashed forth faster than the eye could see. But it had not come tooquick for Jack, who was expecting it. 

The blow was aimed for the point of the chin and would have ended thefight right there. But, judging the distance exactly, Jack moved hishead a trifle to one side; and Harris' fist flashed by his chin by thefraction of an inch. 

With all his force behind the blow, Jack put a straight left to Harris'jaw. A terrible jolt to the abdomen followed; and, as Harris head cameforward again, Jack pivoted on his heel and struck with his right. 

He had judged the time and the distance perfectly. His right fistcaught Harris squarely upon the point of the chin. There was a "smack"that could be heard even above the cheering of the _Queen Mary's_ crew, followed by a crash as Harris fell to the deck. With half a minute ofthe last round to go, Jack had knocked the man out and won the day forthe _Queen Mary_ by a score of twelve to nine. 

And the crew cheered again!

CHAPTER VI

SCOUTING

Harris remained prostrate on the deck. 

Quickly, Jack pulled off his gloves and, leaning down, he picked up theunconscious man and carried him to his own cabin. There he bathed theman's face and brought him back to consciousness. 

"How do you feel, old man?" he asked. 

Harris looked at the lad queerly. 

"So you beat me, eh?" he said. "Well, to tell you the truth, after thefifth round I expected it. I am no match for you and I know it. Do yourealize that you are the champion of the British fleet now?"

"I hadn't thought of that, " was Jack's reply. 

"You have defeated the champion, so your title is undisputed, " saidHarris. 

He rose from the bunk where Jack had placed him and felt tenderly ofhis chin. 

"Quite a wallop, " he said calmly. "Well, let me congratulate you. I amglad that, as long as I had to be defeated some day, it was you whoturned the trick. "

He extended a hand and Jack grasped it heartily. 

"You would probably down me next time, " he said. 

"Not a chance, " replied Harris. "I know when I have met my superior. "

He moved toward the door. There he paused for a moment and said:

"Well, I must go and dress now. I hope that I may see you again beforelong. "

"I am sure I hope so, too, " returned Jack. 

Hardly had Harris taken his departure when running feet approachedJack's cabin. A moment later a crowd of sailors burst into the room. Before Jack realized what was going on, they had seized him, hoistedhim to their shoulders and rushed out on deck again. There, for perhapshalf an hour, they paraded up and down, cheering wildly. 

They lowered him to the deck, however, when Captain Raleigh and CaptainReynolds approached. The former spoke first. 

"I must congratulate you upon your remarkable exhibition, " he said. "You are a brave boy. "

Jack flushed and hung his head. 

"When I am mistaken I admit it, " said Captain Reynolds. "You are morethan a match for Harris at any time. "

"I did the best I could, " said Jack, sheepishly. 

"Well, it was pretty good, " said Captain Reynolds. 

With Captain Raleigh he moved away. 

Frank now approached and accompanied Jack back to their cabin, whereJack got info his uniform. 

"Some scrapper, you are, " said Frank. "I thought you were done for onceor twice, though. "

"I thought so myself, " returned Jack, with a grin. "I was pretty luckyin that last round, if you ask me. "

"Harris was pretty unlucky, I know that, " said Frank, grimly. "Hurryup, it's time to eat. "

Jack's fight was the talk of the day aboard the _Queen Mary_; andaboard the _Indefatigable_, too, for that matter. In fact, all theBritish fleet within wireless radius knew before night that there was anew champion of the British fleet; and they cheered him, though hecould not hear. 

It was upon the following morning, while the _Queen Mary_ steamed aboutin the North Sea, that Jack and Frank embarked upon their first pieceof work since they had been assigned to the giant battleship. 

Both lads were in their cabin studying, when an orderly announced thatCaptain Raleigh desired their presence. They obeyed the summons atonce. 

"And how do you feel today?" asked Captain Raleigh, as he eyed Jack, quietly. 

"First rate, sir. "

"Feel like another fight?"

"No, sir. I don't make a practice of that sort of thing. "

"I'm glad to hear that. How would you like to take a little trip?"

"First rate, sir. Where to, sir?"

"Well, that's rather a difficult question, " returned Captain Raleigh. "Here, read this, " and he passed the lad a slip of paper. 

Jack did as commanded. This is what he read:

"Large number of enemy aircraft reported flying over North Sea, fiftymiles south of you, every night. Investigate. 

(Signed) "BEATTY. "

Jack passed the slip of paper back. 

"Well?" exclaimed Captain Raleigh. 

"Yes, sir, " replied Jack. "You want me to find out what's going on, sir?"

"Exactly. Can you run a hydroplane?"

"No, sir; but Frank here can. "

"Who?"

"Lieutenant Chadwick, sir. "

"Oh, " said the commander, "so he is Frank, eh? All right. Then here iswhat I want you two to do. Take the hydroplane aft and fly south. Takeyour time and see what you can find out. The matter may amount tonothing, and then again it may forebode something serious. "

"Very well, sir, " replied Frank. "When shall we start, sir?"

"You may as well start immediately. It is hardly possible, judging bythe tone of that message, that you will find anything by daylight, butat least you can be on the ground by night. "

"Very well, sir, " said Jack, and waited to see if there were anyfurther instructions. 

Captain Raleigh dismissed the two lads with a wave of his hand. 

"That is all, " he said. "Report the moment you are able to do so. "

The two lads saluted and returned to their own cabin. 

"You see, " said Frank, "we didn't have to wait very long to findsomething to do. "

"I see we didn't, " agreed Frank. "Now, the first thing to do is shedthese uniforms. "

"What for?"

"So that we shall not be taken for British should we fall among theenemy. We'll put on plain khaki suits. "

"Well, whatever you say, " said Frank. 

This was the work of but a few moments; and half an hour later the twolads soared into the air in one of the _Queen Mary's_ largehydroplanes. 

"This is something like it, if you ask me, " said Frank, as he bent overthe wheel. 

"Pretty fine, " Jack agreed, raising his voice to make himself heardabove the whir of the propellers and the noise of the engine. "Iwouldn't mind flying all the time. "

"Where do we want to come down, Jack?" asked Frank. 

"Let's see. The message said the enemy was flying about fifty milessouth. They probably won't be out before dark, so I should say it mightbe well to go a little beyond that point. "

"All right. But we may miss them in the darkness tonight. "

"By Jove! That's so! Funny I didn't think of that. Let me think amoment. "

"No use of thinking, " said Frank, "I have a scheme that will work allright. "

"What is it?"

"Why, we'll stop right in the path taken by the enemy planes and thendrop down upon the water. "

"So the Germans can see us as they fly by, eh?"

"They won't see us in the dark, " said Frank. "We'll be a pretty smallspot down on the water. They will be looking for nothing so small. "

"I guess you are right, after all, " Jack agreed. "At least it's worthtrying. We'll be sure to hear them flying above; and if we went beyondthe lane of travel, or didn't go far enough, we might not even seethem. "

"Exactly, " said Frank. "Well, there is no hurry, so I may as well slowdown a bit. "

He did so and they went along more leisurely. 

"Can't see what the Germans would be flying about here for, " said Jack, "and I have been trying to figure it out ever since I read thatmessage. "

"So have I, " declared Frank, "If they were Zeppelins I could understandit; they would be going and returning from raids on the British coast;but surely they would not venture that distance with aeroplanes. "

"I wouldn't think so. Still, you never can tell about those fellows. They do a lot of strange things. "

"So they do. Say!" Frank was struck with a sudden thought. "You don'tsuppose the presence of many of those fellows heralds the advance ofthe German fleet, do you? They might be just reconnoitering, you know. "

"No, I hardly think that could be it. The Germans are afraid to ventureout. They know they'll get licked if they do. "

"Well, those aeroplanes come out every night for some purpose, that'ssure, " said Frank. "It's a wonder to me the Germans haven't tried tosneak out in great force before now. They could come along here withoutany trouble, or they could make the effort farther north, say nearJutland. "

"Well, I suppose they'll try it some day, " said Jack, "but not rightaway. How much farther do we have to go?"

Frank glanced at his chart and then at his speedometer. 

"About fifteen miles, " was his reply; "and then we'll be there toosoon. "

The lad was right. It was not three o'clock when the hydroplane came tothe spot the lads had selected to descend. 

"Well, here we are, " said Frank. 

"Guess we may as well go down, then, " said Jack. "Some of those fellowsare likely to be prowling about and spot us. "

"Just as you say, " agreed Frank. 

He set the planes and the machine glided to the water, where it came torest lightly. 

"Glad there is no sun, " said Jack, "it would be awfully hot down here. "

And there the lads spent the afternoon. Darkness came at last, and withits coming, the lads made ready for whatever might occur. Eight o'clockcame and there had been no sounds of airships flying above. The ladsstrained their ears, listening for the slightest sound. 

And, shortly after nine o'clock, their efforts were rewarded. Jacksuddenly took Frank by the arm. 

"Listen!" he exclaimed in a low voice. 

CHAPTER VII

AMONG THE ENEMY

To Frank's ears came a distant whirring. To ears less keen than thelad's the sound, which came from above, might have been some bird ofthe night flapping its wings as it soared overhead. But to Frank andJack both it meant something entirely different. It was the sound forwhich they had been waiting. It was an airship. 

Through his night glass Jack scanned the clouds and at last he pickedup the object for which he sought. Almost directly overhead at thatmoment, but flying rapidly westward, was a single aeroplane. So high inthe air was the machine that it looked a mere speck and Jack was unableto determine from that distance whether it was British or German. 

"See it, Jack?" asked Frank in a low voice. 

"Yes, " was the reply. "A single craft, perhaps half a mile up. "

"No more in sight, eh?"

"Not yet. This one is heading west. "

"Guess we had better get up that way, then, " said Frank. 

Jack assented. 

A moment later the hydroplane was skimming swiftly over the water. Forperhaps three hundred yards Frank kept the craft on the water; thensent it soaring into the air above. 

There was not a word between the two boys until the hydroplane was aquarter of a mile in the air. Then Jack said:

"Make your elevation half a mile and then head west, slowly. Thechances are there will be more of them. In the darkness we can let themovertake us and mingle with them in safety. "

Frank gave his endorsement to this plan and the machine continued torise. At the proper elevation, Frank turned the hydroplane's headwestward and reduced the speed to less than thirty miles an hour. Soslow was its gait, in fact, that it had the appearance of almoststanding still. 

Jack scanned the eastern horizon with his glass. 

"See anything?" asked Frank. 

"Thought I did, " was the reply, "but whatever I saw has disappearednow. Guess I must have been mistaken. "

But Jack had not been mistaken. 

Far back, even now, a fleet of perhaps a dozen German air planes werespeeding westward. For the most part they were small craft, having acapacity of not more than three men, with the single exception of onemachine, which, larger than the rest, carried four men. The air planeswere strung out for considerable distance, no two being closer than twohundred yards together. 

And in this manner they overtook the hydroplane driven by Frank andJack. 

Jack, again surveying the horizon with his night glass, gave anexclamation. 

"Here they come, Frank, " he said. "Let her out a little more. "

Frank obeyed without question and the speed of the hydroplane increasedfrom something more than thirty miles an hour to almost sixty. Andstill the Germans gained. 

"This will do, " said Jack, leaning close to Frank. "They'll overtakeus, but believing we are of their number, there is little likelihoodthat they will investigate us very closely. We can fall in line withouttrouble and accompany them wherever they go. "

"Suits me, " said Frank. "Just keep me posted on their proximity. "

Gradually the Germans reduced the distance and at length the firstplane was only a few yards behind the craft in which Frank and Jackwere risking their lives. The German craft flashed by a moment laterwithout paying any attention to the hydroplane. 

"Little more speed, Frank, " called Jack. 

The hydroplane skimmed through the air faster than before and the nextGerman craft did not overtake it so easily; but at length it passed, asdid a third and a fourth. 

"Here's a good place for us to fall in line, " Jack instructed. 

Again Frank increased the speed of the hydroplane and it moved swiftlyin the wake of the fourth German craft. After that no enemy air planepassed them. 

"Any idea where we are?" asked Frank of his chum. 

"We're not far off the Belgian coast, but how far west I can't say, "returned Jack. "Don't suppose it makes any particular difference, though. "

"I guess not. "

Frank became silent and gave his undivided attention to keeping theGerman plane ahead of him in sight. 

And in this manner they proceeded for perhaps another half hour. 

Then the machine ahead of Frank veered sharply to the south. Frankbrought the head of his own craft in the same direction and the flightcontinued. 

"Headed for the Belgian or French coast, apparently, " said Jack tohimself. "Wonder what the idea is?"

Now the craft ahead of that in which the two boys rode reduced itsspeed abruptly. Frank cut down the gait of his own craft and theycontinued on their way more slowly. 

"Nearing our destination, wherever that is, " muttered Jack. 

The lad felt of his revolvers to make sure that they were ready in caseof an emergency. 

"Land ahead, " said Frank, suddenly. 

Jack gazed straight before him. There, what appeared to be many milesaway, though in reality it was but a few, was a dark blur below. Occasionally what appeared to be little stars twinkled there. Jack knewthey were the lights of some town. 

"Guess that's where we are headed for, all right, " he told himself. 

Behind the British hydroplane the other German airships came rapidly, keeping some distance apart, however. Jack leaned close to Frank. 

"Just do as the ones ahead of you do, " he said quietly. "I don't knowwhere we are nor what is likely to happen. Keep your nerve and we'll beall right. "

"Don't worry about me, " responded Frank. "I'm having the time of mylife. "

Jack smiled to himself, for he knew that Frank was telling the truth. There was nothing the lad liked better than to be engaged in adangerous piece of work and more than once his fondness for excitementhad almost ended disastrously. 

"Frank's all right if he can just keep his head, " muttered Jack. "I'mlikely to have to hold him in check a bit, though. "

They had approached the shore close enough now to perceive that thedistant lights betokened a large town. 

"Probably Ostend, " Jack told himself, "though why they should come thisway is too deep for me. "

But Jack was wrong, as he learned a short time later. 

The town that they now were approaching was the French port of Calaisand it was still held by the French despite determined efforts of theGermans at one time or another to extend their lines that far. Thecapture of Calais by the Germans would have been a severe blow toEngland, for with the French seaport in their possession, the Germans, with their great guns, would have been able to command the Englishchannel and a considerable portion of the North Sea coast. 

When it appeared that the German aircraft would fly directly over thecity, the leading machine suddenly swerved to the east. The othersfollowed suit. 

The night was very dark, and in spite of the occasional searchlightthat was flashed into the air by the French in Calais, the Teutonmachines so far had been undiscovered. Now, hanging low over the land, a sudden bombardment broke out from the German air planes. 

It was not the sound of bombs that came to the lads' ears; rather thesharp "crack! crack!" of revolver firing. Jack and Frank gazed aboutthem quickly, for they believed, for the moment, that the Germans hadencountered a squadron of French airships. 

But there was no other machine in sight save the German craft. 

"What in the world is the meaning of this?" Frank asked of Jack. 

"Don't know, " returned the lad, "but I guess I'd better join in. "

He drew his revolver and fired several shots in the air. 

"Seems to be expected of us, " he said. "We don't want to disappointthem. "

The German aircraft now headed straight for the city of Calais. Franksent his machine speeding in the same direction. Then, just as itappeared they would fly directly above the city, the first German craftbegan to descend. The others did likewise and a moment or so later theyall came to earth in the center of what Frank and Jack could see was asmall army camp; and as they alighted from their machines, the lads sawthat it was an Allied camp and not a German. 

"Must be Calais, " said Frank to Jack in a whisper. "Have we beenmistaken? Are these French and British machines?"

"Well, it looks like it, " returned Jack. "We'll keep quiet and let theother fellows do the talking. "

A French officer now approached the pilot of the first aircraft. 

"We heard the firing aloft a moment ago, " he said. "Did you encounterthe enemy?"

"We were pursued all the way from the German lines, " was the reply. 

"Anyone hit?"

"I think not, though I believe we accounted for one or two of theenemy. "

"Good. Will you fly again tonight?"

"Yes; but not before midnight. "

The French officer withdrew. 

At this one of the aviators raised a hand and the others gathered abouthim, Frank and Jack with them. All wore khaki clothing and theirfeatures were concealed by heavy goggles. 

"Careful, " whispered the aviator. "A false move and we are discovered. Spread out now and see what you can learn. Gather here at midnight. "

He waved a hand and the Germans, for such Jack and Frank now knew themto be, separated. When the two lads were alone a moment later, Jacksaid:

"Well, this is what I call a piece of nervy business. What shall we do?Inform the French commander immediately?"

"No. I have a better plan that that. They can hardly work any mischieftonight. What information they learn will avail them naught for we canwarn the French commander later. We must find out what they are up to. We'll stick close and follow them back to the German lines, ifnecessary. "

"Good, then! Guess we had better do a little skirmishing about. It willkeep suspicion from us should we be watched. "

"All right, " said Frank. "Come on. "

CHAPTER VIII

A STARTLING DISCOVERY

With the coming of midnight Frank and Jack returned to the spot wherethe aeroplanes had been parked. Several of the German aviators alreadyhad returned. The man who appeared to be the leader announced that theywould await the arrival of the others before taking to the air. 

The others arrived one at a time until all were present but two. Themachines were in readiness to ascend the moment the missing menarrived. The aviators were at their posts. 

Suddenly there came a shout. A moment later the two German aviators whowere delaying the departure burst into sight at a dead run. 

"Quick!" called one. "We are discovered!"

Immediately the others--Frank and Jack among them--leaped into theirmachines and soared into the air. The last comers also leaped for theircraft and succeeded in getting above ground just as rifles began tocrack in the French camp. 

Came a sudden cry from the machine nearest that of Frank and Jack. Thelads saw a man rise to his feet, throw up his arms and pitch, headforemost, toward the ground. The aircraft, freed of a guiding hand, rocked a moment crazily and then turned over, hurling its otheroccupant into space. 

There was a cry of anger from aboard some of the other German craft, but no man raised a hand to stay the flight of his car. It would havebeen suicide and the Germans realized it. They sped away into thedarkness whence they had come. Frank and Jack, in their Britishhydroplane, went with them. 

For an hour or two the aeroplanes sped through the darkness atundiminished speed; then the foremost craft slowed down. The others didlikewise. 

"Surely we haven't reached the German lines already?" said Jack. Frankshrugged his shoulders. 

"You know about as much of what is going on as I do, " he returned. "Evidently we are going down, however. "

The lad was right. 

The leading German plane swooped toward the earth and the othersfollowed its example. A few minutes later all had reached the groundsafely and their occupants had alighted. 

The two lads glanced around. It was very dark. A short distance to thenorth they could see the broad expanse of the North Sea, stretchingaway in the night. The dark waves lapped the shore gently with a faintthrashing sound. The water was very calm. 

Except for the figures that had alighted upon the shore in the darknessthere was not a human being in sight. To the south, to the east andwest stretched miles and miles of sand dunes. Just these sand dunes andthe waters of the North Sea--there was nothing else in sight. 

At a signal the men gathered around the man who appeared to be theleader. Frank and Jack thanked their lucky stars that the night wasvery dark, for otherwise they would have been in imminent danger ofbeing discovered; and each lad realized that it would go hard with themshould their true identities be penetrated. 

The darkness served them like a shield. Nevertheless, both lads kepttheir hands on their revolvers. Each had determined that if discovered, he would make an effort to escape in the nearest of the aircraft. Eachknew that there was little hope of such an escape, but, realizing whatwas in store for them should they be discovered and captured, they haddecided it would be better to die fighting than to be stood up againsta wall and shot, or, possibly, hanged. 

The group of men on the bench became silent as the leader addressedthem. 

"Men, " he said, "it is to be regretted that we have discovered so soon. There was still work to be done before the hour for our great effort tocrush the British fleet. However, to a certain extent we have beensuccessful. We have managed to sow the seed of suspicion in the mindsof our enemies. Prisoners, whom we have allowed to be taken, have letslip words that will lead the British to think our fleet will slip fromits base and approach England from the south. We know better than that. We know that on the night of May 31--which is tomorrow--our fleet willstrike the British off Jutland. "

There was a subdued cheer from the assembled Germans. The speakercontinued:

"Through our efforts the British fleet has been scattered. The mainportion of the fleet lies to the south and will be unable to reachJutland in time to save the portion of the British fleet there fromdestruction. Of course, should wind of the move reach the British therewould still be time for the fleet to gather. But no such word willreach the enemy. After sinking the first section of the British fleet, our vessels will steam south and meet the main British fleet. Thenumbers will be nearer equal then. We shall be victorious. "

Again there was a subdued cheer, in which Frank and Jack joined for thesake of appearances. Again the speaker continued:

"I shall now explain the reason we have landed here. Our part in thework has been done. Here we shall remain until nightfall tomorrow. Weshall then sail north and take part in the battle. In my pocket here, "he tapped the breast of his coat, "are instructions I shall read to youbefore we leave. Until that time we shall rest here, for we have donework enough for the present. We shall be safe here. Our position now isdirectly between two French lines and for that reason we shall not bedisturbed. Of course, if it becomes necessary, we can take to ourmachines and get out of harm's way. We have provisions and water enoughto last us; and while the weather is warm, it is still cool enough. Atany rate, we shall have to make the best of it. "

The man ceased speaking and beckoned the others to follow him. Hewalked a hundred yards to the east. There he made a mark in the sandwith his foot. 

"Until the time for us to move has come, " he said, "let no man set footbeyond that line. I make this rule for safety's sake. "

He walked two hundred yards from the sea itself and repeated theoperation and instructions; and then to the west. 

"Within these bounds, " he said, "we will spend tonight and tomorrow. The man who disobeys these instructions shall be shot. Do I make myselfplain?"

There was a murmur of assent. 

"Very well, " said the leader. "Now you are all left to your owndevices. First, however, I shall pick the watches for the night. "

Frank and Jack, at this, slunk well back into the crowd, for they didnot wish to be scrutinized closely. But they need have had no fear. Theleader of the Germans laid a hand on the shoulders of the two mennearest him. 

"You two, " he said, "shall stand guard the remainder of the night, oneto the southeast and one to the southwest. But do not venture beyondthe boundaries I have laid down. "

The Germans saluted and moved away. 

The leader moved toward the sea and none of the others followed him. Instead, some walked a short distance to the east, others to the southand still others to the west. They threw themselves down in the sand. Afew remained near the airships. 

Frank and Jack walked a short distance toward the sea, but kept somedistance behind the German leader, who stood looking off across thewater, apparently deep in thought. The lads sat down upon the ground. 

"Well, " said Frank, "what are we going to do about it?"

"Do!" echoed Jack. "Why, there is only one thing we can do--one thingwe must do! We must get away from here and warn the fleet!"

"All right, " said Frank, "it sounds easy; but how?"

"Well, that doesn't make any difference. We've got to do it. "

"And the moment we have gone our absence will be discovered, theGermans will know the fleet has been warned and the attack will begiven up, " said Frank. "And we don't want anything like that to happen. It will be the first time the Germans have mustered up courage enoughto come out and give battle. We don't want to frighten them off. "

"We don't want to let them sneak up on a part of our fleet unguarded, either, " declared Jack. 

"Of course not. You say we must give the warning. We'll try, of course. But first, why not let's put all the aeroplanes except the one we wantout of commission?"

"By Jove! a good plan! We'll do it. "

"Exactly, " said Frank. "Then there is still another thing. "

"What is that?"

"Why, we want the instructions that fellow carries, " and Frank waved ahand in the direction of the German leader. "He was kind enough to letus know he has them. We'll have to take them away from him. "

"Say!" exclaimed Jack, "you've laid out quite a job for us, haven'tyou?"

"It's got to be done, " declared Frank. 

"Well, all right, but we shall have to be careful. "

"Right you are, " Frank agreed, "one little slip and the whole thingwill be spoiled. "

"Then there must be no slip, " said Jack, quietly

"I agree with you there. Now the question arise? as how the thing maybest be done. "

"We'll have to wait until they're all asleep, " said Jack. 

"You forget the sentinels won't sleep, " said Frank. 

"No, I don't; and they will be the first disposed of. They are notlooking for enemies from within, you know. You walk up to one and I'llwalk up to the other. We'll be challenged when we get close, of course. Then it will be up to us to silence those fellows before they can makean outcry. "

"We'll try it. Then what?"

"Then we'll come back and put the airships out of commission ascarefully as possible. "

"That's easy enough. All we have to do is to let out the 'gas. '"

"Next we'll have to go through the commander's pockets without arousinghim. "

"That's more difficult, but I suppose it can be done. "

"Next we'll have to get our hydroplane to the water. Fortunately, wecame down closer to the sea than the others. We should be able to dothat without awakening the sleepers. "

"Then, " said Frank, "we climb in and say goodbye, eh?"

"That's it. "

"All right. We'll work it that way then. It's as good as any other. Nowwe'll keep quiet until we are sure everyone is asleep. "

Their plans thus arranged, the lads became quiet. They said not a wordas they waited for sleep to overcome the Germans, but gazed out quietlyover the dark sea. 

CHAPTER IX

THE PLAN WORKS--ALMOST

"Time to get busy. "

It was Frank who spoke. All was quiet among the sand dunes. Thecommander of the Germans had laid down upon the ground, some distancefrom the others, half an hour before. Snores from various pointsannounced that most of the men were sleeping soundly. 

Jack and Frank got to their feet

"Careful, " said Jack as they separated. "Remember, don't give your mana chance to let out a cry. "

Frank nodded in the darkness and walked slowly toward the sentinel hehad selected to silence. Jack moved in the other direction. 

As Jack came within a few yards of his prey, the man raised his rifleand commanded:

"Halt!"

"It's all right, " said Jack. "I couldn't sleep and it was lonesome backthere. I want company. "

The German lowered his rifle. 

"It's lonesome here, too, " he said. "Wish you had been selected for myjob. "

"I wouldn't have minded it tonight, " said Jack, approaching closer. 

The German reached in his pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes. Heextended the pack to Jack. 

"Have one?" he invited. 

Jack accepted a cigarette. 

The German produced a match. He laid his rifle upon the ground as hestruck the match upon the leg of his trousers. 

It was the moment for which Jack had been waiting. 

Quickly his revolver leaped out. In almost the same instant he reversedit and before the German realized what was about to happen he broughtthe butt down on the man's head with great force. 

The man fell to the ground without a sound. 

Frank, advancing upon the other German, also was challenged when hedrew close, but he, too, engaged his prey in conversation. As the manturned his head for a moment to gaze across the dark sand, the ladstruck him violently over the head with his revolver butt. The Germandropped like a log. 

A few moments later Frank and Jack met again near the first aeroplane. 

"It'll have to be quick work here, " Jack warned "We haven't a whole lotof time, you know. "

Frank nodded that he understood. Rapidly they passed from one plane toanother letting out the gasoline. Five minutes later, with theexception of their hydroplane, which rested some distance away, everycraft upon the beach was dry. They were absolutely useless--or so thelads thought. 

"Now for the papers, " said Jack, as he straightened up after tinkeringwith the last machine. 

Cautiously the two lads advanced upon the sleeping German. Frank raisedhis revolver and would have brought it down on the man's head had notJack stayed him with a gesture. 

"No need of that, " he said. "I don't like to hurt a man except when itis absolutely necessary. "

Frank put the revolver back in his pocket. 

Gently, Jack thrust his hand into the German's pocket. He fumbled abouta moment and then drew forth a paper. Turning his head aside he strucka match and glanced at the paper. Then he nodded his satisfaction. 

"This is it, " he said. 

Frank, at that moment, had risen to his feet. Believing the work wasaccomplished, he was moving off toward the hydroplane. As Jack now madeto get to his feet, he chanced to glance at the German he had justrelieved of the papers. 

The lad uttered an exclamation of surprise, and no wonder. The man'seyes were open and gazed straight at Jack. In his hand he held arevolver and it was levelled at Jack's head. 

"Hands up!" said the German, quietly. 

There was nothing for Jack to do but obey or be shot. His hands wenthigh in the air, but he still retained the valuable papers. 

"Drop those papers, " was the next command. 

Jack obeyed and the papers fluttered to his feet. The German reachedout and picked them up with his left hand while with his right he stillcovered the lad with his revolver. 

"So you're a spy, eh?" said the German. 

Jack made no reply, but a gleam of hope lighted up his eye; for, Frank, chancing to turn for some unexplainable reason, had taken in thesituation and was now advancing on tiptoe to his friend's aid. 

"How did you get here?" demanded the German, making ready to rise. 

Again Jack made no reply; but none was necessary, for at that momentFrank had come within striking distance. His arm rose and fell, and ashis revolver butt descended upon the German's head, the latter toppledover in a heap. 

Quickly, Jack stooped and again recovered the papers he had taken somuch pains to get. 

"Come on!" cried Frank. "We haven't time to fool around here. The restof this crowd is likely to wake up in a minute or two. "

Jack followed his friend across the sand. They laid hold of thehydroplane and rolled it toward the water. In it went with a splash andFrank cried:

"Climb aboard quickly!"

Jack needed no urging and a moment later the two boys were ready forflight. And then, suddenly, there was the crack of a revolver behindthem and a bullet flew close to Jack's ear. 

The German leader had recovered consciousness, and springing to hisfeet, dashed to the water's edge and fired point blank at the machine. Fortunately, in his excitement his aim was poor and he missed. Beforehe could fire again, Frank wheeled about and his revolver spokesharply. 

The German threw up his arms, and with a gasp, pitched headlong intothe sea. 

But the sounds of the two shots had aroused the sleeping camp. Wildcries came from the shore, followed by heavy footfalls as the Germansrushed toward the water. 

"Hurry, Frank!" cried Jack. 

As lightly as a fairy the hydroplane skimmed over the water; then wentsoaring in the air. Frank gave a loud cheer. 

"Safe!" he exclaimed. 

But the lad was wrong. 

From on shore came a chorus of angry cries and imprecations. Hastilythe Germans made a rush for their aeroplanes to give chase. None wouldmove. Followed more cries and angry shouts. 

"Wait, " said one German. "I've some gasoline. "

Rapidly he opened up a big can, which he took from the bottom of hismachine. Quickly the tank was filled and the man climbed into thepilot's seat. Another jumped in with him. 

"Give us some of that gasoline!" cried another. 

The German shook his head. 

"Not enough, " he replied. "We'll overtake those fellows and then comeback for the rest of you. "

The aeroplane leaped skyward and started in pursuit of Frank and Jack. 

The two boys, believing that they were safe, were going along only at afair rate of speed when Jack's keen ears caught the sound of thepursuing machine. 

"They're after us, Frank!" he called. 

"Impossible!" replied Frank. "How can they fly without gas?"

"Well, they're coming, all the same, " declared Jack. 

He produced his two revolvers and examined them carefully. 

"You run this thing and I'll do what fighting is necessary, " he said. "Wish I could shoot like you can; but I can't; and I can't run thismachine either. "

The German aeroplane was gaining steadily. 

"He can outrun us, " said Frank, quietly. "There is only one, thankgoodness. You'll have to bring him down, Jack. "

"I'll try, " was Jack's reply. "If I had a rifle I might be able to pickhim off now. "

"Well, he won't hardly have any the best of it, " said Frank. "Thechances are he has no rifle either. "

Frank was correct in this surmise. 

Rapidly the German aircraft gained. 

"Crack!" the German had fired the first shot. 

It went wild. Jack fired, but with no better result. 

"Hit anything?" asked Frank, without turning his head. 

"No, " said Jack, "but neither did the other fellow. "

"Try it again, " said Frank. 

Jack did so; but again the bullet went wild. All this time the twocraft were flying straight out to sea. 

Once more the German fired and Jack felt something whizz overhead. 

"This is getting too close, " the lad muttered to himself. Then hecalled to Frank. 

"Slow down, quick!"

Frank had no means of telling what plan Jack had in mind, but he didnot hesitate. The hydroplane slowed down with a jerk. 

The pilot of the German craft was caught off his guard. He dashed uponthe hydroplane. But as he neared it he swerved to the left to avoid acollision. It was what Jack had expected. Standing up in his precariousposition, Jack took a snap shot at the pilot as the German craft sweptby. 

At that close distance, in spite of the rate of speed at which theenemy was travelling, a miss was practically impossible. 

The German machine swayed crazily from one side to the other; thendived. 

"I got him, Frank!" shouted Jack. 

Both lads gazed over the side at the falling enemy. 

Suddenly the machine righted and descended more slowly. 

"By Jove! a cool customer, " said Frank. "He's regained control of theplane. He'll be up again in a moment. "

Again they watched the foe carefully. 

"No, he won't, " said Jack, "he's still going down. "

"Then we may as well be moving, " said Frank. 

"Hold on!" shouted Jack. "We can't leave those fellows there. They mayget to shore or be picked up. Then they would give the warning and allour efforts would be for naught. "

"Right, " said Frank. "We'll go down after them. "

The hydroplane descended slowly. 

CHAPTER X

THE FIGHT ON THE WATER

Below, the fallen aeroplane rested upon the surface of the sea. In thedarkness, it was hard for the lads to tell just how badly the craft wasdamaged and whether it would float; but Jack's idea was to be on thesafe side. 

While still some distance from the water, there was a shot from below. 

"Hello!" said Jack. "They're alive and kicking, all right. Wonder if wecan't go down and get them from the water. "

"It's a better plan, I guess, " said Frank. "We'll have an even breakthen. This way they have all the advantage. "

He opened up the engine and the hydroplane ran some distance from theposition of the men below. Then he shut off the motor and allowed theplane to glide down to the sea. 

With the craft riding the swell of the waves, Jack picked up the enemywith his night glass. The disabled craft also was riding the wavesgently perhaps five hundred yards away. 

Jack gave the position to Frank, and the hydroplane approached the foeslowly. Within a range that would make accurate revolver shootingpossible, the hydroplane came to a halt. As it did so there was thesound of a revolver shot from across the water and something whizzedoverhead. 

"Must have some pretty fair shooters over there, " said Frank, quietly. "However, they can't see us any better than we can see them. Of course, they can see our craft all right, the same as we can see theirs, butthey can't spot us. "

"No; nor we can't spot them, which makes it worse, " said Jack. 

"We'll try a couple of shots for luck, " said Frank. 

He raised his revolver and fired quickly twice. His efforts wererewarded by a scream, apparently of pain. 

"Must have hit one of them, " he said grimly. 

Again a revolver across the water flashed and the two lads heard abullet whistle by. 

Jack fired but without result and then Frank fired again. 

There was another scream. 

"Either got the other one, or the same one again, " said Frank. 

They waited some moments in silence, but no further shots came fromthe foe. 

"By Jove!" said Jack, "you must have got them both. Let's go and have alook. "

 Slowly, Frank started the hydroplane and they bore down on the enemy. Now they were two hundred, then one hundred yards away. 

"Must have got them, all right, " said Frank. "I----"

The flash of a revolver from the disabled craft interrupted him. It wasclosely followed by another and then two more. 

With a sudden move, Frank changed the course of the hydroplane. He felta sharp pain in his left shoulder. 

"Got me, " he called to Jack. 

The latter was alarmed. 

"Where?" he demanded. 

"Left shoulder, " said Frank, quietly. "Nothing serious, though. "

Jack levelled his revolver and fired rapidly at the enemy. His painswere rewarded by howls of derision. 

"They tricked us, all right, " said Jack, as he reloaded. 

"That's what they did. I should have known better, too. They almostsettled us. "

"We've got to get them, some way, " declared Jack. 

"Show me how, and I'll go along with you, " declared Frank. 

"Well, I've got a scheme, but I don't know whether it will work ornot. "

"Let's hear it. "

"All right. But first, can you manage this plane all right with thatbad shoulder?"

"Sure; it's not very bad. "

"All right then. Well, you keep under cover about here, moving aboutjust enough to spoil the aim of the foe. I'll drop over the side andswim to the enemy. I can get there unobserved, all right, because theywon't be expecting me. I'll pull one of them over and settle with himfirst. Then I'll get the other. "

"I don't know, " Frank considered the plan. "I suppose it might work, but there is nothing sure about it. "

"There's nothing sure about anything, " declared Jack. "But it's betterthan staying here all the rest of the night. Besides, we must hurry, you know. "

"That's right, " agreed Frank. "All right, then. So be it. Will you takeyour gun?"

"No use, " said Jack. "It would be wet by the time I got there. Here Igo. "

"Good luck, " Frank called after him. 

Gently, Jack lowered himself over the side of the hydroplane, firstdivesting himself of his coat and shoes; then struck out for thedisabled aeroplane. 

Slowly the lad swam, for he did not wish to betray his coming by thesound of a splash. The distance was not great and a powerful swimmer, such as Jack, could cover it easily in a few moments. 

Jack did not approach the enemy craft from the front. Giving it a wideberth, he swam around it and then, turning quickly, bore down upon theaeroplane more swiftly. He swam with his head barely above the water, and he was ready to dive immediately should he be sighted. 

There was not a sound aboard the aeroplane as Jack drew close to it. Raising his head slightly, he could see no human form. 

"Funny, " the lad muttered to himself. "Wonder where they keepthemselves. No wonder we couldn't hit them. "

He was within a few feet of the disabled craft and he now rose higherin the water to get a good look about. Still he saw no one. 

Twice around the machine the lad swam and not a human being did he see. 

"There is something awfully queer about this, " he told himself. "I'llgo aboard. "

He laid hands on the aeroplane and scrambled aboard. Quickly he sprangto his feet, ready to tackle any foe that might have seen him crawlaboard. Nothing happened. 

Jack made a careful inspection of the disabled plane. Then, as he stillgazed around, a sudden thought struck him. Without taking time toconsider it, he sprang suddenly to the side of the plane and leapedinto the water and with swift and powerful strokes struck out for hisown craft. 

Jack had hit upon the solution of the desertion of the Germanaeroplane. 

Even as Jack had lowered himself from the hydroplane and swam acrossthe water, the Germans in the other craft had done the same thing. Bothsides had struck the same plan almost simultaneously. Jack, in making awide detour as he approached the foes' machine, must have passed thetwo Germans in the water. 

Now, realizing that the Germans must be close to the hydroplane, hadthey not already reached it, and remembering that Frank was wounded, Jack felt a sudden dread steal over him. His long, powerful strokessent him through the water at great speed. 

But the Germans had not made their presence known to Frank yet. Neitherwas as swift a swimmer as Jack, and for that reason, their progressthrough the water had been considerably slower. Also they had gone verycautiously. 

A short distance from the hydroplane, one had swum to one side of theplane and the second to the other. The Germans also had discarded theirrevolvers, for they had realized they would be useless after theirtrip through the water. Also, not being expert swimmers, they hadwanted to be unhampered by weight as much as possible. 

Frank was still guiding the plane about occasionally to avoid a chancebullet from the enemy, but at the moment the Germans came close, he hadstopped the craft and was peering into the darkness, straining his earsfor the sound of a struggle that would tell him Jack was engaged withthe enemy. 

Suddenly a sound came to his ears from across the water, but it was notwhat he expected, although it was in Jack's voice:

"Frank! Look out! They are after you!"

Instantly, the lad understood the situation. He drew his revolver withhis uninjured arm and sprang to one side of the aeroplane. As he didso, a figure reached up and grabbed him by the hand so that he couldnot fire. At the same time a second figure clambered aboard the craftfrom the opposite side. Frank raised a cry:

"Hurry, Jack!"

Jack needed no urging. He was swimming through the water as fast aspossible. 

With a sudden move, Frank jerked his hand loose from the grip that heldhim and turned just in time to encounter the second German. Frankraised his revolver and fired quickly; but the German ducked, andbefore Frank could fire again, he had come up close to Frank andgrappled with him. In vain Frank sought to release his arm so that hecould bring the weapon down on his opponent's head. The man clungtightly. 

A sudden lurching of the hydroplane told Frank that the second Germanwas coming aboard. Unmindful of his wounded shoulder, Frank struggledon. With a sharp kick of his right foot he succeeded in knocking thefirst German's legs from beneath him; and again the lad tried to raisehis revolver to shoot the second German, who now advanced. 

But the latter was too quick for him. Closing with the lad, the manknocked the revolver from the boy's hand with a quick blow. The weaponspun into the sea. 

The first German returned to the attack. 

"Get him quick!" he shouted. "There is another one around here someplace. "

Jack, at this moment, was within a few yards of the boat. 

"You bet there is!" he said between his teeth. "And he'll be there in aminute. "

He did not call encouragement to Frank, for he wished to get aboard theplane, if possible, before the men could stay him. 

The two Germans rushed Frank simultaneously, and bore him back in theplane. At the same instant, Jack, unmindful of danger that might lurkaboard and thinking only of Frank's danger, laid hold of the plane andclimbed aboard. Then he stood erect and shouted:

"Come on, you cowards! Here's the other one!"

CHAPTER XI

DAWN--AND A NEW ENEMY

The two Germans, just about to throw Frank overboard, turned quickly atthe sound of this new voice. They wasted no time. 

"At him!" cried one, and leaped. 

The other sprang after him. 

Jack, with his feet wide apart and arms extended, braced himself toreceive the shock; and when it came he was ready. Frank, in themeantime, sank down in the plane almost unconscious, for one of theGermans had all but choked the life from him. 

As the first German sprang, Jack met him with a straight right handblow to the face and the man reeled back. The second, seeing the fateof his companion, dived for Jack's legs and seized them, pulling thelad down. 

Jack felt out with his left hand and encircled the German's neck. Thenhe squeezed. The German gasped for breath as his wind was shut off. Hishand searched his belt and presently flashed aloft with a knife. Jacksaw it. Releasing his hold on the man's throat, he seized the knife armwith his left hand and twisted sharply, at the same time driving hisright fist into the man's face. 

There was a sharp snap and a cry of pain. The knife fell clattering tothe deck of the plane. Jack, very angry, rose to his feet, stoopedover, and picking up the German as though he had been a child, heavedhim overboard. 

"So much for you!" he muttered. 

He stepped across the body of the second German to Frank's side andstooped over him. Gently he raised his chum's head to his knee. 

Frank's eyelids flickered and directly he opened his eyes. 

"How do you feel, old man?" asked Jack. 

Frank struggled free from his chum's grip and sat up. He shook his headonce or twice and then rose to his feet. 

"I'll be all right in--Look out!" he broke off suddenly. 

He dodged. But Jack, not realizing the import of Frank's words, remained still. He felt something hot sear the lobe of his ear. Wheeling abruptly, the lad saw the German whom he had first knockedunconscious facing him with levelled revolver--the weapon was Jack'sown, which he had left behind when he swam to the enemy's aeroplane. 

The German faced him with a smile. 

"Hands up!" he commanded. 

But Jack, with a few drops of blood trickling from his ear, suddenlybecame very angry. He objected to being shot at from behind. 

"Put down that gun!" he commanded in a cold voice. "Put it down beforeI kill you!"

The German was struck by the menace in the lad's tones, and for amoment he hesitated and the revolver wavered. Then he braced andbrought the weapon up again. 

But that moment of hesitation decided the issue. In spite of the factthat the revolver was pointed right at him, and that only a few feetaway, Jack took a quick step forward. 

The German fired. Jack swerved a trifle. The bullet plowed through thesleeve of his shirt and touched the skin; but that was all. 

Again the man's hand tightened on the trigger, but he never firedagain. Jack's powerful left hand seized his wrist and twisted therevolver from it Then, still grasping the wrist, the lad wheeled on hisheel. The German left the spot where he had been standing as thoughpulled by a locomotive. He was lifted high in the air and, as Jack gavea jerk and then released his hold, the man went sailing through the airand dropped into the sea with a loud splash. 

And at the same moment the intense darkness was shattered. The firstfaint streak of dawn showed in the east. 

Jack sat down. Frank did likewise. 

"That settles that, " said Jack, briefly. "Now we had better get awayfrom here. We haven't any too much time. "

Frank, without a word, took his place at the wheel. 

"Feel fit?" asked Jack. 

Frank nodded, though he felt terribly faint. 

"Sure you can make it?" Jack continued. 

"Yes, " replied Frank. 

"Well, I just wanted to know, " said Jack, "because here comes a Germantorpedo boat. "

Frank was startled. He turned in his seat, and there, not a mile and ahalf away, was a ship of war. She was flying the German flag and wasmaking directly for the spot where the British hydroplane rested. 

"By George! Won't we ever get out of this?" the lad muttered. 

"We won't unless you hurry, " said Jack. 

"But those two Germans. Won't they be picked up and give the alarm?"

"One of 'em won't, " said Jack, grimly, "and I feel pretty safe aboutthe other, too. Let's get up in the air. "

Frank tinkered with the motor and took a firm grip on the wheel. Butthe hydroplane did not move. 

"Something wrong, " said Frank, quietly. 

"What?" demanded Jack. 

"Something wrong with the motor. It won't work. "

Frank had bent over and was examining it carefully. 

Came a shot from the German torpedo boat. 

"If we don't get out of here pretty quick, " said Jack, quietly, "wewon't get out at all. "

Frank made no reply, but continued to tinker with the engine. 

A second shot from the German torpedo boat. It skimmed the water aheadof the hydroplane. Jack gazed toward the vessel. As he did so a smallboat put off from the German and headed toward them. 

"They're coming after us, Frank, " said Jack, "a whole boatload of 'em. How long will it take you to fix that thing?"

Frank uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. 

"I've found it, " he cried. "Five minutes, " he answered Jack's question. 

"Five minutes is liable to be too late, " returned Jack, measuring thedistance to the rapidly approaching German boat with his eye. "However, hurry as much as you can. "

Frank did not take his eye from his engine. 

"How far away?" he asked as he worked. 

"Three quarters of a mile, " replied Jack, calmly. 

"Lots of time for us, then, " said Frank, still working as swiftly aspossible. 

"Maybe, " replied his chum. "Don't forget they carry pretty fair rifleswith them. "

"If we can get started before they shoot, I'll guarantee they don't getus, " returned Frank. 

"Well, they'll get us if you keep talking and don't get a move onthere, " said Jack. "They're coming like the wind. "

"That's just the way I'm working. She's almost fixed row. Can you holdthem off?"

"What, with a single revolver against a score of rifles? Not much. They're right on us now. How's that engine?"

"Fixed!" cried Frank at that moment, straightening up. 

"All right. Let her go then, " said Jack, calmly. "They don't know yetthat we're going to run. They have made no preparations to fire. Evidently they think we shall wait for them. "

Even while Jack was speaking, the hydroplane began to move slowly overthe surface of the water. Very slowly it went at first, then faster andfaster. 

"Halt!" came a cry from the German boat. 

Jack picked up his cap and waved it at the Germans. 

"Some other time, " he called back. "We're terrible busy today. Goodbye. "

The German officer gave a sharp command. Several sailors sprang totheir feet and blazed away at the hydroplane with their rifles. Bulletsflew by on all sides, but none struck home. 

Again Jack waved his cap. 

"Very bad shooting, " he remarked. "Looks like some of my--Hello! Thatwasn't so bad. "

For the lad's cap, which he had been waving in derision at the pursuingfoe, was suddenly carried from his hand by a German bullet. 

"By Jove!" said Jack, quietly, "I wouldn't have lost that cap----" Hegazed at it as it floated in the water. 

And at that instant Frank sent the hydroplane soaring into the air witha lurch. Jack glanced down into the water. 

"Hold on, Frank!" he cried. 

In response to this command, Frank slowed down. 

"What's the matter now?" he demanded. 

"Why, one of our erstwhile German friends has come to life. He was justabout to lay hold of us when you came up in the air. Great Scott! Whatdo you think of that?"

"What do I think of what?"

"Why, the Germans in the boat have just shot him. "

"Shot whom? The German?"

"Yes; they saw him coming after us and evidently thought he was afriend of ours. Poor fellow! To be shot down by one of his owncountrymen. And so goes the last chance the Germans had of learningthat we have discovered their plans. "

"Then it is a good thing for us they shot him. "

"For us, yes. But think of the irony of it!"

"Well, " said Frank, "I wouldn't like to have shot him, defenseless ashe was; and I didn't want you to. That's why I didn't suggest having alook for him before we came up. "

"I couldn't have done it, " returned Jack. 

"No; nor I; and yet duty would have demanded it. For with him alive, there always remained a chance that he would give the warning. "

"It just goes to show, " said Jack, slowly, "that even fate sometimesworks on the side of the right. "

"True. "

Unconsciously, Frank had allowed the speed of the hydroplane todiminish during this conversation, and the crew of the German boatagain had found themselves within range. They had started to abandonthe chase when the plane soared aloft, but when it had slowed down, they had resumed the pursuit, hoping that something had gone wrong withthe craft. 

Several bullets flew about the machine. 

"Great Scott! They're at it again!" cried Jack. "Let's get away fromhere right now. "

"All right, here she goes, " said Frank. "Full speed ahead!"

CHAPTER XII

THE BOYS GIVE THE WARNING

One other adventure, it transpired, was to befall Frank and Jack beforethey found themselves once more aboard the British battleship, _QueenMary_; and while it did not result seriously, both lads once moreapproached the very door of death. 

The morning sun was well above the horizon when Jack, shading his eyes, made out in the distance a smudge of smoke. 

"Smoke ahead, Frank, " he called. 

"Hope it's the _Queen Mary_" replied the lad. "It should be if I havecalculated correctly. "

A few moments later the outline of a large ship of war loomed up ahead. 

"Can you make her out yet?" asked Jack. 

"No; but she's built like the _Queen Mary_"

The hydroplane sped on. 

"By Jove! She is the _Queen Mary_" cried Frank, a few moments later. "We're in luck. "

Frank was right. As the hydroplane drew nearer it was plain to make outthat the vessel was the giant battleship the lads had quitted the daybefore. 

"Wonder what Captain Raleigh will think of our information?" saidFrank, with a chuckle. 

"Don't know. We've been pretty fortunate, though. I hope we are intime. "

"So do I. The trouble is, our ships are scattered so far apart thatthey may not be able to assemble quick enough in sufficient strength tobeat off the enemy. "

"Don't worry; they won't get very far, " said Jack, confidently. 

"Oh, I know that. But if they should happen to come upon a smallportion of our fleet we are likely to get the worst of it. "

"Well, there is no reason why they should be able to do that now. Weknow their plans. "

"That's true, too. And they won't, unless it is decided to engage themin spite of their numbers, trusting reinforcements will arrive intime. "

And, though the lad had no idea he was making a prophecy, that is justwhat actually occurred. 

The hydroplane now was less than a quarter of a mile from the _QueenMary_ and Frank reduced its speed abruptly. Whether this sudden slowingdown had anything to do with what followed it is hard to tell; but, nosooner had Frank reduced the speed of the craft, than the plane wabbledcrazily. 

"Look out, Jack!" shouted Frank. "She's going down!"

Jack had not realized that there was anything wrong and now he did notgrasp the full significance of Frank's words. What Jack thought Frankmeant was that he was going to glide down to the deck of thebattleship. Frank, however, knew that there was something seriouslywrong with the craft. His first thought had been to jump after cryingout to Jack, but seeing that his friend had not understood, Frank stuckto his post, trying as well as he knew how to bring the plane to thesea as gently as possible. 

For a moment it seemed that he would succeed, for, as it neared thewater, the plane righted itself. Frank drew a breath of relief. But hisrelief was short-lived. 

After remaining upon a level keel for one single instant, thehydroplane turned turtle. 

There came a cry of warning from aboard the _Queen Mary_, and evenbefore the falling boys struck water, boats were lowered over the side, manned, and dashed to the rescue. 

Although Frank had been unable to maintain the plane on an even keel, his efforts had done some good; for the distance was not so great fromthe water when the plane capsized as it would have been but for hisstrenuous efforts. 

Jack uttered a cry of alarm as he felt himself being hurled into space, for he had not realized what was about to happen. Frank, on the otherhand, had realized his position full well and no sound escaped him ashe was thrown into the water. 

In falling, Jack was thrown clear of the machine, which struck thewater with a great splash. Not so Frank, who, held in by the wheel, wascarried down with the plane. The lad was very close to death at thatmoment and he knew it. 

He had caught a deep breath as he was drawn under, however, and thisstood him in good stead. Calmly the lad reached for the largepocketknife he always carried, and with this, under water as he was, proceeded quietly to cut the sides of the craft sufficiently to allowhim to escape. And in this he was successful. 

At last he was free and struck upward as swiftly as possible. When itseemed that his lungs must burst for want of air, his head suddenlybobbed upon the surface. He gasped as he inhaled great breaths of thefresh air. A boat approached at that moment and he was drawn aboard, where he sank down. 

Jack, when he came up from below, had thought first of Frank. Rapidlyhe scanned the surface of the sea for some sign of his chum or of thewreckage. Seeing neither, he knew what had happened. Taking a deepbreath he dived. 

It took the lad some time to locate the sinking mass of wreckage belowand when he did come upon it there was no sign of Frank. Jack stayedbelow until he could stand it no more; then rose to the surface. Thererough hands seized him and dragged him into a boat. 

In vain the lad struggled. He wanted to get loose so he could makeanother attempt to rescue his friend. 

"Frank!" he cried. 

"Be still, " said a voice kindly. "Frank is safe in the next boat. "

Jack uttered an exclamation of relief and lay still, resting from hisexertions. 

And so they came again to the _Queen Mary_ and were lifted aboard. Frank and Jack clasped hands when they stood on deck and Jackexclaimed:

"By Jove! I thought it was all over when I couldn't find you downthere. "

"I thought it was all over myself for a minute, " said Frank. "That'sone time when this old knife of mine helped out. I brought it back withme. "

He displayed the knife and patted it affectionately. 

"How do you feel?" asked Jack. 

"First rate. And you?"

"Fine. Now we want to see Captain Raleigh. "

At this moment the third officer approached. 

"Captain Raleigh will receive you the moment you have put on some dryclothes, " said the third officer. 

"But we must see him at once, " exclaimed Frank. 

"Change your clothes first, " said the third officer kindly. 

"But----" Frank began. 

"I have Captain Raleigh's orders for you to report to him the momentyou have changed, " said the third officer sharply. "You will hurry, ifyou please. "

Frank could see that there was no use protesting further. He shruggedhis shoulders and the two boys made their way to their cabin. 

"The big chump, " said Frank, as he slipped off his wet clothing. "Thewhole British navy might be sent to the bottom while we are doing this. What are a few wet clothes?"

"I guess it was the way we went at it, " said Jack. "If we had blurtedout what we knew----"

"To tell the truth, I've a good notion to say nothing about what Ilearned, " said Frank. 

Jack looked at his companion in the greatest surprise. 

"Oh, no, you've not, " he said at last, as he slipped on a dry shirt. 

"Don't you believe I haven't, " declared Frank. "I'm mad. I don't likethat way of doing things. Now if it had been Lord Hastings----"

"Well, it wasn't, " said Jack. "I'm afraid that's one trouble with us. "

"What do you mean by that?"

"Why, simply that he allowed us to get too familiar with him. Theresult is we expect it from others, and when they don't treat us thatway we are disappointed. "

"That may be it, of course, " Frank conceded. "But at the same time, Ididn't like the tone of the third officer just now. "

"Perhaps I didn't either, " said Jack, "but I've got more sense than toshow it. As a matter of fact, I suppose we should have obeyed withoutquestion. "

Frank continued to mumble as he slipped into a dry coat. He picked uphis cap and moved toward the door. 

"Ready?" he asked of Jack. 

"Almost. How's that shoulder?"

"All right. How's your wound?"

"Just a scratch. Didn't even bleed much. " Jack picked up his cap andalso moved toward the door of the cabin. "Guess maybe he'll let us seeCaptain Raleigh now, " he said. "Come on. "

Frank followed his chum. 

On deck almost the first person they encountered was the third officer. 

"Didn't take you long, " he said with a smile. 

"That is because we have important news, " said Frank. 

"Come, then. I'll conduct you to the captain myself, " said the thirdofficer. 

Frank and Jack hurried after him. 

Captain Raleigh greeted the two lads with a smile, as they stood atattention before him. 

"You are back really sooner than I expected you, " he said quietly. "Have you learned anything?"

"If you please, sir, " said Jack, "I shall skip the details until later. The German high sea fleet will be off the coast of Denmark beforemidnight!"

"What's that you say?" he demanded. 

"It's true, sir, " replied Frank, quietly, stepping forward. "The Germanhigh sea fleet, in almost full strength, will attack our patrolsquadron in the Skagerak, off Jutland, tonight!"

For one moment Captain Raleigh looked at both lads closely. Then hecried sharply, including all in the cabin with his words:

"Follow me!"

He sprang for the bridge!

CHAPTER XIII

PREPARING FOR BATTLE

"Eleven o'clock!"

Jack returned his watch to his pocket. 

"Not much time to gather the fleet together, " he said quietly to Frank. 

"No, " was his chum's reply, "but you can rest assured that all can bedone will be done. "

Captain Raleigh, upon the bridge, had issued orders swiftly. The _QueenMary_, which had been heading southward after Frank and Jack returnedaboard, was quickly brought about. After several sharp commands to hisofficers, Captain Raleigh motioned to Frank and Jack. 

"Come with me, " he said. "You shall tell me what you have learned as wego along. "

The two lads followed him. 

Straight to the wireless room went the commander of the _Queen Mary_. 

"Get the _Lion_ quickly, " he ordered the wireless operator. 

"_Lion! Lion_!" the call went across the water. 

There was no reply. 

"Try the _Indefatigable_, " was the next command. 

"_Indefatigable! Indefatigable_!" flashed the wireless. 

The receiving apparatus aboard the _Queen Mary_ clicked sharply. 

"_Indefatigable_ answering, sir, " reported the operator. 

"Send this, " ordered Captain Raleigh, and passed a slip of paper onwhich he had scribbled rapidly to the wireless operator. 

The message read as follows:

"German high sea fleet to attack off Jutland tonight. Inform AdmiralBeatty. Relay message. Am steaming for Danish coast to engage enemy. Information authentic. Follow me!

(Signed) "RALEIGH. "

A short pause and again the receiving apparatus on the _Queen Mary_clicked sharply. 

"O. K. , sir, " said the operator. 

"All right, " this from Captain Raleigh. "Call the _Invincible. _"

Again the wireless began to click. Two minutes later the operatorreported:

"_Invincible_ answering, sir. "

"Send the same message, " instructed Captain Raleigh. 

It might be well to state here that all these messages were sent incode, for it was probable that a German vessel of some sort might bewithin the wireless zone and, if able to read the messages as theyflashed across the sea, would have communicated with the main Germanfleet. 

One after another now the wireless of the _Queen Mary_ picked up thebattle cruisers _Defense, Black Prince, Warrior_ and thesuper-dreadnaught _War-spite, _ all of which chanced to be within rangeof the _Queen Mary's_ wireless. The destroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent_and _Nestore_ also answered the call and were instructed to proceed tothe Skagerak at full speed. 

And to each vessel, as it answered, the single word "relay" wasflashed. This meant that Captain Raleigh wanted the word sent to othervessels of the British fleet not within her own wireless radius. Andthe answer to this was invariably the same:

"O. K. !"

Still in the wireless room, Captain Raleigh turned to Frank and Jackand said:

"Now, I shall be glad to know how you boys learned this information. "

Jack explained as briefly as possible. Captain Raleigh interruptedoccasionally as Jack proceeded with his story and when the lad hadconcluded, he said quietly:

"You have done well, young sirs. England has much to thank you for. "

"But will the others arrive in time, sir?" asked Frank, anxiously. "That, " said Captain Raleigh, "I cannot say. You may be sure that theywill come to our assistance at all possible speed, however. "

"But you will not await them there, sir?"

"No; I shall engage the enemy single handed if necessary. "

With this Captain Raleigh turned on his heel and would have left thewireless room. At that moment, however, the wireless began to clickagain, and the commander of the _Queen Mary_ paused. 

"For us?" he asked. 

The operator nodded. 

"Admiral Beatty, aboard the _Lion_, calling, sir. "

"Take his message!"

There was silence for a moment, and then the operator called off theclicks of his apparatus. 

"Admiral Beatty wants to know your source of information, " he reported. 

Captain Raleigh dictated a reply. 

Again silence for a few moments; and then the operator said:

"The _Queen Mary_ is ordered to the Skagerak under full speed. Hold theenemy until the arrival of the main fleet. Assistance on the way. _Indefatigable, Defense_ and _Black Prince_ also steaming for Jutlandto lend a hand. Open the engagement immediately you sight the enemy. "

"Sign O. K. , " said Captain Raleigh. 

The operator obeyed and heard the operator aboard the _Lion_ repeat hismessage. 

"I guess that is about all we can do, " said Captain Raleigh. Again heturned to leave the room and once more paused at the door. 

"Keep your instrument going, " he ordered the operator. "Pick up anyship that may not have heard the message. Come, boys, " this last toFrank and Jack. 

The boys followed their commander back to the bridge; thence to hiscabin. 

The interchange of messages had taken time, and glancing at his watchnow, Frank saw that it was after one o'clock. 

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea we had been in the wirelessroom so long. "

Back in his cabin, Captain Raleigh seemed to have forgotten the boys'presence. He was busy for perhaps an hour poring over a mass of chartsand other papers. Frank and Jack stood at attention. They were becominguneasy, when Captain Raleigh looked up suddenly. 

"Pass the word for the first officer, " he instructed. 

Jack sprang to obey and in a moment the first officer of the _QueenMary_ was in the cabin. 

"Shape your course for Jutland proper, " ordered Captain Raleigh. 

The first officer saluted and obeyed. 

"We'll go back to the wireless room, " Captain Raleigh informed the twolads. "I want to keep you boys near me for I may desire to ask aquestion at any moment. "

The lads followed their commander back to the wireless room. 

"Any calls?" he asked the operator. 

"One coming now, sir. "

"Repeat it as it comes. "

"Very well, sir. _Indefatigable_ calling. "

"Ask her position. "

"Five miles south by southwest, sir. "

"Inform Captain Reynolds that we shall slow down and wait for him tocome up with us. "

"Very well, sir. "

The operator sent the message. 

"O. K. , sir, signed, 'Reynolds, '" the operator reported a few momentslater. 

"Ask her if she has picked up any other vessels. "

"Destroyers _Fortune_ and _Shark_, sir, " reported the operator a littlelater. 

"Good. Give Captain Reynolds our position and tell him to keep workinghis wireless. Tell him we are likely to need every ship we can bringup. "

"Very well, sir. "

The operator sent the message. 

"O. K. , again, sir, " he reported. 

Captain Raleigh passed a slip of paper to the operator. 

"On this, " he said, "are enumerated the ships that should be somewherein these waters. Pick up as many of them as you can. As you give thewarnings when answered check them off on the list. If any informationis asked, call me. "

"Very well, sir, " replied the operator, taking the slip of paper. "Noother instructions, sir?"

"No. Send the same message as you sent to the _Indefatigable_. "

Captain Raleigh motioned Frank and Jack to follow him and left theroom. 

"I want you two to attend me closely, " he informed the lads. "I shallhave lots of leg work that must be done from now until we sight theenemy and even after that. You shall act as my orderlies tonight andwhile the battle lasts. "

Frank and Jack were considerably flattered by this. They knew thatCaptain Raleigh had been pleased with their work. 

They saluted. 

"Very well, sir, " they exclaimed in a single breath. 

"I want one of you to report to the wireless room, room, ready to bringme any message that may come, " instructed Captain Raleigh. "The otherwill stay here. You can suit yourselves about your positions. "

"I'll go to the wireless room, then, sir, " said Frank. 

"Very well. Report to me instantly a message is received. "

Frank saluted and took his departure. Jack stood at attention inCaptain Raleigh's cabin as the commander of the _Queen Mary_ againplunged into a mass of charts. 

Captain Raleigh sprang to his feet and opened his watch. 

"Four o'clock, " he said. "We won't reach Skagerak until well after six. I am in hopes the Germans will not try to pass through before earlymorning. We shall be ready for them then. "

"How big a fleet have we there now, sir?" asked Jack. 

"None, to speak of. Two or three cruisers and a couple of torpedoboats. I believe we have a submarine or two there also, though I cannotbe sure of that. "

"We'll lick 'em, sir, " said Jack, enthusiastically. 

Captain Raleigh smiled. 

"I hope so, " he said quietly. 

At that moment the first officer called from the bridge. 

"Battleship overhauling us fast, sir. "

"Probably the _Indefatigable_, " said Captain Raleigh. 

He went on deck. Jack followed him. 

CHAPTER XIV

CHANGED ORDERS

At the same moment Frank came running up. 

"_Indefatigable_ reports she has sighted us, sir!"

"Good!" exclaimed Captain Raleigh. "I felt sure it was the_Indefatigable_. Tell her we shall steam slowly until she comes up withus. "

Frank saluted and returned to the wireless room. 

Now Captain Raleigh gave an order to the first officer. 

"Have all hands piped to quarters, Mr. MacDonald. "

Instantly, all became bustle aboard the _Queen Mary. _ Men rushed hitherand thither; but in a moment order was restored out of the seemingconfusion. 

Followed by Jack, his first and second officers, Captain Raleigh madean inspection of the giant battleship. 

He addressed the different groups of men as he passed and told themwhat was about to transpire. 

"It is likely to be a one-sided battle at first, " he told the menquietly, "but I know that none of you will shrink because of that. Youhave fought against odds before now. You will not mind doing it again. "

The men cheered him. 

His tour of inspection completed, Captain Raleigh ordered:

"Let each man be served with a good meal and let them have two hourssleep--all but the watches. "

The necessary orders were given and a short time later the men wereeating heartily. Then they went to their quarters, where some lay downto sleep while others sat in groups and discussed the impending battle. 

Shortly after five o'clock Frank and Jack found themselves alone intheir cabin, having been relieved of duty for an hour. 

"It's going to be a great fight, Frank, " declared Jack. 

"You bet it is. It will be the greatest naval battle of history, if thebulk of the British fleet comes up in time. Never before has such avast array of giant fighting ships as will be engaged in this strugglecontended for supremacy. In total tonnage engaged and in the matter ofarmament and complement it will outrival even the victory of Nelson atTrafalgar and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. And the British, asalways, will win. "

"Let us hope so. But, as you and I know, the Germans are no meanopponents. Considering the fact that, since the outbreak of the war, they have had little opportunity to practise war tactics on the sea andpractically no chance at all to practise gunnery, the few battles thathave been fought have proven them foemen worthy of the best we have tooffer. "

"True, " said Frank. "Until reinforcements arrive they will outnumberus. I don't know how many to one. "

"To my mind it is foolish to engage the German fleet with only a fewships, " said Jack. "It won't gain us anything. I believe we shouldretreat slowly and draw them on. "

"I believe that would be a much better plan. We might engage them atlong range, running slowly before them. Then, when the main fleet cameup, we would take them by surprise. "

And even at that moment the same plan was being revolved in the mind ofVice-Admiral Beatty as, in his flagship, the _Lion_, he steamed swiftlynorthward. 

By this time the battleship _Indefatigable_ had drawn up almost on eventerms with the _Queen Mary. _ The wireless of both ships were busy asthe commanders exchanged greetings and discussed their plans forbattle. A little later, as the _Indefatigable_ drew even closer, Captain Reynolds of the _Indefatigable_ flashed this message:

"I am coming aboard you. "

Half an hour later he came over the side of the _Queen Mary_ anddisappeared with Captain Raleigh in the latter's cabin. Directly anaide was despatched for Frank and Jack, who made their way to theircommander's quarters. 

"So!" exclaimed Captain Reynolds, when his eye fell on Jack, "this ladis one of the two who gained this important information, eh? Let mehear your story again, sir. "

Jack repeated the account of the adventures he and his friend had hadthe night before. Captain Raleigh produced the paper the lads had takenfrom the commander of the German air squadron and the two commandersscanned it together. 

"Well, there is one thing in our favor, " said Captain Reynolds. "TheGermans will fail to get the air support they are expecting. "

"There probably will be other aircraft with the fleet, " said CaptainRaleigh. 

"Most likely. Probably a Zeppelin or two with them. Fortunate we havethese new anti-aircraft guns aboard. They weren't completed any toosoon. Raleigh, what ships are in the Skagerak now?"

"Only three, I believe. The _Glasgow, Albert_ and the _Victoria_, theformer a battle cruiser and the latter two torpedo boats. If we canarrive in time there will be five of us. Then, if the _Warspite_, the_Invincible_ and the cruisers _Defense, Black Prince_ and _Warrior_come up in time we will be more on even terms. "

"Exactly. But the main fleet, farther south, will hardly arrive in timeI am afraid; and, by the way, you are wrong in your calculations. The_Warspite_ is with the main fleet. "

"Is that so? So, then, is the _Edinsburgh_, the _Tiger_, the_Peerless_, the _Terror_, the _George IV_ and the _Richard_?"

"Yes; those, with a dozen battle cruisers and a score of torpedo boats, comprise the main fleet. If they arrive in time, the Germans musteither run or be sent to the bottom. "

At this moment a message was handed to Captain Raleigh from thewireless room. 

"Change in orders, " said the commander briefly, after scanning thepiece of paper. "We are to engage the enemy at long range and seek todraw him farther into the North Sea. Orders have been sent to the threeships off Jutland to fall back before the approach of the enemy untilwe can join them, if they sight the enemy before we arrive. If not, weare all to retire slowly. The _Invincible_, three cruisers and half adozen torpedo boats will join us soon after dawn. The main fleet cannotarrive until two hours before noon. "

"By Jove, Raleigh!" exclaimed Captain Reynolds, "I am better satisfiedwith those orders. There is more chance of success now. It would havebeen foolhardy for us to engage the whole German fleet. "

"I agree with you. "

"Well, I'll get back to my vessel now. "

Captain Reynolds arose and extended his hand to his fellow commander. 

"In case----" he said simply. 

Captain Raleigh gripped the hand. Then he accompanied Captain Reynoldsand saw him over the side. 

It was now after 6 o'clock. The German fleet was due off Jutland atalmost any moment. Captain Raleigh and Jack made their way to thewireless room. 

"Get the _Glasgow_, " commanded Captain Raleigh of the operator. 

"_Glasgow! Glasgow_!" went the call. 

"_Glasgow!_" came the reply a few moments later. 

This conversation between the two commanders ensued:

"Have you sighted the enemy?" This from the _Queen Mary_. 

"No, " from the _Glasgow_. 

"Have any of your consorts picked up the foe?"

"Not yet. "

"You received my earlier instructions?"

"Yes. We are holding our ground until we sight the enemy. Then we shallretire. How long before you will come up with us?"

"In your present position, two hours. If you fall back, we shall, ofcourse, be with you sooner. Are you ready for action?"

"Yes; cleared. "

"Good. I am giving my men all the rest possible. Goodbye. "

"Funny, " said Captain Raleigh to Jack, "they should have sighted theenemy by this time. "

"It would seem so, sir, " agreed Jack. 

"Well, they probably will be in sight by the time we come up with the_Glasgow_, " said Captain Raleigh. 

But two hours later, when the _Queen Mary_ and _Indefatigable_ came upwith the other British ships, no enemy had been sighted yet. It wasthen almost nine o'clock. 

"You are sure you have not miscalculated the time?" Captain Raleighasked of Frank and Jack. 

"Positive, sir, " replied the former. "Besides, you have the documentrelating to the attack. "

"True enough. The enemy probably has been delayed. Or perhaps they willawait the coming of daylight. "

"It would be better if they did, for us, I mean, wouldn't it, sir?"asked Frank. 

"Much better, " replied his commander briefly. 

"Then let us hope that is what happens. "

"But I am afraid it won't happen, " said Jack. "If the Germans get thisfar safely, they won't wait for us to overtake them. "

"No; you're right there, " said Captain Raleigh. "The thing that worriesme is that, if they do get by us, they will spread out all over thesea. They will be able to raid the British coast, may succeed inrunning through the English channel, and then we shall have to roundthem up all over again. They would scatter over the seven seas. "

"Then we've got to lick 'em, " declared Frank, grimly. 

Captain Raleigh smiled. 

"That's the spirit I like to see, " he said quietly. "It is the spiritthat has carried the British flag to victory against overwhelming oddson many occasions. "

"But he is not an Englishman, sir, " said Jack with a smile. 

"What?" exclaimed Captain Raleigh. "Not an Englishman? Then what ishe?"

"American, " was Jack's reply. 

"Oh, well, it amounts practically to the same thing, " declared CaptainRaleigh. 

"Next to being an American, " said Frank, quietly, "I would be English. "

The first officer, Lieutenant MacDonald, burst into the captain's cabinat this moment. 

"Message from the _Glasgow_, sir!" he exclaimed. "German battlesquadron, steaming at twenty knots, sighted five miles off Jutland, sir!"

CHAPTER XV

THE FIRST GUN

Skagerak, in which the greatest naval battle of history was about to befought, is an arm of the North Sea between Norway and Denmark. Thescene of the battle was laid off Jutland and Horn Reef, on the southernextremity of Denmark. 

From the reef of Heligoland, the main German base in the North Sea, toJutland, is about one hundred miles as the crow flies. Therefore, itbecame evident that the German high sea fleet must have left theprotection of that supposedly impregnable fortress some time before. 

That the advance of the German fleet had been well planned wasindicated by the very fact that it could successfully elude the Britishcruisers patrolling the entrance to the mine fields that guardedHeligoland itself. Could a British fleet of any size have got betweenthe German high sea fleet and Heligoland the menace of the German fleetwould have ended for all time. 

At the moment, however, the British warships were scattered over theNorth Sea in such a manner as to preclude such an attempt; and the bestAdmiral Beatty and Admiral Jellicoe could hope for was to come up withthe German fleet and give battle, preventing, if possible, the escapeof any units of the fleet to other parts of the sea and to drive allthat the British could not sink back to Heligoland. 

The German dash of one hundred miles across the North Sea was a boldventure and one that the British had not believed the Germans wouldattempt at that time. British vigilance had been lax or the Germanfleet could never have gone so far from its base without discovery; andthis laxity proved costly for the British; and might even have provenmore costly still. 

Above the German fleet came a fleet of aircraft, augmented to a greatdegree by three powerful Zeppelin balloons. Lying low upon the wateralso was a fleet of German submarines. 

As the German fleet approached Jutland on the night of May 31, it wasshrouded in darkness. The night was very black and a heavy fog hungover the sea. The night could not have been better for the attempt, which would, in all probability have succeeded, had it not been for thefact that the British had been forewarned. 

Forewarned is forearmed; and this fact alone prevented the Germans fromcarrying out their designs. It is history that the approach of theGerman fleet had been reported to the commander of the British cruiser_Glasgow_ by an aviator, who had sailed across the dark sea in ahydroplane. Whether the Germans knew that there were but three Britishvessels in the Skagerak cannot be told, but certainly they believedthey were in sufficient strength to force a passage, particularly by asurprise attack, which they believed the present venture would be. 

Therefore, it must have been a great disappointment to the Germanadmiral when a single big gun boomed in the distance. 

This was the voice of the British battleship _Queen Mary, _ which, taking directions from the _Glasgow's_ aviator, had fired the openingshot, telling the Germans that their approach had been discovered andthat the passage of the Skagerak would be contested. 

Immediately the German fleet slowed down; for the German admiral had nomeans of knowing the strength of the British fleet at that point. Hurried orders flashed back and forth. A few moments later threeaeroplanes, which had been hanging low above the German fleet, dashedforward. 

They had been ordered forth to ascertain the strength of the British. 

In almost less time than it takes to tell it they were directly abovethe British fleet, which, so far, consisted only of five ships of war--besides the _Glasgow, _ an armored cruiser, the _Albert_ and _Victoria_, torpedo boats, being the _Queen Mary_ and _Indefatigable_. 

As the Germans approached in the air, a hydroplane ascended from eachof the British ships and British aviators gave chase to the enemy. One, which had come too close, was brought down; but the other two returnedsafely to the shelter of the German fleet, where the British dare notfollow them because of the presence of a superior force of the enemy. 

But the German aviators had learned what they had been sent to learn. They had discovered the strength of the British. Again sharp orderswere flashed from the German flagship. 

The fleet came on faster. 

Captain Raleigh, because of his seniority, had taken command of thesmall British squadron. He had drawn his ships up in a semicircle, heads pointed to the foe. As his aviators signalled that the Germanswere again advancing, Captain Raleigh gave the command that had beenlong eagerly awaited by the men--a command which the commander of the_Queen Mary_ had delayed giving until the last moment because hedesired to give his men all the rest he could. 

"Clear for action!" he thundered. 

Jack glanced at his watch and as he did so eight bells struck. 

"Midnight!"

The exclamation was wrung from Frank. 

"And no aid for at least three hours, " said Jack, quietly. 

As the lad spoke the fog suddenly lifted and gave to the British a viewof the advancing German fleet. 

"Forward turret guns!" cried Captain Raleigh, "Fire at will!"

A terrible salvo burst from the 16-inch guns in the forward turret. 

At almost the same moment the leading German ships opened fire. 

The first few salvos from each side did no damage, for the range hadnot been gauged accurately. 

It became apparent now that the German admiral had no intention ofrisking all his first line ships in this encounter. Apparently he haddecided that his smaller vessels were fully capable of coping with thesmall number of the enemy that was contesting his advance. 

From the shelter of the larger ships advanced the battle cruisers. Nota battleship nor a dreadnaught came forward. But the smaller shipsdashed on swiftly and presently their guns found the range. 

A shell burst aboard the _Glasgow's_ bridge, carrying away nearly theentire superstructure. The captain and his first officer were killed, and many men were injured as huge splinters flew in all directions. Under the command of the second officer, the _Glasgow_ fought back. 

A shell from her forward turret burst aboard the closest German vesseland there was a terrific explosion, followed by a series of blasts notso loud. Came fearful cries from aboard the enemy. 

And then the whole sky was lighted up for miles around as the Germanship sprang into a brilliant sheet of flame. For perhaps two minutes itlighted up the heavens; then there was another violent explosion andthe German cruiser disappeared beneath the water with a hiss like thatof a thousand serpents. 

A cheer rose on the air--a loud British cheer. 

"One gone, " said Frank, quietly. 

"Yes, but only one gone, " replied Jack. 

"Yes, but it's two o'clock now, " said Frank, hopefully. 

"About time to begin our retreat then, " said Jack. 

And the order for retreat came a few moments later. 

The five British ships--for all were still able to navigate in spite ofthe damage that had been inflicted--came about in a broad circle andheaded westward. 

Then it was the Germans' time to cheer and they did so with a will. Itwas not often that a British battleship had fled before a German shipor ships and the Germans, since the war opened, had little chance tocheer such a procedure. But now that they had such a chance, theycheered their best Apparently, they had lost sight of the fact that theBritish were retiring before superior numbers, and that, even in spiteof that and the fact that they now were retreating, they still had thebest of the encounter so far. 

For one German cruiser lay at the bottom of the sea. 

The British retreat was slow; and, for some unaccountable reason, theGermans did not press forward as swiftly as they might have done. Whether they feared a trap, or whether the German admiral haddetermined to await the coming of day before disposing of the enemy, was not apparent. But that he had some plan in mind, every Britonrealized. 

"The longer he holds off the better, " said Frank. 

"Right, " agreed Jack. "Of course, we probably could run away from themif they pressed us too hard, but we wouldn't; and for that reason heshould be able to dispose of us if he came ahead swiftly. "

"Wonder why some of these Zeppelins and airships haven't come intoaction?" said Frank. 

"I don't know. Perhaps the Germans are afraid of losing one of them. They probably have other uses for them, for, should they break throughhere, it is likely they have their plans laid. What time have you?"

"Three thirty, " said Frank, after a glance at his watch. "An hour, almost, till daylight. Do you suppose the others will arrive on time?"

"I hope so. It would be better, of course, if they arrived while it isyet dark, for then they might come up unseen. But with their arrival westill will be outnumbered; and, realizing that, the Germans, when theday breaks, will press the attack harder. "

"I guess we will manage to hold them till the main fleet arrives in themorning, " said Frank, hopefully. 

"We will have to hold them, " declared Jack. 

At this moment the lads' attention was directed to the cruiser_Glasgow_. Already badly damaged, a second German shell had now burstamidships with a loud explosion. 

"And that settles the _Glasgow_, " said Jack, sadly. 

He was right. Gamely the _Glasgow_ fought back, but it was apparent toall, in spite of the darkness, that she was settling lower and lower inthe water. 

"And we can't rescue the men, " said Frank. "Remember the admiraltyorders. No ship in action is to go to the aid of another. It would besuicide. "

"So it would, " said Jack. "Poor fellows. "

Slowly the _Glasgow_ settled; and for a moment the fire of all theother vessels--Germans as well as British--lulled a bit. All eyes werebent on the sinking ship. 

A wireless message was flashed from the _Glasgow_ to Captain Raleigh ofthe _Queen Mary_. 

"Goodbye, " it said. "Hold them!"

After that there was no further word from the doomed cruiser. 

The searchlights of both fleets played full upon the _Glasgow_ as shesettled lower in the water. She staggered, seemed to make an effort tohold herself afloat, and then sank suddenly. 

The duel of big guns broke out afresh. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE BATTLE

Dawn. 

With the breaking of the intense darkness what a surprise was in storefor the Germans!

Back of the four remaining British ships that had at first engaged theGermans, interrupting their dash and holding them in check until thearrival of a force strong enough to engage the foe more closely, camenow the relief promised by Vice-Admiral Beatty. 

Gathered from various parts of the North Sea, they had steamed towardJutland, and, arriving there at almost the same time, they had assumedbattle formation in the darkness. 

That the British were approaching must have been known by the Germanadmiral, for their wireless apparatus had been working unceasingly, telling of their approach, and these signals must have been caught bythe German warships, though, because sent in code, they wereundecipherable. Nor could the enemy tell, by the sound, just how closethe British were. 

Captain Raleigh, too, as well as the other British commanders, hadknown the other English ships were forming some distance back. Towardthese they now retreated; and just as dawn broke, and the Britishsailors obtained their first view of the promised assistance--andgreeted the new arrivals with cheers--the British advanced to theattack. 

The German admiral, taking in the situation, knew that he stilloutnumbered the British--that the advantage was still with him. Hedetermined to give battle. He knew, too, that it was only a question oftime until the main British fleet would approach and he determined towin the battle before the arrival of new foes. He signalled an advance. 

The British fleet was great and powerful--but not so great and powerfulas the German by far. As the _Queen Mary, Indefatigable_ and the twotorpedo boats fell back, still the center of German fire and stillhurling shell, seeking their proper places in the battle line, theother British vessels came on. And presently the _Queen Mary_ andothers had gained their places in the formation. 

Ahead of the larger ships now--the _Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_and the _Invincible, _ advanced the speediest of light cruisers--the_Defense_, the _Biack Prince_ and the _Warrior_. Behind these, spreadout fan-wise, came the destroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent, Nestore, Alcaster, Fortune, Sparrow Hawk, Ardent_ and the _Shark_. The _Albert_and _Victoria_ also had fallen in line, though badly battered by theeffects of the German shells during the night. 

Then the three battle cruisers advanced; and as the battle opened, farback came the battleship _Marlborough_, hurrying to join in thestruggle. 

The German fleet advanced to the attack in a broad semi-circle. Theflagship, the _Westphalen_, a dreadnaught of 18, 600 tons, was squarelyin the center. To her left was the battleship _Pommern_ and next the_Freiderich_; to her right the battleships _Wiesbaden_ and _Frauenlob_. Beyond the battleships to the left were the cruisers _Hindenburg_ and_Lutzow_, and beyond the battleships to the right the cruisers _Elbing_and _Essen_. Torpedo boats, more than a score of them, also spread faron either side. 

Directly behind the single dreadnaught and the battleships came aflotilla of submarines, ready to dash forward at the proper moment andlaunch their deadly torpedoes. Overhead, and moving forward, were thethree giant Zeppelins and a flotilla of other aircraft. 

Of all the vessels engaged, the _Queen Mary_ was the largest. The_Marlborough_, advancing rapidly, came next and then the Germandreadnaught _Westphalen_. The British battle cruisers _Indefatigable_and _Invincible_ were the next most powerful, in the order named, andthe other German vessels were by far superior to the British. 

Now, as the battle opened with the greatest fury, another Britishvessel was sighted to the westward. It was the _Lion_, the flagship ofVice-Admiral Beatty, steaming at full speed ahead. 

Over the tops of the three British cruisers, light vessels travelledswiftly toward the enemy, the larger ships opened with their big guns. The range was found almost with the first salvo and shells began todrop aboard the enemy. 

The British cruiser _Defense_, making straight for the Germandreadnaught _Westphalen_, hurled a shell aboard the German flagshipthat burst amidships. There was a terrible explosion and men werehurled into the water in little pieces. A hole was blown through theupper deck. 

But the _Defense_ paid dearly for this act. The forward guns of the_Westphalen_ poured a veritable rain of shells upon the British vesseland in a moment she was wounded unto death. 

There was nothing the other vessels of the fleet could do to aid her;and it was plainly apparent that she must sink. But the British tarsstuck to their guns and they continued to hurl shells into the Germanline until the water of the North Sea washed over them. 

The _Defense_ was gone. 

This left the _Black Prince_ and the _Warrior_ alone before the largerBritish vessels and they stood to their work gallantly. The fire ofboth cruisers was centered on the German flagship; and it was plainthat if they continued at their work the _Westphalen_ was doomed. 

An order was flashed to the German Zeppelins. Two sped forward. 

Captain Raleigh of the _Queen Mary_ saw them advancing and the forwardanti-aircraft gun was unloosened. The first Zeppelin, flying low, waspierced before it had moved forward a hundred yards; and it fell intothe sea between the German battleships, a flaming mass. But the secondcame on. 

Above the _Black Prince_ the Zeppelin paused. Something dropped throughthe air. There was a flash, an explosion and a dense black cloud rolledacross the water. When it had cleared the _Black Prince_ was gone!

The anti-aircraft guns of the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_fired furiously at the Zeppelin; and a few moments later a shot fromthe latter struck home. The second Zeppelin fell into the sea. By thistime the _Marlborough_ had drawn up with the _Queen Mary_ and the otherlarge British ships; and now these advanced majestically. 

The first to encounter the weight of their guns was the Germanbattleship _Pommern_, of 12, 900 tons. Raked fore and aft, she was soonablaze. Her crew leaped into the sea, almost as one man, following anexplosion in her boiler room; and the water was dark with bobbingheads. 

The _Pommern's_ sister ship, the _Freiderich_, slowed down and gaveassistance in picking up the crew of the former vessel; and while shewas engaged in this work no British gun fired at her. 

Gradually the _Marlborough_, the _Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_ andthe _Invincible_ drew closer together as they advanced upon theGermans. Shells burst over them with regularity, but so far none hadreached a vital spot. 

The _Queen Mary_ turned all her forward guns on the _Westphalen_ andraked her fore and aft. In vain the other vessels of the German fleetsought to detract the _Queen Mary's_ fire. Captain Raleigh had startedout with the intention of disposing of the German flagship and he wasdetermined not to heed the others until the _Westphalen_ had been sentto the bottom. 

It was no easy task he had set for himself, for he now was the centerof fire of the whole German fleet--almost. A submarine darted forwardto save the _Westphalen_. The quick eye of a British gunner caught it. He took aim and fired. The submarine disappeared. 

With a view to disposing of the enemy immediately, Captain Raleighordered that one of the two forward torpedoes be launched. 

There was a hiss as the little tube was released. The distance was soclose now that a miss was impossible. There was an instant of silence, followed by a terrible rending sound; then a loud blast. The torpedohad reached the _Westphalen's_ boiler room. 

Quickly the German admiral and his officers clambered over the side androwed to the _Wiesbaden_, where they were taken on board and theadmiral's flag run up. The _Westphalen_ was abandoned; and she sank afew moments later. 

In the meantime, the British cruiser _Warrior_, of 13, 500 tons, hadbeen sent down by the explosion of a German shell which had reached hermagazine. So rapidly had she settled that not a man of her crewescaped. Thus had the three light battle cruisers of the British--thevessels that had shown the way--been disposed of. 

At this moment Vice-Admiral Beatty and his flagship, the _Lion_, entered the battle. The great guns of the flagship roared above theothers and the battleship _Frauenlob_, singled out by her fire, soonsank. 

In spite of the German losses, the British, so far, had had the worstof the encounter and the German admiral, despite the loss of hisflagship, had no mind to give up the battle. He pushed to closerquarters. 

Now the fighting became more terrific. Shells struck upon all shipsengaged at intervals of a few seconds apart. Frequently loud explosionswere heard above the voices of the great guns; and in most cases thesesignified the end of a ship of war. 

Among the smaller vessels--the torpedo boats--which had singled eachother out, the execution had been terrible. Dead and wounded strewedthe decks and there was no time for the uninjured to give aid. Theywere too busy attending to their guns and manoeuvering their vessels. 

But the outcome of an engagement such as this could have but oneresult, it seemed. Outnumbered as they were and fighting as bravely asthey knew how, the British were getting the worst of it. Rather thansacrifice more lives and ships, Vice-Admiral Beatty, on the _Lion_, gave the signal to retire. He was in hopes that the Germans wouldfollow and thus fall into the clutches of the main British fleet whichwas advancing at full speed and with which Vice-Admiral Beatty had beenin communication by wireless. 

The Germans accepted the bait as the British drew off slowly; and asthey advanced more ships steamed up from the east. It was a secondGerman squadron advancing to the aid of the first. 

There was a cry of surprise from the British, for they had not knownthat there was a second fleet in such close proximity. These newvessels evidently were the reserves the German admiral had beendepending upon to turn the tide of battle should his first line shipsnot be able to overcome the British. 

Seeing apparent victory within his grasp, the German admiral signalledhis fleet to full speed; so the British retreated more rapidly. 

Suddenly there was a terrible explosion to the right of the _QueenMary_. Frank and Jack, as well as all others on the _Queen Mary_, gazedin that direction. The battle cruiser _Invincible_ suddenly sprang intoa sheet of flame and parted in half. A German shell had struck hervitals. 

A cry of despair broke from the British as the _Invincible_--thegreatest British ship to suffer so far--dived beneath the waves. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE MAIN FLEET ARRIVES

It was by a miracle, it seemed, that the _Queen Mary, _ the_Indefatigable_, the _Marlborough_ and the _Lion_, now in the frontline, had escaped being struck in their vitals by the German shellsthat flew all about. On the _Queen Mary_, dead men and wounded menstrewed the deck. They were being carried below as rapidly as possible, where the ship's surgeon, with a corps of assistants, was attending totheir wounds. 

Frank and Jack had been working like demons. From one part of the shipto the other they had been running with orders ever since the battleopened. The heart of each lad was in his throat--not because of fear--but because the British were getting the worst of the engagement. Neverbefore had they seen an enemy fleet stand up to a British squadron ofthis size and fight. Always before it had been the German policy torun. 

But now they were not only standing up to the British, but were givingthem a bad thrashing. Each lad realized, of course, that the Britishwere out-numbered and that the weight of guns was in favor of theenemy; but in spite of this they felt that the enemy should bedefeated. They cast occasional glances to the west, hoping to catchsight of the main British fleet, which should be drawing near now. 

But at nine o'clock there was no smoke on the horizon. 

The loss of the _Invincible_ had been a hard blow to the British. Asthe others retreated now the Germans pressed them closely. A shotstruck the _Marlborough_ in the forward turret, exploding her gunsthere and killing the gun crews. The effect of the explosion wasterrible. Men were hurled high in the air and came down in smallpieces. 

Jack, in the forward turret of the _Queen Mary_ a moment later, washurled to the deck as a German shell struck one of the guns and blew itto pieces. The lad escaped the rain of steel that descended a momentlater, but others in the turret were not so fortunate. Fully half themen there were killed or wounded so badly that they could fight nomore. 

Jack sprang to one of the guns himself. It was loaded. Quickly the ladsighted it upon one of the enemy ships and fired. 

He watched the effect of this shot. It was the German cruiser _Elbing_at which he had aimed. He saw a cloud of missiles ascend from amidshipsand knew that the shot had struck home. 

Jack forgot all about reporting to Captain Raleigh for further orders, and as the battle raged, he continued to fire one of the big 16-inchguns--he and other unwounded British tars. 

Frank had not seen his chum for an hour; and chancing to poke his headinto the forward turret, he was surprised to see Jack working like aTrojan with the members of the gun crew. 

"Good work, Jack! Keep it up!" he called. 

Jack looked in Frank's direction long enough to wave his hand; thenturned back to his work. 

Came a loud British cheer. "What's happened?" demanded Jack of the mannext him, shouting at the top of his voice to make himself heard abovethe din of battle. 

The man shook his head. 

"Don't know, " he shouted back, "unless the main fleet has beensighted. "

"We might have sunk one of the enemy, " said another. 

As a matter of fact, both men were right. 

Two German torpedo boats had gone to the bottom almost simultaneouslyunder well directed British shots; and, far back across the sea, aflotilla of battleships had been sighted. 

Apparently the Germans had not yet sighted the British reinforcements, for they continued to press their foes hard. 

Four British torpedo boats had been sent to the bottom of the sea. Theywere the _Tipperary_, the _Turbulent_, the _Nestore_ and the _Shark_. The others gave slowly before the enemy; and a moment later two ofthose sank--the _Sparrow Hawk_ and the _Ardent_. 

There now remained facing the entire German fleet the _Lion_, the_Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_, the _Marlborough_ and two torpedoboats, the _Fortune_ and the _Alcaster_. 

But the German losses had been great. The _Westphalen_ had been sunk. So had the _Pommern_ and the _Freiderich_. The _Frauenlob_ had gone tothe bottom and the _Wiesbaden_, the new flagship, was badly crippled. As another German torpedo boat sank, the Germans slackened their pace. 

The British had a breathing spell. 

But the battle was not over yet. The second German squadron had nowapproached almost close enough to take a hand in the battle. Apparentlythis Was what the German admiral was waiting for before resumingoperations. 

It was plainly evident now that the Germans had sighted the approachingBritish fleet, but at that distance they were unable to make out itsstrength. The German admiral decided to continue the battle if he coulddo so with any hope of success. 

So, with the second squadron in range, he gave the command to advanceagain. 

The _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ bore the brunt of this nextattack and for half an hour it seemed that it was impossible for thetwo ships to live through the rain of shells that fell all about them. But live they did and they gave as good or better than they received. 

The German battleship _Hindenburg_, pierced by half a dozen shells atalmost the same time, staggered back and fell out of line. But theBritish had no mercy on her. Shell after shell they poured upon her;and at last she sank. 

The _Wiesbaden_, the German flagship, pressed hotly to the attack. Although struck in a dozen places and her port side batteries out ofcommission, she continued to play on the _Queen Mary_ and the_Indefatigable_ with her forward turret guns. 

As a matter of fact, it was fortunate for the _Queen Mary_ and the_Indefatigable_ that they had begun to retire; for their forward turretguns had been silenced and the only pieces that they could now bringinto play were in the turrets aft. 

A shell from the German battleship _Lutzow_ exploded on the bridge ofthe _Marlborough_. The bridge was carried completely away and thecommander of the ship was killed, as were half a score of otherofficers. A second shell struck the _Marlborough_ and carried away hersteering apparatus. Absolutely uncontrollable now, the _Marlborough_drifted toward the _Lion_, with which she almost collided before the_Lion_ could get out of the way. 

There was nothing that could be done for her until after the battle, atany rate, and the others left her to her fate. Drifting as she was, the_Marlborough_ continued her fire; and of a sudden she put a shot aboardthe _Lutzow_ in a vital spot. 

The _Lutzow_ blew up with a terrible roar. The crew of the_Marlborough_ cheered and waved their hands to their companions on theother British ships. 

Apparently this was more than the German admiral had bargained for. With his whole second squadron intact and the British apparentlyhelpless, he had thought to crush these few ships before aid shouldreach them; and then, if the approaching British were not tooformidable, to offer them battle also. 

Now there were only three British ships in line--the _Lion_, the_Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_--and these were really not fitnor able to continue the fight. 

But the men fought on doggedly. None of the others had thought ofsurrender and no such idea entered the head of a single man aboard anyof the British ships. Help was at hand and then the Germans would getthe thrashing of their lives, the men told themselves. They would keepthe Germans busy until this help arrived. 

Hardly a man aboard the _Queen Mary_ that had not been wounded. Sweatpoured from their faces, hands and body as they continued to fighttheir guns; and as they fought they shouted and yelled encouragement toone another. 

"Boom!"

There was a different tone to this deep voice and every man on boardthe hard pressed British ships knew what it meant. 

The first ship of the main British fleet had come within range and hadopened with her biggest gun. 

Other new voices took up the challenge and within a few moments theroar of battle was at its height once more. 

Still a considerable distance away, the dimensions of the approachingBritish fleet now became apparent to the German admiral. He hadthought, at first, that perhaps the newcomers would number a few ships, attracted by the sounds of battle, but as he looked at the formidablearray now bearing down on him he knew that his plans, whatever theywere, had been frustrated. 

"And we had it all planned so carefully, " he said between clenchedteeth. 

He strode up and down angrily, beating the palm of one hand with aknotted fist. 

"How could they have learned of it?" he cried. "How could they?"

He was very angry. An officer approached him. 

"Shall we draw off, sir?" he asked, and pointed to the fresh Britishships bearing down on them. 

"No!" thundered the admiral. "Why don't you sink those three shipsahead of you there? Sink them, I tell you!"

The officer saluted and moved away. 

For some moments the German admiral continued to talk to himself ingreat anger; then he suddenly cooled down. With a finger he summonedthe officer who had accosted him a moment before. The officerapproached and saluted. 

"I forgot myself a moment ago, " said the admiral. "You may give thesignal to retire!"

A moment later the big German ships began to come about; and from thedecks of the _Queen Mary_, the _Lion_ and the _Indefatigable_ therecame loud British cheers. 

The _Marlborough_, still helpless, poured shell after shell upon theenemy. 

Some distance away still, the British fleet was approaching in anendeavor to intercept the retreat of the enemy. Captain Raleigh of the_Queen Mary_ took in the situation at a glance. 

"They'll never do it!" he exclaimed. 

He determined upon a bold step. He gave command to bring the _QueenMary_ about. Then, disabled as his ship was, he started in pursuit ofthe enemy. 

There was a cheer from the _Indefatigable_, and presently the head ofthat vessel also came about She started after the _Queen Mary_!

CHAPTER XVIII

THE SINKING OF THE "QUEEN MARY"

Perceiving this move by two vessels that he believed the same as at thebottom of, the sea, so far as fighting purposes went, the Germanadmiral became very angry again. 

"A blight on these English!" he exclaimed. "Don't they know when theyare beaten?"

Certainly it seemed not, if the Admiral's version that they weredefeated was correct. 

The _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ steamed after the enemy atfull speed. 

Jack had relinquished his duties in the gun turret to more experiencedhands and had joined Frank on deck. To some extent the forward turrethad been repaired and was now in condition to hurl more shells afterthe fleeing enemy. 

It was well after noon when the Germans fled; and as the two Britishships followed close on the heels of the enemy--with the main Britishfleet still some distance back--one of those deep impenetrable fogsthat often impede progress on the North Sea suddenly descended. 

It was indeed a boon to the fleeing Germans, for without its aid, thereis little likelihood that they could have escaped the British fleet, which had the heels of the enemy. But the fog blotted the foecompletely from the sight of the main British fleet; and even from thedecks of the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_, much closer, it wasimpossible to make out the whereabouts of the Germans. 

The British continued to fire ahead into the fog, but with what resultit was impossible to tell. 

The fog became more dense until it was impossible to see ten yardsahead. Even the great searchlights on the vessels failed to penetratethe gloom. 

"Well, I guess that settles it, " said Frank. 

"Looks that way, " Jack agreed. "These Germans are pretty slipperycustomers anyhow. It's impossible to catch them in the dark. "

"This fog descended as though it were all made to order for them, "Frank complained. 

"Pretty hard to beat a fellow when the elements are fighting on hisside, " Jack admitted. "I imagine Captain Raleigh will give up the chasenow. "

But Jack was wrong, though, as it turned out, it would have been agreat deal better for all concerned if the chase had been abandoned atthat point. 

After some conversation with Captain Reynolds of the _Indefatigable_ bywireless, Captain Raleigh announced that the pursuit would be continuedand ordered full speed ahead in the deep darkness. 

As the vessel gathered momentum, Frank exclaimed:

"I don't like this. I feel as though something disastrous was about tohappen. "

"Another one of those things, eh?" said Jack, grinning in the darknessthat enveloped them. 

"What things?"

"I never can remember what you call them. Premonitions, I mean. "

"You mean a hunch, " said Frank, quietly. "Yes, that's just what I have--a hunch. "

"Take it to Captain Raleigh. Maybe he will give you something for it, "said his friend. 

"This is no joking matter, " declared Frank. "I'm not naturally nervous, as you know, but right now my nerves are on edge. "

"Just the after effects of the battle, " said Jack, quietly. "You areall unstrung. "

"I'm unstrung, all right, " Frank admitted, "but the battle had nothingto do with it. I tell you something is going to happen. "

"Well, what?"

"I don't know. "

"It's a poor hunch, unless it will tell you what is going to happen, "declared Jack. 

"Have it your own way, " said Frank. "But wait. "

"I'm waiting, " said Jack, cheerfully. 

The _Indefatigable_ also, following Captain Reynold's wirelessconversation with Captain Raleigh, had dashed after the retreatingGermans at full speed. 

Gradually, although in the darkness neither their commanders nor anyoneelse on board realized it, the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_, dashing ahead at full speed as they were, were drawing closer togetherat every turn of the screws. 

Frank's forebodings were about to bear fruit. 

Now, in the darkness, the vessels were running upon about even terms, but the bows were both pointed toward an angle that would drive themtogether in collision about a mile distant. Although none realized it, this is what would happen unless the fog lifted suddenly. 

But the fog did not lift. 

Frank, try as he would could not shake off his spell. 

"I tell you. " he said again to his chum, "something is going to happen--and it's going to happen soon. "

There was so much force behind Frank's words--the lad seemed in suchdeadly earnest--that Jack grew alarmed. He had had some experience withthese premonitions of Frank's. 

"What is it?" he asked anxiously. 

"I wish I knew, " said Frank. "I----"

Came a sudden shout forward; a cry from the bridge. Instinctively, Frank threw out a hand and grasped Jack by the arm. 

Another series of startled cries, the tinkling of a bell in the engineroom; a shock as the engines were reversed--but it was too late. 

The two British warships came together with a terrible crash!

So great was the force of the shock that Frank, standing on the farside, was thrown clear over the rail. But the lad's grasp upon hischum's arm was so tight that it dragged Jack along with him; and thetwo boys fell into the sea together. 

Aboard both British ships all was confusion now. With startled cries, men rushed on deck. Unable to see in the dense fog, they became panicstricken. While these same men would have faced death bravely inbattle, they were completely bewildered at this moment. 

In vain the officers aboard both vessels sought to bring some semblanceof order out of the confusion. Something had gone wrong with theelectric lighting apparatus on both vessels. There was no light. Thefog was as thick as ever. The crews stampeded for the rails, but at therails they hesitated, for they did not wish to throw themselves intothe great unknown. 

Next came the stampede for life preservers. Men fought over theirpossession, whereas, in cooler moments, hardly a man aboard either shipwho would not willingly have given the life preservers to companions. 

Had the men thrown themselves into the sea immediately, it is likelythat many of them would have been saved; but their hesitation cost themdearly. 

In vain did the reversed engines of both ships work. The sharp steelbow of the _Indefatigable_ had become so firmly embedded in the side ofthe _Queen Mary_ that it could not be unloosened. 

And so the two battleships sank, together in their last moments as theyhad been when they had faced almost certain destruction under themuzzles of the great German guns such a short time before. 

Now men from both ships hurled themselves into the sea in an effort tocheat the waters of their prey. Commanders and officers, however, realizing that there was no hope of life even in the sea, so swiftlywere the ships sinking, stood calmly on the bridges and awaited theend. For, they realized, the suction would be so strong when thevessels took their final plunge, that all those anywhere near in thewater would be drawn under. 

Captain Raleigh sent a hail across the water in a loud voice. 

"Are you there, Reynolds?"

"Right here, Raleigh, " came back the response. "There is no hope here. How about you?"

"No hope here either, " was Captain Raleigh's answer. 

"Goodbye, then, " shouted Captain Reynolds. 

"Goodbye, old man!"

They were the last words spoken by these two old friends, who had beenboys together, schoolmates and bosom companions. 

Suddenly the two ships took their final plunge. Men still on board, those of the crew who had been frightened and had not cast themselvesinto the sea, straightened instinctively as they felt the vessels givebeneath them. In the presence of death--when they knew it had arrived--they were as brave and courageous as in the midst of battle. 

So there was silence aboard the _Queen Mary_ and aboard the_Indefatigable_ as the waves parted for their coming. All on board, officers and members of the two crews as well, stood calmly, waitingfor the dark waters to close over them. 

The two ships made a last desperate effort to resist the call of thesea. They failed. A moment later they disappeared from sight. No soundcame from the depths. 

When Frank and Jack had felt themselves in the water, the latter, realizing immediately what would happen if the ships sank before theyhad put some distance in between them, struck out swiftly toward whathe felt to be the south, giving Frank a hand as he did so. 

The latter recovered himself a moment later, however, and gasped. 

"I'm all right, Jack. Let me swim for myself. "

"All right, " said Jack, "but keep close beside me. We'll have to hurryor we shall be pulled under by the suction when the ships sink. "

Keeping close together they swam with powerful strokes. 

And so it was that they were out of harm's way when the two shipsdisappeared from sight with a deafening roar as the waters closed overthem; they were beyond reach of the suction. 

"There they go, " said Frank, sadly. 

"And it is only a miracle that prevented us from going with them, " saidJack. 

"We might as well have gone as to be in the middle of the North Sea, "said Frank. 

"Nonsense. While there's life there's hope. "

They swam on. 

Suddenly Jack's hand came in contact with something in the darkness. 

"A man!" he exclaimed. 

"What did you think I was? A fish?" came the reply. "I've a right toescape as well as you. "

"Who are you?" asked Frank. 

At that moment, as suddenly as it had descended, the fog lifted. 

Jack looked at the other man in the water and uttered an exclamation ofpleasure. 

"Harris!" he cried. 

CHAPTER XIX

ADRIFT

The great naval battle of Jutland was over. 

The British fleet now had given up pursuit of the fleeing Germans andVice-Admiral Beatty paused to take stock of his losses; and they wereenormous. 

Three great battle cruisers had gone to the bottom--the _Queen Mary_, of 27, 000 tons; the _Indefatigable_, of 18, 750 tons, and the_Invincible_, of 17, 250 tons. Cruisers lost included the _Defense_, of14, 600 tons; the _Black Prince_; of 13, 550 tons, and the _Warrior_, of13, 550 tons. The giant battle cruiser _Marlborough, _ of 27, 500 tons, had been badly damaged, as had the _Lion_ and other vessels. Thedestroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent, Nestore, Alcaster, Fortune, SparrowHawk, Ardent_ and _Shark_ had been sunk. Total losses ran high into themillions and in the number of men above 7, 000. 

The German losses had been less, but nevertheless, taking intoconsideration damage done to the effectiveness of the two fleets as awhole, the enemy had sustained the harder blow. The British fleet stillmaintained control of the North Sea, while the Germans, because oftheir losses, had been deprived of a large part of the fightingstrength of their fleet. The British, in spite of their heavier losses, would recover more quickly than could the enemy. 

The dreadnaught _Westphalen_ was the largest ship lost by the Germans. It was of 18, 600 tons. The three German battleships lost, the_Pommern_, the _Freiderich_ and the _Frauenlob_, were each of 13, 350tons. Four battle cruisers had been sent to the bottom. They were the_Elbing_, the _Essen_, the _Lutzow_ and the _Hindenburg_, each of14, 400 tons. The German losses in torpedo destroyers had beenparticularly heavy, an even dozen having been sent to the bottom. Besides this, the enemy had lost three submarines and two Zeppelinairships, besides a number of smaller aircraft. In men the Germans hadlost slightly less than the British. 

And so both British and Germans counted the battle a victory; theGermans because in total tonnage sunk they had the best of it; theBritish, because they held the scene of battle when the fighting wasover and because the enemy had retired. 

But, no matter with which side rested the victory, there was nogainsaying the fact that the battle of Jutland was the greatest navalstruggle of all time. 

After giving up pursuit of the enemy, the British withdrew. Damage tothe various vessels was repaired as well as could be done at sea andthe ships in need of a more thorough overhauling steamed for England, where they would go into dry-dock. The bulk of the British fleet, however, still in perfect fighting trim, again took up the task ofpatrolling the North Sea, that no German vessels might make theirescape from the fortress of Heligoland, for which point the enemyheaded immediately after the battle. 

In spite of the severe losses of the Germans, the return of the highsea fleet to Heligoland was marked by a grand ovation by the civilpopulation. Various reports were circulated on the island, and allthrough Germany for that matter. One report had it that the entireBritish fleet had been sent to the bottom; and Berlin, and all Germany, rejoiced. 

But as time passed and the German fleet still remained secure behindits fortifications, the German people began to realize that the victoryhad not been so great as they had been led to believe. They knew theyhad been fooled; and they vented their anger in many ways. 

Street riots occurred in Berlin and in others of the large cities. Thepeople demanded to be told the facts. Later they were told, in ameasure, but even then they were denied the whole truth. So conditionsin the central empires grew from bad to worse. 

Jack and Frank, struggling in the water where they had been hurled bythe collision of the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_, were glad ofthe company of Harris, who had bobbed up so suddenly alongside of themin the darkness. 

Harris greeted Jack's exclamation of surprise with a grin. 

"Yes; it's me, " he replied, discarding his grammar absolutely; "and I'mglad to see you fellows again. Question is, what are we going to donow?"

"Well, you know as much about it as I do, " declared Jack. "I haven'tany idea how far we are from shore, but I am afraid it is farther thanwe can swim. "

All three cast their eyes over the water. There was not a spar norother piece of wreckage in sight. But Jack made out a few momentslater, some distance to the east, what appeared to be a ship of somesort. He called the attention of the others to it. 

"Suppose we might as well head in that direction, then, " declaredHarris. 

"Right, " agreed Frank. 

He struck out vigorously and the others did the same. 

It was a long ways to that little speck on the water and the lads knewthat if the vessel were moving away from them they probably would belost. But at that distance the vessel seemed to be stationary, so theydid not give up hope. 

Half an hour later Frank exclaimed: "We're making headway. Ship must bestanding still. "

"Well, I wish it would come this way, " declared Harris. "We're still along way from safety. "

"It's probably a German, anyhow, " said Jack, "so if we are rescued itwill be only to be made prisoners. "

"That's better than being made shark bait, " said Harris; "and, by theway, speaking of sharks, I have heard that there were many of them inthese waters. "

Frank shuddered; for he had a wholesome disgust for the man eaters. 

"Hope they don't smell us, " he said. 

"And so do I, " agreed Jack. "We couldn't hope to fight them off, for wehave no arms. "

"I've got a knife, " said Harris, "but I am afraid I wouldn't know whatto do with it should a shark get after me. "

The three became silent, saving all their strength for swimming. 

An hour later they had drawn close to the vessel. 

"It's a German all right, " said Jack, regretfully. 

"Any port in a storm, " said Harris. "That talk of shark a while backmade me feel sort of squeamish. I want to get out of this water. "

They continued to swim toward the ship. 

"Wonder what's the matter on board?" exclaimed Frank, suddenly. 

They had approached close enough now to see men rushing hurriedly aboutthe deck. Hoarse commands carried across the water, though the wordswere unintelligible to the three swimmers at that distance. 

"Something wrong, " said Jack, quietly. 

"That's what I call hard luck, " declared Frank. "Here we think we havereached a place of safety and something goes wrong. "

"Don't cry till you're hurt, youngster, " said Harris, quietly. "Theship is there and we're pretty close to it. Those fellows aboard, German or English, are bound to lend us a hand. "

"I'm not so sure about that, " declared Frank. 

"Well, I am, " said Harris. "The German sailor is all right. It's theGerman officer who makes all the trouble. They'll help us if they can. "

The three swimmers were a short distance from the ship now. 

Jack raised his voice in a shout. 

"Help!" he cried in German. 

There was no move aboard the German vessel to indicate that the lad'scry had been heard. 

"Told you so, " said Frank. 

"Don't cry too soon, youngster, " said Harris. "We'll try it again, andall yell together. "

They did and this time their cries were heard. 

Several men aboard the German vessel stopped their rushing about andgazed across the sea in the direction of the swimmers. One man produceda glass and levelled it in their direction. Then he turned to theothers and they could be seen to gesticulate excitedly. 

"One wants to save us and the others don't, " declared Frank. 

For some moments the men continued to argue. One shook his finger inthe faces of the others and pointed in the direction of the swimmers. 

"You're all right, " declared Frank, speaking of the one man. "Wish Iwere there to lend you a hand. But I'm afraid the others are too muchfor you. "

At this juncture the man who opposed the others produced a revolver andmade an angry gesture. He was ordering the others to the aid of thethree friends in the water. 

"By Jove!" said Harris. "He's all right. I'd like to be able to do hima good turn. "

And the chance was to come sooner than he expected. 

Apparently the men aboard the German vessel had decided to obey theorder of the man who would save the three swimmers. A boat was loweredover the side. 

Three men stood ready to leap into it. The hopes of the three friendsin the water rose high; but they were shattered a moment later in asudden and unexpected manner. 

A dull rumbling roar came suddenly across the water. Instantly allbecame confusion aboard the German vessel. Officers shouted hoarsecommands and struck out with the flat of their swords as members of thecrew rushed for the rails. 

"An explosion!" cried Frank. "Swim back quickly. "

The others understood the significance of that strange rumbling aboardthe German vessel as quickly as Frank, and turning rapidly, they struckout as fast as they could. 

An explosion such as that dull roar indicated could have but one resultand the lads knew it. Evidently there had been a fire on board--thataccounted for the strange activities of the men on the ship--and theflames had reached the vessel's magazine. 

A second and a louder roar came now. Men jumped into the sea by thescores and struck out vigorously that they might not be pulled under bythe suction when the ship sank. 

Then there came an explosion even louder than the rest. The great shipparted in the middle as though cut by a knife. A huge tongue of flameshot high in the air. Hoarse cries from aboard, screams and frightfulyells. Split in twain, the vessel settled fore and aft. 

A second huge tongue of flame leaped into the sky; and then the vesseldisappeared beneath the sea. 

Giant waves leaped in the direction taken by Jack, Frank and Harris. The sea churned angrily about them and the three had all they could doto keep their heads above water. Then the water calmed down. Franklooked around and there, not fifty feet away, rolling gently on thewaves, was the small boat so recently lowered over the side of theGerman vessel. 

With a cry to the others to follow him, Frank turned about and headedfor the boat with powerful strokes. 

CHAPTER XX

FRIENDS AND FOES

There was reason for Frank's haste. 

Swimming close together and bearing down upon the boat from theopposite direction--almost as close from their side as Frank was fromhis--four German sailors were racing. 

They espied Frank and his friends at almost the same moment Frank sawthem. One uttered a cry and the others redoubled their efforts to beatFrank to the boat. 

Jack and Harris took in the situation quickly. It was then that Jackexerted himself to the utmost. His great, powerful strokes sent himskimming through the water as lightly as a denizen of the deep. A dozenstrokes and he had passed Frank. A few more only, it seemed, and helaid hold of the boat and drew himself aboard. Standing erect he lookedaround quickly. Then, stepping forward, he picked up an oar. He movedto the side of the boat where the Germans were approaching and raisedthe oar aloft. 

"Keep off there!" he cried. 

The Germans uttered exclamations of alarm; but they came closer. 

"Keep back!" cried Jack, again. 

"But you won't let us drown!" exclaimed one of the enemy. 

"You stay there until my friends get aboard. Then I'll see what I cando for you, " replied Jack. 

With this the Germans were forced to be content; for they realized thatJack held the upper hand. It would be impossible for them to climbaboard while the lad stood there brandishing that oar. 

Frank laid hold of the boat a moment later and clambered over the side. Harris was close beside him. Jack called a consultation. 

"There is plenty of room for those fellows in here, " he said, "but--shall we let them in?"

"We can't see them drown, " said Frank. "Still, there is no telling howlong we shall be here. Is there sufficient water and food to goaround?"

"I'll have a look, " said Harris. "Enough for seven of us for about onedrink apiece, " he said, after an exploration. "There is no food. "

"Well, what shall we do?" said Jack. 

"Let them come aboard, " said Frank. "We can't see them perish withoutraising a hand to help them. "

"And yet they would not have helped us a short time ago, " said Jack. 

"One man would have helped us, " said Harris. "Perhaps he is one ofthese. "

"No, he's not, " said Jack. "I would know him in a moment if I saw him. I obtained a good look at his face. "

"Let them in anyhow, " said Harris. 

"All right, " said Jack. He called to the men in the water. "You fellowsclimb aboard here, one at a time; and when you get in, remember you areour prisoners. Any foolishness and we'll pitch you back again. "

The Germans offered no protest and climbed into the boat one at a time. 

"Sit in the back, there, " said Jack. 

The men obeyed. 

"Now, " said Jack, "I'll tell you where we stand. Water is scarce andthere is no food. We shall have to make for shore immediately. I'm incommand of this boat and you will have to obey me. Get out the oars androw as I tell you. "

The Germans grumbled a bit but they obeyed. 

"No time to waste, " said Jack, briefly. "We'll head south. "

He gave the necessary directions and the boat moved off. 

"Help!" came a sudden cry from the water. 

Jack looked in the direction of this sound. A single head came towardthem, swimming weakly. 

"Ship your oars, men, " said Jack. 

There came a grumble from one of the Germans. 

"There is no more room, " he declared. 

"No, " agreed a second. "There is not enough water now. Why should welet another man in the boat?"

"Stop that!" said Jack, sharply. "Cease rowing!"

The men made no move to obey. Jack stood up in the boat and steppedforward. 

"Did you hear me?" he said quietly, though it was plain to Frank thathe was very angry. "Cease rowing!"

"But----" began the nearest German. 

Jack wasted no further time in words. His left arm shot out and hegrasped the nearest German by the coat. Raising him quickly to hisfeet, he struck him heavily with his right fist and then released hishold. The man dropped to the bottom of the boat and lay still. 

"Any more?" asked Jack. "Cease rowing!"

The remaining three Germans shipped their oars without a word, althougheach bestowed an evil glance upon the lad. Frank, catching the look intheir eyes, muttered to himself:

"They'll bear watching. "

"Harris, " said Jack. "That man in the water is the one who would havesaved us a short time ago. He seems to be weak. Slip over the side andlend him a hand, will you?"

Harris did so without question and a moment or two later the Germantumbled into the boat, where he lay panting, blood streaming from anopen wound in his forehead. Harris climbed back in the boat. 

"Bandage him up as well as you can and give him a few drops of thatwater, " said Jack. 

For his part, Jack stooped over the German soldier he had so recentlyknocked unconscious and raised him to a sitting posture. Reaching overthe side of the boat the lad wet his handkerchief and applied it to theGerman's head. Soon the man recovered consciousness. 

"A drop of water here, too, " said Jack, quietly. 

"Say, " said Harris. "This water is precious scarce. We'll need itourselves. "

"But this man must have a little, " said Jack. "Pass it along. "

Harris did not protest further and Jack allowed the German soldier tomoisten his tongue. 

"Now get back to your oars, " the lad commanded. 

The German did as commanded and soon the little boat was leapinglightly over the waves. 

"Take the helm, Frank, " said Jack. 

Frank relieved Harris, who had been performing this duty. 

"Got your pocket compass, Frank?" asked Jack. 

"Yes. "

"Keep your course due south, then. "

"All right, sir, " said Frank, with a smile. 

"Harris, " said Jack, "I want you to stand guard over these sailors fora few minutes. I want to have a talk with our latest arrival. I'll bewith you in a few minutes. "

Harris stepped forward. 

"Ought to have a gun, I suppose, " he said. 

"I guess not, " said Jack. "You and I together should be able to holdthese fellows in check. "

"Sure; unless they hit us over the head with an oar when we're notlooking. "

"But one of us must always be looking, " said Jack, quietly. 

"Well, that's not a bad idea. I'll keep my eyes open. "

Jack moved to the side of the German who had been the last to get intothe boat. His wound had been bound up as well as possible under thecircumstances and he sat quietly, looking out over the water. 

"What vessel was that?" asked Jack. 

"_Hanover_" was the reply. 

"What was the trouble?"

"Shot pierced our boiler room in the battle. Returning, we were lostfrom the main fleet in the fog. Our wireless wouldn't work. Fire brokeout and we were unable to check the flames. When they reached themagazine she exploded. "

"I see, " said Jack. "It's fortunate you weren't drawn under with theship. "

"I was, " said the German, briefly. 

"What?" exclaimed Jack. 

"Yes. I was drawn under. I thought I was done for. But, under thesurface of the sea there was a second explosion. I felt myself flyingup through the water and then I shot into the air. When I came down Iwas not far from your boat. I called for help. "

"By Jove! you have had an experience few can boast of, " said Jack. "Iwouldn't care to go through it. "

"Nor I--again, " said the German. 

"Now, " said Jack, "perhaps you can tell me the nearest way to shore. "

The German considered. 

"I am not a navigator, " he said, "I was only a minor officer aboard the_Hanover_. But I heard the captain say we were almost 100 miles fromthe nearest coast line. I am afraid you will not be able to make it inthis boat, if your water is as scarce as you say. "

"By Jove!" said Jack, "we've got to make it. We don't want to drown outhere. "

"It's not always what we like, " said the German officer, sententiously. 

"That's true enough, " agreed Jack, "but I have a feeling I was not bornto be drowned. We'll find a way out. "

"I hope so. However, should you go ashore directly south of here youwould be within German lines and you would be made a prisoner. "

"Can't help that, " said Jack. "I'd much rather be a live prisoner thana dead sailor. "

The German smiled in spite of his wound, which, it was plain to all, was giving him great pain. 

"Of course, " he said, "there is always the possibility of a passingship. "

"That's what we thought before, " said Jack. "When we saw your vessel wethought we were safe. But you see how it turned out. "

"Well, you'll just have to select a course and stick to it, " said theGerman. "By the way, these men of mine. You are likely to have troublewith them. In our present situation I do not consider that we areenemies, so if the worst comes you may count on me to help you. "

"Thanks, " said Jack. "I shall remember that. "

And the trouble was to come sooner than could have been expected. 

One of the German soldiers suddenly laid down his oars. 

"I want a drink!" he exclaimed. "I'll row no more until I have adrink!"

CHAPTER XXI

A FIGHT FOR A BOAT

As by a prearranged signal, all four of the Germans threw down theiroars and jumped to their feet. Harris, at that moment, in spite ofJack's warning, had been gazing across the sea absolutely unconsciousof his surroundings. He was lost in thought. 

Frank, at the helm, uttered a cry of warning even as the closest Germanleaped for Harris and the latter wheeled quickly. He dodged just as theman struck out with a knife he had drawn. 

"Want to cut me up, do you?" muttered Harris. 

In spite of the wabbling of the boat he fell into an attitude ofdefense--the old fighting form that had won for him the championship ofthe British navy in the squared circle. He didn't advance, for hewasn't certain of his footing, the boat pitched so, but he felt fullyable to take care of himself. 

It was characteristic of him that he made no cry for help. He knew thatJack must have heard Frank's cry of warning. He knew that he would getall the assistance it was in Jack's power to give; and he felt that ifJack were unable for any reason to aid him he must, nevertheless, givea good account of himself. 

When Harris evaded the first blow, the German, caught off his balance, pitched forward against him. Harris was almost toppled over, but hethrew his left arm around the man's neck and aimed a vicious blow athim with his right fist. 

The German's knife arm, because of Harris' hold, dangled helpless athis side. In vain he sought to get it in position where he could drivethe point into Harris' body. Harris realized the man's intention. Witha sudden move, he pushed the German from him and struck out as he didso. The man staggered back, reeled unsteadily and toppled over the sideof the boat with a cry. 

The three other Germans rushed Harris at that moment. This time theBritish sailor was not caught off his guard, and he held the men atarm's length for several seconds. 

Meanwhile, Jack had leaped forward, crying to Frank as he did so:

"Keep the helm, Frank! We don't want the boat overturned. "

Frank obeyed, much as he would have liked to join in the fight. 

Jack reached Harris' side and together the two faced the three Germans. 

"We've got them, now, " said Harris, quietly. 

"Men, " said Jack, quietly, "unless you return to your oars immediately, we shall be forced to throw you overboard. "

There was a snarl from the three men. Suddenly one dropped to his kneesand seized Harris by the legs. Caught off his guard, the latter fell tothe bottom of the boat and the others leaped on him. 

A knife flashed in the hand of one. With a cry, Jack stooped downquickly and seized the man's wrist even as the point of the weaponwould have been buried in Harris' back. The lad twisted sharply and theknife went flying into the sea. 

"You would, would you!" cried Jack. 

He jerked the man to his feet, planted two hard blows on his chin, andas the man reeled forward clipped him once more. One, two, threebackward steps the man took and then pitched over the side of the boat. 

"Two gone!" exclaimed Jack. 

But he was wrong. For the first man who had been knocked into the seahad been revived by the shock of the cold water. Swimming around theboat unobserved, he had come up behind Frank and now reached up andgrabbed Frank by the coat. With a cry of alarm, the lad toppled intothe water. 

Jack heard his friend's cry. Quickly he took in the situation. Harrishad regained his feet and seemed capable of disposing of the tworemaining Germans. With a cry to Harris, Jack leaped over the side. 

Some distance away he saw Frank struggling with the German who hadpulled him from the boat and he swam quickly in that direction. 

"I'm coming, Frank!" he called. "Hang on to him. "

Frank was doing his best, but he had been taken by surprise and theadvantage was with his opponent. The German's hand closed about thelad's throat and he was slowly choking him. Even as Jack came abreastof the struggling figures, Frank threw up his hands and the twodisappeared from sight. 

Jack, greatly alarmed, dived after them. 

Below the surface of the water his hands encountered the strugglingfigures. He seized the first his hand came in contact with and struckupward. Upon the surface again, he found that he had seized hold ofFrank. 

Keeping his fingers clenched tightly in Frank's coat--that the ladmight not be drawn under again Jack aimed carefully at the face of theGerman, which now was close to him, and struck out with all hisstrength. 

Instantly, the hand on Frank's throat relaxed and the German sank fromsight. 

By the force of the impact as the blow landed Jack knew that the Germanwould trouble them no more. Supporting Frank with his left arm, hestruck out for the boat with his right. 

The German officer leaned over the side and lent a hand in draggingFrank's limp body over the side. Jack clambered over after him. Then hetook a view of the part of the boat where Harris battled with two ofthe enemy. 

Both of the latter wielded knives and it was plain to Jack that Harrishesitated to come to close quarters with them, as he had no assistanceat hand; for he realized that, should he be overcome, the men wouldhave little trouble of disposing of Frank and Jack, as they tried toclimb back in the boat. But now that Jack was able to come to hisassistance again, Harris made ready for a spring. 

Jack saw this move and called:

"Wait a minute, Harris!"

Harris stayed his spring and Jack again advanced to his side. Jack'sface was white and his clothing was dripping water. He was very angryand his fingers clenched and unclenched. 

"You men, " he said in a cold voice, "were given a chance for your livesthe same as the rest of us. Now you will either throw down those knivesor die. "

One made as if to obey, but the other stopped him. 

"Wait!" he cried. "He wants us to throw down our knives so they canoverpower us. "

To the other this seemed good reasoning. Both Germans, still wieldingtheir weapons, drew backward slowly. Jack and Harris advanced as slowlyafter them. 

"Drop them!" cried Jack, again. 

Suddenly one of the Germans sprang forward and aimed a vicious blow atJack with his knife. The move had been so unexpected, retreating as themen had been, that Jack was almost caught off his guard. He sidesteppedquickly, however, and avoided the knife. 

But in leaping aside he had jostled Harris, who, dodging a blow aimedby the second German, now was thrown off his balance. In vain he triedto catch himself. It was no use. He went over the side of the boat, uninjured, but for the moment unable to lend Jack a hand. 

With two foes before him, Jack realized there was not a moment to belost. He determined to take the offensive himself, in spite of the oddsagainst him. 

With a subdued cry of anger, he charged the two Germans, in spite ofthe violent rocking of the boat. He caught a stabbing wrist with hisright hand and twisted sharply even as he drove his left fist into theman's face. There was a cry of pain and the knife clattered to thebottom of the boat. Again and again the lad struck, paying no attentionto the second man. Then, with an extra vicious blow, he knocked theGerman clear of the boat into the sea. 

At the same instant, Harris, who was just climbing back into the boat, uttered a cry of warning and Jack turned just in time to dodge a knifethrust aimed at him by the second German. 

With only a single enemy before him, a smile broke over Jack's face. Hecalled to Harris. 

"Stay back, Harris. I'm going to settle with this man myself. "

The German shrank back, and for a moment it seemed that he would throwdown his knife and cry for mercy. But if he had such a thought in hismind, he discarded it; he sprang at Jack, fiercely. 

Again Jack avoided the thrust of the knife and caught the stabbingwrist in his right hand. Then, bringing all his tremendous strength tobear, he stooped slightly and jerked with his hand. 

The German was pulled clear of the bottom of the boat and ascended intothe air. Then he shot suddenly forward and cleared the boat by a goodfive feet. 

There was to be one last encounter before the possession of the boatfinally came into the hands of the friends undisputed. One of theGermans, revived by the water, had come up aft and laid hold of theboat near where the German officer sat. The latter saw him and shiftedhis position just in time to avoid being dragged overboard. 

He grew suddenly very angry. 

"You murderous dog!" he cried. 

Rising to his feet he stooped quickly and seized an oar. Before the manin the water could realize his purpose, he had brought the oar downwith all his force on the hand that grasped the boat. 

With a howl of pain the German released his hold, his fingers shatteredby the force of the blow. Without a word the German officer dropped theoar and resumed his seat. 

Jack and Harris now approached Frank's side and the former bent overhim. Frank was just regaining consciousness. He smiled as Jack askedhim how he felt, and asked:

"Did you lick them all?"

"You bet, " returned Jack, then turned to Harris. "I suppose we shouldpick up some of those fellows, if we can. We can't see them drownbefore our eyes. "

"You're too soft hearted for me, " declared Harris. "However, whateveryou say. "

They gazed into the water. There was no German in sight. 

"Be ready to jump in the moment a head appears, " said Jack. 

Harris nodded and the two stood ready to give aid to the first enemythat should appear. 

Ten minutes they waited--fifteen. No head appeared above the surface ofthe water. 

"I guess it's no use, " said Jack, slowly, at last. "They're gone!"

CHAPTER XXII

PICKED UP BY THE ENEMY

It was dark. 

All through the afternoon Jack and Harris had rowed untiringly, butwith the coming of nightfall there was no land in sight. 

"Nothing to do but keep pulling in the same direction, " said Jack. 

Harris nodded. 

"All right, " he said, "but I'm getting tired. I'll have to rest up foran hour or so. "

"Let me row awhile, " said Frank. "One of you fellows can take thetiller here. "

"Feel all right?" asked Jack. 

"First rate. "

"All right, then, " said Jack. "You and Harris change places. "

This was done. Then the German officer spoke. 

"It's about time for me to take a hand, " he said. 

"But your wound?" protested Jack. 

"Well, it still pains some, to be sure. But the sooner we get to shorethe sooner I will be able to have it looked after. It's better to rowawhile than to remain idle. "

"Suit yourself, " said Jack. "I am a bit tired. We'll change places. "

They did so and the little boat moved on in the darkness. 

"Don't know where we are, " said Jack to Harris, "but it seems to me weshould raise land with the coming of daylight. "

"Well, I hope we do, " was Harris' reply. "I'm getting awfully thirsty, but I hate to cut into that water supply. "

"There is a little more for us since we lost our other passengers, "said Jack. "I'm thirsty myself. We may as well sample that water. "

He produced a jug and each took a cooling draught. 

"Tastes pretty good, " said Harris, smacking his lips. 

"You bet, " agreed Jack. 

He made his way forward and gave Frank and the German officer a drink. 

"Enough for a couple of more rounds, " he said, shaking the jug andlistening to the splash of the water inside. 

"Oh, I guess we've enough, " said Harris. "However, it is well to useit sparingly. "

As it turned out they had an ample sufficiency; in fact, more than theyneeded. 

With the coming of daylight, Frank, who had resumed his place at thehelm a short time before, uttered an exclamation. 

"Ship!" he cried. 

He pointed off to port. 

The others glanced in the direction indicated and then raised a cheer. 

There, scarcely more than a mile away and bearing down on them rapidly, came a German man-o'-war. Already they had been seen, for the vesselaltered its course slightly. 

Jack gave a sigh. 

"Sorry it's not a British ship, " he said. 

The German officer was forced to smile. 

"And I'm glad it's not, " he declared; "for if it were it would becapture for me instead of you. "

"But there are three of us and there is only one of you, " protestedFrank. 

"Well, it's the fortune of war, " said the German. 

"The misfortune of war in this case, " said Harris. 

The German warship was now within hailing distance and a voice called:

"Who are you?"

The German officer acted as spokesman and shouted back:

"German officer and three British. "

"We'll lower a boat, " was the response. 

A few moments later a boat put off from the ship, manned by a dozenGerman sailors. Fifteen minutes later the lads found themselves aboardthe German warship, where they were immediately conducted to the cabinof the commander. 

The latter turned to the German officer for an account of what hadhappened. 

"So these British sailors saved you?" he said. He turned to the three. "I must thank you in the name of the Emperor, " he said, quietly. "Now, if you will give me your paroles, I shall allow you the freedom of thisvessel. "

The three friends glanced at one another and the German commandersmiled. 

"I can assure you there is no possibility of escape, " he said. 

"In that event, " said Jack, "we shall give our paroles until we reachshore. "

"That is sufficient. After that you will be in other and safe hands. "

The German commander summoned a minor officer, to whom he introducedthe three friends. 

"You will see that they are provided with suitable quarters, " he said. 

The officer saluted and motioned for Jack, Frank and Harris to followhim. A few moments later the three found themselves installed incomfortable quarters, where clean linen and dry outer clothing Was laidout for them. 

"You've got to give them credit, " said Frank. "They do things up instyle. It seems we are to be well treated. "

"No reason why we shouldn't be, " declared Jack. 

"Wonder where we are bound, anyhow?" said Harris. 

"Don't know, " said Frank. "I'll try and find out as soon as we can goon deck--providing they allow us on deck. "

"The commander said we would have the freedom of the ship, " returnedHarris. 

"So he did. Hurry and dress then. "

Half an hour later, refreshed by a bath and food, the three made theirway on deck, where they found the young German officer who had escortedthem to their cabin. They approached him and the latter received themcordially. 

"Wonder if you would tell us where we are bound?" asked Frank, with asmile. 

"Certainly, " was the reply. "Our destination is Bremen. "

"Bremen, eh?" said Jack. "What will they do with us there?"

"Probably turn you over to the military authorities to take care of youuntil the end of the war. "

"Looks like our fighting days are over, " said Harris, sadly. 

The young German smiled. 

"Seems to me you should be rather glad of that, " he returned. "Afteryour defeat off Jutland you should be willing to cry for peace. "

"Defeat!" exclaimed Frank. "Why, the Germans got the worst of it. Youknow that. "

"Oh, no we didn't, " said the young officer. "The greater part of theBritish fleet was sent to the bottom. Our losses were insignificant. "

"Were you there?" asked Frank. 

"Why, no, " said the German, "but----"

"Well, we were there, " said Frank. "Therefore, we know something aboutit. I give you my word that I saw one German dreadnaught, two battlecruisers and four cruisers sunk with my own eyes. Also I saw half adozen destroyers sent to the bottom and two Zeppelins shot down. "

"Impossible!" exclaimed the young German officer. "The official reportof the battle gives our losses as two destroyers and a single cruiser, while the greater part of the British fleet was sunk. "

"Where is the German fleet now?" asked Frank. 

"Back in Heligoland. Some of the vessels are in need of slightrepairs. "

"Why didn't they keep going after that great victory?" Frank wanted toknow. 

"Why, I can't say. Probably had orders not to proceed too farimmediately. "

"I can tell you why, " said Frank. 

"I wish you would, " said the young officer. 

"The reason, " replied Frank, "is perfectly simple. It's because themain British fleet is out there waiting for you fellows. After wechased your fleet back----"

"But you didn't chase us back. We retired when the battle was won. "

"Oh, you retired when the battle was won, eh?"

"Yes; that's what the official report says. "

"But it doesn't say who won the battle, does it?" asked Frank, with agrin, in which his friends were forced to join. 

The young officer gazed from one to another, and Frank continued:

"Now, I'll tell you something you don't seem to know. We were pursuingthe German fleet when two of our vessels crashed in the fog. That's howwe happen to be here now. "

"But I tell you that is not possible, " protested the German. 

"It may not have been considered possible, " returned Frank, "but it's afact, all the same. "

"You mean, then, that the official report is not true. "

"Well, that's my personal opinion of it, " Frank admitted. 

"Sir!" exclaimed the young German, drawing himself up suddenly. "Youhave insulted the German navy--and me with it. Were it not that you areour guests aboard this warship, I would demand satisfaction. "

"Look here, " exclaimed Frank. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Iwas just telling you the facts in the case. I----"

The young German faced him angrily. 

"Your half apology only adds to the insult, " he said. "I shall leaveyou now. "

With this he drew himself up stiffly, turned on his heel and stalkedaway. Frank gazed after him amusedly. 

"Now what do you think of that?" he exclaimed. 

"You should have known you couldn't convince him, " said Jack. 

The three friends walked along the deck gazing out over the water. Halfan hour later, as they were about to go below, Frank caught sight of afigure in the uniform of a German lieutenant, who was eyeing themclosely. 

There was something familiar about that figure and unconsciously thelad gave a start. He called Jack's attention to the man, and thelatter, seeing that he was the subject of discussion, quickly withdrew. 

"I've seen him some place, " said Frank. 

"And so have I, " Jack declared. "There is some thing strangely familiarabout him. Say! It's unpleasant when you know a man and can't placehim. "

"Let's hope he is not some old enemy come back to life, " said Frank, quietly, as they returned to their cabin. 

CHAPTER XXIII

AN UNKNOWN FRIEND

Bremen. The greatest of all German shipping centers, and, before theoutbreak of the European war, one of the greatest seaports in the wholeworld. 

Even on the third day of June, 1916, when the German warship on whichJack, Frank and Harris were prisoners steamed into Bremen the port wasalive with activity. Great German merchant ships, useless since the warbegan, appeared deserted, but other and smaller craft dashed hurriedlyhither and yon. 

"Why all the excitement?" was Frank's comment, as the three stood wellforward while the warship steamed through the harbor. 

"Several reasons, I guess, " said Jack. "One is that half of these smallvessels ply between Bremen and Scandinavian ports in spite of theBritish blockade; and the other reason probably is the fact that thecity is celebrating the great naval victory. "

"Naval victory?"

"Sure; the battle of Jutland. The German people have been told that theGerman fleet won; and now the people are celebrating. See all thoseflags? Why else would they be displayed so profusely?"

"Because Germany is at war, " said Frank. 

"Oh, no they wouldn't. You remember we were in Hanover once while thewar was in progress. You didn't see all those flags about like that. "

"I guess you're right. "

At that moment a German officer approached the three friends. 

"I've something of interest to show you, " he said; "something that willbe of interest to all the world presently. "

"We shall be glad to see it, whatever it may be, " replied Jack, courteously. 

"Look over the side there, " said the German, pointing. "Do you see thatlong, low shape in the water?"

"Why, yes, " said Frank. "Looks like a submarine. "

"That's what it is. Can you make out the name?"

The three friends peered at the object closely. 

"D-e-u-t-s-c-h-l-a-n-d, " Frank spelled it out. 

"Yes, the _Deutschland_" replied the German officer; "and, within amonth, the whole world will be talking about her. "

"What's she going to do?" asked Frank. "Sink the whole British fleet?"

The German officer smiled. 

"No, " he replied quietly. "The _Deutschland_ will be the first of afleet of merchant submarines to ply between Bremen and the UnitedStates. "

"What?" exclaimed Jack, in the utmost surprise. "You mean thatsubmarine will try and run the English channel and make for the UnitedStates?"

"Exactly. "

"But it's impossible, " said Frank. 

"Not at all, " returned the German. "You may remember that Germansubmarines made their way to the Dardanelles safely. The onlydifference will be that the _Deutschland_ will go unarmed. She willcarry a cargo of dyestuffs and other commodities of which the UnitedStates is in need. "

"Well, she may try it, but I don't believe she'll get there, " saidHarris. 

"Nor I, " declared Jack. 

But Frank wasn't so sure. An American, he had not the strong prejudiceof his two companions. 

"It will be a great feat if she can accomplish it, " the lad said. 

"It will, indeed, " said the German, "and she will accomplish it. "

"One thing, though, " said Frank, "she won't be able to carry a veryvaluable cargo. She's too small. "

"She'll carry a cargo worth more than $2, 000, 000, " said the Germanofficer, "and in payment she will bring back gold and securities, andyou may know that Germany is in need of cash. "

"By Jove!" exclaimed Frank. "We'll have to admit that you Germans areprogressive. We may not like to admit it, but it's a fact all thesame. "

"I thank you, " said the German with a low bow. 

"Well, we're obliged to you for showing us the _Deutschland_, at allevents, " said Jack, "and I want to say that if by any chance she doesreach the United States you may be well proud of her. "

"I second that, " declared Harris. 

Again the German bowed low. 

"Now, " said Frank, "as we have passed beyond sight of the_Deutschland_, perhaps you can tell me what is to be done with us?"

"As it happens, I can, " was the reply. "I heard the captain informLieutenant von Ludwig that you will be put in his charge. He hasinstructions to see you safe in the hands of the military authoritiesin Berlin, where most of the captured British and French officers arebeing held. "

"Pretty tough, Jack, " said Frank. 

The German officer overheard this remark, although he perhaps did notcatch the exact meaning. 

"You will be well treated, " he said. 

"I've no doubt of that, " declared Jack. 

The German officer left them. 

Jack turned to Frank. 

"Say!" he exclaimed, "are you thinking of turning German directly?"

"What's that?" demanded Frank, in surprise. 

"I just wondered when you were going to take up the arms for theKaiser. The way you have been praising all things German recently, Idon't know what to make of you. The _Deutschland_, for instance. "

Frank smiled. 

"I just don't happen to be a hard-headed John Bull, " he replied. 

"Hard headed, am I?" exclaimed Jack. "I've a notion to shake some ofthat German sympathy out of you. "

"You know I haven't any German sympathies, " said Frank. "But I believein giving credit where credit is due. "

"Well, there is no credit due there. You know that is just some cockand bull story. The Germans will never dare such a thing. "

"I'm not so sure, " said Frank, quietly. 

"Well, it will never get across the sea if the attempt is made. "

"Maybe not, maybe yes, " said Frank, with a grin. 

"Well----"

What Jack might have replied Frank never learned, for at that momentanother German officer accosted them. He was the man who was sostrangely familiar to Jack and Frank. 

"You will be ready to accompany me the moment we dock, sirs, " he said. 

"All right, " Frank agreed. "We'll be ready. "

They descended to their cabin where they donned the clothing they hadworn when picked up from the sea. Then they returned on deck. 

The great warship now was nearing the dock, backing in. Slowly she drewclose to the pier and then finally her engines ceased. A gangplank waslowered and men began to disembark. 

The officer who was to conduct the three prisoners to Berlin tappedJack on the shoulder. 

"Whenever you are ready, " he said quietly. 

"We're ready now, " returned Jack. 

"Then precede me ashore, " was the reply. "By the way, I might as welladvise you that there is no use of attempting to escape. I have my gunhandy and will drop either of you at the first false step. "

"Don't worry, we have no intention of trying to escape--not right herein broad daylight, " said Frank. 

"Very good. Let us move. "

Slowly they made their way down the gang plank and ashore. There a lineof automobiles waited. The officer motioned his prisoners into thelargest of these and gave instructions to the driver. He took a seatbeside Jack. 

As the automobile started down the street, Jack glanced at his captorsharply. 

"Surely I have seen you some place before, sir?" the lad said. 

The officer shrugged his shoulders. 

"Who knows?" he said and became silent. 

"Deuced uncommunicative sort of a fellow, " said Jack to himself. "But Iknow I've come in contact with him some place. It may come to melater. "

The automobile drew up in front of a large stone house and the officermotioned his prisoners out. He spoke to his chauffeur. 

"Keep your gun handy and follow me, " he instructed. 

The driver nodded and stepped alongside the officer, who motioned thethree friends up the steps ahead of him. Inside he motioned them into aparlor and then dismissed his chauffeur. 

"Now, " he said, "I want your promises not to try to escape. "

"Sorry, sir, but we can't do that, " replied Frank, quietly. 

"Come! Don't be fools!" exclaimed their captor, sharply. 

He walked to the door and peered out. Then, walking close to Frank andJack, he said quietly:

"If you will give me your promises to make no attempt to escape beforetomorrow night, I shall not have you guarded. "

Both lads started back in surprise, for the man had spoken in Englishand without the trace of an accent. 

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Frank. "You must be an Englishman. "

The man laid a finger to his lips. 

"Sh-h-h!" he warned. "Walls have ears, you know. So you don't know me?"

The lads gazed at him closely. 

"I know I have seen you some place, " declared Jack. 

"So have I, " said Frank. 

"And to think that they don't know me, " said the man, half to himself. Then he addressed them again. 

"I guess it is as well that you have not recognized me, but did I notknow you so well I would not say what I am about to say. That is this. I am an Englishman and I am here on an important business. Tomorrownight I shall return to England. Give me your words to remain quiethere until then, in the meantime not trying to learn my identity, andyou shall all go with me. Is it a bargain?"

Frank looked at the man sharply. Was he fooling them? Well, the laddecided, they had everything to gain and nothing to lose. 

"Very well, " the lad said. "You have my promise not to attempt toescape before tomorrow night. "

"And mine, " said Jack. 

"And mine, " declared Harris. 

"Very well. Then I shall leave you for the moment. "

The man stalked from the room and closed the door behind him. 

CHAPTER XXIV

THE BOYS BECOME UNEASY

For some moments after the officer had taken his departure, there wassilence in the room. Then Harris exclaimed:

"Now what do you think of that?"

"Well, I don't hardly know what to think of it, " Jack replied. "Franktook most of the talking on himself. When he gave his parole there wasnothing left for me but to do likewise. "

"That's what I thought. Otherwise I wouldn't have given mine, " saidHarris. 

"It may not be too late to call him back and tell him so, " said Frank. "I did the talking because neither of you seemed to want to do it. Youdidn't have to give your parole unless you wanted to. I didn't ask youto do it. "

"Come now, don't get mad, Frank, " said Jack. 

"I'm not mad. I'm just telling you what I think. Certainly it can do usno harm. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose. "

"That's so, too, when you stop to think of it, " Harris agreed. 

"Well, I stopped to think of it, " said Frank. "You fellows didn't. That's the difference. "

"But who on earth can he be?" exclaimed Harris. "He seems to know youtwo, all right. "

"There is something strangely familiar about him, " said Frank, "but Ican't place him. "

"Nor I, " admitted Jack, "though, as you say, there is somethingfamiliar about him. "

"Seems to me that if I knew a man I could tell you who he was, " saidHarris. 

"Seems so to me, too, " declared Frank, "but I can't. "

"Well, " said Jack, "I'm not as credulous as you are, Frank. I wager heis not doing this to help us out. I'll bet we land in Berlin and staythere until the end of the war. "

"By Jove! Let's hope not, " said Harris. "Still, all things considered, I'm of your way of thinking. "

"If he was telling the truth, " said Jack, "he would have let us knowwho he is. There was no reason for telling us he was English and thenconcealing his identity. "

"I can't see any reason, " Frank admitted, "but at the same time Ibelieve he was telling the truth. "

The conversation languished. Frank curled himself up on a sofa at thefar side of the room and sought a little rest. Jack dozed in his chair. Harris also could hardly keep his eyes open. 

They were still in this condition when the door opened several hourslater and their captor again entered the room. He walked quickly acrossthe room and shook Jack. 

"Hello!" said the latter, sleepily, "back, eh?"

Frank awoke at the sound of Jack's voice and Harris also opened hiseyes. 

"I had a little work that had to be disposed of immediately, " saidtheir captor, "which is the reason I left you so abruptly. I can showyou a place to sleep now. "

He led the way from the room and upstairs. There he ushered the threeinto a large, well appointed room, which contained two beds. 

"Only two beds, " he said, "but it's the best I can do. Two of you canbunk together. "

"Anything, just so it's soft, " said Frank. "I'm tired out. "

"Then you had all better turn in at once, " said their captor. "I havemuch work to do. It is probable that I shall not be back again untilsome time tomorrow night. Make yourselves at home. You are alone in thehouse. You will find cold meats, bread and some other things in thepantry down stairs. Remain here until I come. "

"Very well, sir, " said Frank. "And you say we shall leave here tomorrownight?"

"Yes; unless something develops to interfere with my plans. "

"All right, sir. We shall remain here until you come tomorrow night. But that is as long as our paroles hold good, sir. After that, we shallescape if it is humanly possible. "

"I will be back before midnight tomorrow, " was their captor's reply. "Until that time, goodbye. One thing, stay in the house and keep theblinds drawn. I do not wish to attract attention to this house. "

"Very well, sir, " said Frank. 

The man took a last careful glance around the room and thendisappeared. 

"Well, he's gone again, " said Jack. "He may be telling the truth and hemay not, but one thing sure, these beds look pretty comfortable. I'mgoing to make use of one right now. "

He undressed quickly and slipped between the sheets. Frank and Harrisfollowed his example. 

All were up bright and early the next day, greatly refreshed. Theyfound food in the pantry, as their captor had told them they would. Itwas a tedious day, confined as they were, and the time passed slowly. But dusk descended at last. 

"He should be here at any time now, " said Frank. 

The others said nothing, but when nine o'clock had come and gone evenFrank became uneasy. 

"Don't see what is detaining him, " he said. 

"Nor I--if he really meant to come back, " said Jack. 

Eleven o'clock and still their captor had not returned. 

"He said he would be back by midnight, " said Frank. 

"He said lots of things, " said Jack, "but they didn't make the sameimpression on me they seem to have made on you. I don't believe he iscoming. "

"I'll tell you what I think, " said Harris. "I believe he expected us tomake a break for liberty before now. The house probably is surroundedand if we start out the door we shall most likely be shot down. "

"By Jove! I wouldn't be surprised if you had hit the nail on the head, "Jack declared. 

"Nonsense, " said Frank. "What would be the advantage of a plan likethat?"

"Well, I don't know; but there is something queer about this business, "declared Jack. 

Eleven thirty passed and still no sign of their captor. 

Jack and Harris had kept up a steady flow of conversation regarding theprobable fate that was in store for them if they poked their headsoutside the door, and at last Jack rose to his feet. 

"Well, " he said quietly, "there is no need of staying here. We may aswell make a break for it Chances are, if we are quick enough, we canget into the open without being shot down. "

"Not in these clothes, " said Harris. 

"True enough. We'll have a look for other clothing. What do you say, Frank?"

"I'm not convinced yet the man is not coming back, " said Frank, "but Itell you what I will do. We'll hunt up some other clothes and get intothem. Then we'll wait until twelve o'clock. If he has not returned bythat time, I'm with you. "

"Fair enough, " said Harris. "Come on. "

The three made their way upstairs, where they started a thorough searchof the house; and at last Jack ran onto a closet in which were storedhalf a dozen suits of civilian clothes. 

He called the others. 

"All right if they'll fit, " said Harris. 

Fortunately, they did fit; and fifteen minutes later the three weregarbed in plain citizens' attire. They left their uniforms in the roomwhere they had changed. 

"Now to see if we can find a few guns, " said Jack. 

Again they searched the house. 

Frank was the first to find a weapon. There were two revolvers in adrawer of a writing desk in the parlor and with them was a goodlysupply of ammunition. Frank gave one of the guns to Jack. 

"We ought to be able to find one more, " said Harris. "I've got to havea gun. "

They ransacked the house from top to bottom; and at length Frank cameacross another weapon. Harris gave an exclamation of satisfaction. 

"Let's divide up that ammunition, now, " he said. 

This was done and the three returned to the parlor. Frank glanced athis watch. 

"Five minutes to twelve, " he said. "We'll wait until midnight and not asecond longer. "

To this the others agreed. 

"I guess you were right after all, " Frank told his companions. "Still Ican't understand this thing at all. "

"You'll probably understand it better when you stick your head out thedoor and a bullet hits close to it, " said Harris, grimly. 

"No; I don't believe there is anything like that going to happen, "Frank declared. "Maybe he was detained and couldn't get back on time. "

"When he gets back he'll find us missing, " said Harris. 

"He will unless he hurries, " Frank agreed. 

The minutes passed slowly; but at last the hands of Frank's watchpointed to midnight. 

The lad closed the case of his watch with a snap and rose to his feet. He examined his revolver carefully to make sure it was in working orderand then said:

"Time's up; may as well be moving. "

The three advanced cautiously to the front door. Behind, the house wasperfectly dark. 

"Careful when you open the door, Frank, " Jack warned. "Stoop down. There is no telling what may be lurking out there. "

Frank heeded this warning. Stooping, he opened the door, threw it wideand looked out. 

"Coast clear, " he announced. 

He was about to step out when the sound of hurried footsteps came tohis ears. 

"Wait a minute, " Frank whispered. "Some one coming. "

A man appeared down the street. He came nearer. Frank gave anexclamation of satisfaction:

"Come on back to the parlor, " he whispered. "Here he comes now. "

CHAPTER XXV

TOWARD FREEDOM

Jack and Harris obeyed Frank's injunction and the three flitted back tothe parlor silently. 

A moment later the front door opened softly and directly the officerappeared in the parlor door. 

"I came almost not getting here, " he said with a smile. "Did you gettired waiting?"

"So tired, " said Frank, "that we were just about to leave when Ichanced to see you coming down the street. "

"So? Well, you would have had a hard time escaping, I am afraid. Now, my way it will be easier. I have had my means of escape laid out eversince I arrived here. Unless something unforeseen occurs, we should beable to get away without difficulty. "

"I am sure I hope so, " declared Frank. 

Their captor surveyed the three closely. 

"I see you are all ready, " he said. "Changed your clothes, eh?"

"I hope you didn't think we were going prowling about the street in ourBritish uniforms?" said Jack. 

"Hardly. By any chance did you find weapons, too?"

Frank hesitated. For a moment he debated what was best to answer. However, the odds were now three against one, so he replied:

"Yes; we have a gun apiece. "

"Good; then we may as well be moving. The car should be here in tenminutes at the latest. You see, that's why I was late. Had a blowoutaways back. We had to come in on foot. I sent my driver for another carwhile I hurried here, for I was afraid that you might do somethingrash. You see, I know more about you than you think I do. "

"I wish you would tell us who you are, sir, " said Jack. 

"All in good time, " replied the officer with a smile. "All in goodtime. "

Came a "honk-honk" from without. 

"There's our car, " said the officer quietly. "Come along. "

Without a word the others followed him through the dark hall, out thedoor and down the steps, where they climbed into the car, in the rearseat, their captor taking his seat with the driver. 

The automobile started immediately. 

They rode along slowly for perhaps an hour; and they came to what thelads recognized immediately as the water front. Their captor called ahalt and climbed out, motioning the lads to follow him. Immediatelythey had alighted, the automobile drove away. 

Straight down to the water their captor led the way. Jack whispered toFrank. 

"You can't tell me we are going to get away from here as easily as allthis. "

"Sh-h-h!" was Frank's reply. 

Jack thereafter maintained a discreet silence. 

At the edge of the pier their captor pointed to a small rowboat in thewater. 

"We'll get in here, " he said. 

They did so and a moment later they were being rowed across the waterby a man Frank recognized as a German sailor. The thing was becomingmore complicated. 

A short distance ahead there now loomed up what appeared to be nothingmore than a motorboat of considerable size. The rowboat approached thiscraft and the officer motioned his three companions to follow himaboard. They did so. 

Aboard, they saw that the vessel upon the deck of which they stood wasin reality a pleasure yacht, now converted into a vessel of war. A lookat her graceful outlines and long slender body told all three that thevessel was built for speed. 

Their captor had halted and waited for the three to come up with him. 

"Follow me below, " he whispered. "I'll do the talking. Agree withwhatever I say and listen carefully to my every word. "

The three friends obeyed. 

Below they were ushered into what proved to be the commander's cabin. An officer in the dress of a lieutenant commander of the German navyrose and greeted the boys' captor with a salute and an extended hand. Their captor grasped the hand. 

"Commander von Ludwig, I take it, " said the commander of the vessel. 

Von Ludwig bowed. 

"The same, sir, " he replied. "I have here a paper that gives me commandof your vessel, sir. You are ordered to report to Berlin at once. "

"I have been expecting you, sir, " was the reply. "I shall leave atonce, if your boatman is still near. "

"I ordered him to await you, " was von Ludwig's reply. 

The commander of the German vessel glanced at von Ludwig's threecompanions. 

"Your officers?" he asked. 

"Yes. Your officers will be relieved in the morning. "

"Very well, sir. Then I shall leave you. A safe and successful voyageto you, sir. "

"The same to you, sir. "

Von Ludwig, motioning to his companions to remain in the cabin untilhis return, went on deck with the departing commander. A few momentslater the latter was being rowed ashore. For the space of severalseconds, von Ludwig gazed after him, a peculiar smile lighting up hisface as he murmured:

"If you only knew what a time I had getting the paper I just gave you, you would not be going so serenely about your business right now. Oh, well----"

He threw open his arms with a gesture and descended to his cabin. 

"Now, " he said to Jack, Frank and Harris, "the first thing we must dois to secure the crew and the officers of this vessel. The crew, Ihappen to know, numbers only ten men. There are two officers. We shallhave to overcome them. "

"And how are we going to work the ship, sir?" asked Jack. 

Von Ludwig glanced at the lad sharply. 

"You would be a better sailor, sir, if you would follow orders withoutquestion, " he said sharply; then added more calmly: "However, I shalltell you, for I can see none of you trust me fully. I have my own crewof five men coming aboard within the hour. "

"I beg your pardon, sir, " said Jack. 

"That's all right, " said von Ludwig. "Now follow me. "

The others did as ordered. Before a door not far from the commander'scabin von Ludwig stopped. 

"In there you will find the first officer, " he said

He motioned to Frank and Jack. "Get him and get him quietly. "

The lads nodded their understanding and von Ludwig signalled Harris tofollow him. 

Jack laid his hand on the knob of the door and turned it gently. Thedoor flew open without a sound. 

"Find the light switch, Frank, " Jack whispered. 

Frank's hand felt carefully over the wall. 

"Turn it on when I give the word, " said Jack. "I may need to see what Iam doing. "

"All right; but be careful, Jack. "

Slowly Jack tiptoed across the room, where he could dimly see a formstretched across a bunk. Bending over the figure, Jack raised a handand then called to Frank:

"Lights, Frank!"

Instantly, Frank threw the switch and then sprang forward to lend Jacka hand should it be necessary. But his assistance was not needed. Jack's fist rose and fell once and the form in the bunk gasped feeblyonce and lay still. 

"I don't like that sort of thing, " said Jack, "but I suppose it had tobe done. Help me bind him up and gag him. He's not badly hurt and willcome round in a few minutes. "

It was the work of but a few moments to tear the sheets into strips andto bind and gag the helpless man. Then Jack and Frank left the cabin. 

At almost the same instant von Ludwig and Harris came from a secondcabin. 

"All right?" asked von Ludwig. 

"All right, sir. And you?"

"Everything shipshape. Now for the crew. First, however, " he said, addressing Jack and Frank, "don the clothing of these two officers. Youshall be my second and third in command. "

The lads returned to the cabin they had just quitted and stripped theprisoner. Jack donned the uniform, for the German was a big man. Thenthey hurried into the second cabin and performed a similar operationand Frank soon was attired in the uniform of a German lieutenant. 

"Now, " said von Ludwig, "have the crew report here and keep your gunsready. "

Frank made his way aft, and in German, called:

"All hands forward!"

The crew came tumbling from their bunks and hurried forward, most ofthe men no more than half dressed. Jack, Frank and Harris, on eitherside of von Ludwig, confronted them. 

"Men, " said von Ludwig, "I am the new commander of this ship and weshall get under way immediately. Fearing that you will not always obeymy commands, I have brought along these little persuaders. "

A pair of automatics flashed in his hands and covered the ten sailors. 

"Hands up!" he cried. 

Taken completely by surprise there was nothing for the German sailorsto do but obey. Up went their hands. Von Ludwig called to Harris. 

"Help me keep them covered, " he said, "while you other two tie themup. "

Under the muzzles of the revolvers levelled in steady hands by vonLudwig and Harris, Jack and Frank set to work binding the members ofthe crew. A few minutes later the work was done. 

"Trundle them into that cabin there, " said von Ludwig, motioning to anopen door. "Tie them there so they cannot release their own bonds orthe bonds of the others. Then report to me on deck. "

The lads obeyed. It was the work of only a few moments, struggle as theGermans did. Then Frank and Jack went on deck. 

A short distance away a rowboat was coming rapidly toward the_Bismarck_--for such was the name of the vessel on which the lads foundthemselves. 

Von Ludwig pointed to it. 

"My crew!" he said quietly. 

CHAPTER XXVI

DISCOVERED

A few moments later the little skiff scraped alongside the _Bismarck_. One at a time its occupants--five in number--scrambled over the sideand stood before von Ludwig. The latter scrutinized each man closely. 

"All right, " he said at length. 

He selected three men. 

"You report to the engine room immediately, " he said. "You will findeverything ready. The crew has been overpowered and there will be noone to interfere with you. "

The men moved away. Von Ludwig addressed the other two. 

"Take the lookout forward, " he said to one; and to the other: "Go aftand keep your eyes open. " Then he spoke to Harris. "I'll appoint you incommand in the engine room, " he said. "Heed your signals carefully. "

Harris saluted. 

"Very well, sir, " he said and disappeared. 

Von Ludwig motioned to Jack and Frank, who followed him to the bridge. The officer cast a quick glance over the water and said:

"I guess there is no reason to delay longer. Mr. Chadwick, will youtake the wheel? I'll be with you in a moment to give you yourdirections. "

Frank moved away. Von Ludwig was just about to address Jack when hemade out another rowboat coming toward the _Bismarck_. 

"Hello!" he said aloud. "Wonder what's up now. Guess we'd better wait aminute. "

The rowboat drew closer and Frank discovered it was filled with men. 

"Boat crowded with men, sir, " he exclaimed. 

"So!" exclaimed von Ludwig. "Then I guess we won't wait, after all. Youmay get under way, Mr. Templeton. "

With this order von Ludwig took his place beside Frank at the wheel andproduced a chart. The bell in the engine room tinkled. A moment laterthe engines began to move and the _Bismarck_ slipped easily through thewater. 

Came a hail from the rowboat. 

"Wait a moment, there!"

Von Ludwig paid no attention to this call. The _Bismarck_ gatheredheadway. 

"Haven't time to talk to you fellows, " said von Ludwig. "We want to bea long ways from here before daylight. "

There was a sound of a shot from the rowboat, followed by many othershots. Von Ludwig waved a hand in derision. 

"You're too late, " he called. "Shoot away. I don't think you will hitanything. "

"But, sir, " said Frank, "they will awaken every sleepy Germanhereabouts. "

"That's so, " said von Ludwig. He called to Jack: "Full speed ahead, Mr. Templeton. "

Jack gave the word and the vessel dashed ahead. 

"I don't know anything about these waters, sir, " exclaimed Frank, insome alarm. "There may be mines about. "

"Not here, " was von Ludwig's reply. "Farther on, yes. That's why I havethis chart. We'll run the mine fields safely enough, barringaccidents. "

"What is my course, sir?" asked Frank. 

"Due north until I tell you to change. "

Frank said nothing further, but guided the vessel according toinstructions. Behind, the rowboat had given up the chase, but now, fromother parts of the harbor, from which the _Bismarck_ was fast speeding, came sounds of confusion. 

Searchlights came to play upon the _Bismarck_. 

Von Ludwig sighed deeply. 

"I was in hopes we would get away without trouble, " he said, "but itseems we won't. The erstwhile commander of this vessel must havediscovered in some manner that he has been fooled. "

"We'll have every ship of war hereabouts after us, sir, " said Frank. 

"That's what we will, " was Von Ludwig's reply. "However, I am notafraid of their catching us. This vessel has the heels of anything inthis port. Trouble is, though, they may tip off vessels on the outsideof our coming, by wireless. "

"What shall we do then, sir?"

"We'll have to manage to get by them some way; for if we should becaught now it would mean the noose for all of us. "

"Not a very cheerful prospect, sir, " said Frank, quietly. 

"I agree with you. However, they haven't caught us yet. We'll give thema hard race. "

"Is the vessel armed, sir?"

"It should be, if I have been informed correctly. I'll have a lookabout. Hold to your course until I return. "

He moved away. He was back in a few moments, however, with theannouncement that there were four 12-pounders aft, as well as fourforward. 

"Enough to fight with, " he announced gravely. 

"But we haven't the men to man them, sir, " protested Frank. 

"We'll impress our prisoners into service if it's necessary. With a manto guard them they can handle the engine room. "

"I am afraid it will come to that, sir, " said Frank. 

Von Ludwig shrugged. 

"What will be, will be, " he replied quietly. 

And it did come to that, as Frank had predicted As the vessel stillflew through the water at full speed, there came a sudden cry from thelookout forward:

"Cruiser off our port bow, sir!"

Von Ludwig sprang forward. He gazed at the vessel quickly and thencalled to Frank:

"Port your helm hard!"

Frank obeyed without question and the _Bismarck_ swung about sharply. Von Ludwig sprang to his side. 

"They'll pick us up with their searchlight in a minute or two, " hecried. "Come with me, Templeton! Chadwick, hold that course till Icome back. "

Jack sprang after von Ludwig. The latter hurried to the cabin wherethe German prisoners were confined. He unloosened the bonds of five. 

"You men, " he said sharply, "will go before us to the engine room, where you will perform the necessary duties. "

Under the muzzles of the weapons of Jack and von Ludwig, the menobeyed, for there seemed nothing else to do. In the engine room vonLudwig explained:

"I want you men to put forth your best efforts. Any foolishness and youwill be shot, for I will take no chances. Harris, can you guard them?"

"Yes, sir, " replied Harris, with a smile. "Give me another gun, sir. "

Von Ludwig passed a revolver to Harris. 

"There must be no half way methods here, " he said quietly. "Shoot thefirst man who makes a false move. Ask questions afterward. Our livesdepend upon it. "

"I shall obey your instructions, sir. "

"Good!" Von Ludwig addressed the former engine-room crew. "Follow me, men, " he exclaimed. 

No questions were asked and the others followed Jack and von Ludwigfrom the room, leaving Harris in command of the German crew of five. These Germans, under the muzzles of Harris' two revolvers, fell to workimmediately. 

Von Ludwig led the former engine-room crew to the guns forward. 

"Man these guns, " he said quietly. "There may be fighting to do. When Igive the word fire as rapidly and as accurately as possible at theclosest enemy vessel. "

"Very well, sir, " said one of the men. 

Von Ludwig called to Jack to follow him and returned to the bridge. There he gave a slight alteration in course to Frank and the vessel'shead turned slightly. 

"Funny they haven't raised us with that searchlight, " von Ludwigmuttered to himself. 

The _Bismarck_ was dashing through the water at a rapid gait. Suddenlyshe became the center of a blinding glare. The searchlight of a Germancruiser a half a mile to port had picked them up. Von Ludwig gave asharp command to the men who manned the forward guns. 

"Aim and fire!" he cried. 

A moment later one of the guns spoke and a shell screamed across thewater toward the German cruiser. Apparently it did not find its mark, however, for nothing happened aboard the enemy to indicate the shot hadstruck home. 

"Again!" cried von Ludwig. 

Another gun boomed. Followed a sharp explosion. 

"Good work, men!" cried von Ludwig. "Try it again. "

But the next shot came from the enemy. A shell screamed overhead. 

"They'll do better with the next shot, sir, " said Jack, quietly. 

"So they will, " was von Ludwig's quiet response. "Starboard your helm, Mr. Chadwick. "

Frank obeyed immediately, and again the course of the _Bismarck_ waschanged quickly; and none too soon. 

For another salvo had come from the German cruiser and two shells flewpast the spot where the _Bismarck_ would have been at that moment hadher course not suddenly been altered. 

"Fire, men!" cried von Ludwig. "Fire as fast as you can. If you can'tdisable her we are done for!"

The men who manned the _Bismarck's_ guns were working like Trojans. Once, twice, thrice more they fired; and upon the fourth shot therecame a cry of dismay from aboard the enemy cruiser. 

"Must have hit something, sir, " said Frank. 

"Right. I trust it was a vulnerable spot. "

Twice more the German cruiser fired at the _Bismarck_, but withoutresult. The smaller vessel was drawing ahead rapidly now. 

"Fifteen minutes and we will be safe, " said von Ludwig. 

The men aboard the _Bismarck_ continued to fire at the German cruiser, but apparently none of the other shots found their mark. The German, itcould be seen, was in full pursuit, but the smaller vessel forgedrapidly ahead with each turn of her screws. And at last von Ludwigexclaimed thankfully:

"Well, I guess we are safe enough here. "

But even as he spoke a cry apprised him of a newer and closer danger!

CHAPTER XXVII

A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE

The trouble had started in the engine room. Hardly had the _Bismarck_drawn clear of the fire of the German cruiser when one of the fivemembers of the German crew impressed into service fell over, apparentlyin a dead faint. The men, under Harris' watchful eye, had been workinghard and the first thought that struck the Englishman was that the manhad dropped from exhaustion. 

Hastily he shoved one of his automatics in his belt and advancing, stooped over the man. Instantly, the other four Germans rushed for him. 

Harris heard them coming and attempted to get to his feet. He was toolate. A heavy shovel, wielded by one of his four assailants, struck hima hard blow over the head and Harris fell to the deck unconscious. Quickly the men relieved him of his two weapons and then they held aconsultation. 

"We must release the others first, " said one man. 

This plan was agreed upon and the man who had suggested it wasappointed to make his way to where the others were imprisoned and freethem. A moment later he slipped stealthily from the engine room and asstealthily approached the cabin where his fellow countrymen wereimprisoned. Inside, he closed the door quickly and in a low voicecautioned the others to silence. 

Quickly he unloosened their bonds and the five sailors and two officersrose and stretched their cramped limbs. In a few words the Germansailor gave his officers the lay of the land and the first lieutenanttook command. 

"In the next cabin, " he said, "is a chest containing revolvers andammunition. Bring it here. "

Two men hurried to obey and returned a few moments later bearing thechest. The two officers armed themselves and the men. 

"These English must be very careless, " said one, "else we would neverhave this chance. "

The others agreed and the two officers considered what was best to bedone. 

"How many are there, did you say?" asked the first officer of the manwho had released the others. 

"There were nine, but we have disposed of the man in the engine room. "

"Then we are twelve to eight. Good! First we will try and capture thebridge and the wheel. As we are in command of the engine room, the restshould be easy. It will not be necessary to capture all the English. With the bridge, wheel and engine room in our possession, we can runthe vessel back into the harbor. Come on, men!"

They advanced quietly from the cabin and made their way on deck. It wasthe appearance of the first head that had called forth a cry from oneof the British that had attracted von Ludwig's attention. Wheelingquickly, von Ludwig saw the Germans dash from below. 

With a quick cry to the others, he drew his revolver and fired. One mantoppled over. The odds against the British were one less; but theothers sprang forward. Frank, at the wheel, was forced to maintain hisposition while the others did the fighting. 

The lookout forward and the man stationed aft advanced to take part inthe fray, though keeping out of sight as well as possible. 

"Turn the gun on them, men!" cried von Ludwig. 

The three men who manned the gun sought to obey, but the gun stuck. Itwould not turn. Most likely it had been damaged in the battle with theGerman cruiser. The British tried the other guns, but with no betterresult. 

"Stay where you are, " shouted van Ludwig to the men at the guns. "Keepthem between us, if possible. "

The gun crew, who had been on the point of trying to join von Ludwigand Jack, saw the strategy of this plan and stooped down behind theguns. The lookout forward also stepped behind the mainmast, where hebegan to blaze away at the foe. The man aft, by a dash, succeeded inreaching the side of von Ludwig and Jack. 

Frank, at the wheel, was in a perilous situation, but there he haddetermined to stay until ordered to shift his position. 

"Signal the engine room to slow down, " said von Ludwig to Jack. 

Jack obeyed and the ship came to a pause. Apparently the men belowbelieved the Germans had recaptured the ship. 

"If Harris is still in command down there, we are all right, " said vonLudwig. "If not, there will be more of the enemy up here in a minute. "

And within a minute more of the enemy appeared. 

"Back here, Chadwick!" exclaimed von Ludwig. "Never mind the wheel. "

Frank sprang to the shelter of the bridge, Jack and von Ludwigprotecting his retreat. Frank drew his revolver. 

A German poked his head from the companion-way and Frank took a snapshot. The head disappeared and there was a howl of pain. 

"Got one, I guess, " said the lad quietly. 

The effect of this shot was to infuriate the Germans. The first officercommanded a charge on the bridge. 

Ten men dashed forward at the word. 

Now the four in the shelter of the bridge--von Ludwig, Frank, Jack andthe man who had come from the after part of the vessel, stood to theirfull height and fired into the crowd. From the rear, the three otherBritish also poured in a volley and the lookout stepped into the openand fired. 

Caught thus between three fires, the Germans were at a loss what to do. 

One man dropped and the others dashed for the protection of thecompanionway. Before reaching there, however, the first German officergave the command to scatter and several of the Germans postedthemselves behind whatever shelter offered on deck. The battle hadreached a deadlock. 

The British could not expose themselves without danger of being struckby a German bullet; and the Germans confronted the same situation. 

"Signal the engine room, Jack, " instructed von Ludwig. "We must knowwhether Harris is still alive. "

There was no response to the signal. 

"Poor fellow, " said von Ludwig. "They probably have done for him. "

From time to time Jack signalled the engine room, thinking perhaps thatHarris had only been wounded and that he might answer. Upon the fifthsignal he received an answer. 

Then Jack signalled: "Full speed ahead. "

A moment later the vessel leaped forward. There came a cry ofconsternation from the Germans, who tumbled back down the steps. Asthey did so, Frank again sprang to the wheel and brought the head ofthe _Bismarck_ sharply about--for since he had released his hold on thewheel the vessel had been drifting. 

Quickly the lad lashed the wheel with several lengths of cable and thensprang back to the bridge amid a volley of revolver bullets from theGermans who still held the deck. None hit him. 

Below, in the engine room, Harris was facing heavy odds. Beforeanswering Jack's signal, after regaining consciousness, he had closedand barred the engine-room door and now he paid no attention to thehammering upon it. He smiled grimly to himself. 

"You won't get in here as long as that door holds, " he said. "Beforethat I should have assistance. "

The pounding upon the door continued. 

"We'll have to lend Harris a hand, sir, " said Jack. "They are too manyfor him down there. "

"The first man that steps clear of this bridge is likely to get shot, "declared von Ludwig. "However, as you say, we must lend him a hand. " Hecalled to the men who were still safe behind the guns. "Make a rushthis way, " he said. "We'll cover your retreat. "

A moment later three forms flitted across the deck. Two German headswere raised from their cover. Frank accounted for one and von Ludwigfor the other. Thus were three of the enemy placed _hors de combat_. Seven had rushed below. There were still two left on deck. 

A spurt of flame showed Jack where one was hidden. 

With a quick move the lad sprang from the bridge and threw himself tothe deck on his face. There was another spurt of flame and a bulletwhistled over his head. Before the man could fire again, Jack hadleaped forward and seized him by his revolver arm. Angrily, the ladwrested the weapon from the man's grasp. 

The latter drew a knife. There was but one thing for Jack to do. Quickly he raised his revolver, pointed it squarely at the German'sface, and fired. 

A flash of flame had betrayed the hiding place of the last German ondeck. Two of the British rushed for him. The German accounted for bothof them before they could reach him. 

The losses so far, had been two British and four of the enemy. Therewere still six British on deck and a single German; but seven Teutonswere still hammering at the door of the engine room in an effort to getat Harris. 

"We've got to get rid of this fellow on deck, " muttered Frank. He spoketo one of the men near him. 

"You advance from one side and I'll advance from the other, " said thelad quietly. "The man, apparently, is a dead shot and he probably willget one of us. But he's dangerous there. He may fire at you and he mayfire at me, but the other will get him. "

The man nodded that he understood, and one from each side of the bridgethey advanced. 

As it transpired it was not Frank who was to pay the penalty for thisrash advance. Perceiving two men approaching, one from either side, theGerman fired. Quickly, Frank raised his revolver and also fired. TheGerman threw up his arms and fell to the deck. 

Frank turned quickly and looked for the man who had left the shelter ofthe bridge with him. He lay prone on the deck. 

"Poor fellow, " said Frank. "Yet it had to be done. Just luck that itwasn't me. "

"Deck's clear, sir, " said Frank to von Ludwig. "Now to lend Harris ahand in the engine room. "

"Forward, then, " said von Ludwig. "All except you, Frank, and you, Jack. You two stay on deck. Take the wheel again, Frank. Jack, youstand at the head of the companionway and shoot the first German whoappears there. "

"Very well, sir, " said Jack, although he was disappointed that he wasnot permitted to go to Harris' aid. 

"The others follow me, " said von Ludwig. 

There were but two other men that could follow. 

"You are attempting too much, sir, " said Jack. 

"I think not, " said von Ludwig, calmly. 

He led the way below. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE CHEATING OF HARRIS

Below, Harris had just armed himself with a great iron bar; for he knewthat the door was about to give under the attacks of the Germans. 

"The fools!" he said to himself. "Why don't they blow the lock off?"

It seemed that the same thought struck the German first officer atabout the same moment. Motioning his men back, he approached the doorand put the muzzle of his revolver against the lock. He pulled thetrigger, and when the Germans again surged against the door it flewopen beneath their weight. 

One man stumbled headlong through the door. As he did so, Harris raisedhis heavy bar and brought it down on the man's head. The German droppedwith a crushed skull. 

But before Harris could raise his weapon again the Germans had closedabout him and sought to strike him down with the butts of theirrevolvers. The struggling figures were so closely entwined now that theenemy could not fire without fear of hitting one of their own number. 

Harris struck out right and left and men staggered back before histerrific blows. Then came the sounds of running footsteps without. 

"Back!" called the German first officer. 

Two British heads appeared in the doorway almost simultaneously. 

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The Germans poured a volley into the two men and the latter sagged tothe deck. 

Harris, at the same moment, had jumped toward the door. As he leapedover the prostrate forms, he collided with von Ludwig. 

"Quick, sir!" he cried. "They are too many for us. Back on deck!"

There was something in Harris' manner that impressed von Ludwig. Without stopping to argue, he followed Harris. When both were safe ondeck, Harris quickly closed the door of the companionway and battenedit down. 

"We've a breathing spell, at any rate, " he said, mopping his face. 

"Why all this rush?" demanded von Ludwig. "Where are the men who wentto your assistance?"

"Dead, the same as we would be if we had lingered another moment, "replied Harris, quietly. "It was impossible to pass through that doorwithout being shot down. It was only due to the diversion of theappearance of the others that permitted me to escape. "

Came heavy blows against the covering of the companionway. 

"They want to come out, " said Harris, grinning. 

"That door won't stand much battering, " said von Ludwig. 

"No, it won't, " was Harris' reply, "but one man can guard it wellenough. Besides, we have the bridge. We can steer the vessel where wewill. "

"As long as the engines run we can, " agreed von Ludwig. "But unless I'mgreatly mistaken the Germans will soon stop them. "

He was right; for a few moments later the battering at the door of thecompanionway ceased and the engines ceased work. 

"Well, we can't go any place now, sir, " said Frank, leaving the wheeland approaching von Ludwig and Harris at the companionway. 

Jack also came up to them. 

"You're right, " agreed von Ludwig, "and that's not the worst of it. TheGerman cruiser probably is in pursuit of us. If they sight us we aredone for. "

Came more violent blows on the door over the companionway, followed bya shot from below. 

Jack sprang aside as a bullet plowed its way through the hard wood. 

"We'll have to stand to one side, " he said. "Otherwise, they are likelyto drop one of us. "

"The door will stand considerable battering, " said von Ludwig. "Thereis but one thing I can think of. We shall have to desert the ship. "

"In what, a rowboat?" asked Frank, with some sarcasm. 

"Hardly, " returned von Ludwig; "but I have discovered that there is ahigh-powered motor boat aboard. We can launch that and move off. "

"And as soon as the Germans break out here, they'll come after us andshoot us full of holes, " said Harris. 

"Well, that's true enough, too, " agreed von Ludwig. "Of course, if wehad an hour's start we might get through. But the door won't hold thatlong. "

Harris had been turning a plan over in his mind. 

"If you please, sir, " he said slowly at last, "I have a plan that maywork. "

"Let's hear it, " said Frank. 

"Yes; let's have it, " said von Ludwig. 

"Well, " said Harris, "one man, with a couple of revolvers, should beable to guard this passageway for an hour without trouble. He can shootthe Germans down as fast as they come up. My plan is this. Let one manstay behind on guard. The others can put off in the motor boat. "

"But the one man will die, " said Frank. 

"Of course, " said Harris, simply. "That shall be my job. "

"Not much, " said Jack. "I'll pick that job for myself. "

"Not while I'm here you won't, " declared Frank. "I'm plenty big toguard the companionway. "

"The plan you suggest, Harris, " von Ludwig said quietly, "is the onlyone, so far as I can see, that promises any degree of success. In mypocket are papers that must reach the British admiralty at the earliestpossible moment. "

"Then there is no reason why you should think of staying, sir, " saidHarris. 

"Wait, " said von Ludwig. "In a venture such as this, there is no reasonone man should be called upon to sacrifice himself more than another. We shall all have an even chance. "

"What do you mean, sir?" asked Frank. 

"Simply this. We shall draw lots to see who shall remain. "

"Suits me, " said Harris, with a shrug. 

"And me, " declared Jack. 

"Well, then I'm agreeable, " Frank said quietly. 

"Good. Harris, in the pocket of my coat, which hangs in the pilothouse, you will find a pack of cards. Bring them here. "

Harris walked away and returned a few seconds later with a pack ofplaying cards. Von Ludwig opened the box and produced the cards. 

"The man who cuts the lowest card shall stay behind, " he said quietly. "Shuffle. "

He passed the cards to Harris, who riffled them lightly. 

"One moment, " said von Ludwig. "If I should be the man to stay, I wantone of you to take these papers in my pocket. They must be turned overto the admiralty at the earliest possible moment. Should the man whocarries them be in danger of capture, they must be destroyed. Do youunderstand?"

"Yes, sir, " said Jack. 

Frank nodded. 

"It shall be as you say, sir, " said Harris, "Now who will cut first?"

"It may as well be me as another, " said von Ludwig. 

He cut the cards and exposed to view a jack of hearts. 

"Looks like you will carry the papers yourself, sir, " said Frank, as headvanced to cut the cards. 

He held up a nine spot of spades. 

"That lets you out, sir, " he said to von Ludwig. 

The latter was plainly nervous. 

Jack cut the cards next. Frank uttered a cry of consternation:

"The three of clubs!"

"Looks like I was the fellow to stay, all right, " said Jack, smilingslightly. 

"And this time, " said Frank, "you may not be as fortunate as upon theday you remained behind and faced death on the submarine. "

Jack shrugged. 

"Can't be helped, " he said quietly. 

Now Harris advanced and cut the cards quickly. 

As he picked up the upper half of the deck, he turned his shoulderslightly so that the others, for the moment, might not see what he hadcut. He glanced at the bottom card. It was the six of diamonds. 

Deftly, Harris shuffled the cards with his hands. Adept in the art oftrickery, though the others did not know it, he had placed the cards insuch position that he knew almost identically where the high and lowcards were. 

Like a flash his hand passed across the bottom of the deck and when itwas withdrawn the six of diamonds had disappeared. Then he turned tothe others and exposed:

The two spot of spades!

"I lose, " he said quietly. 

Harris' movements had been so quick that they had not been perceived bythe others. 

Jack was the first to extend a hand. 

"I'm sorry, " the lad said quietly. "I was in hopes that it would beme. "

As he shook hands with the others, Harris kept his left hand behindhim; for in it reposed the card he had palmed--the six of diamonds, which would have allowed him to go with the others and would have putJack in his place. 

As he turned, Harris slipped the card quickly into his pocket, that itmight not be accidentally seen. Then, he knew, he was safe. 

Jack picked up the deck. 

"I shall keep these, Harris, " he said, "that I may always remember abrave man. "

All this time the thundering on the door of the companionway hadcontinued. 

"Come, " said von Ludwig, "we must delay no longer. Already it isgrowing light. "

He hastened along the deck to where the high-powered motor boat laycovered with a tarpaulin. Quickly the little craft was lowered over theside, von Ludwig first inspecting it. 

"Plenty of water and provisions, " he said quietly. He turned to Harris. 

"It is time to say goodbye, " he said quietly. "You are a brave man. This gallant action shall be known to the world. "

"Goodbye, sir, " said Harris, quietly. 

"Remember, " said von Ludwig, "there is always a chance that you mayescape. If it comes, make the most of it. Goodbye. "

He pressed Harris' hand and passed over the side of the vessel. 

As Frank and Jack shook hands with Harris, the latter squeezed Harris'hand affectionately. The latter smiled. 

"I had promised myself another bout with you some day, " he said. "Myonly regret is that it is not possible now. "

A moment more Jack was in the motor boat and it moved away. Harris drewhis revolvers and mounted guard over the companionway, the door ofwhich now had begun to splinter. 

"An hour is what you needed, " he said quietly. "You'll get it!"

CHAPTER XXIX

A CHAMPION PASSES

Harris laid one of his revolvers on the deck, reached in his pocket andproduced the six of diamonds. He looked at it closely in the halfdarkness and a smile passed over his face. 

"I suppose I'm a fool, " he muttered to himself, "but someway I couldn'thelp it. I was afraid Jack would cut the low card. I wouldn't have doneit for one of the others, but Jack, well, he's a boy after my ownheart. "

Harris replaced the card in his pocket; then thought better of hisaction, drew it forth again and sent it spinning off across the sea. 

"There, " he said quietly, "goes all evidence that I cheated. "

He picked up the revolver he had laid on the deck and moved a shortdistance from the companionway. 

There was an extra violent crash and it seemed that the door must burstopen. 

"Another one like that will do the work, " said Harris, calmly. 

He took up what he considered a strategic position and produced hiswatch. This he lay on the deck and sat down beside it. 

"May as well be comfortable, " he remarked. 

Again there was a crash and the door of the companionway burst open. AGerman head appeared. 

"Crack!" Harris had fired without moving from his sitting posture. 

The German head disappeared and there was a cry of alarm from below. 

"One down, I guess, " said Harris, quietly, to himself. 

For some moments there was silence, broken occasionally, however, bythe dull sound of voices from below. 

"Talking it over, eh?" muttered Harris. "Well, I'll still be here whenyou try again. "

It was perhaps fifteen minutes later that a cap appeared in theopening. Again Harris fired. The cap did not disappear and Harris firedtwice more quickly. 

The cap disappeared. 

"Guess I got another one, " said Harris. 

Twice more within the next fifteen minutes this happened. 

"That should be four, if I have counted correctly, " said Harris; "andI've still four cartridges left. I won't have to reload yet. "

He felt in his pocket and then uttered an exclamation of alarm. 

"No more bullets. I'll have to make these four count for the next two. "

Nothing appeared in the doorway again for ten minutes more and thenHarris fired again. Fifteen minutes later the same thing happened andHarris, making sure that this was the last of the enemy, emptied hisrevolver at it. 

Then he got to his feet and put his watch in his pocket. 

"Guess that settles it, " he said. "Now I'll look around for a boat. Ididn't know it was going to be as easy as all that. If I had I wouldhave had the others wait for me. "

He moved toward the companionway, and as he did so, a bullet whistledby his ear. Harris stepped back in surprise; and in that moment thesolution came to him. 

"By Jove! They've fooled me, " he muttered. "They poked their caps upand I shot them full of holes. However, they don't know yet that I'mout of bullets. "

A few moments later a cap again appeared in the opening. Harris had nobullets to fire at it. 

"They'll discover my predicament in a moment or so, though, " he toldhimself. 

He pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at it. 

"An hour, " he said. "They have had time enough. However, I'll just seethe thing through. "

As he spoke it grew light. Harris looked off across the sea. There, sofar away that it appeared but a speck upon the water, he saw what hetook to be the motor boat bearing his friends to safety. He waved hiscap. 

"Good luck!" he said quietly. 

Now a German head appeared in the door of the companionway. It was nota cap this time. Harris saw it, and drawing back his arm, hurled one ofhis revolvers swiftly. His aim was true and the weapon struck theGerman squarely in the face. With a scream of pain the man fell backinto the arms of his companions. 

But Harris' action had told his enemies that he had no more bullets, and seeing that they had but one man to contend with, the Germanssprang from their shelter and leaped for him. 

Harris clubbed his remaining revolver, and with his back to the pilothouse, where he had retreated, awaited the approach of the four foes. 

"You're going to have the fight of your lives, " he said grimly. 

A German sprang. Harris' arm rose and fell and there was one Germanless to contend with. But before Harris could raise his arm again, theother three had closed in upon him. Harris felt himself borne back. 

The former pugilistic champion of the British navy cast all ring ethicsto the winds. He struck, kicked and clawed and sought to wreak whatdamage he could upon his enemies without regard for the niceties offighting. He knew that they would do the same to him. 

So great had been the force of the shock of the three Germans--all thatwere now left of the original twelve--that Harris was borne to thedeck. His revolver hand struck the floor with great force and theweapon was sent spinning from his grasp. 

With a mighty effort, he hurled the three men from him and leaped tohis feet. The Germans also arose. Harris did not wait for them toresume the offensive. With head lowered he charged. 

Nimbly the foe skipped to either side and Harris felt a keen pain inhis right side. One of the foe had drawn a knife and stabbed as Harrisrushed by. Whirling quickly, Harris again sprang forward. One man didnot leap out of his way quickly enough, and Harris' hands found histhroat. 

The man gave a screech as Harris' hands squeezed. The Englishman raisedhis enemy bodily from the deck, flung him squarely in the faces of theother two, and followed after the human catapult. 

The foremost German dodged and seized Harris by the legs. Both wentover in a heap, Harris on top. Harris raised his right fist and wouldhave brought it down on the German's face but for the fact that thesecond foe seized his arm in a fierce grasp. At the same moment hestruck with his knife. 

The point penetrated Harris' right side and he felt himself growingfaint. Angrily, he shook the German from him and rose to his feet. Theman who had been underneath the Englishman also got quickly to hisfeet, and before Harris could turn, stabbed him in the back. 

With a cry, Harris whirled on him and seized the knife arm. He twistedsharply. The German cried out in pain and sought to free himself. Buthis effort was in vain. 

With the grasp by the wrist, Harris swung the man in the air, andspinning on his heel, hurled him far across the deck, where theunconscious form struck with a crash; and at the same moment the otherGerman struck again with his knife. 

Harris staggered back. 

Now the German who so recently had felt the effect of Harris' fingersin his throat, pulled himself from the deck and renewed the battle. Headvanced, crouching, and another knife gleamed in his hand. 

It is possible that, had it not been for the effects of the knifewounds, Harris, in the end, would have overcome these foes, for he wasa powerful man. But when a man is bleeding from half a dozen wounds andfaces two adversaries both armed with knives, he has little chance ofultimate victory. Harris realized it; but he was not the man to beg formercy. Besides, so fierce had been his attacks and so great hisexecution, it is not probable that the Germans would have spared himanyhow. They were insane with rage. 

There were only two of them left now; and Harris told himself thattheir number would be fewer by one before they finished with him. Heleaned against the pilot house panting from his exertions. 

"A great lot of fighters, you are, " he taunted his enemies. "Four ofyou attacked me with knives and you haven't done for me yet. "

The Germans also were glad of a breathing spell. Their faces reddenedas Harris taunted them. 

"We shall kill you yet, " said one angrily. 

"Don't be too sure, " said Harris. "I'm an Englishman, you know, and youhave always been afraid of an Englishman. "

At this the Germans uttered a cry of rage and sprang forward, theirknives flashing aloft. 

The first German missed his mark as Harris dodged beneath his arm andclosed with him. He uttered a cry for help. 

"That's right, you coward! You'll need it, " said Harris. 

He squeezed the man with all his might. Out of the tail of his eye hecaught the glint of the other German's knife as it descended. Releasinghis hold upon the one man, he stepped quickly backward. But the knifecaught him a glancing blow on the forehead, inflicting a deep wound. 

For a moment Harris paused to shake the blood out of his eyes. Then, with a smile playing across his features, he advanced; and as headvanced he said:

"You've done for me, the lot of you. But I shall take you with me. "

The Germans quailed at the look in his face; and as he moved forwardswiftly they threw down their knives and turned to run. 

But they had delayed too long. 

Harris stretched both hands out straight before him. One hand closedabout the arm of the German to his right. The other clutched the secondman by the throat. Harris pulled the man he held by the arm close; thenreleased his grip, but before the German could stagger away, seizedhim, too, by the throat. 

"Now I've got you, " he said. 

Blow after blow the Germans rained upon his face and shoulders, kickingout with their feet the while. Harris paid no more attention to thesethan he would have to the taps of a child. 

But the Englishman felt his strength waning fast. It was with an effortthat he staggered across the deck. At the rail he paused for a moment, gathering his strength for a final effort. 

Then, still holding a German by the throat with each hand, he leapedinto the sea. 

Once, twice, three times the three heads appeared on the surface and aspectator could have seen that Harris retained his grip. Then the threesank from sight. 

And so passed the former pugilistic champion of the British fleet, brave in death as he had been in life. The waves washed over the spotwhere he had gone down. 

CHAPTER XXX

THE UNKNOWN UNMASKS

With the coming of dawn the three figures in the little motor boatgazed back in the direction from whence they had come. There they couldstill make out the distant shape of the _Bismarck_. She rode quietly inthe water, and there was nothing about her appearance to tell the threein the motor boat of the terrible struggle that was raging even at thatmoment. 

"Poor Harris, " said Jack. "I hope that in some manner he is able toescape. "

"Certainly I hope so, too, " declared Frank. 

"He's a brave man, " said von Ludwig. 

Jack drew the fateful deck of cards from his pocket. 

"These, " he said, "I shall keep. "

He ran through the deck several times, playing with them. Unconsciouslyhe counted them. 

There was something wrong. Jack counted the cards again. The result wasthe same. 

"Sir!" he called to von Ludwig. 

"Well?" "How did you chance to have this pack of cards?"

"I play solitaire considerably, " was the reply. 

"You couldn't have played solitaire with this deck, " said Jack. 

"Why not?""All the cards are not here. There are but fifty-one. "

"There were fifty-two when I put them in my pocket, " said von Ludwig, "because I counted them. "

Again Jack ran through the deck There were but fifty-one cards. Suddenly the lad gave a start. He spread the cards out in the bottomof the boat, making four piles all suits together. He counted the hearts. They were all there, thirteen of them. He counted the clubs. They wereall there, too. Next he counted the spades. All were there. Last hecounted the diamonds. There were but twelve. Jack arranged them in order. There was one card shy. Jack found what it was a moment later. There wasno six of diamonds in the deck. For some moments Jack sat silent, staring at the cards before him. He had been struck with a great light. 

"So!" he said to himself at last, "Harris cheated. "

"What's that?" said Frank, who had heard Jack's muttered words, but hadnot caught their import. 

"I said, " replied Jack, slowly, "that Harris cheated. "

Frank was surprised. A moment later he said: "Well, even if he did, helost anyhow. "

"That's it, " said Jack, quietly. "He didn't lose. "

"You mean----" exclaimed Frank, excitedly. 

"Yes; I mean that I lost. I should have been the one to stay. "

"Impossible, " said Frank. 

"It's true, " declared Jack. "Von Ludwig here says the deck was a fulldeck. It's shy a card now. The six of diamonds is missing. That is thecard Harris cut first. You remember he turned aside?"

"Yes, but----"

"That's when he slipped the six of diamonds out of sight and exposedthe deuce of spades. "

"What's all this talk about cards?" asked von Ludwig, at this juncture. 

Jack explained and for a few moments von Ludwig was lost in thought. 

"You know, " he said, finally, "I think more of that fellow every minute. That's the one case I have ever heard of where a man cheated with honor. "

There was silence aboard the little craft as it sped over the water, allthree aboard keeping a close watch for the approach of a German vesselof some sort. Von Ludwig referred to his chart occasionally, for hewished to steer as clear of mines as possible. They might be deep in thewater and they might be close to the surface. There was no use takingchances. And while the voyage continued the lads were to be treated toyet another surprise; but this surprise was to be a pleasure and wouldnot bring heavy hearts, as had the discovery of the missing card. 

"I wish, " said Jack, suddenly, to von Ludwig, "that you wouldtell me who you really are. I sit here and look at you and know Ishould be able to call your name. But I can't do it and it makes itdecidedly unpleasant. "

Von Ludwig smiled. "I should have thought you would know me in a minutein spite of my disguise, " he said quietly. "I am sure I should have knownboth of you no matter what pains you took to conceal your features. "

"You're only making matters worse, " said Frank. "Come on now and tell uswho you are. "

Again von Ludwig smiled. "I wonder if you can guess who I am when I saythat I can tell you all about yourselves?" he said. "For instance, you, Jack. You spent most of your life in a little African village. And you, Frank, are an American who was shanghaied aboard a sailing vessel inNaples soon after the outbreak of the war. "

"By Jove!" said Jack. "Outside of Frank here there is only one man whoknows all that about me. "

"And there is but a single man who knows as much of me, " declared Frank. "Can it be----"

For answer von Ludwig rose in his seat and stripped from his face theheavy German beard that had given him the true Teutonic expression, andthere stood revealed before Jack and Frank none other than LordHastings, their erstwhile commander and good friend. Frank gave a cryof delight and sprang forward at the imminent risk of upsetting themotor boat. He seized Lord Hastings' hand and pressed it warmly. Thelatter's greeting was no less affectionate. Jack, not so given todemonstrations as his chum, also advanced and grasped Lord Hasting'shand. 

"You don't know how glad I am to see you again, sir, " the lad saidquietly. "It seems like an age since we saw you. And to think that wedidn't recognize you instantly. "

"That's what seemed so funny to me, " said Lord Hastings. "When I firstsaw you aboard that German vessel I was fearful for a minute that youwould recognize me and blurt it out right there. "

"But what were you doing there, Lord Hastings?" asked Frank. 

"It's a long story, " was the latter's reply, "but I guess now is asgood a time as any to explain. "

"I wish you would, sir, " said Jack. 

"Well, " said Lord Hastings, "as you know, I told you when we partedthat I had an important diplomatic duty to perform. First, it carriedme to Roumania, where, I may say, I was successful. "

"You mean that Roumania has decided to cast in her fortunes with theAllies, sir?"

"Exactly. She will take that step some time in August, though the exactdate I am unable to say. My mission there at an end, I was ordered toreport to Berlin. As you know, we still maintain a staff ofcorrespondents in the German capital, although their identities areclosely hidden. "

Frank and Jack nodded, for they had known this some time before. 

"Well, " Lord Hastings continued, "in Berlin I was instructed to learnwhat Germany planned to do to offset the Roumanian menace, for she issure to know of Roumanians decision by this time. I had some trouble, but I succeeded at last. "

"And what will she do, sir?" asked Frank. 

"That, " was the reply, "I am unable to state at this minute. It is asecret that I am guarding carefully and I cannot even tell you ladsabout it. "

Frank and Jack asked no further questions along that line. 

"But how came you aboard the German vessel, sir?" Jack wanted to know. 

Lord Hastings smiled. 

"In Berlin, " he said, "I was supposed to be a Roumanian officer, whohad hopes of changing the attitude of that country. The Kaiser wishedto show me how foolish it would be for the little Balkan state to jointhe Allies, and for that reason, had me shown through the German navalfortifications. That information, too, I am carrying back with me. "

"But why didn't you tell us who you were in Bremen, sir?"

"I don't know. At first I guess because I wanted to surprise you bothwhen you did learn who I was. "

"But you told us not to try and learn who you were. "

"Well, that was for a good reason. For, if you should have sought topry, it might have aroused suspicions and there is no telling whatwould have happened. "

"I see, sir, " said Frank. "But you almost lost us when you didn't getback in time. "

"I know that now. I wouldn't do the same thing again. "

"And what are you going to do after you return to London, sir?" Frankwanted to know. 

Again Lord Hastings smiled. 

"That's hard to tell, " he replied. "Still, I imagine it will not bevery long before I feel a deck under my heels again. "

"You mean you will leave the diplomatic service again, sir?" askedJack. 

"I expect to. The king promised me a new command before he despatchedme to the Balkans. But I do not know how long I shall be kept waiting. "

"And when you get it, sir, will we go back with you?" asked Frank. 

"Why, " was the reply, "I should have thought that by this time youwould perhaps have changed your minds. "

"Never, sir, " declared Jack, positively. "We would rather serve underyou, sir. "

"I'll see what can be done, " Lord Hastings promised. 

And with that the lads were forced to be content. Still, they knew wellenough that Lord Hastings would do what he could to have them with himagain. 

"The main thing now, " said Lord Hastings, "is to dodge the enemy andget back to England. "

"With you here, sir, " said Frank, "I am sure we shall get back safely. "

And Frank proved a good prophet. 

All that day they made their way slowly through the North Sea. Severaltimes enemy ships were sighted, but, because the little motor boat layso low in the water, the Germans did not see them. 

With the coming of night, however, Lord Hastings increased the speed ofthe little craft. He felt that they were now beyond the German minefields and that if another vessel were encountered it probably would beBritish. 

And this proved to be the case. 

Along toward morning of the second day, a British cruiser bore down onthem. Soon all were aboard the vessel, which, when Lord Hastingsinformed the commander of the nature of the papers he carried, turnedabout and headed for London. 

A day or two later, Frank and Jack again found themselves installed inthe comfortable home of Lord Hastings, where they sat down to awaitwhat time might bring forth--confident, however, that it would not belong before they were upon active service under the command of theirgood friend, Lord Hastings.