AN ENEMY.
The Hawk crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself. Not a light showed aboard the little craft—not a human voice was heard. Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
The Hawk, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe—no particular foe, perhaps—but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
Aboard, each member of the crew, besides his revolvers, was equipped with a small hand flashlight; and the larger searchlight in the bow was ready for instant use—to flash in the eyes of an enemy to blind him and to spoil his aim.
And the two heavy guns—one forward, the other aft—were ready for action.
The men stood at their posts—had stood there now for two hours—ever since The Hawk had crept silently from the friendly shelter of Bantry Bay. The crew had been ordered to silence and the crew of The Hawk, commanded by Lord Hastings, obeyed orders.
So far The Hawk had come upon nothing that had justified its lonesome and silent vigil—not an object of any kind had been encountered, and the hour was now after midnight. Still, keen eyes aboard the little craft peered untiringly ahead and swept the waters in all directions, trying to pierce the darkness of the night.
The night, though dark, was perfectly calm and peaceful, albeit black, overhanging clouds heralded the approach of a storm. But Lord Hastings, than whom there were few better weather prophets, announced that the storm would not break before well along toward morning and held to his quest without trepidation.
Frank and Jack were now becoming somewhat restless, for they had begun to fear that the night's venture would not bear fruit. However, each remembered what Lord Hastings had said regarding a "tip," so they knew that their commander had some object in view. Also, since leaving port, The Hawk had held steadily to her course.
Now and then the commander of The Hawk, by the faint glare of his searchlight, shielded by his hand, consulted a chart and several times muttered low directions to the man at the wheel.
Suddenly there came a subdued command from Lord Hastings, and in response the engines were stopped. Lord Hastings placed a hand to his ear and listened intently.
"Did any of you hear anything?" he asked in a low voice.
No one had.
"Strange," muttered Lord Hastings; "I could have sworn I heard something moving through the water."
He gave the command to go ahead again; but less than five moments later once more brought The Hawk to a pause.
"I am sure I heard something," he said to Frank, who stood near him.
"I thought I did myself, that time," replied the lad. "Sounded like a boat, and not a great distance away."
"We shall have to be careful," said his commander. "I know that there is not another British vessel in these waters to-night. If there is a second craft out here, it must be an enemy."
"Shall we flash our light about?" asked Frank.
"And betray our own presence? Not much. No; we shall just remain here for half an hour and see if we can't pick up the other fellow in the darkness."
Again the silence of death hung over The Hawk.
Then, suddenly, Jack, aft, gave a subdued exclamation.
Lord Hastings hurried to his side.
"What is it?" he demanded.
"Small craft of some kind bearing down on us, sir," he replied quickly. "She'll bump us!"
Lord Hastings took in the situation at a glance. Less than 150 yards away a small object was coming toward The Hawk.
Lord Hastings gave a quick command.
"Full speed ahead!" he cried, and in response to this command, The Hawk leaped forward.
Lord Hastings hurled a second quick command to the man at the wheel, and The Hawk came about in a broad circle; and at the same instant a blinding glare flashed into the faces of all aboard.
A searchlight from the other craft had been turned upon them, lighting The Hawk up like day, while all those aboard could see was the blinding glare, the other boat being shielded by this light.
A shot rang out over the water—the sound of a heavy gun.
Lord Hastings took prompt action, in spite of the fact he could not make out the enemy.
"Turn the searchlight on him!" he shouted.
A second shot rang out and Frank heard the whistle of a heavy missile overhead.
He sprang quickly to the searchlight, and with a single movement, whirled it about. In another moment a second white glare lighted up the sea.
Frank pointed his light squarely at the point from which he could see the other light came. While he was unable to see the other boat, because of its light, he knew that once his own searchlight had found its object, those aboard the other craft would no longer be able to see The Hawk.
Then came the sound of a third shot, but this time the missile was not even heard, and Frank knew that he had been successful. The enemy had lost the range.
"Good!" shouted Lord Hastings. "And just in time, I should say. The next shot would have hit us."
"Yes, sir," said Frank quietly. "He's blinded us, sir, but we have done the same for him. Now what, sir?"
"By Jove! I don't know," replied Lord Hastings. "Here, Jack, stand by this forward gun, and be ready to let her go the first moment you can see the enemy. If we can manage to work out from under his light we may be able to get him. Frank, don't you let that light off him a minute."
"I'll keep it on him, sir," replied the lad.
So there the two boats were, less than a hundred yards apart, but still unable to do one another harm, unless by a chance shot. For, although the occupants aboard each craft could see the light of the other, they couldn't gauge its origin with accuracy.
Several times the enemy fired, but without result.
"Well, we've got to do something," declared Lord Hastings. "Can any of you suggest anything?"
"I believe I have a plan, sir," declared Frank.
"Let's have it quick," said Lord Hastings.
"Well, sir, I should say that if you would stand by the gun, Jack and I can slip over the side in one of the small boats. We'll make a slight detour, to get out of the blinding glare, then row toward the enemy. Without the light in our eyes, we should be able to pick off a couple of the enemy with rifles. Then he'll have to shift his light to hunt new foes. You can be ready and sink him the moment he does so."
"That's not a half bad idea," declared Lord Hastings. "It shall be done. Over with you, lads."
Quickly Frank and Jack got a little boat over the side, procured a rifle apiece, and rowed away.
In spite of the fact that the glare of the enemy's searchlight was squarely upon them, they could not be seen because of the light aboard The Hawk playing upon the eyes of the foe. So, though they rowed rapidly, they knew they were safe enough.
Out of the glare of the searchlight, they shaped their course toward the enemy, whose bulk they could now see looming up in the darkness.
"By Jove! It's another motorboat," Frank whispered.
Jack nodded his head in the darkness, but did not reply.
Less than a hundred feet from the enemy, Frank made out several forms forward.
"This is close enough," he whispered to Jack.
Jack shipped his oars and picked up his rifle. Frank did likewise.
"You get the one on the left; I'll take the one on the extreme right," said Frank. "Then get the one next your first man if you have time before he ducks, and I'll do the same."
"All right," said Jack. "Give the word when you're ready."
"Ready! Aim! Fire!" said Frank quietly.
Two sharp cracks broke the stillness of the night, followed almost instantly by two more.
When the lads lowered their rifles and gazed toward the foe, there was not a man in sight.
"Don't know whether we got them or they just ducked," said Frank. "We'll fire a couple of more shots, enough to make them take their light off The Hawk."
They did so, and a moment later their efforts were rewarded. The searchlight aboard the enemy, moved by an unseen hand, turned and swept the sea carefully.
"Row back!" shouted Frank, and seized his oar.
Jack followed suit. Quickly the little boat was brought about and headed back in the general direction of The Hawk.
And the enemy's boat was now lighted up by the glare of The Hawk alone.
Suddenly the flashlight of the enemy fell squarely upon the two boys.
"We're gone now, unless Lord Hastings sinks them first," said Frank quietly.
"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Bullets began to spatter around the two lads. One grazed Frank's ear.
"Guess we had better go overboard," he said, "They'll——"
"Boom!"
The voice of a single big gun spoke once.
"The Hawk!" cried Frank.
"Boom!"
The voice came again.
And then the boys were left again in darkness as the enemy sought out The Hawk with his searchlight.
"Boom!"
It was the third word of the forward gun of The Hawk.
Cries of terror and confusion came from the direction of the foe, followed by hoarse German cries of command.
"Bully for Lord Hastings!" exclaimed Jack. "He has scored a hit."
"Hurrah!" cried Frank, and raised his voice in a series of cheers.
The big gun aboard The Hawk did not speak again, and following The Hawk's searchlight with their eyes, the two lads saw a mass of wreckage floating a short distance away.
"That," said Frank quietly, "is the end of her."
"Right you are," agreed Jack. "Now we'll go back to The Hawk."
Both lads bent to their oars with a will.