DOOMED TO DIE.
It was a bitter disappointment to Jack, but he felt he could do nothing but submit. True, he thought to himself, he could probably have attacked the German commander, and perhaps have overcome him; but there was Frank to be considered, and his own injured right arm. No, he felt he could do nothing but submit.
"Very well, sir," he answered the German, "but first you will please permit me to see to my friend."
He indicated Frank's prostrate form across the room. The German saw it then for the first time and nodded assent.
"Also," said Jack, "it would be well if you did not permit that man," indicating Davis, "to escape. He is a traitor."
"So?" exclaimed the officer.
He drew his revolver and mounted guard over Davis.
"There is really no use my guarding you," he said. "Half a dozen of my men are below, so you could hardly escape."
In the meantime Jack bent over Frank and raised his chum's head to his knee. Then he arose, asked permission of the German to leave the room for water. The permission was granted and Jack returned a moment later, his cap filled with water.
He sprinkled the water over Frank's face and soon perceived signs of returning consciousness. Frank drew a deep breath and opened his eyes. Then he pushed Jack aside and sat up.
"What's happened?" he asked in a faint voice.
In a few words Jack explained.
"I remember now," said Frank. "Help me up."
Jack did so and then for the first time Frank caught sight of the German naval commander.
"What's he doing here?" he asked of Jack.
"Oh, he's just arrested us; that's all," said Jack.
"Yes," said the German, "and I must ask you to accompany me now. You shall come aboard my ship until this matter has been investigated thoroughly. I'll take charge of you, rather than to turn you over to the military authorities; for after all you are naval officers and I shall help you if I can. Please precede me; and you too," this last to Davis in a gruffer tone.
All proceeded below, where eight or ten other men stood waiting. Then all marched away.
Reaching the water front all entered a small boat and were rowed toward a submarine, perhaps a quarter of a mile away.
As they passed, Jack noticed the U-6 a short distance away and made out Lord Hastings' figure on the bridge. He raised an arm and waved it. He was not sure that his signal had been seen, but he did not wish to draw further attention to his commander.
Aboard the submarine the German commander had them taken to his own cabin, where he insisted upon his own surgeon dressing Frank's wound and having a look at Jack's arm.
The surgeon pronounced both injuries slight and prescribed rest. Several times Frank caught the German commander looking at him curiously and it worried him somewhat, for there was something familiar about the man, though Frank could not seem to place him.
"I'm just trying to think," said the German to Frank, "where I have seen you before. I don't place your name."
"I can't remember you, sir," replied Frank.
Suddenly the German slapped his thigh. Frank's heart sank for some reason he was unable to explain to himself.
"I have it!" exclaimed the German. "You are the lad whom I captured from a British submarine in the Kiel Canal not so long ago. I remember you well now. You escaped. So you are a British spy, eh?"
"I—I——" began Frank.
The German raised a hand.
"It will do you no good to deny it," he said quietly. "I cannot be mistaken. Besides, I can plainly see now that you are no German; and this supposed-to-be German officer with you is also British. I can see it now. So is the other prisoner, though I cannot see what you should have been fighting about."
Neither Frank nor Jack replied. Each realized that there was no use in entering a denial.
"I'll take my oath I'm sorry for this," said the German. "Of course, you know there is but one thing I can do?"
Frank nodded understandingly.
"You were found within our lines in German uniforms," said the commander. "Therefore you are spies and must be treated as such. I myself shall call a court martial within the hour. You must be shot. The other man will be tried separately, but I have no doubt he will suffer the same fate. Orderly!"
A second officer entered the room.
"Have these prisoners closely guarded and bring them here an hour from now," he ordered. "Then summon the commanders of the other vessels in the harbor. They shall sit on a court martial here. Hurry."
Jack and Frank were led from the cabin and locked in another compartment at the far end of the ship where they sat in silence until they were conducted to the commander's cabin.
And as they gazed about the cabin the eyes of both opened wide in surprise, though they made no sound.
For there, sitting with five other German officers about the table, was none other than Lord Hastings, still wearing his German uniform. He was sitting on the trial board.
The German commander who had captured them presided.
"Bring in the other prisoner," he commanded.
A moment later Davis was led in. The lads saw a surprised expression flash over Lord Hastings' face as his eyes rested on Davis; but he sat still.
Then, suddenly appearing to take a close look at Frank and Jack for the first time, he jumped to his feet and approached them. After a careful scrutiny, he uttered a loud exclamation and turned to the other officers.
"Sirs," he said quietly, "you have indeed made an important capture. These men, although apparently young, are two of the most trusted of British spies. I know them, for I have come in close contact with them," and he glared at them angrily. "So, we have you at last, eh?" addressing the boys, who shrank back in well-feigned alarm.
As for Davis, he said nothing. He had been doing a lot of thinking and had come to the conclusion that it was better to postpone his fate by being rescued with Frank and Jack, if possible; for he had a pretty shrewd idea that Lord Hastings was there for some such purpose.
"So," continued Lord Hastings, eyeing the two lads angrily. "I have you, eh. I would like to put a hole through each of you myself." He half drew a revolver.
The German commander interfered.
"None of that, if you please, sir," he commanded sharply. "They shall have trial; and if they are convicted, as I have no doubt they will be, I shall bestow upon you the doubtful honor of performing the execution."
"And I shall be pleased indeed, sir," replied Lord Hastings with a leer.
The German commander turned from him in disgust.
"It is such men as you, who are a disgrace to the navy," he said quietly.
"Sir!" exclaimed Lord Hastings, facing the German in apparent wrath, though nothing could have pleased him better—things were working out much better than he had dared hope.
"Tut! Tut!" exclaimed the German commander. "I have no time to quarrel with you now. But when the war is over, it will give me much pleasure to put an end to one of your ilk."
"I shall remember that!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "You shall answer to me, sir."
"When the war is over, I shall be very much at your service," was the quiet rejoinder. "But now to business. Prisoners, you may all stand up together. Your name?" he demanded of Jack.
"Templeton, sir," replied the lad quietly.
"And yours, sir?" demanded the German of Frank.
"Chadwick, sir."
The German turned to Davis.
"Davis, sir," replied the man before the German could propound the question.
"Have any of you prisoners anything to say in extenuation of your actions?"
There was no reply.
"No reason why the death sentence should not be passed upon you?" continued the German.
Still there was no reply.
The German commander then explained what he knew of the three and called for a vote.
"Commander Derndorff?"
"Death!" was the response.
"Commander Hellwig?"
"Death!"
"Commander Berne?"
"Death!"
"Commander Blough?"
"Death!"
"Commander Bernstorff?"
Lord Hastings' response was louder than the rest and he smiled evilly as he cried:
"Death!"
The German commander who had captured the lads made a grimace but said nothing.
He paused a moment and then declared quietly:
"My verdict also is death!"
Lord Hastings, apparently, could restrain his impatience no longer.
"Good! Good!" he cried.
"The sentence of this court martial," continued the German commander unheeding Lord Hastings, "is that the prisoners all be shot at sunrise tomorrow. Commander Bernstorff, since you are so eager to perform the disagreeable duty, you may command the execution; and that your men may think the less of you, as president of this court martial, I order you to choose the firing squad from among your own crew."
Lord Hastings beamed on him.
"It shall be done with pleasure," he declared eagerly.
"And," continued the president of the court martial, "you shall take the prisoners aboard your own vessel and you shall be held responsible for them. I could almost hope they would escape, so that you should suffer," he added to himself.
"Good, sir. Good!" cried Lord Hastings. "I shall remove them at once, sir."
"One thing more," said the commander sharply. "They must not be ill-treated. Understand?"
Lord Hastings' face fell in well-feigned disappointment. He appeared to draw himself together, saluted and said with an apparent effort.
"You shall be obeyed, sir."
"Take them away, then."
Lord Hastings ordered the three marched to the side of the vessel, where they stepped aboard the little boat. Then they were rowed rapidly toward the U-6.
As they neared the submarine, where they knew lay safety, the spirits of the lads soared once more, in spite of their wounds. Frank expressed Jack's sentiments as well as his own when he leaned close to Lord Hastings and muttered:
"Close shave, sir!"