ON THE HUNT.
"Isn't that The Hawk?"
It was Jack who spoke. He had left his engine and made his way aft, for he had caught sight of another craft in the distance.
Frank peered ahead.
"I should say it was built along the same lines as The Hawk," he replied, "but what's the matter with her?"
Something was wrong, as both boys could see. The craft ahead, whether The Hawk or not they could not yet distinguish, was plainly in distress. She wallowed in the sea, apparently without a hand to guide her.
"Something wrong aboard, sure," declared Frank. "Little more speed, Jack."
Jack sprang back to his engine and soon the motorboat was dashing through the water at full speed.
Jack left the engine to run itself and made his way forward as far as possible, where he stood gazing at the craft ahead. At last he was able to make out the name of the craft.
"The Hawk!" he cried.
It was The Hawk and she was plainly in distress. As the boys drew nearer, they were unable to make out a sign of life aboard.
"Maybe they have all been washed overboard," Frank called to Jack.
Jack made no reply. He had begun to fear so himself.
Suddenly he uttered a loud cry.
"I can see some one aboard," he cried. "He's stretched out on the deck. Looks like he might be dead."
"Who is it?" Frank shouted back.
"I can't make out yet."
He peered forward eagerly and anxiously; and five minutes later he cried out again:
"It's Smith."
Smith was another of the crew.
"Can you see Lord Hastings?" shouted Frank.
"No."
The two craft were less than a hundred yards apart now and still Jack could make out but a solitary figure aboard, that of Smith, stretched out at full length aft.
The boys closed up the remaining distance quickly and the two boats scraped alongside each other. Pausing only long enough to lash the two together, Frank and Jack sprang aboard The Hawk.
Quickly they glanced about. There was Smith and no one else in sight. Frank stooped over him.
"He's breathing," he said.
He hurried to the side of the boat, and leaning over, filled his cap with water. This he sprinkled in Smith's face and the man stirred.
Jack, in the meantime, had gone into the little cabin and a startled cry now came to Frank's ears.
He hurried to his friend; and there, in the cabin, the boy stood over the prostrate form of their commander. The latter lay still and white and Frank stared at him with a great fear in his heart.
"Is he dead?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
"I don't know," said Jack slowly. "He doesn't seem to be breathing."
Frank knelt down and placed a hand over Lord Hastings' heart.
"Yes, he is," he cried excitedly. "His heart is beating. Water, quick!"
Jack dashed away in response to this command and was back in a moment with his cap filled with water.
This he poured over his commander, while Frank bathed his head; and soon these efforts were rewarded.
Lord Hastings stirred, breathed a long sigh and moaned. Five minutes later he opened his eyes and tried to sit up.
"Lie still, sir," commanded Frank.
Lord Hastings let his eyes rest on the lad's face, tried to say something, attempted to move, then fell back with a long sigh.
Again Frank was alarmed. He bent over his commander and placed a hand over his heart. Then he arose with an exclamation of satisfaction.
"He's sleeping," he said. "Let's get to shore as soon as possible."
Jack hurried away. First he returned to the other craft and assisted Edwards aboard The Hawk. Then he went to the engine, Frank took the wheel and they headed for Bantry Bay at full speed.
It was still before noon when they entered the bay and came to anchor in the midst of the motorboat fleet. The lads had Lord Hastings removed ashore immediately and listened to the diagnosis of the surgeon with bated breath.
"Nothing serious," said the surgeon, much to the lads' relief. "He's been knocked unconscious in some way. Something must have struck him a hard blow across the head. All he needs is perfect quiet for a week."
"He'll get it," declared Jack, "if I have to sit on him for that length of time."
"And if I have to help you hold him down," Frank agreed.
For the next week the boys gave their undivided attention to caring for their wounded commander. Each day, after the first, Lord Hastings grew stronger. On the third day he wanted to get up, but the surgeon would not hear of it.
"Seven days in bed," he declared. "Not a second less; and two more days before you can move about much."
"Yes, but look here, Doc," said Lord Hastings. "I've work to do. I've got to get back into harness."
"And two weeks exactly before you can get back in harness," declared the man of medicine.
From this ultimatum he would not swerve.
At the end of the first week Lord Hastings was for disregarding the surgeon's orders and getting back into harness anyhow; but Jack and Frank would not hear of it.
"Might just as well get well, first, sir," declared Jack.
Lord Hastings glared at him.
"How about you?" he demanded. "How would you like to stay around like this doing nothing? You couldn't sit here for five minutes. I know you."
"You may be right, sir," agreed Frank. "But you are older than I am, sir, and should have more patience and fortitude."
Lord Hastings was forced to smile at this rejoinder.
"You see, sir," said Frank, "I can remember some of the things you have said to me."
"I see," agreed Lord Hastings. "I guess, then, that I shall have to remain here, if for no other reason than to set a good example for you."
"That's right, sir," declared Jack. "If you didn't, there would be no living with Frank."
"Oh, I don't know," said the latter. "I can remember one time when you were in bad shape that I had to threaten to lick you to keep you in bed."
"Well, that's different," said Jack. "I——"
"Well, let's talk about something cheerful," said Lord Hastings. "Germans or anything like that."
And so the conversation was changed.
When the two weeks had come to an end Lord Hastings proceeded to get back in harness immediately.
"I've been here long enough," he told the boys. "Back to The Hawk again now."
And back to The Hawk they went that day.
Aboard The Hawk Lord Hastings made a careful inspection and then left the lads, while he held an interview with the British commanding officer in charge of the motorboat flotilla. When he returned he had a smile on his face.
"Good news," he said, as he came aboard.
"What, sir?" asked Frank.
"Action to-night, sir?" demanded Jack.
"Better than that—for you boys," replied Lord Hastings. "Action, and at once."
"Where?" asked Frank.
"Around the same neighborhood we were in before."
"Good," declared Jack.
"And more important prey, this time," continued Lord Hastings.
"Submarines?" asked Jack.
"Well, that's what we expect," replied Lord Hastings. "We hope to be fortunate enough to find one or two."
"When do we start, sir?" demanded Frank.
"As soon as the Glasgow comes along."
"The Glasgow, sir? You mean the steamship Glasgow?"
"Exactly. It appears that passengers have been warned not to take passage on the Glasgow. A warning has been circulated through the newspapers, the same as was done before the Lusitania sailed and was sunk. This naturally leads to the belief that the Germans are planning to torpedo the Glasgow. We are to be on hand to see that this does not happen."
"I see, sir," replied Frank. "Is it just The Hawk, sir?"
"Well, no," replied Lord Hastings. "The Hawk and nine other motorboats."
"A regular fleet," remarked Jack. "I suppose the idea is for us to trail in behind the Glasgow?"
"Exactly. You see the submarine, nine times out of ten, lying in wait for its victim, will come to the surface a short distance ahead of the steamer. Now, in view of the furore that the sinking of the Lusitania caused in neutral countries, it is hardly to be expected the Glasgow will be torpedoed without warning."
"But just how do we get at the enemy, sir?" demanded Frank.
"I'm coming to that. When the submarine comes to the surface and gives warning for passengers and crew to leave the ship, we shall sneak out from behind at full speed. Before the submarine can submerge, we shall be close enough to get her. That's why we carry such heavy guns. One of us is bound to get her."
"I see," said Frank. "Of course if the submarine could submerge in a moment, it wouldn't be possible."
"Exactly," agreed Lord Hastings.
He led the way to the rail.
"See," he said, waving a hand in the direction of the others of the motorboat fleet, "they are all getting ready for action."
It was true. There were signs of great activity aboard some of the other little vessels. "Just overhauling to see that everything is shipshape," said Lord Hastings. "We may as well do the same."
The next hour was spent in minute inspection of every part of the little craft and then Lord Hastings pronounced himself satisfied.
Hardly was the work completed, when Frank perceived a dark smudge upon the distant horizon.
"Vessel of some kind, sir," he reported to Lord Hastings.
Lord Hastings gazed long and earnestly; and directly the shape of a large ship loomed up.
"The Glasgow," he said quietly. "All ready, boys. Time to get busy."