THE END OF A TRAITOR.
Frank smiled grimly to himself as he floated in the water.
"No more bullets, eh?" he muttered.
He struck out vigorously, but instead of making for the nearest British boat, he swam directly toward the craft in which Davis remained standing.
"I'll get you this time, Mr. Davis," the lad muttered through his teeth.
Davis saw him coming and something must have told him that this time the lad would overcome him. He stooped over and picked up a second revolver. This, too, he levelled directly at the lad and pulled the trigger. But this weapon also was empty.
Now fear suddenly took possession of Davis. He dropped to the thwart, seized a pair of oars and began to row.
But he had delayed too long; for at that moment Frank's left hand grasped the gunwale. Quickly Davis raised himself in the boat, and, brandishing an oar aloft, brought it down in an effort to crush the lad's head. Frank saw the blow coming and dived just in time. Davis again sat down and began to row.
A minute later Frank came up by the side of the boat and seized it in both hands. In vain Davis tried to steady the craft. Frank's effort was too powerful to resist and the little craft capsized, hurling Davis into the water.
Frank, treading water—now that he had his enemy on even terms—smiled as he waited for the traitor to come up; but what was his surprise when he felt himself suddenly seized by the legs and drawn beneath the surface. So sudden and unexpected was this movement that the lad did not have time to catch a breath before his head went under.
He kicked out desperately with his left foot and felt it strike something soft; and at that moment the hold upon his legs relaxed. The lad rose rapidly to the surface, where he inhaled great draughts of fresh air. Then he swam away a few strokes and waited for Davis to rise, for he knew he could not remain under water much longer.
A head bobbed up close to him, and, swimming quickly forward, Frank struck out heavily with his left fist. The fist came in contact with a face and Frank grinned as he realized that the blow had gone home. Again he waited for Davis to come to the surface.
The latter did so a moment later, but succeeded in dodging the heavy blow that the lad aimed at him. He disappeared again almost immediately and a second time the lad felt himself seized in a tight embrace which drew him under.
Immediately he felt the hold upon his legs relax and a hand seized him by the throat.
This time Frank had taken a breath before being pulled under, for the lad was not to be caught napping twice in the same way, and he felt that he could remain beneath the water as long as his opponent.
But the grasp on his throat was strangling him and the lad realized that desperate measures were necessary to free himself.
He swung his right arm low in the water, at the same moment seizing the hand that grasped his throat with his left. His right hand found its mark and at the same moment the lad gave a quick jerk with his left hand. The grip upon his throat weakened, and, as Frank struck a second time, was released altogether.
Almost immediately, however, a pair of arms closed about his legs again, holding him tight and carrying him down. With his two hands Frank felt about him blindly, and at last encountered a head. He reached farther down and then gripped Davis by the throat with both hands and pressed them together.
Davis was threshing about in the water in an effort to release this desperate clutch without altogether loosening his hold upon the lad. Frank's lungs seemed about to burst now and he struggled desperately to push Davis away from him, at the same time maintaining his grip. Things grew blacker than ever beneath the dark water; and then, suddenly, the lad lost consciousness.
When Frank opened his eyes again he found himself in a small boat, with nothing in sight but blue water and the sun beating down upon him, shielded slightly from his face by what he took to to be a coat. The lad rubbed his eyes and attempted to sit up; then fell back with a faint moan.
This sound brought a second figure to his side and Frank felt a hand upon his head as a well-known voice said:
"How do you feel, old man?"
Frank recognized the voice instantly. The speaker was Jack. Things came back to Frank immediately and with an effort he sat up.
"How did I get here?" he demanded. "The last I seem to remember is tipping Davis out of a boat. Then what happened?"
"Then you don't remember a struggle beneath the water?" asked Jack.
Frank racked his brain and a moment later it came back to him.
"Yes, I do," he replied. "I remember he seized me by the legs and I went under. Then I grabbed him by the neck and tried to push him away, but he clung and clung—and clung—and clung—and that's all I can remember."
"And no wonder," declared Jack. "You were under water for five minutes before I could get to you. I got you as you were going down for the last time. I didn't arrive a minute too soon."
"And where are we now?" asked Frank.
"In one of the small boats, making for shore."
"What shore?"
"Any shore. Belgium, most likely. But a storm Is brewing and——"
A sudden shout interrupted him.
"Vessel approaching off the port bow, sir!" came the cry.
Jack stood up hurriedly and looked across the sea. Sure enough, just appearing over the horizon, a faint speck had become visible. Jack waved his hand to Lord Hastings, who was in a second boat not far behind.
"Safe now, I guess, sir," he called.
"Unless it happens to be a German," returned his commander.
"Hardly, in this part of the sea," declared Jack.
The heads of the small boats were turned and they made directly for the approaching vessel, which loomed larger and larger in the distance.
Jack returned to Frank's side.
"Ship, eh?" asked Frank feebly.
"Yes," replied Jack.
"British?"
"Haven't been able to make her out yet. Probably is, though. I hope so, for I want to get you to bed where you can be looked after."
"Don't mind me. Say, how many men did we lose?"
"Ten," said Jack slowly.
"Ten," repeated Frank. "It was a costly battle, wasn't it? But what has happened to——"
"Don't you think you had better not talk any more now?" said Jack, raising a silencing hand. "You're pretty weak. Don't exert yourself."
"But wasn't that Lord Hastings' voice I heard just now?"
"Yes, it was."
"By George! I'm glad he came through safely," declared Frank feebly.
"All right. You try and go to sleep now."
Frank opened his lips to protest, but he was too weary to do so. Several times a question struggled to his lips, but the effort to speak was too great and directly he fell asleep.
It was almost an hour later that the vessel, which those in the little boats some time before had made out to be a British merchantman, sighted them. Immediately small boats were lowered over the side and made toward the shipwrecked sailors.
The latter were quickly transferred to the merchantman's boats and were rowed back toward the steamship. There the wounded were lifted gently over the side and sent immediately to the sick bay, where their wounds were dressed.
The captain of the vessel led Lord Hastings and Jack to his cabin, where he insisted upon an account of their adventures. He was greatly interested and commended Jack highly when Lord Hastings had concluded his recital.
"I must also congratulate your second officer when he has recovered," he said.
"But tell me, captain," said Lord Hastings. "Where are you bound?"
"London," was the reply.
"So? But you were headed in the other direction."
"So I was; but that was merely to avoid the German submarines. I am doubling back now, having changed my course no sooner than I picked you up."
"That is indeed fortunate for us," declared Lord Hastings. "We shall all be glad to get back to London."
"And you shall be there shortly, unless we are unfortunate enough to encounter one of these under-sea murderers," replied the captain.
Lord Hastings and Jack now excused themselves and the latter immediately made his way to the sick bay, where he asked permission to see his chum. This was readily granted.
Frank had not awakened while being transferred from the small boat to the steamship, and again he was filled with curiosity. Jack explained the transfer, and then asked:
"How do you feel now, old man?"
"Better," returned Frank briefly; "and by the way, how's that injured arm of yours?"
"First rate," laughed Jack. "To tell the truth I had almost forgotten I had it, although in the battle it did interfere with my shooting somewhat—and you know I'm not the best shot in the world, anyhow."
"Say," said Frank, "I've got something on my mind that I want to ask you and I can't think what it is."
"Don't worry about it now, old man," said Jack. "Get a little more rest and then it will come to you."
Frank chafed as he struggled with his thoughts.
"No use," he said. "I can't think of it."
"Well, you go to sleep," said Jack. "I'll come back after a while."
He turned and moved toward the door; and as he would have passed out, Frank hailed him.
"Hold on there!" he called. "I've got it."
"Got what?" demanded Jack.
"The question I want to ask you."
"Well, let's have it."
"What happened to Davis?"
"Dead," said Jack quietly. "You proved the better man."
He turned and left the room while Frank lay still, thinking.
And so we shall leave them for a brief time. Their further adventures will be found in a succeeding volume, entitled:
"THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through the Ice to Aid the Czar."