“About a minute more,” responded Lord Hastings.
The minute up, Lord Hastings shut off the engine. They gazed about.
“If Price doesn’t come up pretty quick, we’ll have to run for it,” said the commander quietly. “It’s time now.”
“He’ll be up unless something has gone wrong,” said Jack positively.
“Unless he’s gone to sleep,” declared Frank.
“Well, I wish he’d hurry,” said Jack. “We can’t remain here many minutes longer. They are getting too close.”
“So they are,” agreed Lord Hastings. “We’ll wait thirty seconds, then, if there is not some sign of the D-17, we’ll move. We’ll make a fight for it, at any rate.”
The seconds ticked off slowly; and then, just as Lord Hastings was ready to open the engine, the waters of the sea parted and the neat outline of the D-17 appeared upon the surface.
A moment later the conning tower opened and Price stepped on deck. The submarine was perhaps fifty yards away, and Lord Hastings ran the motorboat toward it at full speed.
“Here we are, Price!” he called.