“Well, she’s gone; and three brave men with her.”

There was no reply to this remark.

Suddenly the water close to the D-17 splashed violently. Lord Hastings looked about sharply. Again the water was kicked up, this time on the starboard how.

“They’ve spotted us,” said the commander of the D-17. “Every ship in the fleet is bearing down on us. Submerge to five fathoms, Mr. Templeton.”

Jack repeated the command and the D-17 dived.

“Now what, sir?” asked Frank.

“It’s too risky to tackle any more of them,” was the reply. “We’ll make for the Kiel Canal.”

“The Kiel Canal?”

“Yes; we are headed for the Baltic.”

“But——” began Frank.