“All right. Let her go,” replied his commander.
This time the D-17 rose even more swiftly than before. Again there was a violent shock, followed by a crashing sound; and then the submarine floated clear.
“Hoorah! We’re up, sir,” shouted Frank.
“Don’t crow too soon,” was the reply. “We may be up, but there is no telling yet what condition we are in. We’ll go on deck.”
Lord Hastings led the way and the two lads followed closely behind him.
Outside a strange sight met their gaze. To the north, to the south and to the east and west, as far as the eye could reach, there was nothing but ice. True, it was broken in places, but it was none the less ice. The D-17 was hemmed in closely on all sides.
Jack expressed the sentiments of the others with a long whistle.
“Now, what do you think of that?” he said.
“I think it’s pretty tough, if you are talking to me,” was Frank’s reply. “We can’t push through that.”
“No; and we can’t stay here and wait for it to thaw,” declared his chum.