Jack came on deck just in time to hear his commander's last words, and he took in the situation at a glance.
"And we can't remain here idly and let a thing like that happen," he declared. "Come, sir, we'll go below and we'll have a shot at our German friend there."
"You forget," said Lord Hastings dryly, "that for the moment we are one of our friend, the enemy."
"But we can't let them sink the liner, sir!" exclaimed Frank in dismay. "We can creep up on them and launch a torpedo, sir."
"And be discovered ourselves?" remarked Lord Hastings. "Remember, we are playing for bigger game than a single German submarine."
"But no one will know the difference, sir. See, there are no other submarines near. If we sink this fellow, who is to know how it was done?"
"Your reasoning is all right," replied his commander, "but another submarine is likely to appear at just the wrong moment, and then what?"
"But surely, sir, you do not intend to remain here and let all the people aboard the liner drown?"
"The chances are that they won't drown," returned Lord Hastings. "Even now you can see that the vessel has halted. The German will give passengers and crew time to take to the boats."
"But they may not, sir."