Lord Hastings and Frank gazed in the direction indicated. There a little object could be seen in the water. It had the appearance of a small stick and beside it there appeared a black piece of cloth whipping in the breeze.
"Looks like the periscope of a submarine," commented Frank.
"And it is," declared Lord Hastings. "Below quick!"
Jack sprang down the companionway, closely followed by Frank and Lord Hastings. The conning tower closed behind them.
"Submerge to the tip of the periscope," ordered Lord Hastings, and put his eye to the instrument as Jack repeated the command.
At that moment the other craft bobbed to the surface and Lord Hastings made out that the black cloth that fluttered in the breeze was nothing more nor less than a black flag.
"Pirates!" he muttered. "What! at this age of the world?" and then a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
"I'll wager a farm it's Davis' own crew," he muttered.
"What's that, sir?" asked Jack, who had caught his commander's last words.
"Nothing much; only that Davis has found his own gang," replied Lord Hastings quietly. "Here, have a look."