An idea suddenly struck Frank, and he dashed aft. There he picked up his rifle and hurried forward again.
"Hold her steady a minute, sir," he called to Lord Hastings.
And the latter, realizing that the lad had some plan, did as requested without asking a question.
Quickly Frank raised his rifle to his shoulder, and pausing just long enough to take careful aim, fired.
Frank's keen mind had detected the one hope of salvation for those aboard The Hawk. The enemy was very close and the lad realized that the next shot must find its mark. There was but one thing to do. The light aboard the enemy must be destroyed; without it The Hawk could escape, for minus the light, which was its eye, the foe could not hope to detect them.
As Frank's finger pressed the trigger he knew that he had not missed; and at the same moment he cried to Lord Hastings:
"Hard-a-port!"
Again The Hawk careened desperately in response to the quick turn of the helm; but it was well that Lord Hastings had acted upon the instant; for even as Frank had fired there was another heavy "boom" and a heavy shell passed the spot where The Hawk had been a moment before.
But with the sound of the shot, the glare of the enemy's searchlight vanished. Frank's aim had been true.
"I shot her eye out, sir," he cried to Lord Hastings.