“I’ll fix that. Send Brennan to me.”
Jack departed and returned a moment later with Brennan, the chief engineer.
“Brennan,” said Lord Hastings, “Mr. Templeton and I are going to take the launch and go ashore. As soon as we have gone I want you to submerge just to the edge of the periscope and remain there until you see us returning. Then rise immediately to take us aboard, for we may come in a hurry.”
“But if an enemy should approach in the meantime, sir?” asked Brennan.
“In that case you will, of course, submerge at once, and then, making a detour, return to approximately the same spot. It may be necessary to take chances, but you will have to do that.”
“Very good, sir,” said Brennan, saluting.
Lord Hastings turned to Jack.
“We’ll go to the surface now,” he said. “We may as well start at once.”
Five minutes later, in the little launch, they were skimming over the water toward the shore, which they could just see in the darkness. They felt sure that they had quitted the submarine unobserved.
As soon as they were over the side, Brennan, in accordance with instructions, had immediately submerged.