“Well, we’ll soon see now,” said Frank.
Now the submarine had approached so close that Lord Hastings deemed it advisable to submerge, so that the vessel might not be seen. This was done, and standing at the bottom of the periscope below, the commander of the D-16 took in the scene about him.
Occasional clouds of smoke issued from the cruiser, indicating that her guns were still in action, but for the life of him Lord Hastings could not make out the object of her shots. Also, the cruiser was maneuvering in a strange way, and Lord Hastings could not account for this either.
He stepped aside and Jack took a look through the periscope. Peering long and carefully, he stepped back suddenly with a cry.
“What’s the matter?” asked Lord Hastings.
“I’ve made out the cause of the trouble, sir,” said Jack.
“What is it?” demanded his commander.
“Why, sir,” replied the lad, “the cruiser is being followed by a submarine—I can just make out her periscope in the distance. That’s what the cruiser is firing at. And her strange maneuvering is caused by the fact that she is trying to escape torpedoes. So far she must have been successful.”
“In that event,” said Lord Hastings, “it is up to us to lend the cruiser a hand. Signal full speed, Mr. Templeton.”
Jack obeyed, and the swift British submarine dashed madly through the water.