“Guess we might as well take a hand in this,” remarked Lord Hastings coolly. “Submerge another five fathoms, Mr. Templeton.”
More water was let into the tanks and the D-16 dropped rapidly lower into the sea.
“Full speed ahead, Mr. Templeton,” came the next command.
The D-16 seemed to leap forward like a live thing, as she dashed in pursuit of the fleeing German fleet.
“More notches for the table, I guess,” said Frank to Jack.
“We’ll see,” was the latter’s reply. “I hope so.”
CHAPTER III.
THE ENGAGEMENT.
Meanwhile the British fleet, consisting of five first-class battle cruisers, together with a flotilla of perhaps twenty torpedo boat destroyers, was steaming rapidly in pursuit of the fleeing enemy.
The German fleet, while not as powerful as the British, nevertheless presented a formidable array of fighting ships. Three first-class battle cruisers and one second-class battle cruiser and a torpedo boat flotilla greater than that of the English were in line, and it seemed to Frank and Jack that the odds were nearly enough equal for the German commander to give battle.
However, such was not the enemy’s plan; for, once having turned tail to the British, the German ships put on full speed and made as fast as possible for the protection of the German mine field which protected the entrance to Heligoland. It became evident that the enemy would fight only as a last resort.