“Why we can’t go with you in this condition,” he replied.
Lord Hastings smiled faintly.
“A little thing like this is not going to stop me,” he said. “True, I can do no fighting, but I can still navigate the boat.”
“But it is impossible,” said Frank.
“No, it is not impossible,” said Lord Hastings. “We shall go.”
At this moment Jack came in, and when he learned what Lord Hastings proposed to do, he attempted to dissuade him. So did the commander of the Queen Elizabeth when he came to visit Lord Hastings that afternoon.
But the commander of the D-16 was not to be dissuaded.
“I am the commander of this vessel,” he said grimly, “and when I give an order I want it obeyed. Mr. Templeton, you will get under way an hour after nightfall.”
Jack saluted. He said nothing, for he knew that to say anything would be useless. He had never seen his commander in just this frame of mind before, but he was smart enough to realize that Lord Hastings meant what he said.
Night fell. An hour later, in accordance with his orders, Jack gave the signal, and the D-16 sank slowly from sight.