“Are we still moving ahead?” asked Lord Hastings.
“Yes, sir,” replied Jack.
“Good, at what speed?”
“Fifteen knots, sir.”
“All right. In another three quarters of an hour we will be beneath our own fleet. There we shall stop. Then, one at a time, you men will climb into the torpedo tubes and I will launch you safely. This has been done more than once, and in spite of some slight pain and inconvenience, there is no danger.”
“But you, sir?” asked Frank. “How will you get out, if you remain to send us?”
“Why,” said Lord Hastings quietly, “being the last man, I shall not get out.”
Jack jumped to his feet.
“I’ll not hear of it!” he exclaimed. “If you stay, I stay.”
“And I, too!” declared Frank, taking his place by his friend’s side.