The D-16, feeling her way carefully, had come to the surface, and now the prisoner was conducted to the bridge. He took his stand at one end and waving aside a proffered bandage, faced his executioners unflinchingly.
A firing squad of six men took their positions opposite him. Much to his chagrin, Jack had been put in command of the squad, and it was his duty to give the word that would snuff out the life of a fellow being.
But Jack was not the lad to refuse to obey orders, and now he stood behind the squad.
“Ready,” he said calmly.
“Take aim!”
But before he could give the word to fire, the prisoner, who up to this moment had been standing with folded arms, suddenly flung himself into the sea.
“Fire!” cried Jack, and the sailors poured a volley after him. Then all rushed to the rail and watched for him to reappear.
A few minutes later a head appeared a short distance away. It became at once apparent that the spy had not been touched.
Immediately Jack rushed to the side of the vessel and also flung himself into the sea. The erstwhile prisoner saw his action and struck out vigorously toward the south, where, in the gathering darkness, he could make out dimly a strip of land.
But Jack was a powerful swimmer and gained rapidly on the spy.