“Weren’t you able to recognize the surroundings?” asked Frank.
“No; the canal is fortified all along, and all the fortifications look alike to me.”
“Well,” said Jack, “how about the prisoner? Don’t you think he can be made to pilot us out of danger?”
“No,” was the reply, “I don’t. I am absolutely positive he would refuse, no matter what the result. I am convinced that the only reason he agreed before was because he figured he could put us in the power of his friends. I don’t believe he scared worth a cent.”
“Nor I,” agreed Frank.
“Well, then what is to be done?” asked Jack.
“We shall just have to feel our way along carefully,” replied Lord Hastings. “But we must get away from this spot immediately. There is no telling what they may dump over on us. Straight ahead, Mr. Templeton, at seven knots.”
“Very good, sir,” replied the lad, and repeated the command to the engine room.
Lord Hastings himself took the helm, and Frank again stood watch in the forward compartment. For an hour they proceeded without incident, and then Lord Hastings decided to rise and take a look about.
Accordingly the pumps were set to work, and as the water was forced from the submersion tanks, the D-16 rose toward the surface. Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack ascended to the bridge.