He turned quickly, and made for the D-16 as fast as he could swim.
But his hopes were to prove fruitless, as a quick glance over his shoulder told him. In the launch he perceived the German commander gesticulating violently and pointing in his direction.
“I guess it’s up to me to hustle,” he told himself.
Now the German launch started after him, gaining at every stroke the lad made.
Lord Hastings and Jack perceived the turn of affairs, and Jack cried out:
“Get the launch over quick and man it. Unless we can lick these fellows, Frank is a goner.”
The crew acted with promptness, and in a twinkling the launch of the D-16 also was racing toward the swimming lad.
CHAPTER XII.
CAPTURED.
Frank, literally the bone of contention between the two forces in the launches, swam as swiftly as possible in the direction of safety; but the furtive glances he cast over his shoulder showed him that the Germans were nearer than his friends, and that in spite of the fact that he was swimming toward the latter, the former would come up with him first.
The men in both boats were now on their feet, and their revolvers spoke across the water. As yet, however, they were too far away to make accurate shooting possible, and no one was even touched.