“I’m not there yet,” said Frank, but in his heart he was pretty sure that it was only a question of hours until he would be.
CHAPTER XIII.
A SUBMARINE RAID.
Creeping stealthily forward beneath the water, the D-16 was advancing to the attack. Lord Hastings stood at the periscope and Jack was at his elbow. The vessel was prepared for action, and the crew stood at attention.
Lord Hastings touched Jack on the shoulder.
“Tell the watch to keep a sharp lookout for submarines,” he said. “The chances are that they have been thrown out in front of the battleships.”
Jack departed and gave the necessary order, after which he returned to his position.
It was just after dusk on the evening following the day on which Frank had been captured. All day and all during the previous night the D-16 had kept near the bottom, maneuvering first this way and then that, and not once had they caught sight of an enemy’s submarine, nor had they risen to the surface for a look about.
But now Lord Hastings had decided upon action. He had idled long enough. Therefore, after preparing for action, the D-16 had risen sufficiently to give her periscope free play, and the commander now gazed over the water.
“German battleship ahead,” he called to Jack. “Slow to five knots.”
The speed of the submarine slackened.