"I hope so," was Jack's reply. "If I am not mistaken, there are women among the survivors."
"By George! I thought I saw some myself," was Frank's answer.
Suddenly there was a crash as the forward turret guns aboard the Brigadier burst into action. Looking ahead, Jack gave a startled cry, and no wonder.
For, from beneath the water, appeared a periscope and then the long low outline of a German submarine came into view.
Again the Brigadier's guns crashed, but the shells did not strike home.
Before the destroyer could fire again, a gun appeared as if by magic on the submarine's deck, and a hail of bullets was poured into the first of the nearby lifeboats. At the same time the U-Boat launched a torpedo at the Brigadier.
Jack gave a cry of horror at the predicament of those in the small boats. But he did not lose his head, and at the same time maneuvered his ship out of the path of the torpedo.
Came a hail from the lookout aft.
"Submarine off the stern, sir!"
At the same moment the battery in the Brigadier's turret aft burst into action.