"One off here, Williams," said Frank, putting one on deck and glancing at his watch.
The hands showed 12:15.
"We'll have to work fast," said Frank.
Quickly Frank dropped one of the mines over the port side of the vessel, aft. Williams followed suit to starboard, forward. Frank poked his head down the hatchway and yelled:
"Full speed, ahead, Jefferson!" The vessel dashed forward. "West by north five points!" yelled Frank.
The submarine veered sharply.
Two minutes from where the first mines had been dropped overboard, Frank and Williams let go the remaining two. As they did so, Frank perceived several long shapes emerging from below. He took one look and then dived below with a cry to Williams:
"Submarines!"
It was true. Attracted by the impending danger in some unaccountable fashion, the German terrors of the deep were coming from fancied security beneath the waves for a look around.
Frank grabbed the wheel from Jefferson and turned the head of the submarine due north. He rang for full speed ahead.