“Well, we may as well start again, and make for shore as a dirigible balloon,” said Jerry, after a little pause, in which they all breathed more freely. It had been an exciting time for them, but they had met the emergency bravely, and with the grit and spunk of true American youths.
“I wonder what has become of the cause of all our trouble?” ventured Ned. “I haven’t thought to look for that whale. Let’s take a peep, fellows.”
Before starting the propellers the boys went out on the partially enclosed deck and looked about them. At first they did not see the strange object that had attracted their attention. Then, as he gazed to the North, Bob cried:
“There she is—and, fellows, as I’m alive it isn’t a whale at all! Look! It’s a submarine! See the men on her decks! They’re looking at us!”
With gasps of astonishment, Ned and Jerry turned toward where Bob pointed.
There, lazily rolling with the action of the waves, was indeed a large submarine boat, of the latest type, as the boys could see, for they were well up on naval matters. The half-rounded deck, the sides and blunt stern and bow of the strange craft glistened from the water that had splashed over her, or perhaps it was wet from just having dived, and come to the surface again.
And, as Bob had said, there were several men on the low deck, that was almost awash. They looked curiously at our heroes. The men appeared to be mechanics, for their clothes were rough and grease-covered. But then, in a submarine, even the officers get that way, for the quarters are very cramped.
“That’s a foreign submarine!” exclaimed Ned, suddenly.
“How do you know?” asked Jerry.
“Because I can tell by her build, and by the look of the men. That’s a foreign submarine, and I shouldn’t be surprised if she was the one——”