“It’s a German submarine, as sure as you’re alive!” remarked Spouter. “Fellows, we have made a wonderful discovery!”
“And this accounts for all the strange noises we heard, and the fellows we saw going through the woods with bundles on their backs,” added Randy.
“Yes, and I guess it straightens out that story Jed Kessler told about the two Germans in the wagon with stuff that rattled like hardware,” said Jack.
“It’s as plain as day,” cried Fred. “Those two fellows must be connected with this gang here who are working on the submarine. And more than likely they were the same two Jed Kessler saw hanging around the ammunition plant just before the explosion.”
“If that’s a German submarine, it must have come from the other side of the Atlantic!” exclaimed Andy in a low, excited voice. And then he added, his eyes snapping: “What do you suppose happened to it? Do you think she ran afoul of some of our big warships or our submarine chasers?”
“Either that, or in cruising up and down the coast here she may have run afoul of some of the rocks and maybe knocked a hole in her bottom or side,” answered Jack. “And I guess it’s true that all the pounding and strange noises we have heard came either from this underground place or from some overhead spot close by.”
“What gets me is—how did that submarine get into this underground place?” questioned Gif.
“There must be a much larger outlet than the one by which we entered,” answered Jack. “More than likely those fellows don’t know anything about the way by which we got in. They must have a large entrance by way of the water from the bay, and they must also have an entrance from the forest—that place where the man disappeared.”
“I guess you’re right,” said Fred. “Gee, this certainly is an important discovery! I guess the best thing we can do is to hurry back to camp as fast as possible and notify Captain Dale. He will probably want to let the Secret Service men and the authorities at Rackville know at once, so they can round up these fellows before they have a chance to get away.”
“I’d like to stay here awhile and watch these chaps,” said Randy. “Maybe we may learn something more that is worth while.”