Things had by this time reached a crisis, and the result must be a collision between the two craft. At the very last the wheelsman had attempted to make a quick swerve, abandoning his weapon in order to pay attention to his boat, but it was useless.
The man in the conning tower of the submarine had his orders, and knew just what was expected of him. There followed a loud crash as the blunt bow struck the small motor-boat squarely in the centre. Two figures were seen flinging into the sea on one side, and almost like magic the cedar motor-boat, splintered by the shock, sank under the agitated waves.
Immediately the submarine was stopped almost in its own length.
“We’ve got to rescue those poor chaps!” cried Oscar involuntarily, for all of them had been thrilled by the catastrophe.
“There, I can see one of them over yonder!” called out Ballyhoo; “and he’s waving his hand to us as if he feared we’d run along and leave him out here. Hurry, boys, and get around to him, because he acts like he might be hurt, or else can’t swim very well.”
“And I can see the other sailor now,” added Oscar, “just to one side of the first one. They both act as if they wanted to surrender. It’s a long way to land, and then only the Key would be left after all, where we could easily find them.”
The submarine by this time was making a turn, and heading back to the spot where the collision had occurred. So far only those two men, together with a few things connected with the sunken motor-boat could be seen floating around—a couple of cork cushions, and some parts of woodwork that had been broken clear of the wreck.
As for the boat itself it had completely vanished, such was the tremendous impact with which the onrushing submarine had struck.
After making a turn they were now pushing toward the two sailors in the water. These fellows made no attempt to swim off toward the island, but seemed satisfied to “tread water,” and wait to be picked up. They could not believe those on the submarine meant them any further harm, since by this “accident” they had been deprived of all chance to carry their information to the one who employed them.
“Where did that third man go to?” asked Ballyhoo, suddenly remembering that there had been still another aboard the ill-fated launch.