“I believe he is signaling,” he said excitedly. “The light flashes continually to and fro. I hope it is not a scout ship trying to speak with some one.”
Hardly had the lieutenant uttered these words when we all three jumped as if electrified, because certainly in our immediate neighborhood flashed before us several quick lights giving signals, which undoubtedly came from the ship second in line, which was signaling to our first friend.
“Great God! An enemy ship! Not more than three hundred meters ahead!” I exclaimed to myself.
“Hard a starboard! Both engines at highest speed ahead! To the diving stations!”
In a subdued voice, I called my commands down the tower.
The phonograph in the crew-room stopped abruptly. A hasty, eager running was discernible through the entire boat as each one hurried to his post.
The boat immediately obeyed the rudder and was flying to starboard. Between the two hostile ships there was a continuous exchange of signals.
“God be praised it is so dark!” I exclaimed with a deep breath as soon as the first danger had passed.
“And to think that the fellow had to betray his presence by his chattering signals just as we were about to run right into his arms,” was the answer. “This time we can truly say that the good God, Himself, had charge of the rudder.”
The engineer appeared on the stairway which leads from the “Centrale” up to the conning tower.