“I can see the light reflected down through the water, and there’s a big shadow up there!” declared Jimmie.
“What do you think it can be?” asked Ned wonderingly.
“Probably it’s a big vessel of some sort. It may be a war ship, or it may be only a cargo carrier. In either event I don’t want to get tangled up in the propellers. Let’s sheer off a bit.”
“All right,” agreed Ned. “I’ll go to the periscope. Maybe I can find out something as we rise slowly to the surface.”
Cautiously creeping nearer the surface, the lads put the periscope into action. By its aid Ned made out that the craft was an armed vessel. The new “U-13” lay just submerged about a ship’s length to starboard of the stranger. They maintained about the same speed.
Ned declared that he could make out the British flag at the stern of the other vessel. He stated that he could also notice a number of people aboard the steamer.
“Can you see what they look like?” asked Jimmie.
“They are regular sailors and marines,” answered Ned. “Why,” went on the lad excitedly, “that looks like Mackinder at the rail!”
Curiously the others crowded about the object glass of the periscope. Each declared in turn that they recognized Mackinder.
“Now, I wonder what he’s doing aboard that vessel!” mused Jack.