“I don’t see anything,” replied Ned. “What and where is it?”
“Right here,” declared Jack, pointing. “No, you’re too late! I thought it looked like a snake in the water at first, but I see it was only a piece of rope hanging from the rigging. It’s all right!”
“Possibly it has been hanging down all the time but the current caused by the passage of the other vessel swung it outward,” ventured Ned. “It will no doubt slip past in a moment!”
But this prediction was not fulfilled. With a sudden lurch, the stern of the false “U-13” rose, tilting the deck sharply forward.
With a groan the propellers stopped.
CHAPTER XVIII
HELP FROM A STRANGER
Harry uttered a sharp cry as he stumbled forward along the steep incline of the floor. It seemed as if some huge power had grasped the stern of the craft, raising it until the vessel tilted forward at an angle which rendered walking impossible.