“I would if we had a boat,” announced the other.
“Maybe the real ‘U-13’ there has a boat they’d spare,” suggested Jack. “Why don’t you hail and ask him if he won’t send a boat?”
“Hail him yourself if you want to! Maybe he don’t talk English!”
“Try him on United States then!” laughed Jack. “I would!”
“Help yourself!” said Jimmie, leaning back against the rail.
“Ahoy the submarine!” shouted Jack in response to this suggestion. “We haven’t a boat or we’d come over. Can you send a boat to us?”
Waving an arm as if comprehending the lad’s statement and inquiry the figure on the other vessel clambered quickly to the after deck. After a moment’s fumbling at what appeared to be a lock, he lifted a cover. In a short time the boys saw him drag from its place a small, light, steel boat.
This was at once launched over the side. Running out upon a light iron ladder the man dropped into the rowboat. He sculled the small craft quickly over the intervening distance and was soon alongside.
“Come aboard, sir,” invited Ned, reaching out a hand to assist.
“Good night!” ejaculated Jimmie. “How did you ever get here so quickly, Mackinder? We thought you were aboard that warship!”