"I never thought we'd see that again," said Alfred, almost overcome.
"May we walk around?" asked the captain, as he approached an under officer.
"There isn't much chance for exercising here," was the reply, "but I think you will be given top liberty after awhile," replied the man.
"Will they let us go?" asked Ralph eagerly.
"No; he didn't say that; he meant they would give us liberty to walk on the top deck for a short time," replied the captain.
Shortly thereafter the lieutenant in command of the submarine appeared at the foot of the hatchway and informed the captain that they were at liberty to ascend. Never did the sun appear to be more beautiful or inviting, although there was a perceptible chill in the atmosphere. The submarine was moving along at a speed of twelve knots an hour. Four men were engaged in taking down a bent and partially ruptured periscope tube.
The captain glanced at it and drew the attention of the boys to its structure. It was the tall periscope that received the shot, which struck it about four feet from the top.
"It must have been hit on the water line," said the captain, addressing the lieutenant.
The latter merely nodded, but made no remarks in response.
They were permitted to walk to and fro for an hour, when the order came to descend, and they again entered their prison. As before, they were subjected to total darkness, but there was no necessity for this deprivation, and it is not clear why an enemy should treat prisoners in this manner, for such actions necessarily leave only resentments and do no good whatever.