Frank’s face paled.
“No,” he admitted, “but I think it will be all right. We will soon know the truth now!”
It must be confessed that with some feeling of trepidation and doubt Frank now entered the pilot-house. He tried to adjust the shattered keyboard.
And now he saw that a great peril threatened! The motor-lever would not work. The electric lights even could not be shut off.
There was no way to start the machinery of the boat without restoring the keyboard connection. This would require some hours of hard work.
In the meantime the Meta was rapidly coming down upon them. Frank shivered as he thought of this.
He regretted now that he had not at once set about repairing the machinery the night before. But it was of no use to cry over spilled milk.
Something must be done, and that at once.
Wade came into the pilot-house white as chalk.
“They mean to sink us!” he gasped; “they have just fired a shot across our stern. When they get our range they will certainly hit us!”