As he uttered the exclamation the skyward end of the flaming ribbon burst into a diadem of brilliant scarlet stars.
“Here, take the wheel,” choked out Jack, seizing Tom by the shoulder and shoving him into the helmsman’s place.
With nimble fingers he unlaced the canvas covering of the Vagrant’s searchlight, snapped the switch on with a tiny sputter of green sparks. and the next instant a pencil of white light was sweeping the darkness ahead.
Back and forth it swept and suddenly steadied. As it did so the boys uttered a simultaneous exclamation of amazement. Into the field of light had suddenly swung, not the expected outlines of the Sea King, but the form of a low craft without masts or funnels, rushing, at what appeared to be terrific speed, toward the northeast.
CHAPTER V—A SHOT IN THE NIGHT
“Jove!” burst from Jack’s lips, “what on earth is this fresh complication?”
He had hardly spoken before there came a crash of glass close to his hand, and something flew whistling by him. At the same instant the searchlight was extinguished, and from seaward, where they had last seen the speeding craft, came a dull “B-o-o-m!”
“Knocked that searchlight into smithereens,” was Tom’s exclamation as old Jupe, with an alarmed cry, came running forward at the sound of the screaming projectile and the splintering glass.
“At any rate,” was Jack’s grim retort, “they’ve shown us their hands. Tom, old chap, this thing is going to be bigger than we thought.”
“You think then——”