There was no waiting on the part of the Japs in the rowboat for Matt's words to be translated into Spanish. The Japs took the words as they fell from the lips of the king of the motor boys, dropped their mask, and the sailors fell to with their oars.
"Stave in their boat, Glennie!" called Matt, his eyes flashing. "I hate to do it, but it's all we can do to avoid trouble. The sailors in the other boat will pick up these when they drop in the water."
"Dot's der dicket!" chirruped Carl, who had been shaking his fists at the Japs and taunting them with various epithets. "Sink der poat! Den, afder dot, sink der odder poat; und vind oop by drowing a dorpeto indo der shdeamer. Make some cleanoops vile you vas aboudt id."
Glennie so manœuvred the Grampus that her sharp prow struck the rowboat broadside on. Instead of staving the boat, however, the Grampus ran under her, the forward part of the small boat's keel sliding over the deck. All the Japs were hurled into the water.
"Clear away the boat if you can!" shouted Glennie. "Hooray for Motor Matt!"
The Grampus flung onward. Matt started ahead to clear the rowboat off the deck, but, before he could reach her, she had cleared herself.
The speed of the submarine and the drag of the rowboat had accomplished the work.
"Don't cheer too soon, Glennie!" warned Matt. "Look behind you!"
Glennie turned in the tower and cast a glance rearward. A war ship was just rounding the headland, enveloping the top of the uplift in a dense cloud of black smoke.
"The Salvadore!" fluttered Glennie, his despairing eyes returning to Matt.