The "Hastings" had drifted somewhat away from the scow, but Jack, one hand on steering wheel and the other at the signals, ran the submarine over so that he could head the craft around to deliver a broadside fire at the scow, at right angles. When he had the "Hastings" in this position he shouted down:
"Be ready, Ewald!"
"Aye, aye, sir!"
A breathless instant followed, during which the young submarine commander took his last sight from the conning tower.
"Fire!"
"Fire it is, sir."
Jack and Hal could just barely see, from the tower, the slight commotion that the torpedo made in the water at the bow when released.
Hal, watch in hand was counting: "One, two, three, four—" and so on.
Suddenly there came a low rumble, followed by—
Boo-oom!