"Humph! We've got to fight—and can't!" muttered Commander Ennerling, in great disgust.
"We can save those women," muttered Jack Benson, "if they've the nerve to help themselves be saved."
"How?"
"Hal Hastings and I can swim over, and can hold the women up if they have the nerve to leap overboard."
"Those brutes might fire on you, and the women, but it's worth trying," decided the Naval officer, instantly. "Over with you, then!"
Captain Jack waited only long enough to shed coat and cap, then sprang to the rail. Hal was with him, instantly.
"Sir," bellowed Commander Ennerling, "Have your women folks jump overboard. We'll pick them up in the water. Be quick about it!"
There were a few hurried words in the little group of four aft on the steam yacht. Then, with the "Pollard" running in closer, so that a bare fifty feet separated the two craft—Mr. Farnum at the submarine's wheel—Jack Benson plunged overboard, followed by Hal. The girl aboard the yacht leaped at once, the older woman following quickly.
"Get us, too, if you can," shouted the white haired man at the yacht's stern. "We can swim a little."
Both craft were still going ahead at about fourteen knots, but, as the two men jumped Lieutenant Commander Briscoe and Lieutenant McCrea plunged overboard to get them.