CHAPTER VI
THE AVENGERS
Frank picked himself up from the chair into which he had fallenbecause of the sudden lurching of the vessel.
"What was that?" he asked in alarm. "Have we been, hit?"
"I fear there is no such luck," replied Jack. "What, I am sure,is the answer to the German torpedo."
"What do you mean?"
"The lurching of this vessel was caused by the explosion of thetorpedo when it struck the British battleship."
"But wouldn't we have heard the explosion?"
"No; there is no sound under water."
There were tears in Frank's eyes, and he was ashamed of them, ashe said:
"Think of all the poor fellows aboard! Do you suppose any ofthem will be saved?"
"I am afraid not," replied Jack sadly. "And to think that we hadto stand by unable even to warn them!"
"It is terrible!" said Frank, sinking into a chair.
For many minutes the lads were silent, each offering up a silentprayer for the brave men who had gone to death for their country.
The silence was at length broken by the entrance of LieutenantStein. He noticed the boys' sadness, and spoke softly to them.
"It is the fortune of war," he said quietly. "Remember, thereprobably will be many German lives snuffed out just as easily.Come, brace up!"
The lads brushed the tears from their eyes and rose to theirfeet.
"I shall speak of it no more," said Jack, huskily.
"Nor I," said Frank.
"Good!" said the lieutenant. "Now you had better turn in and getsome sleep. You must be tired out."
"Sleep!" ejaculated Jack. "I couldn't sleep now."
"No, I suppose you couldn't," replied the lieutenantthoughtfully. He was silent for some moments. "I'll tell youwhat I'll do," he said finally, "we have come to the surfaceagain I'll ask Captain Von Cromp to allow you to go upon thebridge, if you wish. He realizes your feelings as well as I do,in spite of his apparent gruffness. The cool air will do yougood."
"If you will be so kind, I am sure we shall appreciate it," saidFrank.
The lieutenant left the cabin. Frank, espying something at oneend of the room, walked over to investigate. He came back toJack, holding something gingerly in his hand.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed.
"What is it?" asked Jack.
Frank held the object up before his friend's eyes.
"Look at it!" he exclaimed. "Do you know what it is?"
Jack took a long look and then stepped suddenly back, exclaiming:
"Put it down, quick! Do you want to blow us all up?"
"What do you suppose it's doing here?" asked Frank, still holdingthe object out at arm's length.
"How should I know? But I suppose all submarines carry them. Ihave heard that many have been planted by submarines."
For the object that Frank held in his hand was a small melinitefloating mine!
"I suppose this would blow any ship to kingdom come, wouldn'tit?" asked the lad.
"I should say it would; so you had better put it down unless youwant to send us all there."
Frank leaned close to his chum, and whispered rapidly:
"See if you can't find a gun around before the lieutenant comesback. Quick! A revolver, rifle, or anything!"
"What for?" demanded Jack, in surprise.
"Never mind what, for. Look quick, while I hide this thing undermy coat."
Without knowing what Frank had on his mind, Jack did asrequested. After rummaging through the lieutenant's desk, he atlast straightened up with a heavy revolver in his hand.
"Will this do?" he asked.
"All right," replied Frank, "but a rifle would be safer."
"Safer? What do you mean?"
"Sh-h-h," whispered Frank.
Footsteps were heard on the outside. Jack hastily shoved therevolver into his pocket. Frank by this time had concealed hisexplosive under his coat. It bulged out a bit, but the ladfolded his arms in front of him, and the bulge was not noticeable.
Lieutenant Stein entered the room.
"It's all right," he said. "Captain Von Cromp has given hisconsent. If you wish, I will conduct you up."
"Thanks," said Jack, and the two lads followed the officer.Captain Von Cromp was on the bridge when the two boys emergedfrom below, and he walked over to them.
"I regret," he said, "that you should have had to witness whatyou have; but it is the fortune of war, you know."
"I have heard that before," said Frank dryly.
"Tell me, would you have blamed us had we put up a more stubbornfight below a while ago?"'
"No," was the reply. "I could blame you for nothing you did toan enemy in time of war and especially under such a stress ofexcitement."
Lieutenant Stein bade the boys good-night and went below. Aftersome further talk, Captain Von Cromp followed him, and the boyswere left alone on the submarine, save for the single man on lookout.
Frank walked up to the latter and engaged him lit conversation.A few moments later he turned Away, saying to the sailor that heand his friend "would take a turn or two about before goingbelow."
Walking swiftly up to Jack, Frank said in a low voice:
"See if you can't find that small boat they used to pick us up."
"What--?" began Jack, but Frank interrupted him.
"Never mind the reason," he said. "Help me find it, that's all.We'll have to hurry. Where do you suppose they put it?"
A few moments later they came upon the little craft, now abovewater, placed where the sea could not reach it when the submarinewas submerged. Luckily it was out of view of the German on thebridge, and the two lads succeeded in unloosening it and gettingit overboard without being seen.
Then Frank walked quickly back to the spot where the periscopeprotruded from below. Opening his coat he took the explosive outand, drawing a handkerchief from his pocket, tied it to thediminutive mine and hung the latter on the tube.
"Now for this German," he said to himself. "It wouldn't do forhim to see that before I am ready."
He approached the man once more and asked several questions.
"Well," he said finally, "I guess I shall have to saygood-night."
The German's reply was choked in his throat. Frank sprangforward, flung one arm around the man's, neck, and with the otherclutched him by the throat, to prevent an outcry.
Then he freed one arm and struck out heavily. The German fellwithout a murmur. Frank ran across the deck to where he had leftJack.
"Into the boat quick!" he exclaimed.
Jack needed no further urging. Frank dropped lightly in afterhim, and soon they were rowing rapidly away.
"Give me that gun," said Frank after they had pulled somedistance from the submarine.
"What are you going to do with it?" asked Jack.
"I'll show you," replied Frank grimly. "Give me the gun!"
Without another word Jack passed the weapon to his friend.
"Now," said Frank, "lower yourself over the side of the boat andwhen I say dive, dive!"
"See here," said Jack, taking Frank by the arm. "Have you gonecrazy? What do you think you are going to do?"
"I don't think anything about it," replied Frank, more quietlynow. "I know what I am going to do."
"Well, what is it then? Out with it."
"Do you see that object hanging to the periscope tube on thesubmarine?" asked Frank.
"Yes, I see it. Why?"
"Don't you know what it is?"
"No; what is it?"
"Well, that's the little plaything I found in Lieutenant Stein'scabin. I'm going to bore a little hole through it with this gunyou were kind enough to get for me."
"Good Heavens!" exclaimed Jack "You'll blow tip the submarinewith all on board!"
"My idea exactly," replied Frank carefully.
"But--" protested Jack.
"The fortune of war, you know," said Frank, with some sarcasm."You heard Capt
ain Von Cromp say he wouldn't blame us foranything we might do. Besides, they didn't give the poor fellowson that British battleship any warning, did they?"
"No," said Jack, "but--"
"Well, there are no buts here. You climb overboard and get readyto dive. When this bullet goes through that little playthingthere will be an explosion that will kick up considerableexcitement hereabouts. That's why I asked you if you couldn'tget a rifle. We could have gone a little farther away then."
"Now see here," said Jack. "I guess those fellows have it comingto them. They don't deserve any better than they will get. Asyou say, 'the fortune of war.' I'm not kicking about that. WhatI want to know is if you can hit that thing."
"Hit it? Of course I can hit it. You dive when I say the word,and when you come up, if you do, come up, I'll guarantee youwon't see any submarine."
"But how about you?" demanded Jack. "If I dive before you fire,how are you going to get away before the explosion?"
"I don't calculate I'll get away before it, but I'll be in thewater the minute I fire. I won't wait to see whether I hit it ornot. However, I'll drop the revolver in the boat, so in case Imiss the first time, it will be dry enough to use again."
"But--" began Jack.
Frank stood up in the boat and pointed the revolver directly atthe submarine.
"No more words," he said quietly. "Are you ready?"
Jack lowered himself over the edge of the boat, still holding toit with his hands.
"Yes, I'm ready," he said, "but--"
"Then dive!" cried Frank and pulled the trigger.
With a single movement he dropped the revolver into the bottom ofthe boat, and plunged deep into the sea himself.