conning tower, but even as he would have descended
below, Frank gave a sudden cry.

"Submarine approaching the steamer, sir."

Lord Hastings immediately turned his gaze toward the vessel again. Frank
had spoken truly. Halfway between the steamship and the U-16 a second
submarine had suddenly appeared. Even from where he stood, Lord Hastings
could see that the steamer had been ordered to halt.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "They're going to sink her!"

Jack came on deck just in time to hear his commander's last words, and
he took in the situation at a glance.

"And we can't remain here idly and let a thing like that happen," he
declared. "Come, sir, we'll go below and we'll have a shot at our German
friend there."

"You forget," said Lord Hastings dryly, "that for the moment we are one
of our friend, the enemy."

"But we can't let them sink the liner, sir!" exclaimed Frank in dismay.
"We can creep up on them and launch a torpedo, sir."

"And be discovered ourselves?" remarked Lord Hastings. "Remember, we are
playing for bigger game than a single German submarine."

"But no one will know the difference, sir. See, there are no other
submarines near. If we sink this fellow, who is to know how it was
done?"

"Your reasoning is all right," replied his commander, "but another
submarine is likely to appear at just the wrong moment, and then what?"

"But surely, sir, you do not intend to remain here and let all the
people aboard the liner drown?"

"The chances are that they won't drown," returned Lord Hastings. "Even
now you can see that the vessel has halted. The German will give
passengers and crew time to take to the boats."

"But they may not, sir."

"Well, we'll get as close as possible," said Lord Hastings, "and if the
German threatens to sink the vessel before all are safely off, I'll give
my permission to sink her. But I do not wish to risk discovery unless it
is absolutely necessary."

With this the lads were forced to be satisfied.

The U-16 had now come within perhaps a hundred and fifty yards of the
other submarine, which in turn was possibly another hundred yards from
the big liner. The voice of the commander of the German under-water
craft carried plainly to the U-16.

"Five minutes more," he called to the commander of the liner. "I can
wait no longer. If all have not left the ship by that time, I shall sink
you anyhow."

Instantly all became confusion aboard the steamship. Men, women and
childr