"And why?" demanded the admiral.

"Chiefly," smiled Lord Hastings, "because I don't want to go to the
bottom."

"Oh, I see! You mean to lead the German advance."

"Exactly, and for two reasons. First, because I wish to reach a place of
safety at the earliest possible moment, and second, because if the
Germans see one craft advance, apparently unafraid, the others will not
hesitate to follow."

"But perhaps it will be impossible for you to lead the way."

"You just leave that to me, Fischer. I shall be in the first submarine.
The only question that remains is whether you have time to lay your
plans."

"Plenty," was the reply. "I'll begin now."

He pressed a button on his desk and an orderly entered. At a command he
left the room again, only to summon other officers. Admiral Fischer
scribbled rapidly, passing paper after paper to different officers. At
the end of another half hour, he turned to Lord Hastings.

"All ready," he said quietly.

"You have lost no time," replied Lord Hastings with a smile. He glanced
at his watch. "Almost ten," he said. "Come, Frank, we shall have to
hurry."

"Look here, Hastings," said Admiral Fischer, "don't you think you are
taking unnecessary risks? What's the use of going back? Why not stay
here?"

"Impossible, Fischer," returned Lord Hastings. "In the first place, some
of my men are there and I must return to them. Then again, I want to be
in the fun."

The admiral shrugged his shoulders.

"I know you too well to insist," he said. "So be it. But one thing;
remember that you must be in the first submarine."

"I'll be there," said Lord Hastings.

Admiral Fischer summoned the officer who had conducted the two to him
and instructed him to return them to where he had picked them up. The
officer looked surprised, but he said nothing. Lord Hastings shook hands
with Admiral Fischer and he and Frank followed the officer from the
room.

Quickly they made their way back to the motorboat, were hurried out over
to the dark water, and finally were given their own small boat again, in
which they headed for the U-16.

"Think you can find her, sir?" asked Frank.

"No trouble at all," was the reply.

And there was no trouble.

By eleven o'clock they were safely back aboard and Jack received them
anxiously.

"What luck, sir?" he asked.

"Excellent," replied Lord Hastings. "How did everything go in my
absence?"

"All quiet, sir."

"No trouble with Davis?"

"No, sir. I ha