d been a moment before.

But with the sound of the shot, the glare of the enemy's searchlight
vanished. Frank's aim had been true.

"I shot her eye out, sir," he cried to Lord Hastings.

"I see you did," chuckled his commander. "Now it's time for us to get
busy. Mr. Templeton, see if you can pick up the enemy with our light."

Jack sprang to the searchlight eagerly, and under his guiding hand, it
threw its brilliant rays over the dark waters. He swept it in a wide
half-circle to the right without result; and then swung the glare around
to the left; and there, presenting her stern, a little motorboat was
moving swiftly away.

"She's running, sir!" exclaimed Frank, who stood forward, still holding
his rifle. "Shall I give her a shot?"

"If you like," replied Lord Hastings. "It can do no harm. In the
meantime we'll have after her."

He gave the signal, "Full speed ahead," and _The Hawk_ leaped forward.

Again Frank took careful aim at a moving figure upon the deck of the
enemy and again his finger pressed the trigger. Not for nothing had he
been called a crack shot. The figure, as Frank could see in the glare of
_The Hawk's_ searchlight, threw up its arms and pitched into the sea.

And now suddenly misfortune befell _The Hawk_. The enemy had stolen an
idea from Frank, and one of the men aboard, taking aim at the powerful
searchlight of _The Hawk_, fired. His aim was as true as had been
Frank's; and the ray of light disappeared from the surface of the water.
_The Hawk_ also was blind now.

Lord Hastings gave an exclamation of dismay.

"Pretty tough," he muttered.

"But we should have guarded against it, sir," declared Jack. "We should
have figured that what we could do the other fellow could do also."

"True," replied his commander; "but it's too late now. We'll keep after
her. Maybe we can pick her up in the darkness."

"Not much chance," muttered Frank to himself.

But again fortune was to smile on them, although it came near being
misfortune.

An hour later, _The Hawk_ having been slowed to a bare five knots, Frank
thought he caught the sound of another moving object. He called Lord
Hastings' attention, and _The Hawk's_ engine was shut off. Again came
the sound, as of a choked automobile engine.

"She's off there, and pretty close," whispered Lord Hastings, with a
gesture to port.

"Shall we try a shot in the darkness, sir?" asked Frank.

"No; that would be folly," said Lord Hastings. "There is not