one chance
in a thousand that the first shot would go home; and then she would be
on the move again. Now, from the fact that the sound has come twice from
the same place, I judge she is standing still--hoping that we shall run
past her."

"If you please, sir, I have a plan," said Jack.

"Let's have it," said Lord Hastings briefly.

"Well, why can't Frank and I take to the boats again. Not one boat this
time, but two. We can approach from different directions. One of us can
open fire, and if a light is shown aboard, the other can do likewise.
Caught between two fires, I believe a light will be shown, that the
enemy may try to pick us up. That will betray the enemy's presence to
you and you can sink her."

"That's not a half bad idea," decided Lord Hastings after a moment's
reflection. "You shall each have a man. Here, Edwards! Williams!"

The two men came forward quickly.

"Williams, you lower a boat and go with Mr. Templeton. Edwards, you
accompany Mr. Chadwick. Get your rifles first, men."

The men hurried aft to obey, Frank and Jack in the meantime giving their
attention to lowering the boats. This done, all leaped in and rowed in
the general direction of the foe.

Upon Jack's suggestion, Frank and Edwards rowed some distance ahead
before pointing the nose of their little craft toward where they
believed the enemy to be, and then rowed a considerable distance.

"We should be beyond her now," declared Frank, after some further
rowing. "We'll double back a bit."

They did so; and five minutes later a dark shape loomed up beside them,
so close almost, that Frank could have thrown a rock aboard.

"Cease rowing!" Frank commanded, laying down his own oars.

Edwards did likewise.

"Get your rifle ready," Frank instructed.

Edwards obeyed.

"Now," said Frank, "the first man you see show himself aboard that
craft, pick him off. I'll wait for the second one."

"Very well, sir," replied Edwards quietly.

He brought his rifle to bear upon the deck of the enemy and sat quietly,
waiting, as the little boat bobbed gently up and down with the swell of
the sea.

And he had not long to wait.

A dark shadow appeared aboard the enemy and Edwards and Frank caught the
faint glow of a cigar or cigarette as the man puffed upon it. The light
from this made his face plainly visible.

"A very indiscreet sort of a gentleman," remarked Edwards. "Here goes,
sir."

He pressed the trigger.

A howl of pain rewarded this