nd the
next moment sat bolt upright. He was startled to hear the clicking
sound in the listeners that indicated the proximity of a moving vessel.

"Quick! Listen here!" he called out to Sammy Smith. The wireless
chief dashed down the receivers and hurried to find Lieutenant Mcclure.

"Ship approaching from the southwest," said Smith hurriedly. "Coming
up the coast and apparently about two miles away."

"Little Mack" adjusted the receivers and stood listening to the
revolving propellers of the craft that approached and passed overhead.
For a moment he debated the idea of releasing a torpedo that might
be noticed by the crew of the unknown vessel. But such a plan was
not feasible, for the ship would think only of being attacked and
would stand ready to repel an enemy rather than look for a submarine
in distress. Furthermore, such an expedient was out of the question;
for, gazing at his watch, he found that it was only four o'clock and
hardly light enough for a torpedo to be seen unless it passed very
close to the oncoming ship.

"There is one thing we might do," spoke up Jack Hammond. "Lieutenant,
I have a plan to suggest. We seem to be in a desperate situation
that demands some prompt action. That vessel up there may be an
American or British destroyer. It is up to us to find out while
there is yet a chance for our lives. Shoot me out the torpedo tube,
sir. I'm a good strong swimmer and I may be able to attract their
attention. The thing has been done before and I'm perfectly willing
to take a chance."

"Your proposal is in good faith, boy," interrupted his commander, "but
it strikes me as a foolhardy proposition. We are down here more than
eighty feet and, even though you got up to the surface, the chances
of your gaining the attention of that vessel are mighty slim."

Jack stepped forward eagerly. "It has been done before and I'm willing
to take that chance," he urged. "If we stay here we are done for.
Unless we find some way of floating the _Dewey_ within the next
twenty-four hours we've all got to take our chances on getting out of
here. Let me go now. It might as well be now as later on. We've
got to act quickly."

For a moment Mcclure stood motionless surveying the intrepid youngster.
It seemed such a desperate chance, and yet, under the circumstances,
something had to be done.

"You are a brave boy, Jack," said Mcclure finally, springing forward
and grasping the hand of his aide. "If y