craft. The launch's
searchlight held a steady glare on the mark.

"Nearer by a few inches, sir," Runkle called over his shoulder while
the men with him swabbed and loaded. Again Runkle fired.

"The shell must have passed aft of the turret by about six inches,"
remarked Darrin, catching through his glass a glimpse of the splash of
water where the little shell struck the waves.

"I'll do better, or drown myself, sir," growled Runkle.

"Quick! She is submerging rapidly," commanded Darrin.

Bang! An instant after the report a smothered exclamation came from
the unhappy gunner. The submarine had safely submerged. Not even her
periscope was above water now.

"If the turret had been four inches nearer the sky you'd have put it
out of commission," declared Ensign Darrin.

"Rotten work," growled Runkle in disgust.

"It's night shooting, my man," Dave answered. "Good work just the
same."

Runkle had an excellent gunnery record, and Darrin did not like to see
that fine fellow fretting when he had done his best. None the less it
was highly important to send that submarine to the bottom and quickly
at that.

"We've got to go by bubbles, now," Darrin declared. "She isn't likely
to show her eye again."

Had he gotten the launch close enough to observe the bubbles it is
possible that the young ensign could have followed the enemy trail.
Twice or thrice Dave believed that he had picked up glimpses of
bubbles with the searchlight, but at last, with a sigh, he gave orders
to shut off speed and drift. Inaction became wellnigh insupportable
after a few moments and Darrin called for slow speed ahead.

"There she is again" he cried. "There's her periscope. The scoundrel
is standing out to sea."

Over the starboard quarter the searchlight signals of two other
launches were observed.

"What's taking place?" came the signaled question from one.

"Fired a few shots at a vanishing turret, but missed," Dave ordered
signaled back. "Enemy standing out to sea. Am following."

"Will follow also," flashed back the answer.

"And one of their gunners will bag the game at the first chance,"
groaned Runkle. "The jinx is sitting tight on my chest to-night!"

"It might be, if there were any such animal as a jinx," laughed
Darrin. "Your missing was just plain bad luck, Runkle. Your shooting
was good."

"The periscope is being pulled inboard, sir," called one of the seamen
who stood by with Runkle.

"I see it. There she goes, under a