Edwards sat up.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

Jack explained.

"I remember now, sir," said Edwards, trying to smile. "And did you lick
'em?"

"I did," said Jack.

"And Williams, sir? How is he? I saw him go down just before I went
under."

"We'll see," replied Jack briefly.

He led the way to where Williams still lay prone, Frank and Edwards
following.

Jack bent over the man, then placed a hand over his heart. Then he got
slowly to his feet.

"Is he----," began Edwards.

"Dead," replied Jack quietly.

For a moment there was silence; then Edwards spoke brokenly.

"The best shipmate a man ever had, sir."

He knelt beside his dead companion and tears streamed down his face.
Jack and Frank did not speak as he mourned silently for some minutes. At
last Edwards got to his feet.

"War is war, sir," he said quietly.

He moved aft.

"Well," said Frank, "I guess we may as well be getting back to _The
Hawk_. Lord Hastings will be worried."

"Right," said Jack. "You take the wheel. I'll try and coax the engine
along."

They took their respective places.

"Which way, Jack?" called Frank.

"By Jove! You know as much about it as I do," was the reply. "I don't
know where we are."

"Must be off to the left," declared Frank. "We'll steer that way,
anyhow."

"All right," said Jack.

The engine began to sputter and directly the motorboat moved.

"We may as well go this way as another," Frank shouted to make himself
heard. "It'll be daylight soon, anyhow, and we can probably pick up _The
Hawk_."

"We'll go slowly, at all events," said Jack.

For half an hour the little craft forged slowly ahead, all three aboard
keeping a sharp lookout for _The Hawk_.

Suddenly a breeze sprang up. It blew lightly at first and then with more
and more violence.

"Looks like Lord Hastings' gale was about to materialize," shouted Jack.

"Guess this is it all right," replied Frank.

Edwards now came aft and took his stand by Frank.

"Want me to take the wheel, sir?" he asked.

"Guess I can handle it all right," replied Frank.

"Very well, sir, only I thought you would rather be forward with Mr.
Templeton."

There was an odd note in his voice and Frank glanced at him inquiringly.

"What made you think that?" he asked sharply.

"Only," replied Edwards, "only because this is liable to settle things
for all of us."

"You mean the storm?" asked Frank.

"Yes, sir."

"You think it will be severe?"

"Very s