h the British commanding officer
in charge of the motorboat flotilla. When he returned he had a smile on
his face.

"Good news," he said, as he came aboard.

"What, sir?" asked Frank.

"Action to-night, sir?" demanded Jack.

"Better than that--for you boys," replied Lord Hastings. "Action, and at
once."

"Where?" asked Frank.

"Around the same neighborhood we were in before."

"Good," declared Jack.

"And more important prey, this time," continued Lord Hastings.

"Submarines?" asked Jack.

"Well, that's what we expect," replied Lord Hastings. "We hope to be
fortunate enough to find one or two."

"When do we start, sir?" demanded Frank.

"As soon as the _Glasgow_ comes along."

"The _Glasgow_, sir? You mean the steamship _Glasgow_?"

"Exactly. It appears that passengers have been warned not to take
passage on the _Glasgow_. A warning has been circulated through the
newspapers, the same as was done before the _Lusitania_ sailed and was
sunk. This naturally leads to the belief that the Germans are planning
to torpedo the _Glasgow_. We are to be on hand to see that this does not
happen."

"I see, sir," replied Frank. "Is it just _The Hawk_, sir?"

"Well, no," replied Lord Hastings. "_The Hawk_ and nine other
motorboats."

"A regular fleet," remarked Jack. "I suppose the idea is for us to trail
in behind the _Glasgow_?"

"Exactly. You see the submarine, nine times out of ten, lying in wait
for its victim, will come to the surface a short distance ahead of the
steamer. Now, in view of the furore that the sinking of the _Lusitania_
caused in neutral countries, it is hardly to be expected the _Glasgow_
will be torpedoed without warning."

"But just how do we get at the enemy, sir?" demanded Frank.

"I'm coming to that. When the submarine comes to the surface and gives
warning for passengers and crew to leave the ship, we shall sneak out
from behind at full speed. Before the submarine can submerge, we shall
be close enough to get her. That's why we carry such heavy guns. One of
us is bound to get her."

"I see," said Frank. "Of course if the submarine could submerge in a
moment, it wouldn't be possible."

"Exactly," agreed Lord Hastings.

He led the way to the rail.

"See," he said, waving a hand in the direction of the others of the
motorboat fleet, "they are all getting ready for action."

It was true. There were signs of great activity aboard some of the other
little vessels. "Just overhauli