lads spoke simultaneously and both Germans dropped
to the floor.

Jack sprang back to the door.

"Stand guard there, men!" he cried. "There may be more of them."

He jumped back to Frank's side again, fearing that one of the fallen men
might arise and return to the fray. But these fears were groundless. All
four were beyond human aid, as Lord Hastings found after gazing at each
sharply.

"Poor fellows," he said sorrowfully, "but it was their lives or ours,
and they wouldn't yield. Oh, well----" he broke off with a shrug of his
shoulders and turned to the lads.

"Search the vessel," he commanded. "There are probably others aboard."

Jack and Frank hurried away in response to this command. They went
through the submarine from stem to stern, but nowhere were they able to
find another living soul.

"Looks like those were the only ones aboard," remarked Jack.

"It does," agreed Frank. "Maybe the men in the motorboats were part of
their crews and they have been lying about here all these days waiting
for them to return."

"Well, I can't guess the answer," said Jack. "But certainly there is no
other German here."

They returned and reported to Lord Hastings.

"Very well," said their commander. "Then the best thing we can do is to
try and work this submarine back to port. It is an important capture."

"If you please, sir," said Jack. "I believe I can suggest a better plan
than that."

"And that is----" prompted Lord Hastings.

"To assume the identities of these German officers, sir. Or not
necessarily to assume their identities, but just to take charge of the
vessel as if we had been duly commissioned by the German government.
Then we can seek out the enemy's naval base and perhaps gain information
of importance."

Lord Hastings looked at the lad in amusement for some moments before he
replied:

"By Jove! You and Frank here do turn up some of the most remarkable
ideas I have ever heard!"

"Then you don't think much of the plan, sir?"

"I think so much of it," replied Lord Hastings, "that I shall act upon
it at once."

Now it was Frank's turn to show his enthusiasm.

"Hoorah!" he cried.

"That is," Lord Hastings qualified his statement, "I shall act upon your
plan if Mr. Chadwick here can restrain his enthusiasm. Otherwise, I
would be afraid to undertake the venture."

"I'll restrain it, sir," declared Frank, subdued.

"Good! See that you do," returned Lord Hastings. "Some of these days
that enth