he range and were working on mere
guesswork.

Before the first of the foe could submerge a shell from one of the
little motorboats struck her squarely upon the bridge, killing the
captain and other officers, and shattering the conning tower. The men
below no longer had a means of guiding the vessel, which drifted toward
her nearest neighbor and rammed her amidships. This blow, while not
necessarily fatal, threw the latter out of her stride, and being unable
to tell for the moment what was wrong, the German commander gave the
order to cease submerging; and the vessel remained where she was until a
shell from a British torpedo boat put an end to her.

The two enemy under-sea boats last in line had turned about with the
first warning and were making full speed down river again. The rest had
submerged before the British could come upon them and had sought to come
about and make their way to safety beneath the water.

But the British vessels were too swift for them. With mine nets
stretched clear across the river, now that the U-16 had passed to
safety, the torpedo boats dashed ahead; and an hour later four more
German submarines, caught in these powerful nets, were helpless. It only
remained to drag them to the surface and make prisoners of the crews,
which work was deferred until daylight.

Aboard the U-16 none knew what had occurred save the three upon the
bridge--Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack. Below, all stood to their posts,
awaiting they knew not what.

Jack descended.

"All right, men," he said, "you may turn in, if you wish. There'll be no
fighting to-night."

There was an exclamation of disappointment from among the German
sailors, who apparently had been banking on dealing a severe blow to the
British. There were several questions, which Jack answered by saying:

"We haven't come upon the enemy yet, and will not to-day."

He returned to the bridge.

"I suppose," said Lord Hastings, "the best thing we can do now is to go
ashore and report. Frank, you shall come with me. Jack will remain
behind."

The lads nodded.

Half an hour later Jack was left aboard the U-16, while Lord Hastings
and Frank were being rowed ashore.

Below, although Jack did not know it, trouble was brewing. Davis and his
three fellow-conspirators were plotting again.

"And what did this man Edwards say?" demanded Davis of one of the
Germans.

"He said he would let me know some time to-day," was the reply. "Also,
that he felt s