hile in the craft to
the right two had been wounded. The boat to the left also had suffered.

And all this time the boats had been nearing each other and the crack of
the rifles mingled with the hoarse shouting of the German sailors. The
British, for the most part, fought coolly and silently, only the groans
of the wounded breaking the stillness from their part of the water.

Frank, now that the boats were close enough together not to call for
instructions to his men, left them to do their own fighting and opened
with his revolver.

Now Frank was a crack shot, as he had proved on more than one occasion,
and this time his aim was deadly. He found himself opposite the boat in
which Davis stood erect and he picked off the men about the British
traitor with ease.

At last there remained but Davis. Frank trained his weapon on him
carefully, but at the moment he would have pulled the trigger a bullet
struck one of the British sailors in Frank's boat a mortal wound. The
man jumped and fell sidewise. The boat tipped over and Frank was flung
into the water.

Frank's mouth was open as he went under, and when he came up gasping
there was no boat near him. Ahead he could see Davis still standing
erect. The latter discovered the lad at the same time, levelled his
revolver, took careful aim, and pulled the trigger.

But there was no report. The chamber of the weapon was empty.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE END OF A TRAITOR.

Frank smiled grimly to himself as he floated in the water.

"No more bullets, eh?" he muttered.

He struck out vigorously, but instead of making for the nearest British
boat, he swam directly toward the craft in which Davis remained
standing.

"I'll get you this time, Mr. Davis," the lad muttered through his teeth.

Davis saw him coming and something must have told him that this time the
lad would overcome him. He stooped over and picked up a second revolver.
This, too, he levelled directly at the lad and pulled the trigger. But
this weapon also was empty.

Now fear suddenly took possession of Davis. He dropped to the thwart,
seized a pair of oars and began to row.

But he had delayed too long; for at that moment Frank's left hand
grasped the gunwale. Quickly Davis raised himself in the boat, and,
brandishing an oar aloft, brought it down in an effort to crush the
lad's head. Frank saw the blow coming and dived just in time. Davis
again sat down and began to row.

A minute later Frank came up b