betrays us dies instantly," said
McClure as he gave orders to throw out ballast.

As the water was expelled from the tanks the _Monitor_ began slowly
to float upward. Moving over to the periscope McClure watched intently
for the moment when the sub would emerge from the sea and he clasped
in each hand a heavy revolver. In another moment the periscope had
thrust its eyes out of the water and McClure was able to make out
the outlines of a German destroyer standing on guard not more than
sixty yards away. Pointing to the conning tower hatch, the American
commander turned to the German leader.

"Now, Herr Schmidt, get busy," he said, with a wave of one of the
revolvers.

CHAPTER XXIII

OUT OF THE NET

In stolid silence the German "Herr Kommander" signaled for the conning
tower hatch to be thrown open and turned to find that Commander
McClure had taken a crouching position directly behind him in the
conning tower, a huge automatic gripped in one hand. Bonte had been
summoned from the wireless room to overhear and translate to the
American commander every word spoken by Herr Schmidt. The latter
grumbled a reply with a nod of his head.

"Remember now, if you betray us, you die instantly," cautioned McClure
as the lid of the conning tower flew open at the touch of a button
and the German thrust his head out into the early morning atmosphere.
A thin silvery mist floated over the water, and McClure, from his
position, could see the, stars twinkling above him. The German
destroyer hovered right at hand and her captain on the forward deck
was bellowing a challenge at the _Monitor_ through a megaphone.

There was a tense silence in the conning tower of the submarine during
the parley that followed.

"Don't attempt to move," said McClure to the German at his side.

In whispers, at intervals in the German dialogue, Bonte translated
to McClure the conversation of Herr Schmidt. The Teuton was telling
his fellow countrymen that it was all a mistake; that this was the
U-108 and that she had stumbled into the net by accident, having been
pulled off her course by a defect in the diving rudders.

McClure had given orders that at the first sign of betrayal the
conning tower was to be closed and the _Monitor_ submerged again
as quickly as possible. Ted stood by ready to transmit the order
to lower away. But what was the surprise of "Little Mack" to have
Herr Schmidt turn and shout down the conning tower in German: