heads appeared over a bulwark above. As many rifle
muzzles were thrust over the edge of the bulwark and a prompt fire began.

Disdaining to draw his automatic Darrin stood up in the launch, the
center of such a hail of bullets that his continued existence seemed
incredible. Above the reports of the rifles could be heard the voice of
Ensign Peters as he directed the swinging around of the launch.

R-r-r-r-rip! The launch's machine gun came swiftly into play. Bullets
rattled against the iron sides of the ship.

Four of the six seamen on her deck were seen to fall back; the remaining
two fled as fast as they could go.

Then the muzzle of the machine gun was swung, and a hundred little
missiles were driven through the wheel-house.

At an unspoken signal the launch moved in until a sailor in the bow
could hurl upward an iron grappling hook. At the first cast it caught on
at the top of the rail, while the machine gunners trained their weapon to
"get" any one who endeavored to cast off the grapple.

"Up with you!" shouted Darrin. One after another half a dozen sailors
raced up the rope, swinging over to the deck.

Dave followed next, then more seamen. All were armed and ready for
instant work of the sternest kind.

Two sailors lay dead, rifles beside them. Pools of blood showed that at
least two more wounded men had been there, but had fled. No one else
belonging to the ship was in sight on deck.

"Boatswain's mate, take the bridge," ordered Dave, as more men came up on
board. "Put two men in the wheel-house. Take command of the deck with
such men as I do not take with me."

Calling half a dozen seamen, and ordering them to draw their automatic
revolvers, Darrin proceeded to the chart-room. He tried the door, but
found it locked.

"Break it down," he ordered, and in a jiffy the thing had been done. But
the chart-room proved to be empty.

Further aft Darrin went along the deck-house. The cabins of the captain
and two mates were found to be empty.

"We'll soon know where the crew have gone to," he remarked.

In the dining-room were found three men in dingy blue uniforms, who
appeared to be ship's officers. The oldest, who scowled hardest at the
same time, Dave took to be the skipper.

"You command this ship?" Darrin inquired.

"If you say so," replied the man addressed.

"You must, for you are the fellow who ordered me to send my ship away,"
Darrin smiled grimly. "Are you a German?"

"None of your business.