rry," he called down the hatchway, "didn't Mackinder say he was coming
on deck to see if he could be of service to Jimmie?"

"He certainly did!" answered Harry. "Then we went on working at the
pumps. I was busy with the starboard pump because it wasn't working just
as it should. I saw him start up the ladder!"

"And I saw him when he was about half way up!" put in Jack.

"I'm equally certain he didn't return, but it may be well enough to stop
a minute to search the interior. Perhaps he came back."

In a moment all five boys were busily going over every corner of the
craft. From stem to stern they ransacked every place where it would have
been at all possible for their guest to have hidden.

At length they met in the space directly below the hatchway.

"Find anything?" queried Ned glancing about the group.

"Not a hint of anything at all resembling an Englishman!" stated Jimmie.
"Perhaps it would be a good idea to put an ad. in the paper."

"Yes," scorned Jack. "Like this: 'Lost--one perfectly good Englishman.
Finder please return to the "U-13" and receive reward'!"

"Sure!" agreed Jimmie. "Have them charge it, please!"

"Hush this nonsense, boys!" cried Ned. "This may be serious!"

"Well, where is he?" protested Jimmie. "We haven't got him!"

"Maybe he fell overboard!" suggested Ned. "Let's have a look."

Again the lad mounted the ladder. As he reached the small deck he peered
anxiously about the vessel seeking what he hoped he might not find.

The others came crowding after their chum, filling the space.

"There he goes!" cried Jimmie pointing away to the north.

"Where?" inquired Ned looking in the direction indicated. "Oh, I see
him," the lad went on. "He's swimming a good stroke, too!"

"Is he crazy or just disgusted with the company on board the 'U-13'?"

"Perhaps he thinks he'll be picked up by that boat!" stated Jimmie again
directing the attention of his comrades to a small fishing craft. "They
seem to be heading a course that will reach Mackinder."

"He was wise enough to take one of the life preservers," said Harry
indicating a space from which a buoy was missing.

"Sure enough!" agreed Ned. "He's no fool at any rate!"

"Let's wait a while to see if they pick him up," suggested Jimmie.

"If they don't get him, we'll chase over there and take him aboard again.
What do you say?" asked Ned of the others.

There was no dissenting voice raised to this suggestion. Eagerly the lads
watched the