o us," stated Jimmie. "It will
be for me, I know! I'm sure I'll take it to heart!"

"I'm mighty glad we're away from that inquisitive gunboat!" put in Frank.
"Now, what's the next thing for us to do?"

"I move that we keep below the surface for a while. If we hold on a
general southeasterly course, as has been suggested, we can't fail to
bring up somewhere on the English coast."

"That sounds like the most reasonable plan," agreed Frank. "I propose
that we put on speed and hurry along. Let's get somewhere!"

"Here we go!" cried Harry, increasing the speed with a touch on the
levers. "Let's keep a sharp lookout, though!"

About half past three o'clock the boys decided to rise to the surface for
the necessary airing of the vessel and storing of another supply of fresh
air in the tanks provided for that purpose.

In furtherance of this plan, the rudders were shifted while Harry slowed
the engines. Directly the craft ascended. The gauges indicated a depth of
about eight fathoms when Jimmie, who was at the helm, requested that the
rudders be again deflected.

"What's the matter?" questioned Ned, stepping forward.

"I can see the light reflected down through the water, and there's a big
shadow up there!" declared Jimmie.

"What do you think it can be?" asked Ned wonderingly.

"Probably it's a big vessel of some sort. It may be a war ship, or it may
be only a cargo carrier. In either event I don't want to get tangled up
in the propellers. Let's sheer off a bit."

"All right," agreed Ned. "I'll go to the periscope. Maybe I can find out
something as we rise slowly to the surface."

Cautiously creeping nearer the surface, the lads put the periscope into
action. By its aid Ned made out that the craft was an armed vessel. The
new "U-13" lay just submerged about a ship's length to starboard of the
stranger. They maintained about the same speed.

Ned declared that he could make out the British flag at the stern of the
other vessel. He stated that he could also notice a number of people
aboard the steamer.

"Can you see what they look like?" asked Jimmie.

"They are regular sailors and marines," answered Ned. "Why," went on the
lad excitedly, "that looks like Mackinder at the rail!"

Curiously the others crowded about the object glass of the periscope.
Each declared in turn that they recognized Mackinder.

"Now, I wonder what he's doing aboard that vessel!" mused Jack.

"Quite likely this ship met the fishing boat