e porthole.

"I don't see anything," replied Ned. "What and where is it?"

"Right here," declared Jack, pointing. "No, you're too late! I thought it
looked like a snake in the water at first, but I see it was only a piece
of rope hanging from the rigging. It's all right!"

"Possibly it has been hanging down all the time but the current caused by
the passage of the other vessel swung it outward," ventured Ned. "It will
no doubt slip past in a moment!"

But this prediction was not fulfilled. With a sudden lurch, the stern of
the false "U-13" rose, tilting the deck sharply forward.

With a groan the propellers stopped.

CHAPTER XVIII

HELP FROM A STRANGER

Harry uttered a sharp cry as he stumbled forward along the steep incline
of the floor. It seemed as if some huge power had grasped the stern of
the craft, raising it until the vessel tilted forward at an angle which
rendered walking impossible.

All the boys were thrown toward the forward end of the vessel, where
Jimmie was located. Ned and Jack lost their footing. They rolled
awkwardly to the forward bulkhead. Harry and Frank managed to remain
upright by hurriedly grasping at parts of the machinery or at stanchions.
Their progress was undignified as well as sudden.

"What's up?" sharply questioned Jimmie, regaining his feet.

"The stern's up!" facetiously replied Jack, also struggling to a standing
position. "Is anybody hurt?" the boy continued.

A brief examination disclosed the fact that beyond a few minor bruises
none of the boys had been seriously injured. Their first care was for
each other. All were glad to find no one badly hurt.

"What on earth can have happened to us?" asked Ned, peering from a port
light on the starboard side. "Did we collide with something?"

"I don't believe we did," returned Harry. "There wasn't any bump as if
we'd run into another object. We just stopped!"

"And then the stern went up into the air and stayed there!" put in Jack.
"Something's got us by the stern and won't let go!"

"I think I know what it is!" announced Frank. "What is it they call these
fishermen with a big net dragging around?"

"Fishermen!" answered Jimmie, with a grin.

"Stop your nonsense!" ordered Frank, administering a friendly punch to
his red-headed comrade. "I mean the fellows with a big drag net!"

"Trawlers is the word you want, Frank!" said Jimmie.

"That's it!" agreed Frank. "I'll bet we're tangled in one of their nets.
Maybe we