e waves at least fifty feet from the spot where Ralph had landed.

Ralph did not appear to be even stunned, but Alfred's head dropped
lifeless on the side of the life preserver, and the captain was prompt
to reach his side and support him so that his head was kept free from
the water.

Ralph was bewildered at the suddenness of the affair, and, while
splashing in the water, glanced first at the captain and Alfred, and
then swung around to get a view of the big ship, which they had
signalled. The submarine had vanished. The sea around appeared to be a
mass of bubbles, and he could plainly see the petroleum which was oozing
up.

Nothing was visible where the submarine floated but a single belt,--the
life preserver which the captain had used as a buoy, to mark the
location of the sunken vessel.

CHAPTER XIII

THE RESCUE IN THE CHANNEL

"The boat is on the way," shouted the captain, as Ralph tried to direct
himself toward the captain and Alfred.

"We were just in time," said Ralph. "How is Alfred?" he asked.

"Only stunned," replied the captain. "I think he hit the conning tower
as the vessel up-ended."

"Poor fellows," said Ralph, "I suppose it's all up with them."

"They are gone beyond all help. But we did the best we could," answered
the captain. "Here, take this fellow first," continued the captain,
addressing the officer in charge of the boat.

The boys were soon dragged in, and the officer gazed at the captain most
earnestly, as he said: "Why, Captain, we heard just before we left the
dock about you and two boys capturing a submarine; was that the
submarine? What has happened?"

"That is a long story, but you shall hear it as soon as we get aboard.
Where are you bound?" asked the captain.

"For the Mediterranean," replied the officer.

"Where is your first port?" asked the captain.

"Havre," was the answer.

"Couldn't be better," replied the captain. "Ah! I see Alfred is coming
around all right."

"He seems to be breathing all right now," said Ralph.

"So they heard about our exploit?" asked the captain.

"Why, yes; the papers made quite an item about it; I think we have a
copy on board," replied the officer.

As the boys ascended the ship's ladder they saw two torpedo boat
destroyers crowd up alongside the ship. The captain leaned over the
taff-rail and said:

"The buoy yonder marks the resting place of the U-96, late in the
service of the Imperial German Navy. Please report same,