ter some conversation with Captain Reynolds of the _Indefatigable_ by
wireless, Captain Raleigh announced that the pursuit would be continued
and ordered full speed ahead in the deep darkness.
As the vessel gathered momentum, Frank exclaimed:
"I don't like this. I feel as though something disastrous was about to
happen."
"Another one of those things, eh?" said Jack, grinning in the darkness
that enveloped them.
"What things?"
"I never can remember what you call them. Premonitions, I mean."
"You mean a hunch," said Frank, quietly. "Yes, that's just what I have
--a hunch."
"Take it to Captain Raleigh. Maybe he will give you something for it,"
said his friend.
"This is no joking matter," declared Frank. "I'm not naturally nervous,
as you know, but right now my nerves are on edge."
"Just the after effects of the battle," said Jack, quietly. "You are
all unstrung."
"I'm unstrung, all right," Frank admitted, "but the battle had nothing
to do with it. I tell you something is going to happen."
"Well, what?"
"I don't know."
"It's a poor hunch, unless it will tell you what is going to happen,"
declared Jack.
"Have it your own way," said Frank. "But wait."
"I'm waiting," said Jack, cheerfully.
The _Indefatigable_ also, following Captain Reynold's wireless
conversation with Captain Raleigh, had dashed after the retreating
Germans at full speed.
Gradually, although in the darkness neither their commanders nor anyone
else on board realized it, the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_,
dashing ahead at full speed as they were, were drawing closer together
at every turn of the screws.
Frank's forebodings were about to bear fruit.
Now, in the darkness, the vessels were running upon about even terms,
but the bows were both pointed toward an angle that would drive them
together in collision about a mile distant. Although none realized it,
this is what would happen unless the fog lifted suddenly.
But the fog did not lift.
Frank, try as he would could not shake off his spell.
"I tell you." he said again to his chum, "something is going to happen
--and it's going to happen soon."
There was so much force behind Frank's words--the lad seemed in such
deadly earnest--that Jack grew alarmed. He had had some experience with
these premonitions of Frank's.
"What is it?" he asked anxiously.
"I wish I knew," said Frank. "I----"
Came a sudden shout forward; a cry from the bridge. Instinctive
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