till free, and he struck Frank a heavy
blow in the stomach with his fist. The pain was severe and Frank loosened
his hold on the man's revolver arm. With a cry of triumph, the German
deliberately lowered his revolver.

Frank, having dropped one of his revolvers, was in a bad way. True, a
second was in his belt, but it did not appear that he had time to draw and
fire before the German's finger pressed the trigger.

But now came an action on the lad's part that proved his right to be
called an expert with the revolver--an action that often had bewildered
Jack and aroused his envy.

So quickly that the eye could not follow the movement, Frank dropped his
hand to his belt, whipped out his revolver, and without taking aim, fired.

A fraction of a second later there was a second report, as the German,
with Frank's bullet already in his shoulder, pressed the trigger, almost
involuntarily. But ere he fired, Frank had dropped to the floor and the
bullet passed harmlessly overhead.

Frank rose quietly.

"Bind him men," he said simply. "He's not badly hurt. He'll probably live
to face the gallows. Where is young Cutlip? Has anyone seen the boy?"

"Here he is, sir," answered the boy himself, and came forward. "And will
you release my father now, sir?"

"As soon as we return to the ship," replied Frank. "Come, men."

CHAPTER XXI

THE END OF THE SUBMARINE

Frank now took account of his casualties. Five men had been killed and
twenty more or less seriously wounded. As many more nursed slight
injuries.

The enemy's casualties, proportionately, had been more severe. Half of the
original number were stretched on the ground. Hardly a man of the others
but had been wounded.

Frank had his dead made ready for transportation back to the Essex, and
litters were improvised for the wounded who were unable to walk. The
grounded Germans also were carried--that is, those of them who were so
severely hurt they could not walk. Those who could walk were surrounded by
the British and marched on ahead.

The return trip was made without incident. The wounded were hurried aboard
the ship where their injuries could be attended to. The unwounded
prisoners were promptly locked up below with the other captives. Then
Frank and Jack, accompanied by young Cutlip, went to Jack's cabin. The
third officer held the bridge.

Frank gave an account of the events of the night as briefly as possible.
When he had concluded, Cutlip again asked: