“They seem to be firing guns!” continued Jack presently.  “Of course we’re far too high to hear the sound, but I can see the smoke as sure as I’m sitting here.  Can it be they’re being attacked by a Hun undersea boat, do you think, boys?”

“Such things keep on happening right along in these shark-infested waters,” replied Tom.  “Go on and tell us all you see, Jack!”

They were all of them thrilled by the consciousness that possibly a grim tragedy of the sea was being enacted directly beneath, without any likelihood of their being able to render succor to those who might soon be in distress.

“They keep on firing,” Jack continued.  “I can see each puff of smoke belch out.  There, something has happened!  I believe it was a torpedo that exploded against the hull of the steamer, for I saw a great blotch rise up, and men are running about the decks like mad!”

Beverly had almost automatically decreased their speed, as though inclined to hover above the ill-fated vessel as long as possible, at least to learn what followed.

“They seem to be making signals!” Jack presently cried out.

“Look around and see if you can glimpse anything coming on!” demanded Tom, as though suspecting the cause of this fresh announcement.

Hardly had the one who gripped the binoculars started to do as he was requested than he gave a cry of mingled relief and satisfaction.

“Two boats racing straight for the spot, boys!  Destroyers, too!  Like as not Americans, for they keep lying out here, you know, to protect our transports going over with the boys.  How they do cut through the water with their sharp bows and make the waves fly!  But that steamer looks as if she might be sinking right now!”

The excitement grew intense.  Beverly even started to circle around, content to lose a few miles and some minutes if only he could satisfy their minds that all was well with the unfortunate steamer that had been so ruthlessly torpedoed without warning by the undersea pirates.

“They’re coming up like fun!” cried Jack presently.  “I can’t see as well as I’d like, though, on account of the sea fog that keeps drifting along in patches like clouds.  I really believe they’ll get up before she founders.  Now the crew have started putting off boats to make sure of saving the passengers if the worst comes!”

“Which shows they have a capable captain aboard,” commented Tom.

“But the sea must be pretty rough,” continued Jack, “because the small boats toss and pitch sharply as they start away from the steamer.  Hang that fog, it’s going to shut the whole picture out soon.  But there, one of the destroyers has arrived, and the boats are heading straight on to it.”

A minute later Jack gave them another little batch of news.

“The other destroyer is circling around, and must be looking for signs of the sub.  Wow! that was a terrible waterspout, though.  And there goes a second one!”