Jack felt different about it.

“Sure they had a chance,” he answered.

“They would have gotten us if we hadn’t landed them first.”

“Do the other fellow as you know he would do you,” Jack philosophized.

As the Dewey emerged again on the surface with her deck and super-structure exposed, the ship’s wireless aerials were run up and she prepared to get in touch with the United States fleet.  Jack crept into the wireless room that he might better understand what was going on.  Lately he had been learning the wireless code and familiarizing himself with the operation of the radio under the kindly instruction of Sammy Smith.

“You never know when knowledge of these things is going to stand you in good stead,” remarked Jack when he had applied to Sammy for “a bit in electricity.”

Once more the hatches were opened and the crew swarmed out to stretch their limbs and get a breath of fresh air again.  Lieutenant McClure hastened to examine the deck of the Dewey to ascertain whether any damage had been done in the collision with the destroyer.

Yes, there was a slight dent—–­a broad scar—–­running obliquely across the deck plates just aft the conning tower within a few inches of the engine room hatch.  The damage, however, appeared to be slight.

“Narrow escape,” the lieutenant pondered.

“Zip! zip!” the wireless was sputtering as Sammy Smith flung a code message into space in quest of other members of the allied navies.  Several times he shot out the call and then closed his key to await a reply.

Finally it came—–­a radio from an American warship far out of sight over the horizon.

“Take this radio to Lieutenant McClure,” said Sammy, as he typed it with the wireless receiver still to his ears, and wheeled to hand it to Jack.  The latter took the flimsy sheet and bounded up the aft hatch to where his commander stood examining the hull.

“American and English cruisers and destroyers in running fight with German raiding squadron.  Give us your position.  U.S.S. Salem,” the message ran.

At once the Dewey’s latitude and longitude were rattled off to the Salem.  In reply came another radio from the scout cruiser, giving the position of the raiding fleet and the pursuers, with this direction: 

“Close in from your position.  German fleet in full retreat headed E.N.E. across North Sea.  You may be able to intercept them!”

CHAPTER VII

IN A MINE FIELD

Without any further ado the Dewey got under way.  While the inspection of the hull had been going on the submarine’s batteries had been recharged and she was ready again for further diving upon a moment’s notice.  Lieutenant McClure climbed into the deck steering station—–­the bridge of a submarine—–­and assumed charge of the electric rudder control, the wheel of a submersible.