Soon they came, pouring in wild retreat down the village street toward the wharf, running pell-mell for the U-boat.  At a glance Jack could see the tide of battle had turned against the Germans and they were being worsted.  He resolved to stand his ground and prevent the escape of the enemy by way of the submarine.

On they came, a dozen or more of them, heading directly for the U-boat.  The leader of the column, looking in vain for the gangplank, called to a companion and together they attempted to swing another timber into position.  Leaning around the turret Jack took careful aim and fired.  The foremost of the pair threw up his hands and dropped.  Maddened at this unexpected turn of affairs, the infuriated Germans began raining a hail of fire at the turret of the U-boat.  Shielding himself as best he could, Jack returned the fire, making a special effort to keep the Germans away from the towline ashore.

As he fired again at a skulking figure, Jack felt a sting in his right arm and at the same moment his revolver fell from his fingers and splashed into the canal.  He almost despaired of holding out longer when with a great cheer the attacking party burst through the village and hurled themselves upon the remnants of the Germans making their last stand at the wharf.

Risking a glance over the top of the turret between the bases of the periscope poles, Jack was stunned with joy to see the familiar uniforms of the bluejackets and marines of the United States Navy!

CHAPTER XIX

CAPTURING A U-BOAT

The battle at the wharf was of short duration.  Completely surrounded and outnumbered ten to one, the party of isolated Germans threw down their arms and surrendered.  From his vantage point behind the conning tower of the captured U-boat Jack kept tabs on the struggle until all firing had ceased and he was sure the Germans had been completely subjugated.  The cheering of his rescuers apprised him of the defeat of the enemy.  Walking out on the deck of the U-boat, he pulled off his hat and welcomed his deliverers with a lusty yell.

His sudden appearance from behind the conning tower of the U-boat completely nonplussed his friends for a moment.  The bluejackets wheeled at the sound of his voice and a dozen rifles were trained on him in an instant.

“Don’t fire!” yelled Jack.  “I’m Jack Hammond of the U.S.S. Dewey.”

For a moment the blue jackets paused—–­and then pandemonium broke loose.

“Hurrah, hurrah for Jack Hammond!” they shouted.  Hastily a gangplank was thrown out to the captive U-boat and Jack ran ashore only to be surrounded by his fellow-countrymen and fairly lifted off his feet.

“We’ve heard all about you—–­how you escaped from the U-boat and called for help from the German wireless station.  Bully for you, Jack Hammond; Uncle Sam can be proud of you,” cried a sergeant of marines, who was gripping his hand with a clasp of steel.