“The brutes!” he muttered.

The duel between the submarine and the destroyer still raged.  It appeared that the commander of the submarine was a capable officer, for he had succeeded in keeping his vessel from being struck by a shell from the Brigadier.

In the aft turret of the Brigadier the British tars were sweating and muttering imprecations at their inability to put a shell aboard the enemy.

“Here,” said Frank, “let me get at that gun.”

The crew stepped aside and the lad sighted the weapon himself.  Then he fired.

Again a cheer arose aboard the Brigadier.  Frank’s shot had been successful.  The shell struck the submersible squarely amidships, and carried away the periscope.

“Fire!” cried Frank, and the other guns broke into action.

Again there was a wild cheer.

The submarine began to settle a few moments later.  Men emerged from below and sprang into the sea.

“Lower a boat!” cried Jack.  “I want a few of those fellows.”

A boat was lowered instantly and strong hands pulled it toward the Germans floundering in the water.

By this time the lifeboats that had escaped the German fire came alongside the Brigadier and the occupants climbed aboard the destroyer.  These were quickly fitted out with dry clothing.  It developed that there had been three women passengers aboard the Hazelton and all of these had been saved.  A dozen members of the crew, however, had been killed by the enemy in the lifeboats.

Jack assigned quarters to the victims as quickly as he was able, and then calling his officers about him, awaited the return of the boat which had gone after the Germans who had leaped into the sea.

“If the act I have just seen is a sample of the German heart,” Jack said, “I never want another German within sight of me so long as I live.”

CHAPTER VI

CHANGED ORDERS

As the Germans came aboard—­ten of them—­they were herded before Jack.  They stood there sullenly, their eyes on the deck.  One of them wore a heavily braided and imposing uniform.  Jack addressed him.

“You are the commander of that submarine?” he questioned.

“I was,” answered the German.

“You were, what?” asked Jack sharply.

“I was the commander.”

“You don’t seem to catch my meaning,” said Jack, taking a step forward. 
“When you speak to me say ‘sir.’”

“Then you shall say ‘sir’ to me,” said the German.

“Oh, no I won’t,” Jack declared.  “I never say sir to a murderer.”

The German’s eyes lighted angrily.

“It would be well to be more careful of your words,” he said.

“Nevertheless,” said Jack, “I repeat them.  You, are a murderer, and as such should be hanged at once.  I’m not sure it is in my province to string you up, but I’m strongly tempted to do so and take the consequences.”