“You and your son had better remain aboard until morning,” Jack continued.  “We’ll put you both ashore then.”

“Jack,” said Frank at this point, “don’t you think we should make an effort to destroy the submarine before we go?”

“By George!  We certainly should,” declared Jack.  “That had slipped my mind for the moment.  We’ll have one of the captured officers up and see if he will reveal its hiding place.”

One of the Germans—­a petty officer—­entered the cabin a moment later in response to Jack’s summons.  Jack explained briefly what he wanted.

“Tell you?  Of course I won’t tell you,” said the young officer.  “Why should I?  Do you think I am a traitor to my country, or a coward?”

Jack shrugged.

“I was just offering the opportunity,” he said.

The officer was removed and one of the men brought in.  Jack quizzed him with no better results.  One after another the unwounded men were questioned, but none would reveal the location of the submarine.

“Looks like we would have to find it ourselves,” said Jack at length.  “There is no use questioning any of the others.  They won’t tell.”

Assistance came from an unexpected source.

“Maybe I can help out a bit,” said the elder Cutlip quietly.

Jack, Frank and Lieutenant Hetherton looked at him in surprise.

“You mean that you know and will tell?” asked Frank.

“I do.  You have made my duty plain to me.  No longer am I afraid of the Germans.”

“How do you come to know this hiding place?” asked Jack.

“I discovered it to-day by accident.  I was standing some distance back on shore when I saw the vessel lying on the water.”

“How far from here?”

“Just the other side of the reef.”

Jack whistled.

“By Jove!  We came awfully close,” he said.

“You did indeed,” said Cutlip.  “But for the reef you must have been discovered.  Fortunately, it is very high.”

“I suppose the U-Boat is on the surface at this moment,” Frank interjected.

“Most likely,” Hetherton agreed.  “A small crew has probably been left on board, and they more than likely are awaiting the return of their comrades.”

“Strange they didn’t hear the firing,” said Frank.

“Not at all,” said Jack.  “I heard none of it here.”

“The wind was blowing the wrong way,” Hetherton explained.

“That must be the answer,” Frank admitted.  “Well, Jack, what do you say?  Shall we make an effort to get the boat to-night?” Jack hesitated.

“We may as well,” he said at last.  “Of course it will have to be taken from the land, for we can’t work the destroyer around the reef in the darkness.  Even if we got around safely, we should be discovered.”

“Right,” said Frank.  “Then let’s be moving.  I take it, however, we will need boats to reach the submarine.”