“Yes; but we may be at the bottom of the sea by that time.”

“Don’t worry.  We’ll hold our own until assistance arrives.”

Jack made a rapid calculation.

“If we had any idea of the approximate position of the enemy at this time, we would know better how to go about our work,” he said.

“You might call the enemy and find out?” said Frank with a grin.

“Don’t be funny, Frank,” said Jack severely.  “This is no time for levity.”

Came a cry from the lookout.

“Battle squadron off the port bow, sir!”

Jack clapped his glass to his eye.

The ships were too far distant and the night was too dark, however, to permit him to ascertain the identity of the approaching vessels.

“May be the enemy, Jack,” said Frank.

“Right,” Jack agreed.

A shrill whistle rang out on the Essex.

This was the answer to Jack’s order to pipe the crew to quarters.

“Clear ship for action!” was Jack’s next command.

“If it is the enemy,” he confided to Frank, “we’ll try and keep him engaged until reinforcements arrive.”

“It may not be so hard, after all,” Frank said “They may turn and beat a retreat when they find they are discovered.”

“Not if there is only one of us,” said Jack.  “Pass the word to the forward lookout to sing out as soon as he can identify the enemy.  I’ll flash my light on them.  He may be able to make them out.”

The huge searchlight of the Essex flashed forth across the water, and played upon the approaching ships.

“Germans!” came the cry from the lookout.

“I thought so,” said Jack.  “Frank, go to the radio room and find out how close our nearest support is.”

Frank was back in a few minutes.

“Lion says to engage,” he reported.  “Says she’ll be with us in less than an hour.  Tiger says she will arrive not more than fifteen minutes later.  Falcon and Hawk report they are less than an hour and a half away.”

“Right,” said Jack.  “Trouble is those fellows are likely to out-range us, in which event we’ll have to retire slowly, trying to draw them after us.  In that way reinforcements may arrive sooner.  Hello!  There she goes!”

The roar of a great gun came across the water.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ENGAGEMENT

“If we retire,” said Jack, “we will leave the way open to the coast.  At this minute we are in their way.”

“But if we try to stick it out here we’ll be sunk,” said Frank.  “And if we retire toward the coast, we’ll be moving away from our supports.”

“True enough,” Jack agreed.  “There’s only one thing to do.  That is to retire as slowly as possible and try to entice all six ships after us.  But I’d much rather wade right in.”

“Same here.  But discretion is the better part of valor, you know.”