Now and then the commander of The Hawk, by the faint glare of his searchlight, shielded by his hand, consulted a chart and several times muttered low directions to the man at the wheel.

Suddenly there came a subdued command from Lord Hastings, and in response the engines were stopped.  Lord Hastings placed a hand to his ear and listened intently.

“Did any of you hear anything?” he asked in a low voice.

No one had.

“Strange,” muttered Lord Hastings; “I could have sworn I heard something moving through the water.”

He gave the command to go ahead again; but less than five moments later once more brought The Hawk to a pause.

“I am sure I heard something,” he said to Frank, who stood near him.

“I thought I did myself, that time,” replied the lad.  “Sounded like a boat, and not a great distance away.”

“We shall have to be careful,” said his commander.  “I know that there is not another British vessel in these waters to-night.  If there is a second craft out here, it must be an enemy.”

“Shall we flash our light about?” asked Frank.

“And betray our own presence?  Not much.  No; we shall just remain here for half an hour and see if we can’t pick up the other fellow in the darkness.”

Again the silence of death hung over The Hawk.

Then, suddenly, Jack, aft, gave a subdued exclamation.

Lord Hastings hurried to his side.

“What is it?” he demanded.

“Small craft of some kind bearing down on us, sir,” he replied quickly.  “She’ll bump us!”

Lord Hastings took in the situation at a glance.  Less than 150 yards away a small object was coming toward The Hawk.

Lord Hastings gave a quick command.

“Full speed ahead!” he cried, and in response to this command, The Hawk leaped forward.

Lord Hastings hurled a second quick command to the man at the wheel, and The Hawk came about in a broad circle; and at the same instant a blinding glare flashed into the faces of all aboard.

A searchlight from the other craft had been turned upon them, lighting The Hawk up like day, while all those aboard could see was the blinding glare, the other boat being shielded by this light.

A shot rang out over the water—­the sound of a heavy gun.

Lord Hastings took prompt action, in spite of the fact he could not make out the enemy.

“Turn the searchlight on him!” he shouted.

A second shot rang out and Frank heard the whistle of a heavy missile overhead.

He sprang quickly to the searchlight, and with a single movement, whirled it about.  In another moment a second white glare lighted up the sea.

Frank pointed his light squarely at the point from which he could see the other light came.  While he was unable to see the other boat, because of its light, he knew that once his own searchlight had found its object, those aboard the other craft would no longer be able to see The Hawk.