Frank’s keen mind had detected the one hope of salvation for those aboard The Hawk.  The enemy was very close and the lad realized that the next shot must find its mark.  There was but one thing to do.  The light aboard the enemy must be destroyed; without it The Hawk could escape, for minus the light, which was its eye, the foe could not hope to detect them.

As Frank’s finger pressed the trigger he knew that he had not missed; and at the same moment he cried to Lord Hastings: 

“Hard-a-port!”

Again The Hawk careened desperately in response to the quick turn of the helm; but it was well that Lord Hastings had acted upon the instant; for even as Frank had fired there was another heavy “boom” and a heavy shell passed the spot where The Hawk had been a moment before.

But with the sound of the shot, the glare of the enemy’s searchlight vanished.  Frank’s aim had been true.

“I shot her eye out, sir,” he cried to Lord Hastings.

“I see you did,” chuckled his commander.  “Now it’s time for us to get busy.  Mr. Templeton, see if you can pick up the enemy with our light.”

Jack sprang to the searchlight eagerly, and under his guiding hand, it threw its brilliant rays over the dark waters.  He swept it in a wide half-circle to the right without result; and then swung the glare around to the left; and there, presenting her stern, a little motorboat was moving swiftly away.

“She’s running, sir!” exclaimed Frank, who stood forward, still holding his rifle.  “Shall I give her a shot?”

“If you like,” replied Lord Hastings.  “It can do no harm.  In the meantime we’ll have after her.”

He gave the signal, “Full speed ahead,” and The Hawk leaped forward.

Again Frank took careful aim at a moving figure upon the deck of the enemy and again his finger pressed the trigger.  Not for nothing had he been called a crack shot.  The figure, as Frank could see in the glare of The Hawk’s searchlight, threw up its arms and pitched into the sea.

And now suddenly misfortune befell The Hawk.  The enemy had stolen an idea from Frank, and one of the men aboard, taking aim at the powerful searchlight of The Hawk, fired.  His aim was as true as had been Frank’s; and the ray of light disappeared from the surface of the water. The Hawk also was blind now.

Lord Hastings gave an exclamation of dismay.

“Pretty tough,” he muttered.

“But we should have guarded against it, sir,” declared Jack.  “We should have figured that what we could do the other fellow could do also.”

“True,” replied his commander; “but it’s too late now.  We’ll keep after her.  Maybe we can pick her up in the darkness.”

“Not much chance,” muttered Frank to himself.

But again fortune was to smile on them, although it came near being misfortune.