An hour later, The Hawk having been slowed to a bare five knots, Frank thought he caught the sound of another moving object.  He called Lord Hastings’ attention, and The Hawk’s engine was shut off.  Again came the sound, as of a choked automobile engine.

“She’s off there, and pretty close,” whispered Lord Hastings, with a gesture to port.

“Shall we try a shot in the darkness, sir?” asked Frank.

“No; that would be folly,” said Lord Hastings.  “There is not one chance in a thousand that the first shot would go home; and then she would be on the move again.  Now, from the fact that the sound has come twice from the same place, I judge she is standing still—­hoping that we shall run past her.”

“If you please, sir, I have a plan,” said Jack.

“Let’s have it,” said Lord Hastings briefly.

“Well, why can’t Frank and I take to the boats again.  Not one boat this time, but two.  We can approach from different directions.  One of us can open fire, and if a light is shown aboard, the other can do likewise.  Caught between two fires, I believe a light will be shown, that the enemy may try to pick us up.  That will betray the enemy’s presence to you and you can sink her.”

“That’s not a half bad idea,” decided Lord Hastings after a moment’s reflection.  “You shall each have a man.  Here, Edwards!  Williams!”

The two men came forward quickly.

“Williams, you lower a boat and go with Mr. Templeton.  Edwards, you accompany Mr. Chadwick.  Get your rifles first, men.”

The men hurried aft to obey, Frank and Jack in the meantime giving their attention to lowering the boats.  This done, all leaped in and rowed in the general direction of the foe.

Upon Jack’s suggestion, Frank and Edwards rowed some distance ahead before pointing the nose of their little craft toward where they believed the enemy to be, and then rowed a considerable distance.

“We should be beyond her now,” declared Frank, after some further rowing.  “We’ll double back a bit.”

They did so; and five minutes later a dark shape loomed up beside them, so close almost, that Frank could have thrown a rock aboard.

“Cease rowing!” Frank commanded, laying down his own oars.

Edwards did likewise.

“Get your rifle ready,” Frank instructed.

Edwards obeyed.

“Now,” said Frank, “the first man you see show himself aboard that craft, pick him off.  I’ll wait for the second one.”

“Very well, sir,” replied Edwards quietly.

He brought his rifle to bear upon the deck of the enemy and sat quietly, waiting, as the little boat bobbed gently up and down with the swell of the sea.

And he had not long to wait.

A dark shadow appeared aboard the enemy and Edwards and Frank caught the faint glow of a cigar or cigarette as the man puffed upon it.  The light from this made his face plainly visible.