“Funny there isn’t some one on deck,” muttered Frank.

“By Jove!  So it is,” declared Lord Hastings.  “Must be something wrong.  I wonder what?”

“I have it, sir,” declared Frank.  “It’s one of the vessels that those other motorboats—­the ones we sunk—­were to have reported to.”

“I believe Frank is right,” agreed Jack.  “It probably comes to the surface here every night, awaiting their return.”

“In that event the chances are that most every one aboard is asleep,” remarked Lord Hastings.

He gave the command for The Hawk to proceed.

“What are you going to do, sir?” asked Frank.

“See if we can’t capture her,” replied Lord Hastings quietly.

Frank gave a low whistle.  It was a plan after his own heart, but he was keenly sensitive to the danger that it involved.

“Very well, sir,” he said quietly.

“This,” declared Jack, manifesting a show of enthusiasm, “is where we have a little fun.”

CHAPTER XIII.

A DESPERATE VENTURE.

There was not a sound aboard the submarine as The Hawk grated alongside.  To climb aboard the silent vessel, which lay so low in the water, was a simple task.  Lord Hastings went first and Frank and Jack followed in order.  Behind the latter came Edwards and behind him three sailors, Allen, O’Brien and McDonald.

For a brief moment they stood silently upon the deck, each with a revolver in his hand.  Then Lord Hastings led the way to the conning tower, which was open, and descended.  The others were close behind him.

At the foot of the companionway Lord Hastings paused again, straining his ears for a sound.  None came.  He motioned the others to follow him and led the way aft.

At the extreme afterpart of the vessel he paused before a door on the port side.  From within came the sound of voices.

Lord Hastings laid a hand on the knob and surveyed those behind him.

“All ready?” he asked.

“Ready, sir,” replied Jack quietly.

With a sudden movement Lord Hastings jerked open the door and stepped quickly within.

“Hands up!” he called sharply.

Four men sat at a table in what appeared to be the commander’s cabin.  They looked up from their game at Lord Hastings’ gruff command and seeing but a solitary figure, all dropped their hands to their side.

“Hands up!” commanded Lord Hastings again.

Instead of obeying this command, one man produced a revolver, shouting: 

“There is only one!  Shoot him!”

But Lord Hastings’ revolver spoke first and the officer tumbled over.  The other three had now drawn their weapons and one fired at Lord Hastings.  The shot went wild and Lord Hastings dropped him with a second well-directed bullet.

At this moment Jack and Frank sprang into the room.  They saw Lord Hastings confronted by two enemies and they acted instantly and before the Germans could do so.