Then the German sailor who had launched the torpedo cried out: 

“Did we hit her, sir?”

Lord Hastings took his eye from the periscope long enough to answer:  “Squarely on the bridge, my man.”

The sailor gave a guttural exclamation of joy, in which his countrymen joined.  The three Englishmen had the presence of mind to say nothing.  Then one of the Germans turned to Edwards, who stood by him at that moment.

“There goes one of your vessels,” he said happily.

“Where many of yours will go before long,” returned Edwards, turning away to hide a grin.

“Then we hit her, sir?” questioned Frank eagerly.

“We did,” returned Lord Hastings.

“Shall we go to the surface again?” Jack asked.

“Hardly,” returned Lord Hastings dryly.  “The men naturally would want to go on deck to have a look at their work, and when they saw a British steamship floating safely they would probably do some thinking.  No; we’ll submerge still deeper and get away from here.”

“And the people aboard the liner, sir?” asked Frank.

“Will have to shift for themselves,” was the reply.  “However, they are in no danger now.”

“Very well, sir.”

“You may submerge to ten fathoms, Mr. Templeton,” said Lord Hastings.

Jack gave the order, and a moment later the tanks of the U-16 began to take in more water.  When at the proper depth, Lord Hastings ordered full speed ahead.

“Where now, sir?” asked Jack.

“To where we can do the most good,” was his commander’s reply.  “To Dover, where I shall make an attempt to acquaint the British authorities with what we have learned.”

“And where we’ll set a neat little trap for the enemy, sir,” said Frank eagerly.

“We’ll try,” returned Lord Hastings grimly.

One of the Germans was now called to take the wheel, and, leaving Lord Hastings in the latter’s cabin, Jack and Frank made their way aft.  Here, as they passed the compartment in which the crew bunked, they heard a commotion.

The two lads entered quickly.  There, in the middle of the floor, surrounded by half a dozen of the German sailors, stood Davis, and confronting him was the British sailor, O’Brien.  The latter was speaking.

“Yes, I called you a contemptible traitor,” he said, thrusting his face forward and speaking in German.  “What are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll show you,” replied Davis.

He raised an arm suddenly, and, taking O’Brien off his guard, sent him to the floor with a blow to the point of the chin.  The man lay still.

Frank’s blood boiled.

“Guess I’ll take a hand in this myself,” he said through his teeth.  “I’ve been wanting to get at him for some time now.”

In vain Jack sought to stay his chum.  The latter shook off the detaining hand and sprang forward.  Before Davis noticed his presence the lad was upon him.