“Now,” said Lord Hastings when all were safely below, “we’ll have to get away from here.”

“There should be no trouble about that,” said Frank.  “All we have to do is submerge and move off.”

“And I suppose these other fellows will remain idle and watch us go,” exclaimed Lord Hastings sarcastically.  “Don’t you believe it.  We are likely to have trouble.  They’ll probably have a shot or two at us and we’ll be fortunate if one doesn’t strike home.  Besides which, if we do get down safely, they’ll probably chase us.”

“Well, they can’t find us under the water,” Frank stated.

“Perhaps not,” agreed Lord Hastings, “but we’ll have to come up some time and when we do they are likely to be waiting for us.  However, there is no use hesitating now.  Every minute makes our situation more precarious.  You may submerge to five fathoms, Mr. Templeton.”

Quickly Jack gave the command.  Immediately the bridge wound into the little conning tower, which at once closed, and the submarine began to sink gradually.

Lord Hastings glued an eye to the periscope and watched developments above.

“Just as I feared,” he exclaimed.  “They have seen through our ruse.  There is excitement aboard all the enemy.  Twenty knots, Mr. Templeton, and shape your course due north.”

The little craft leaped ahead as Jack gave the command; and at the same moment a torpedo, fired by the nearest enemy craft, flashed through the water where the U-6 had been a moment before.  It was a narrow escape.

A second torpedo flashed above the submarine just as it finally disappeared beneath the water; and a third did likewise.

Lord Hastings drew a breath of relief as he moved from the periscope—­he could see no longer, the water having passed over the “eye” of the submarine.

“We’re safe enough for the time being, at any rate,” he declared.  “Keep to your course, Mr. Templeton, until I give the command to alter it.”

Jack saluted.

“Very well, sir,” he said.

“And now,” said Lord Hastings, gazing about, “the question remains as to what is to be done with Davis.  Where is he?”

Frank looked about hurriedly.

“He was here a moment ago, sir,” he replied.  “He was right behind me.”

“Well, he’s not here now,” said Lord Hastings.  “There is no doubt about that.  However, he can’t have gone very far.  We’ll have a look for him.”

Frank followed his commander aft.

They peered into every compartment in that end of the vessel.  They searched the engine room and all other sections; but there was no sign of Davis; Lord Hastings scratched his chin in perplexity.

“Now what do you think of that?” he said slowly.  “But he was on this vessel and he can’t have got off.  Therefore he must be here.”

“There is one place we haven’t looked, sir,” said Frank.

“Where?” demanded Lord Hastings.