Part 23 (1/2)

Directly they gained the submarine, the hatch was placed quietly in position for prompt closing and the lines which held the boat were let go.

Owing to the movement of the boats caused by the roughened surface of the harbor creakings and groanings of the fenders had served to drown any noise the party had made in crossing the narrow bridge of planks.

Jimmie held the wheel as Ned gave the signal for casting off the lines. A touch of Harry's hand on the lever started the engines. The submarine began to move. Suddenly a loud splash alongside attracted the attention of all. Frank came scuttling down the ladder.

”Now I've done it!” he gasped. ”I forgot to shove the plank back onto the next boat and it fell into the water as we started!”

”Wonder if the guard has heard it!” speculated Ned. ”Let me up!”

Under protests from his companions the lad mounted the iron ladder and thrust his head through the hatch.

”I hear someone running along the dock!” he announced presently. ”I'll bet they have heard that noise! I see a light!” he added.

”What are they doing?” inquired Jimmie, holding the boat directly in the center of the channel as he peered anxiously ahead.

”A fellow with a lantern is running out along the planks,” replied Ned.

”They've got to the outside boat now. Now they're turning back.”

”Better get that hatch closed so we can dive,” admonished Jimmie. ”This is our time for getting out of sight in a hurry!”

”There goes their searchlight!” shouted Frank, who had crowded up the ladder close beside Ned. ”They're going to spot us in a hurry!”

”Ah,” cried Ned as a sullen roar came to their ears. ”They're taking a chance shot at us from that cannon on the hill. Let's dive!”

Quickly the two boys adjusted the hatch. As they signaled to their companions that this task was completed Harry and Jack turned the deflecting rudders. The half-manned submarine slowly began to descend.

”Get some water into the tanks quick, Harry!” called Jimmie.

”Pump's going right now!” declared the other. ”We're going down!”

”Take a look through the periscope, Ned,” requested the pilot, ”and let me know what you can make out. Can you see any buoys ahead?”

”Try to see if they've located us with their searchlight,” suggested Mackinder. ”Maybe they are getting our range with that gun!”

”Never mind about that searchlight,” snapped Jimmie. ”I want to find out what's ahead, not what's behind us. We'll run this boat!”

”I simply wanted to know,” objected Mackinder somewhat ruffled at the lad's peremptory manner. ”No objection, is there?”

”All the objection in the world!” declared Jimmie. ”You're quite welcome aboard as a pa.s.senger, but we'll navigate the vessel, please!”

Scarcely knowing whether to be amused or defiant at this att.i.tude Mackinder chose the wiser course and refrained from further comment.

Although the boys could not be sure that the persons on the island were making efforts to hinder their escape they felt the better course was to remain beneath the surface until well out of the harbor.

Directly Jimmie called the attention of his comrades to an object in the water at no great distance ahead. The rays of the searchlight with which the submarine was provided indistinctly revealed a huge bulk slightly above the level at which they were traveling.

”What is that, a s.h.i.+p?” asked Harry wonderingly.

”I'll bet a cookie that's a mine!” declared Jimmie positively. ”I'm going to give it a little more leeway, anyhow. It pays to be safe!”

Ned was working the periscope in an effort to locate the buoys as directed by Jimmie. Occasionally he turned the gla.s.s toward the group of buildings they had just left.

”They're shooting at us, I guess!” he stated presently. ”I can see the flash of that cannon. It seems to be pointed this way!”