Part 25 (1/2)

”Then we'll head for the little old U. S. A.!” cried Jimmie.

”You're right we will. When we get there, we'll chase ourselves out to Long Island. The first thing I'll do will be to get the factory started on another engine like the Grey Eagle's!” declared Harry.

”Good enough! Now let's be 'wenting'!” added Jimmie.

”But, boys,” objected Ned, ”this. .h.i.t or miss fas.h.i.+on of navigating is not correct. Something may happen to change our course. If we don't know what we are doing, we might get into lots of trouble!”

”Maybe you're right, Ned!” a.s.sented Frank. ”What shall we do?”

”I think we'd better cruise carefully along on the surface until we see a s.h.i.+p. We can ask them for our lat.i.tude and longitude. From that we'll be able to lay a course to any point.”

”Maybe they'll give us a chart, too!” put in Harry.

”All right, then, here goes!” shouted Jimmie preparing to slide down the ladder. ”Somebody'll have to keep on deck.”

Harry at once followed Jimmie into the interior. The engines responded to his touch. The new ”U-13” sprang forward half submerged.

”We've got plenty of gas in the tanks, Harry,” stated Jimmie to his chum as the latter moved about the interior looking after the machinery.

”We're making only about fifteen miles now by this log.”

”I'll give them another touch,” responded Harry. ”The sooner we get there, the quicker we'll arrive, so here goes!”

The increased speed of the engines urged the submarine ahead at a goodly rate. Jimmie presently declared that the log indicator showed a good twenty-five miles an hour. Those on the little deck above the conning tower found the increased speed uncomfortable by reason of the das.h.i.+ng spray, but all felt that this was not unendurable.

”Sail, ho!” Ned presently called down the hatchway.

”Where away?” asked Harry, looking up at his comrade.

”Almost dead ahead!” replied Ned. ”We're overhauling them fast. It looks to be a three masted s.h.i.+p as nearly as I can make out!”

”Hold your course, Jimmie!” directed Jack. ”We'll come up close enough to hail them in a little while just as we are heading!”

In a few minutes the s.h.i.+p was so close that all could make out the details of her rigging. It was a large three masted square-rigged vessel evidently in ballast for the hull was high out of water.

”I believe they see us!” announced Frank, using a pair of binoculars he had found among the fittings of the submarine.

”Can you make out the flag at the peak?” asked Jack.

”Yes, I think so. I believe it is the British flag.”

”Then, they'll be glad to help us out, especially if they find that we intend to turn the 'U-13' over to their government!”

”I don't know about that!” doubted Frank. ”I see men running aloft. It looks as if they're rigging out studding sail booms on the main yards.

And I see others on the topsail yards,” declared the boy.

”Why, in that case, they're trying to get away from us!”

”It certainly looks that way. Now I can see men setting the studding sails on the booms. They are putting on every rag the old hooker will carry!” cried the lad excitedly.

”I know why,” stated Harry. ”They think we're a German submarine chasing them and they're trying to get away!”