Part 30 (2/2)

By the time Jimmie had stripped and secured a knife to a belt about his waist, Harry p.r.o.nounced the tube ready for operation.

”Now, fellows,” said Jimmie, shaking hands with his chums, ”there's about one chance in a million that I won't get through this all right. If you are not up to the surface in five minutes, you may know that I've failed.

Then you'd better send out another lad!”

”Me next!” shouted Jack, beginning to remove his shoes.

Harry was peering from the heavy gla.s.s protecting the forward porthole.

As Jimmie stepped forward to enter the torpedo tube, Harry held up a warning hand. He turned an anxious face to his friends.

”There's something outside here!” he announced in an anxious tone. ”I saw it once, but didn't get a clear view!”

”What did it look like?” asked Jimmie. ”Is it alive?”

”I'm not sure, but I think it's another submarine!”

”Probably the real 'U-13' come up to look us over. Never mind those fellows. I'm going ahead and cut this wagon loose!”

”Wait a minute!” cried Ned. ”I see the craft over here to starboard. It's a peculiar vessel, too! I think I see a man!”

”I see him, too!” declared Frank from a porthole a short distance aft.

”Do you suppose he's trying to get us to descend again?”

”Maybe that's it! Let's try it, anyway!” offered Harry.

”Go ahead!” agreed Ned in a tone that showed he was again taking heart.

”Let's act on the suggestion. We can try our scheme later!”

Harry's hand had already found the levers. In a moment the ballast tanks were being filled with water. Gradually the vessel sank.

As the light grew more dim at the increased depth, Jimmie declared he could see the other vessel descending at about the same speed.

Presently the two craft were at the limit of their travel. The visitor rested on the deck of the Wanderer, while the 'U-13', in which the boys were imprisoned, hung again at an angle from the line.

Directly the lads saw the figure that had formerly attracted their attention. It was climbing the main shrouds of the wrecked s.h.i.+p. When the man reached a position level with their craft he began making signs and motions. In his hand he flourished a knife.

”Looks rather bad for us!” commented Jack.

”Don't you get him?” asked Jimmie impatiently. ”He understands our predicament and intends to help us! He motioned out that he is going to climb the rigging until he can find the rope. Then he'll slide down it until he lands on our stern. If we'll agree not to start the engines while he's there, he'll cut the rope. But we must be ready at the ballast tanks to let the vessel settle slowly to the deck of the s.h.i.+p, so he can get off and clear the line from the propeller!”

”I don't believe it!” stated Jack. ”I think he meant to cut the line as soon as he gets to it and let us settle down slowly. What would be the sense of his riding around the ocean seated on the stern of a disabled submarine? He's got too much sense for that!”

”Maybe you're right!” admitted Jimmie. ”Let's float the boat on an even keel and see. I'm going to dress again!”

Even as the lad hastened to put on his clothes the boys felt a sudden dip made by the submarine. Gradually they descended.

”Hurrah, he did it!” exultantly cried Ned. ”Now, where has he gone? I do hope he'll free the propeller wheel at once!”

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