Part 26 (2/2)
It was a time for quick action Lieutenant Summers was equal to the occasion Unknown to the boys, he had ordered the three pounder unli so close to the small boat that the oarsmen were spattered by the spray and the boat rocked violently Nevertheless, exhorted by their commander, the rowers, who had ceased at first, bent anew to their oars Another e vessel and teer of shot
Jack, who had been watching develope, and called:
”May I estion, sir?”
”What is it?” asked Lieutenant Su for the other horn of land enclosing the cove,” said Jack, speaking rapidly ”He will land far out on a narrow peninsula If we send a boat ashore, on a tangent, we can strike the base of the peninsula in time to cut off his escape by land”
”Good,” cried Lieutenant Suo in it and point the way”
CHAPTER XXIV
THE MAN HIGHER UP
The -to the se sub chaser also
As Jack at the tiller, with four h the water at a tremendous rate, passed close astern, he was half fearful a de of the sort occurred, however, and not even a curious pair of eyes stared at them from the rail
This was to be accounted for partly by the fact that, i away Jack's boat, Lieutenant Summers dropped another overside from the davits, and, accompanied by Captain Folsoe sub chaser, which was down And those aboard had eyes only for him
At the last minute, just as he was about to enter his boat, he saw Frank and Bob watching hily fro?”
Did they? The two chums tumbled down the ladder and into the boat so quickly that the invitation was barely uttered when they already occupied seats
”Let us have a pair of oars, sir,” said Bob, ”for we can row, and otherwise, if you brought other oarsmen in, ould be in the way”
”Very well,” consented Lieutenant Summers However, he detailed two sailors to take the other pair of oars
The boat bearing the boarding party drew up at the floating stage and quickly Lieutenant Summers bounded over the rail, followed by Captain Folsom, Bob and Frank, and the two sailors The boys drew up in rank with the latter, while the two leaders advanced a few steps Nearly a score in nurouped at the foot of the bridge None co forward, Lieutenant Summers said sharply:
”Lieutenant Summers, U S N, come aboard Who cole seeroup, as if one of itshin froing in holsters about their waists, and prepared for trouble
”We'd stand a fine chance of getting shot without being able to talk back,” whispered Frank to Bob ”Neither of us armed”
”Huh,” Bob replied, out of the side of his un”
The flurry, however, was short-lived Suddenly, a shrinking figure was expelled froroup of ht fro full upon the scene
”There's your roup ”Tryin' to hide, he was”
The inbotha a step forward, ”so it is you”