The Boy Allies Under the Sea; Or, The Vanishing Submarines

y this time and advanced toward

?" he demanded of the man w

at, sir," was the reply. "They were unable to give a satisfactory account

e?" asked Lord Hastings,

take them for a couple

oked his chin a moment and then asked:

son, sir, who will return about m

tter a few moments, and then, with a ge

ee that it is an

ir," said the

o this time, but now the former took a

t of this, sir? You can explai

ngs turned

cumstances. I thought I knew you-both of you-but it may be that I have been mistaken. Stranger things have happe

r--" beg

fficer in

?" he asked of

e reply. "It would seem t

er. "Certainly they were making their

However, I shall not interfere. You

oys to precede him to the stairs at the far

hung

there, men," inst

and pushed his revolve

," he comma

egan the lad, but J

don't be a f

wed. At the top of the steps the boys were marched into a small

g to his friend, "what is

much about it as I

d Hastings would hav

dn't give

s so strange. It looks to me as thou

id about 'selling out.' Do you think

Men have been stood up against a wall and shot on less evide

, bu

d Hastings' actions, but you may be sure he has good reasons f

't believe that,"

possible; but sti

are we goi

ve to stay here until they decide what to

nced that their plight was more serious than they had at first supposed. It seemed very plain to them

ing when the key again turned in the lock of the h

riefly, motioning them t

obeyed th

nd the lads sat down before the firep

he place is surrounded. You would be shot down like dogs. Now

ppeared through the door and the

ed to sit here in solit

here; that's all I know about it. However, I

orner could not possibly have been in

by a slight squeaky sound. The lad glanced towa

one at the window

anything," sa

e came again. Jack sat

hat?" h

ded affir

re, all right

gh to rise, but

what happens,"

came aware that the window was being raised softly, and clear across the room they could hear the breathing o

mer laid a finger to his lips in a s

ose to them. "Tell me what you have l

stepped back

at?" demande

the man. "About the vanishing subm

aces of the two boys, the man smiled slightly

it is all right. Here. Look!" he exhibited a

took in the situat

no German,"

But I am in the game for what i

And you have been sent

to hurry. We may be int

anything," said Jack, "but we'l

Davis nodded understandingly. At l

ll you know?"

added to himself, "and a whole lot

t if we can get to the mouth of the

y opinion,

pass the word a

ndow and a moment later d

what did you tell that fellow? I

that the secret of the whole affair was at the mouth of the Tham

e kind of a hint as to th

smi

r of swift torpedo boat destroyers, equipped with submarine nets. I told him that these made

believ

I could do on short notice and know

n't so bad,"

t could have been worse,

which was suddenly broken by

pose that could

ed Jack. "What

e of the other British officers sent that

hought of that. Whew! Maybe I have go

" returned Frank glumly. "Yes, it wa

, it would be plainly evident we didn't know what we w

elled a mouse and acted ac

'll have to take what comes and that's all there is about it.

his eyes; and in the meantime Frank con

orm of a colonel of infantry, and several others entered the room. The uniformed man Frank immediately took to be Co

rman spies, eh?" sai

ed Frank hotly. "We are n

w does it happen you hold such friendly conver

k. So it had been

ir," said the boy, tur

the reply. "The question is, ca

e can," inte

took a hand again. He

e do with the

r you to decide," was

y to call a court martial

we have, I should say not

half to himself, "it seems to me that

ot the slightest doubt that they were in as

ou are all mistaken. However, we shall protest our

heir lives. Lord Hastings' stern expression gave way to a smile

, "you didn't thi

too stunned

"In the future, perhaps you will neither fall short nor go beyond you

sir?" excl

isoners," was the reply, "I simply used