“Which way now, sir?” asked Jack.

Lord Hastings hesitated.

“They will probably be laying for us toward the west with their submarines,” he said, “and while we may be able to get by, it will be desperate work.”

“Then why not go due east, sir?” asked Frank.

“The Kiel canal is due east,” replied Lord Hastings.

“What of that, sir?”

“What of it? Surely, you would not suggest forcing a passage of the Kiel canal?”

“I don’t see why not, sir.”

Lord Hastings looked at the lad with surprise written all over his face.

“By Jove!” he said at last. “When it comes to finding ways of getting into trouble, you are the limit, as the Americans say.”

“But don’t you think it could be done, sir?” asked Frank.

“Well, I don’t know,” replied his commander. “It might be done, yes. And then again it might not. But what would be our object in getting into the Baltic?”

“Well, I understand that the Russians are having considerable trouble there,” replied Frank, “and we might be able to lend them a hand.”

“That’s true, too,” replied Lord Hastings. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Then what do you say, sir?” asked Frank.

Jack now added his voice to that of his chum, but for some moments Lord Hastings remained undecided. Frank, however, clinched the matter when he said:

“Well, there probably is no more danger that way than there is in trying to get out of here to the west, where every German submarine available is on the lookout for us.”

“Besides,” urged Jack, “they will watch the entrance to the Kiel canal less closely, because they would not dream of an attempt to force its passage.”

“There is some truth in that, too,” said Lord Hastings. “Well, the Kiel canal be it then.”

Both lads were jubilant, and they could not contain themselves, but expressed their delight with loud “hurrahs” and by tossing their caps in the air.

So it came to pass that the D-16 laid herself out on a course for the Kiel canal, the waterway which the Germans had constructed at such great expense, that her fleet in the North Sea and her fleet in the Baltic might ever be in touch with one another.

An attempted passage of the Kiel canal by a hostile ship or ships had been considered out of the question by all naval authorities. Such an attempt, it was claimed, would be too foolhardy and would be bound to end in destruction.

Nevertheless, Lord Hastings, while realizing all this, was not the man to turn from a purpose once he had made up his mind. He realized the full danger of the situation much more than did Frank or Jack, who, carried away by the opportunity of participating in what would be one of the greatest naval ventures of history, had at once lost sight of all possible danger.

Deep, deep down in the sea the D-16 made her way from the harbor of Heligoland, diving far beneath the mines that protected the German fortifications. And in her wake she left three sunken German ships of war and another so badly damaged that she would be out of commission for many months.

“I am willing to bet,” said Frank, “that the Germans either lay the raid to internal troubles or else claim that a British submarine flotilla of at least 20 vessels participated.”

“Right you are,” agreed Jack, “and they will probably add that the enemy was driven off with great loss, more than half their number being placed hors du combat.”

“At the same time,” interrupted Lord Hastings, “saying that ‘our losses were insignificant.’”

“Well,” said Frank, “I don’t suppose the government can afford to let the people know just how serious their predicament is.”

“That’s about the size of it,” agreed Lord Hastings.

The speed of the D-16, once she was beyond the German mine field, was increased to 20 knots, and she headed directly for the entrance to the Kiel canal. Frank and Jack both turned in.

With the coming of morning the D-16 was but a few miles from her goal, and Lord Hastings accordingly ordered the speed slackened that a close watch might be kept for mines.

At eight o’clock Lord Hastings checked the speed of the vessel and ordered that it be brought to the surface.

“But surely we are not through the canal yet?” protested Jack.

“No,” was the reply, “but we are almost at the entrance, and I want to take a look about.”

Jack did not protest further, and when the submarine again floated on the surface of the sea he followed his commander to the bridge.

There a startling sight met their gaze, for not a hundred yards away, riding gently with the even swell of the sea, lay a second submarine and she flew the Red, White and Black of Germany.

“Below quick!” cried Jack.

But Lord Hastings laid a hand on the lad’s arm as he darted for the hatchway.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be any one on guard, or we should have perceived some sign of life.”

The two peered long and earnestly at the German vessel, but not a sign of life could they make out.

“Must all be dead,” said Jack.

“Or asleep,” replied Lord Hastings.

“And that’s about what’s the matter,” agreed Jack. “What shall we do with the boat, sink her?”

“I suppose so,” replied Lord Hastings, “but I have another idea.”

“What is that, sir?”

“Well, forcing a passage of the Kiel canal is bound to prove ticklish work. Now if we could lay our hands on the officer of that vessel, we might persuade him to pilot us through.”

“A good idea,” said Jack, “if we could only get him.”

“We shall make a try at it,” said his commander.

“How?” asked Jack.

For answer Lord Hastings turned and went below, and in another moment the D-16 began creeping toward the German submarine.

At a distance of only a few yards she stopped and Lord Hastings motioned to Jack to follow him, as he dropped over the side into the little launch which had been lowered into the water. To Frank he called:

“If we do not reappear on deck within ten minutes, sink her.”

Frank indicated that he understood, and Lord Hastings and Jack put off for the enemy.

They clambered quietly aboard, and descended below without so much as being challenged. Just at the bottom of the companionway they came upon the figure of a man who emerged from one of the compartments. At sight of the British uniforms the man staggered back and his hand went to his side, but before he could draw a weapon, Jack had him covered with his own automatic and spoke quietly.

“One move and you are a dead man,” he said quietly.

“Who are you?” asked the man in a low voice.

“British officers,” said Lord Hastings. “And you?”

“Captain Bretog, commander of this vessel,” came the reply.

“Very good, captain,” said Lord Hastings. “You are our prisoner, and I must ask you to step upon the bridge.”

“How did you get here?” asked the German in surprise.

“In a little submarine of our own,” said Lord Hastings with a smile. “Come, now, captain.”

The captain moved toward the companionway, but just as he was about to go through the door, he turned and struck out at Lord Hastings. The latter dodged the blow and leaped quickly back, at the same time drawing his revolver.

“No more of that,” he said sternly. “Now move.”

But at that instant a German sailor appeared in sight. Perceiving the British uniforms, he cried out in surprise. An instant more and there came the sound of tramping feet, and half a dozen men tumbled into sight after him.

Lord Hastings put the German commander in front of him, and Jack stepped quickly to his commander’s side, their four automatics covering the superior numbers of the enemy.

“One move from any of you and you are all dead men,” said Lord Hastings calmly. “We’ll shoot you where you stand, and my vessel will blow you to atoms within half a minute.” He turned to the German commander.

“Captain,” he said, “order these men on deck ahead of you.”

The German made a move as though to refuse, but Jack’s revolver covered him and he did as commanded. The men, unarmed, filed up to the bridge.

“You next, captain,” said Lord Hastings, politely, stepping aside.

The German made a move as though to draw a revolver, and Jack was at his side in an instant.

“I’ll relieve you of your weapons,” he said quietly.

The German commander was forced to submit while the lad searched him and took his guns. Then, at another command from Lord Hastings, he followed his men on deck.

“Now,” said Lord Hastings, “you will instruct your men to lower that small boat and put off. Is this all your crew, sir?”

“Yes,” replied the German shortly.

“Good. For their sakes I hope you are telling the truth. For as soon as we are all safe, I intend to sink this vessel. Now order your men over the side.”

The German commander did as commanded, and soon the crew of the Teuton vessel were pulling away in the launch.

“Now, captain,” said Lord Hastings, “you will accompany me aboard my own ship.”

The German stepped into the D-16’s launch without a word, and the trio were soon aboard.

“Now,” said Lord Hastings, “if you wish, you shall have the pleasure of seeing me sink your vessel; or you may, if you would spare yourself that sight, go below.”

“I will go below if you please,” said the German.

Lord Hastings nodded his assent and Captain Bretog disappeared below as Lord Hastings turned to Jack.

“You may sink this German submarine immediately, Mr. Templeton,” he said quietly.

“Very good, sir,” replied Jack.

He saluted, turned on his heel and went below.