Still standing under the unwinking eye of the searchlight, the little group waited expectantly for the arrival of the boarding party.

A splash of oars preceded the boat which soon shot out of the darkness.

In another moment an officer in uniform had mounted the little deck.

Wonderingly he glanced about the group, now augmented by the arrival of Jack and Harry.

"Where is your commander?" he inquired somewhat stiffly, addressing no one in particular.

Indicating Ned, the boys silently waited.

"Are you in charge of this vessel?" asked the officer, with just a trace of amus.e.m.e.nt.

"I am and I am not," replied Ned, with dignity.

"That's very enlightening, I'm sure," returned the other. "But time is short, and I must see the person who is in charge, and that at once."

"The owner is lying in the cabin with a broken leg which he received as we were escaping from a German submarine," explained Ned. "We boys are trying to get to some port where we can secure the services of a surgeon."

"Oh," exclaimed the officer, "escaping from a German?"

"Yes, sir. They torpedoed another submarine that we were towing, and in casting off the towing line the gentleman below was caught in the line.

His leg is badly broken."

"Who is this other person?"

"He gave us the name of Mackinder."

A frown settled over the face of their questioner. Stepping forward, with flashing eyes he addressed Ned in a low voice vibrant with emotion.

"Now, if you have all the lies out of your system," he gritted, "we'll listen to the real story."

"That is the real story!" protested Ned. "Step below, if you don't believe me, and you may see for yourself."

"We have already seen enough to discredit such a wild yarn as that!"

declared the other. "Too many of our brave sailors have been killed and set adrift by the 'U-13.' Besides, the man you mention is certainly not in the cabin. I can swear to that. Now, will you tell me the truth?"

"I say, Mister," put in Jimmie, "suppose you go fifty-fifty with us. Who are you, and what right have you to stop us?"

A short laugh was the man's only answer. He turned to hail the vessel from which he had just come.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE MYSTERY OF THE "U-13"

"Ahoy!" his hail rang out over the waters. "Send another boat aboard us.

I will transfer the crew of this vessel!"

"Yes, you will!" scornfully replied Jimmie. "You'll do a lot, you will.

We have something to say about that!"

"I am more astonished than I can say," the officer replied as he gazed at the lad. "I had supposed that Boy Scouts would not under any circ.u.mstances lend themselves to a project of an unworthy character."

"Well, who has done all that?" bristled Jimmie, wrinkling a freckled nose at the man. "You're taking a lot for granted, I must say! Who are you, anyhow?"

"You'll find out quickly enough!" was the answer.

Turning at the sound of approaching oars, the officer quickly issued a few short commands.

In obedience to his orders, the boys were required to enter the small boat without even an opportunity of going below.

"Dodson," ordered the officer, "take a couple of men and search the vessel for others. We were informed there were but five, but they may have confederates."

Wonderingly the lads sat in the boat as they were rowed across the intervening distance to the steamer. Scarcely had they set foot on deck before a line was pa.s.sed to the submarine and the vessel was under way, towing their recent habitation.

An orderly conducted the lads directly to the cabin, where they were greeted by an officer seated at the head of a table. He arose as they entered and extended a hand to each.

Motioning to seats, the officer again busied himself with some papers on the table. For some time the boys glanced expectantly at each other, waiting for the officer to open the antic.i.p.ated conversation.

Impatiently the boys waited, listening to the regular throbbing of the steamer's propellers that told they were again under way.

At length the silence was broken by the arrival of an orderly. Saluting, he reported briefly to the officer. A nod dismissed him.

"Boys," began the officer in a kindly tone, "we find ourselves rather puzzled by some mysterious circ.u.mstances which we hope you can explain.

Will you a.s.sist us?"

"I a.s.sume from the looks of things aboard that you are English," answered Ned. "Am I correct?"

"You are. This is a scout vessel doing patrol duty along the coast. In common with others, we have been on the sharp lookout for a submarine named 'U-13,' which has been doing considerable damage to our shipping.

We capture it without difficulty, to find it manned by Boy Scouts instead of Germans, as we had expected. Can you explain that?"

"Yes!" laughed Ned. "That is easy. The boat you have captured is owned by a private individual named Mackinder, who has been amusing himself in a perfectly innocent pastime. He, like ourselves, is neutral, but unfortunately has gotten into rather compromising situations."

"Mackinder?" repeated the officer, wonderingly.

"Yes, sir," continued Ned. "He rescued us from our disabled submarine. He is now aboard his vessel with a broken leg."

"We had him brought aboard this vessel, and find that his leg is really broken," explained the officer. "But," he continued, "you have not quite explained your presence on a submarine."

"That is easy--" began Ned. He was interrupted by a sign from the officer.

"Just a moment," the other said. "We will have Mackinder in here, and perhaps he can explain a little of the mystery himself."

At a command from the man two orderlies approached. In a few moments the boys observed four sailors bearing a mattress upon which lay their late host.

At the same moment a group approached from the after part of the cabin.