"But this is unkind," she declared, with a shiver. "My husband and I have not our outer wraps, and the night is chilly." "I will mention the matter," replied von Schellen, stiffly. The wireless masts and aerials had disappeared. As the four passengers stood on the deck and wondered, the seamen entered the submarine through the manhole in the wake of von Schellen. When the last of them had gone into the conning tower the junior lieutenant re-appeared at the manhole to call: "A pleasant evening for four!" Then the manhole cover was closed and there came to those on deck a muffled sound connected with fastening it on the inside. "What does this new insolence mean?" cried the Englishwoman. "If you do not guess, you must soon know," replied her husband, throwing an arm about her. It was then that Mrs. Launce understood. She turned pale, but did not cry out. Perhaps a full minute passed before the submarine began to move forward. Dave Darrin, familiar with the sounds from below, knew that the rumble of machinery coming to his ears was caused, not by the engines used in surface running, but by the electric motors employed when running under water. "The brutes are going to drown us, as they did the hapless sailors they took from our boat!" gasped the Englishwoman. "Yes, my dear," replied her husband, "and you have said that you would prefer drowning to being a prisoner in Germany." "I still say it," she answered quietly. "We are to have our wish," said her husband. Dave Darrin remained immobile; Captain Kennor shrugged his shoulders without speaking. The prow of the craft dipped into the water, which soon came creeping up around their ankles. The forward deck was now out of sight, the water in which they stood rising toward their knees. CHAPTER XIII FACING THE PLANNED DEATH TURNING to Darrin the Englishman held out his hand. "Good-bye" he said, simply. "You have been a good comrade. I trust you have not been disappointed in us, either." "Let's not say good-bye yet," urged Dave cheerfully. "Surely we are not going to give up and drown, merely because a lot of German rascals so will it." "But we cannot last long in the water," protested the Englishman, mildly. "At least, sir," Dave suggested, "we shall not die until we have to. You swim?" "Once I did." "Then you can swim now. The sea is nearly smooth. Let us try to keep together. And you, Captain Kennor? You swim?" "Yes." "Good. We'll keep together as long as we can." At this moment the Englishwoman, the shortest of the quartette, gave a little cry as she found her footing giving way beneath her. "All together!" cried Darrin, with a cheeriness he did not feel, as he gripped the woman's left arm. Another drop of the deck sent them all adrift. The Englishman supported his wife on her right. Captain Kennor, nearly silent, but undaunted, swam slightly behind the others that he might offer aid wherever needed.