Al grumbled some, but did as he was bid. Cold as it was, the two boys making the attempt to reach the wrecked Zeppelin stripped to their underclothes. The _Colodia_ had passed the wreck, and now swerved so that the current would carry the two venturesome lads straight down upon the wreck. The two buoys were flung overboard, and Morgan and Belding slipped down the ropes and plunged into the sea. The first shock of it was tremendous. It seemed as though the water would freeze the blood in their veins and the marrow in their bones. But they cheered each other, each diving and coming up within the ring of the buoyant life buoy assigned him. Al and others payed out carefully but swiftly. All realized how icy the waters were. This rescue--if it was to be successful--must be made in quick time. The two rescuers whirled down upon the wreck. The framework was raised high upon first one wave and then another. There was danger of its parting and carrying away the men lashed to it. Phil Morgan and Belding knew that they had to do their work swiftly if they would accomplish the task they had set out upon. CHAPTER IX--“SCHMARDIE” The _Colodia_ was drifting more than a cable’s length from the wreck of the German airship that had fallen into the sea. Philip Morgan and George Belding were some minutes in dropping down to the wreck, each upborne by his life buoy, the lines of which were payed out by their comrades on the destroyer’s deck. The ropes soon grew very heavy and had the ship been much further away the two boys would have found the life rings of little aid to them. However, when the waves swept them against the twisted framework of the Zeppelin, they were still held well above the surface of the sea and were able to seize parts of the wreckage. Whistler signaled those on the _Colodia_ to cease paying out. Then he turned to look up at the struggling men above his head. George Belding cried: “All right, Phil?” He bawled the query so loud that Whistler heard him above the noise of the sea and the creaking of the wreckage. “Hunky-dory!” he returned. He pointed above, and Belding could easily read his lips: “Which of these Heinies shall we get first?” One man was already letting himself down toward the rescuers. By the trimming on his uniform the American boys were positive he was an officer--perhaps the commander of the Zeppelin. “Tell that fellow to pass down those who are injured,” Whistler yelled so that his friend could hear him. “I believe he’s going to try to hog one of these buoys!” Belding put up a hand to stop the German. The latter addressed the two American lads in English. “I am Herr Hauptman von Hausen. I am in command. Will your comrades draw me aboard in the bight of that rope?”