Jack repeated the command with alacrity; and when the D-17 had risen so that her periscope barely protruded above the top of the water, she was kept stationary. "What do you see, sir?" asked Frank of Lord Hastings, who now peered intently into the periscope. "German battleship half a mile to port and another half a mile astern," was the reply. "The others are too far away for us, although they might reach us with a shell if their lights should happen to pick us up. We'll make for the fellow to port and trust to luck that we get near enough without being spotted." He gave the necessary directions to Frank, who had taken the wheel. Fortune was with the D-17 this night, for the submarine approached within less than a hundred and fifty yards of the German battleship without being perceived. There, at a command from Lord Hastings, she became stationary. "No. 1 torpedo!" commanded Lord Hastings suddenly, and gave the range. Jack touched a little button, and the signal board flashed red. "Attention!" was the next command that glowed in letters of fire. The British sailor at No. 1 torpedo stood ready to release his instrument of destruction. There was a slight pause. Then: "Fire!" Followed a slight metallic click as the engine of death sped on its way over the water. Contrary to the expectations of the others, Lord Hastings did not immediately give the command to submerge. Instead, he stood perfectly motionless, peering into the periscope. There was silence aboard the D-17, broken finally by Frank, who could stand the suspense no longer: "Did we hit her, sir?" For answer, Lord Hastings stepped aside and motioned the lad to his place at the periscope. Frank, turning the wheel over to a sailor, sprang forward quickly. And here is what he saw: A short distance to port, a huge German battleship was slowly sinking by the head. Fully half a hundred great searchlights--the eyes of the many other German ships of war--played upon the sinking vessel now, lighting her up like day. Movements aboard the sinking vessel were plainly visible to Frank. Men rushed hither and thither in the greatest confusion, and while Frank could hear no sounds there below the water, there was every indication of shouts and cries of panic and of fright. An officer rushed aft and sought to maintain some semblance of order among the members of the crew who were seeking to get a small boat over the side at that end of the ship. A German sailor struck him down with a blow of his fist and returned to his place at the boat. Men struggled frantically. The German officer picked himself up and drew a revolver; then advanced again upon the sailors. One sprang forward, but fell sprawling upon the deck. No sound came to Frank, but he knew that the German officer had fired.