The German officer, having struggled to his feet in the meantime, now approached and stood over them. Perceiving they were no longer offering resistance, he motioned the sailors to let them up. The lads arose and faced the officer. "I realize your position better than you are probably aware," he said, speaking coldly, "and for that reason I shall overlook your attack upon me. I would have done as you did. I could not stand by and see a German ship sent to the bottom without raising a hand to prevent it. Go to your cabin, sirs." The boys bowed, and obeyed. But while the boys were scuffling with the German officer and some of the sailors, others had pushed a second torpedo into the tube. And a sailor shouted, making himself heard by dint of a very powerful voice: "Did we hit her?" Instinctively all kept count--one hundred meters, two hundred meters, three hundred, four hundred. Under the water no sound penetrated. Waiting was all that could be done. For a few moments nothing happened. Then, suddenly, every man on the boat, Jack and Frank in the cabin, the captain, officers and all, were almost thrown from their feet by a terrific jerk of the submarine. Another jerk, and still another. Then the submarine rolled as before--evenly. A moment and the regular purring of the engines was heard again. The submarine moved rapidly eastward. She was on her way back home. And an English battleship was at the bottom of the sea. CHAPTER VI THE AVENGERS Frank picked himself up from the chair into which he had fallen because of the sudden lurching of the vessel. "What was that?" he asked in alarm. "Have we been, hit?" "I fear there is no such luck," replied Jack. "What, I am sure, is the answer to the German torpedo." "What do you mean?" "The lurching of this vessel was caused by the explosion of the torpedo when it struck the British battleship." "But wouldn't we have heard the explosion?" "No; there is no sound under water." There were tears in Frank's eyes, and he was ashamed of them, as he said: "Think of all the poor fellows aboard! Do you suppose any of them will be saved?" "I am afraid not," replied Jack sadly. "And to think that we had to stand by unable even to warn them!" "It is terrible!" said Frank, sinking into a chair. For many minutes the lads were silent, each offering up a silent prayer for the brave men who had gone to death for their country. The silence was at length broken by the entrance of Lieutenant Stein. He noticed the boys' sadness, and spoke softly to them. "It is the fortune of war," he said quietly. "Remember, there probably will be many German lives snuffed out just as easily. Come, brace up!" The lads brushed the tears from their eyes and rose to their feet. "I shall speak of it no more," said Jack, huskily. "Nor I," said Frank. "Good!" said the lieutenant. "Now you had better turn in and get some sleep. You must be tired out."