Into the periscope--which protruded slightly above the surface of the water while the submarine was still submerged--came the vision of a sinking warship, and the sight, enlarged by powerful binoculars, was apparent to Frank's eyes. "She's done for, all right," he said quietly, turning away at length. "Pretty good shooting, I should say." "One torpedo only," replied Jack briefly. "You may give the signal to rise, Mr. Templeton," said a third voice, and Lord Hastings, commander of the submarine, stood before them. Jack turned away in response to this command. Another moment and the pumps were at work, forcing the water from the tanks. Gradually the submarine began to rise, and at last rode quietly upon the surface of the North Sea. Followed by Jack and Frank, Lord Hastings led the way up through the little conning tower, opened now that the submarine was above water, and from there to the bridge, only a few feet above the surface of the sea. Here all turned their eyes toward the east, where, less than half a mile away, a German ship of war was slowly sinking by the head. "A good shot, Mr. Templeton," said Lord Hastings, turning to Jack. "Pretty fair, sir," was the latter's modest reply, for he had launched the torpedo with his own hand. Aboard the sinking German vessel all was confusion. Men rushed hither and thither in wild excitement. Officers shouted hoarse commands. Men scrambled wildly about and jumped madly for the life boats as they were launched. So great was the panic that two of the small boats were overturned and the men thrown into the sea. "They'll be drowned!" exclaimed Frank. He turned to Lord Hastings. "Cannot we rescue them, sir?" "It is impossible," was the quiet response. "We have no room for them. We are carrying a full crew, as you know, and have no room for another man." "But it is terrible to let them drown," protested Frank. "True," replied his commander, "and yet think how some of our merchant vessels have been sent to the bottom without warning and their crews to a watery grave, noncombatants though they were. It is retribution; no less." Frank was silent, but he stood watching the struggling German sailors with an anxious eye. Now the officers aboard the sinking vessel had succeeded in gaining some semblance of order from the confusion that had reigned a few moments before, and the enemy was going about the work of launching the boats more coolly and successfully. At last all the boats and the crew had left the ship--all but one man, who still stood calmly upon the bridge. This was the commander, who, rather than leave his ship, was preparing to go down with her. In vain did his officers from the boats call upon him to jump. To all their calls he turned a deaf ear, and stood calmly at his post, with folded arms.