"Besides," interposed Frank, "we might be able to learn something of advantage." "What do you say, sir?" asked Jack. Lord Hastings hesitated. "I should say no, of course," he replied at last, "but I find it hard to deny you boys anything. I suppose it could be done, if you exercised the proper precautions." "We will, sir," broke in Frank. "Have no fear of that." "Nevertheless, it is just that that I am fearful of," said Lord Hastings slowly. "You see, I know you of old." "Then we can't go, sir?" asked Frank, greatly disappointed. "I didn't say that," replied Lord Hastings. "Then you mean we can, sir?" "Well, yes, if you will give me your solemn promises to be very careful." "We will do that, sir, won't we, Jack?" "We will," was his friend's reply. "In that event," said Lord Hastings, "you have my permission to go. You will also promise to return within three hours." "We promise that also, sir," said Jack. "Then you may go; but if I were you I would remove your uniforms and don civilian clothes. Then you may pass muster anywhere, as there are many foreigners in the city." Jack and Frank heeded this advice, and hastened to their cabin to change their clothes. CHAPTER XXVIII. A CAPTURE. In the little boat, in dark civilian clothes, the lads put off from the submarine, and soon were mingling with the hundreds of other little craft darting shoreward as fast as strong arms could drive them. "I guess we shall make it all right," Frank whispered to Jack. "Of course we shall," was the reply. "It'll probably be harder getting back." "We'll come through some way," was the reply. "Of course." At that moment Frank's attention was directed to a struggling knot in the water. "What's that?" he asked drawing his friend's attention. "Looks like a fight to me," said the latter. "Let's go closer and have a look." The lads steered the boat closer to the struggling heap, where they were able to make out three men fighting desperately, while nearby was an overturned boat. "One of them looks like a white man," said Jack. "In that case we shall have to give him a lift," said Frank. "Remember what Lord Hastings said," Jack warned his chum. "But we can't stand idly by while a couple of Turks drown a white man." "No, we can't do that," Jack agreed. With long powerful strokes they sent their boat closer. Then Jack was able to distinguish the faces of the combatants. "Two Turks and a German officer," he said. "I can't see why we should interfere on his behalf." "He is white," protested Frank. "Right," said Jack. "That puts a different face on the matter, of course." The boat was right up to the struggling trio. "No use wasting our energy," said Frank.