"Fifteen," he said to himself. "Well, that's not so bad. Now, I wonder how long I shall have to wait." He drew his revolver from his pocket and looked at it long and earnestly. "No," he said aloud, and thrust it back into his pocket. Then he sat down to await the moment when the D-16 must split open as the result of the death blow she had received. When Jack released the catch that sent Frank flying into space, the lad's breath was taken away by the force of his upward flight; but a moment later he felt himself upon the surface of the sea and cooling draughts filled his lungs. Sputtering and gasping he inhaled great breaths, and then, mindful of Jack's injunction, he set about keeping himself afloat. Rescue was near at hand; for the first of the sailors had already been picked up by the crew of a British warship, and had told his story. Small boats now floated about looking for other arrivals from the deep. A boat approached Frank and he was dragged over the side. Then he lost consciousness. He was taken aboard the warship and put to bed immediately, as was Lord Hastings when he was picked up a few moments later. To Jack, sitting below in the doomed submarine, came thoughts of the past. In his mind he reviewed his meeting with Frank, and later, with Lord Hastings. Memories of the earlier days of the war came back to him vividly and he recounted to himself the dangers he and Frank had faced together. "Oh, well," he said at last, "it is all over now." He arose and made his way toward Lord Hastings' cabin; but even as he set foot over the threshold, the D-16 gave a sudden lurch. "Guess this will finish it," said Jack aloud. But, to his amazement, the submarine, instead of going deeper, seemed to be rising. With a faint hope fluttering in his heart, Jack glanced at the indicator. It was true. The D-16 was going up--not down. Jack stared at the indicator like one fascinated. "Six fathoms, five fathoms, four fathoms," it read. Jack was moved to action. "There is still a chance," he told himself. "I know the submarine is wounded unto death, but if she should happen to leap clear of the water, I must be prepared." He ascended the steps toward the bridge, and stood close to the door that would give him life should the D-16 really come to the surface, if only for a moment. With his hand upon the lock, Jack waited, his eyes, meanwhile, still fastened upon the indicator, which he could barely see from his present position. "Two fathoms," it read, "one fathom, half a fathom," and then Jack suddenly threw open the door, and with a single jump, was upon the bridge, even as the D-16 leaped clear of the water for a brief instant, before she settled again, to rise no more. That brief instant was enough, for in it Jack was able to hurl himself clear of the vessel, into the sea, where he struck with a loud splash, and a shock at the icy coldness of the water.