"Oh, no," replied the captain. "That would be too Frenchy for the Germans. Besides, it would be too much by all odds. I am sure the conning tower is not more than twenty feet below the surface of the water." "Then the stern of the submarine must be sticking out of the water," remarked Alfred. "Unquestionably," replied the captain. "How far, do you suppose?" asked Ralph. "We can easily figure that out," said the captain. "Let me see; we must first get the angle at which the boat is lying." [Illustration: _The Entangled Submarine_] After looking about for some time he continued: "The door jamb is built in vertically; that is sure. A string, or piece of thread will make a plumb-bob; here it is: now let us see; according to the plumb line the boat is at an angle of 33 degrees, as nearly as our imperfect device indicates. There, now this line A shows the top of the boat and B the base of the conning tower. A line C, from the top of the water to the center of the conning tower, measuring 20 feet, shows where the water line is. Do you understand how I am doing it?" "That is very plain," said Alfred, "and it is an interesting way to get at it, too. Then how far is the tail of the boat out of the water?" "I should say it is about nine feet," replied the captain. "No wonder the propellers didn't do any good when they sent them spinning!" "There is one thing I forgot about," said the captain, as he shook his head. "Why didn't I tell you to note the time. We are in the greatest danger, I fear." "Why, what makes you think so?" asked Ralph. "This accident happened during the night, and we have now been in this condition for at least four hours. If we are caught here at daylight it is all up with us," remarked the captain. "Why, is it any more dangerous then than now?" asked Alfred. "Because the patrol boats and submarine chasers will spy us, and then a shot, and all will be over," replied the captain with a solemn voice. "Then I think we ought to do something right away," said Ralph, as he half rose and glanced out. "I am afraid that will put the burden of getting out of the nets on our shoulders," replied the captain. "No, let them work at it, as long as they care to, but we must try by some means to determine the time." "Do you think the seamen would object to telling us?" inquired Alfred. "Just let me alone; I am going to try it on, anyway," he said, as he slipped out of the door, picked up a box and stowed it away snugly at one side out of the way of a young fellow who was making his way up the incline toward the stern. Alfred struck up a conversation, and asked: "Can I help you in any way? Tell me what to do." The request seemed to warm up the fellow, and the information was given that the officer had instructed him to remove the stray boxes from the machinery. The two engaged in this work for more than fifteen minutes. Finally Alfred said: "How are you, pretty tired? You haven't had much sleep so far?"