"I don't believe they were shooting at us at all!" commented Jimmie, musingly. "They can't see us!"
As if to disprove this statement, another flash lighted up the forward portion of the other vessel.
Ned grasped Jimmie's arm and pointed straight ahead.
Skipping from wave to wave, throwing up a fountain of spray from each, the shot from the steamer plowed its way across the path of the "U-13," passing so close that the boys were struck by the flying drops of water.
"That means that we are to stop!" declared Ned. "Next time they'll shoot _at_ us!"
"And hit us, too!" excitedly put in the other.
Without waiting for orders from Ned, the lad leaned over the coaming of the little hatch.
"Shut her off, Jack!" he cried. "Back on your engines. That guy thinks we are Germans!"
Jack at once complied with the request, and soon the "U-13" was gently rolling in the trough of the sea.
Frank sprang from the wheel to the ladder, mounting to the deck just as a beam of flame from a powerful searchlight aboard the steamer swept the "U-13" from end to end.
In the glare of the light the three boys stood plainly visible. They could not, however, distinguish the details of the other vessel because of the flaming eye regarding them with unwinking stare.
For a few moments they stood close to each other, uncertain what to do. At length a voice hailed them.
"Shall I tell them our name?" asked Ned anxiously.
"They've seen it on the side, anyhow!" scorned Frank.
"Don't let them think we're Germans. Don't you see they're English?" queried Jimmie.
"It doesn't signify they're English, even if they do speak the language," returned Ned. "Can't you answer?"
"Steamer, ahoy!" replied Ned. "We're a peaceful submarine manned by neutral noncombatants!"
"A likely yarn, indeed!" laughed the stranger. "Stand by to receive a boat. I shall send an officer aboard to investigate."
"All right, Captain," consented Ned. "Glad to meet you!"
Still standing under the unwinking eye of the searchlight, the little group waited expectantly for the arrival of the boarding party.
A splash of oars preceded the boat which soon shot out of the darkness.
In another moment an officer in uniform had mounted the little deck. Wonderingly he glanced about the group, now augmented by the arrival of Jack and Harry.