The Boy Allies Under the Sea Part 13

A searchlight from the other craft had been turned upon them, lighting _The Hawk_ up like day, while all those aboard could see was the blinding glare, the other boat being s.h.i.+elded by this light.

A shot rang out over the water--the sound of a heavy gun.

Lord Hastings took prompt action, in spite of the fact he could not make out the enemy.

"Turn the searchlight on him!" he shouted.

A second shot rang out and Frank heard the whistle of a heavy missile overhead.

He sprang quickly to the searchlight, and with a single movement, whirled it about. In another moment a second white glare lighted up the sea.

Frank pointed his light squarely at the point from which he could see the other light came. While he was unable to see the other boat, because of its light, he knew that once his own searchlight had found its object, those aboard the other craft would no longer be able to see _The Hawk_.

Then came the sound of a third shot, but this time the missile was not even heard, and Frank knew that he had been successful. The enemy had lost the range.

"Good!" shouted Lord Hastings. "And just in time, I should say. The next shot would have hit us."

"Yes, sir," said Frank quietly. "He's blinded us, sir, but we have done the same for him. Now what, sir?"

"By Jove! I don't know," replied Lord Hastings. "Here, Jack, stand by this forward gun, and be ready to let her go the first moment you can see the enemy. If we can manage to work out from under his light we may be able to get him. Frank, don't you let that light off him a minute."

"I'll keep it on him, sir," replied the lad.

So there the two boats were, less than a hundred yards apart, but still unable to do one another harm, unless by a chance shot. For, although the occupants aboard each craft could see the light of the other, they couldn't gauge its origin with accuracy.

Several times the enemy fired, but without result.

"Well, we've got to do something," declared Lord Hastings. "Can any of you suggest anything?"

"I believe I have a plan, sir," declared Frank.

"Let's have it quick," said Lord Hastings.

"Well, sir, I should say that if you would stand by the gun, Jack and I can slip over the side in one of the small boats. We'll make a slight detour, to get out of the blinding glare, then row toward the enemy.

Without the light in our eyes, we should be able to pick off a couple of the enemy with rifles. Then he'll have to s.h.i.+ft his light to hunt new foes. You can be ready and sink him the moment he does so."

"That's not a half bad idea," declared Lord Hastings. "It shall be done.

Over with you, lads."

Quickly Frank and Jack got a little boat over the side, procured a rifle apiece, and rowed away.

In spite of the fact that the glare of the enemy's searchlight was squarely upon them, they could not be seen because of the light aboard _The Hawk_ playing upon the eyes of the foe. So, though they rowed rapidly, they knew they were safe enough.

Out of the glare of the searchlight, they shaped their course toward the enemy, whose bulk they could now see looming up in the darkness.

"By Jove! It's another motorboat," Frank whispered.

Jack nodded his head in the darkness, but did not reply.

Less than a hundred feet from the enemy, Frank made out several forms forward.

"This is close enough," he whispered to Jack.

Jack s.h.i.+pped his oars and picked up his rifle. Frank did likewise.

"You get the one on the left; I'll take the one on the extreme right,"

said Frank. "Then get the one next your first man if you have time before he ducks, and I'll do the same."

"All right," said Jack. "Give the word when you're ready."

"Ready! Aim! Fire!" said Frank quietly.

Two sharp cracks broke the stillness of the night, followed almost instantly by two more.

When the lads lowered their rifles and gazed toward the foe, there was not a man in sight.

"Don't know whether we got them or they just ducked," said Frank. "We'll fire a couple of more shots, enough to make them take their light off _The Hawk_."

They did so, and a moment later their efforts were rewarded. The searchlight aboard the enemy, moved by an unseen hand, turned and swept the sea carefully.

"Row back!" shouted Frank, and seized his oar.

Jack followed suit. Quickly the little boat was brought about and headed back in the general direction of _The Hawk_.

And the enemy's boat was now lighted up by the glare of _The Hawk_ alone.

Suddenly the flashlight of the enemy fell squarely upon the two boys.

"We're gone now, unless Lord Hastings sinks them first," said Frank quietly.

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Bullets began to spatter around the two lads. One grazed Frank's ear.

"Guess we had better go overboard," he said, "They'll----"

"Boom!"

The voice of a single big gun spoke once.

"_The Hawk!_" cried Frank.

"Boom!"

The voice came again.

And then the boys were left again in darkness as the enemy sought out _The Hawk_ with his searchlight.

"Boom!"