The Boy Allies under Two Flags Part 19

"Coming right this way, sir."

"Can you make her out?"

"Not yet, sir."

"Let me know as soon as you can," was Jack's command.

It was fully half an hour later, and the cruiser was not yet plainly discernible to the naked eye, when the lookout called:

"She's British, sir."

"I wouldn't be too sure," muttered Jack to Frank. "She may be flying the English flag and still be an enemy. I don't trust these Germans much."

"Nor I," agreed Frank. "However, we will soon know whether she is friend or foe."

Slowly the cruiser drew nearer. Now the boys were able to make out the British flag flying at her masthead. There came a puff of smoke from the stranger, and a shot pa.s.sed over the bow of the Lena.

"Signal to show our colors," muttered Frank.

At his command the British ensign soon fluttered gaily in the breeze.

Came another shot from the cruiser.

"What's the matter now, do you suppose?" asked Frank. "That's a signal to heave to. If she's British, what does she want us to heave to for?"

The vessels were still a considerable distance apart, and night was drawing on. The answer to Frank's question came from the approaching vessel.

The British ensign flying at the masthead of the approaching cruiser suddenly came fluttering down, and a moment later the Red, white and Black of Germany fluttered aloft in its stead.

"By Jove!" exclaimed Jack. "I was afraid of it!"

At the same moment another shot crossed the Lena's bow.

Jack acted with decision and promptness. At a quick command the Lena raised the German flag. Then, as the German commander hesitated, fearing to fire lest the vessel really be of his own country, Jack signaled the engine-room for full speed ahead.

The Lena seemed to leap forward, and in a moment had turned her stern to the enemy, thus making her a harder target to hit. The German, evidently taken by surprise, could not bring her guns to bear in a moment, and that moment undoubtedly saved the Lena.

The small guns on the Lena, at Frank's command, were made ready for instant use, and the men were piped to quarters. Although well aware he was outranged by the enemy, Jack determined to fight his ship to the last.

"They'll know they have been in a battle unless they sink us before they come in range of our guns," said Jack grimly.

"You bet they will," replied Frank.

"Everything ready?" demanded Jack.

"All ready, sir," replied Frank, with a slight smile and a salute.

The second and third officers made their reports. The British were ready for instant action, and eager for the fray.

"We'll run as long as we can," said Jack, "but, if we can't outrun them, we'll turn about and give them a fight, anyhow."

This word was pa.s.sed along to the crew, and a loud British cheer rang out across the waters of the North Atlantic. Frank and Jack were forced to smile.

"The British sailor would always rather fight than run," said Frank.

"Right," said Jack. "This running rather goes against me, too."

Now the forward guns of the German cruiser were brought into action, and heavy detonations rang out across the water. But the German gunners had not yet found the range, and the fact that the Lena was so maneuvered as to keep her stern to the enemy made the task of the enemy that much harder.

Darkness fell, and still the flight and pursuit continued, but so far the Lena had not been struck by a single sh.e.l.l. She had fired but one shot at the foe--from one of her small guns aft--but this had shown that the German cruiser was not yet within range of the Lena's guns.

Now that darkness had fallen the huge searchlight of the German cruiser played full upon the Lena. Suddenly Jack and Frank felt a terrific shock, and the Lena, for a moment, seemed to pause in her stride. A sh.e.l.l had struck the stem of the vessel. There was an explosion and a single high mast crashed to the deck.

Quickly a score of sailors sprang forward, and at a word from Frank, cleared away the wreckage and tumbled it overboard.

"Nothing serious, sir," reported the second officer, after a hurried investigation.

"Good!" said Jack calmly.

Then, so suddenly that it appeared to be the hand of magic, the searchlight of the German cruiser faded from view. Darkness fell over the Lena intense darkness.

The glare of the searchlight had vanished so suddenly that for a brief moment Frank did not determine the cause of it.

"What is it?" he demanded anxiously.

"Fog," replied Jack laconically, "and just in time. With luck, we may make our escape."

The course of the Lena was quickly altered, and she once more headed toward the coast of England.

CHAPTER XIV

MISFORTUNE

At full speed the Lena continued her voyage through the dense fog.

"Is there any danger of our colliding with another ship, speeding along like this without knowing what is ahead?" asked Frank in some anxiety.

"Certainly," replied Jack. "However, it is a chance we must take. We know what lies behind, and the way I figure it is that it is better to take a chance on what may lie before rather than on what we know lies behind."

"Right," said Frank, and he became silent.

All night the Lena forged ahead at full speed through the fog, which hung thick and dismal overhead and all about; and all this time the boys did not leave the bridge.

The men were allowed to rest at their posts, but were kept on the alert, for, as Jack said, "we must be prepared for anything."