CHAPTER XX
FRIENDS AND FOES
There was reason for Frank's haste.
Swimming close together and bearing down upon the boat from theopposite direction--almost as close from their side as Frank was fromhis--four German sailors were racing.
They espied Frank and his friends at almost the same moment Frank sawthem. One uttered a cry and the others redoubled their efforts to beatFrank to the boat.
Jack and Harris took in the situation quickly. It was then that Jackexerted himself to the utmost. His great, powerful strokes sent himskimming through the water as lightly as a denizen of the deep. A dozenstrokes and he had passed Frank. A few more only, it seemed, and helaid hold of the boat and drew himself aboard. Standing erect he lookedaround quickly. Then, stepping forward, he picked up an oar. He movedto the side of the boat where the Germans were approaching and raisedthe oar aloft.
"Keep off there!" he cried.
The Germans uttered exclamations of alarm; but they came closer.
"Keep back!" cried Jack, again.
"But you won't let us drown!" exclaimed one of the enemy.
"You stay there until my friends get aboard. Then I'll see what I cando for you," replied Jack.
With this the Germans were forced to be content; for they realized thatJack held the upper hand. It would be impossible for them to climbaboard while the lad stood there brandishing that oar.
Frank laid hold of the boat a moment later and clambered over the side.Harris was close beside him. Jack called a consultation.
"There is plenty of room for those fellows in here," he said, "but--shall we let them in?"
"We can't see them drown," said Frank. "Still, there is no telling howlong we shall be here. Is there sufficient water and food to goaround?"
"I'll have a look," said Harris. "Enough for seven of us for about onedrink apiece," he said, after an exploration. "There is no food."
"Well, what shall we do?" said Jack.
"Let them come aboard," said Frank. "We can't see them perish withoutraising a hand to help them."
"And yet they would not have helped us a short time ago," said Jack.
"One man would have helped us," said Harris. "Perhaps he is one ofthese."
"No, he's not," said Jack. "I would know him in a moment if I saw him.I obtained a good look at his face."
"Let them in anyhow," said Harris.
"All right," said Jack. He called to the men in the water. "You fellowsclimb aboard here, one at a time; and when you get in, remember you areour prisoners. Any foolishness and we'll pitch you back again."
The Germans offered no protest and climbed into the boat one at a time.
"Sit in the back, there," said Jack.
The men obeyed.
"Now," said Jack, "I'll tell you where we stand. Water is scarce andthere is no food. We shall have to make for shore immediately. I'm incommand of this boat and you will have to obey me. Get out the oars androw as I tell you."
The Germans grumbled a bit but they obeyed.
"No time to waste," said Jack, briefly. "We'll head south."
He gave the necessary directions and the boat moved off.
"Help!" came a sudden cry from the water.
Jack looked in the direction of this sound. A single head came towardthem, swimming weakly.
"Ship your oars, men," said Jack.
There came a grumble from one of the Germans.
"There is no more room," he declared.
"No," agreed a second. "There is not enough water now. Why should welet another man in the boat?"
"Stop that!" said Jack, sharply. "Cease rowing!"
The men made no move to obey. Jack stood up in the boat and steppedforward.
"Did you hear me?" he said quietly, though it was plain to Frank thathe was very angry. "Cease rowing!"
"But----" began the nearest German.
Jack wasted no further time in words. His left arm shot out and hegrasped the nearest German by the coat. Raising him quickly to hisfeet, he struck him heavily with his right fist and then released hishold. The man dropped to the bottom of the boat and lay still.
"Any more?" asked Jack. "Cease rowing!"
The remaining three Germans shipped their oars without a word, althougheach bestowed an evil glance upon the lad. Frank, catching the look intheir eyes, muttered to himself:
"They'll bear watching."
"Harris," said Jack. "That man in the water is the one who would havesaved us a short time ago. He seems to be weak. Slip over the side andlend him a hand, will you?"
Harris did so without question and a moment or two later the Germantumbled into the boat, where he lay panting, blood streaming from anopen wound in his forehead. Harris climbed back in the boat.
"Bandage him up as well as you can and give him a few drops of thatwater," said Jack.
For his part, Jack stooped over the German soldier he had so recentlyknocked unconscious and raised him to a sitting posture. Reaching overthe side of the boat the lad wet his handkerchief and applied it to theGerman's head. Soon the man recovered consciousness.
"A drop of water here, too," said Jack, quietly.
"Say," said Harris. "This water is precious scarce. We'll need itourselves."
"But this man must have a little," said Jack. "Pass it along."
Harris did not protest further and Jack allowed the German soldier tomoisten his tongue.
"Now get back to your oars," the lad commanded.
The German did as commanded and soon the little boat was leapinglightly over the waves.
"Take the helm, Frank," said Jack.
Frank relieved Harris, who had been performing this duty.
"Got your pocket compass, Frank?" asked Jack.
"Yes."
"Keep your course due south, then."
"All right, sir," said Frank, with a smile.
"Harris," said Jack, "I want you to stand guard over these sailors fora few minutes. I want to have a talk with our latest arrival. I'll bewith you in a few minutes."
Harris stepped forward.
"Ought to have a gun, I suppose," he said.
"I guess not," said Jack. "You and I together should be able to holdthese fellows in check."
"Sure; unless they hit us over the head with an oar when we're notlooking."
"But one of us must always be looking," said Jack, quietly.
"Well, that's not a bad idea. I'll keep my eyes open."
Jack moved to the side of the German who had been the last to get intothe boat. His wound had been bound up as well as possible under thecircumstances and he sat quietly, looking out over the water.
"What vessel was that?" asked Jack.
"_Hanover_" was the reply.
"What was the trouble?"
"Shot pierced our boiler room in the battle. Returning, we were lostfrom the main fleet in the fog. Our wireless wouldn't work. Fire brokeout and we were unable to check the flames. When they reached themagazine she exploded."
"I see," said Jack. "It's fortunate you weren't drawn under with theship."
"I was," said the German, briefly.
"What?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes. I was drawn under. I thought I was done for. But, under thesurface of the sea there was a second explosion. I felt myself flyingup through the water and then I shot into the air. When I came down Iwas not far from your boat. I called for help."
"By Jove! you have had an experience few can boast of," said Jack. "Iwouldn't care to go through it."
"Nor I--again," said the German.
"Now," said Jack, "perhaps you can tell me the nearest way to shore."
The German considered.
"I am not a navigator," he said, "I was only a minor officer aboard the_Hanover_. But I heard the captain say we were almost 100 miles fromthe nearest coast line. I am afraid you will not be able to make it inthis boat, if your water is as scarce as you say."
"By Jove!" said Jack, "we've got to make it. We don't want to drown o
uthere."
"It's not always what we like," said the German officer, sententiously.
"That's true enough," agreed Jack, "but I have a feeling I was not bornto be drowned. We'll find a way out."
"I hope so. However, should you go ashore directly south of here youwould be within German lines and you would be made a prisoner."
"Can't help that," said Jack. "I'd much rather be a live prisoner thana dead sailor."
The German smiled in spite of his wound, which, it was plain to all,was giving him great pain.
"Of course," he said, "there is always the possibility of a passingship."
"That's what we thought before," said Jack. "When we saw your vessel wethought we were safe. But you see how it turned out."
"Well, you'll just have to select a course and stick to it," said theGerman. "By the way, these men of mine. You are likely to have troublewith them. In our present situation I do not consider that we areenemies, so if the worst comes you may count on me to help you."
"Thanks," said Jack. "I shall remember that."
And the trouble was to come sooner than could have been expected.
One of the German soldiers suddenly laid down his oars.
"I want a drink!" he exclaimed. "I'll row no more until I have adrink!"