CHAPTER XVII.
AN ARGUMENT SETTLED--TEMPORARILY.
There came a sharp, metallic click; and after it the silence of deathaboard the U-16 for a brief second while Lord Hastings took Frank'splace.
Then the German sailor who had launched the torpedo cried out:
"Did we hit her, sir?"
Lord Hastings took his eye from the periscope long enough to answer:"Squarely on the bridge, my man."
The sailor gave a guttural exclamation of joy, in which his countrymenjoined. The three Englishmen had the presence of mind to say nothing.Then one of the Germans turned to Edwards, who stood by him at thatmoment.
"There goes one of your vessels," he said happily.
"Where many of yours will go before long," returned Edwards, turningaway to hide a grin.
"Then we hit her, sir?" questioned Frank eagerly.
"We did," returned Lord Hastings.
"Shall we go to the surface again?" Jack asked.
"Hardly," returned Lord Hastings dryly. "The men naturally would want togo on deck to have a look at their work, and when they saw a Britishsteamship floating safely they would probably do some thinking. No;we'll submerge still deeper and get away from here."
"And the people aboard the liner, sir?" asked Frank.
"Will have to shift for themselves," was the reply. "However, they arein no danger now."
"Very well, sir."
"You may submerge to ten fathoms, Mr. Templeton," said Lord Hastings.
Jack gave the order, and a moment later the tanks of the U-16 began totake in more water. When at the proper depth, Lord Hastings ordered fullspeed ahead.
"Where now, sir?" asked Jack.
"To where we can do the most good," was his commander's reply. "ToDover, where I shall make an attempt to acquaint the British authoritieswith what we have learned."
"And where we'll set a neat little trap for the enemy, sir," said Frankeagerly.
"We'll try," returned Lord Hastings grimly.
One of the Germans was now called to take the wheel, and, leaving LordHastings in the latter's cabin, Jack and Frank made their way aft. Here,as they passed the compartment in which the crew bunked, they heard acommotion.
The two lads entered quickly. There, in the middle of the floor,surrounded by half a dozen of the German sailors, stood Davis, andconfronting him was the British sailor, O'Brien. The latter wasspeaking.
"Yes, I called you a contemptible traitor," he said, thrusting his faceforward and speaking in German. "What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll show you," replied Davis.
He raised an arm suddenly, and, taking O'Brien off his guard, sent himto the floor with a blow to the point of the chin. The man lay still.
Frank's blood boiled.
"Guess I'll take a hand in this myself," he said through his teeth."I've been wanting to get at him for some time now."
In vain Jack sought to stay his chum. The latter shook off the detaininghand and sprang forward. Before Davis noticed his presence the lad wasupon him.
There was a resounding smack as Frank struck Davis lightly across theface with his open palm.
"You big coward," he said, "to taunt a prisoner. I'll teach you a littlelesson. Take off your coat."
For a moment Davis shrank back before the boy; but seeing the eagerfaces about him and realizing that the others expected something fromhim he jerked off his coat and faced the lad.
"You'll wish you had kept out of my path," he sneered.
It was plain to be seen that sentiment was about evenly divided amongthe German crew. The men knew neither of the combatants were German, andwhile they knew that Davis was a traitor to his country, they had apretty good idea that Jack and Frank were too. For some reason, however,none had the slightest doubt that Lord Hastings was a German.
Now Jack stepped forward, and, speaking in German, said:
"Men, as long as these fellows have got to fight, it may as well be doneright, eh?"
There was a general murmur of approval from the crew.
"All right," said Jack. "Now, we won't have any rules, except that thisis to be a straight fight. No kicking, biting nor gouging. Nothing butfists go." He looked Davis squarely in the eye. "Do I make myselfclear?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Davis sullenly.
"Good. Then when I say 'go' you can tackle each other until I cry stop,which shall be at the end of fifteen minutes, if you are both on yourfeet. And then you'll stop if I have to take you both in hand. Standback, men."
The Germans crowded back to the edge of the little room to give thecombatants free play. To most of them this was something new.
Most had seen many fights and duels, but it is doubtful if any had everwitnessed a stand-up fight with bare fists. They leaned forwardexpectantly.
Frank and Davis had both rolled up their sleeves and now awaited theword, Davis sullen and glowering, and Frank cool and collected,apparently, though to Jack's keen eye the lad was plainly very angry.Jack was not without some misgivings as to the outcome of the encounter,for Davis was much the larger of the two.
Also he was apparently much stronger than his adversary, and from hisposition Jack knew that he must know something of the pugilistic art. ToJack, an exceptionally skillful boxer himself, it looked as though Frankhad tackled more than he could finish.
"If Davis were only a German now," he muttered to himself. "But he'sEnglish, and, although he's a traitor, he'll probably give Frank atrimming."
"All ready," said Jack, watch in hand. "G----"
At this moment there was an interruption from the doorway.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded a stern voice.
All turned quickly. Lord Hastings stood in the doorway.
"I say, what's the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"Just a little personal affair, sir," replied Frank, stepping forward."Davis here and I are going to settle a difference."
"Hm-m-m," muttered Lord Hastings, sizing the two up critically. "And youthink you can thrash him, eh?"
"I think so, sir."
"Well, I don't," was the reply. "I have a notion to forbid it."
"Don't, sir," pleaded Frank. "It will have to come some time, and thesooner the better."
Lord Hastings was plainly undecided. But at last he threw open his armsin a gesture of permission.
"Go ahead, then," he said. "I'll stay and see fair play."
Watch in hand, Jack raised an arm. He was silent a moment. Then,
"Go!" he said, "and remember, fight fair!"
The two combatants had sprung forward before the words were out ofJack's mouth, and the latter was obliged to skip nimbly aside to get outof their way.
Davis rushed forward to meet Frank, who advanced more slowly, thoughwith confidence written large on his features. Jack, perceiving this,shook his head sadly.
Frank evaded Davis' first terrific blow, that must have laid him flathad it landed. Side-stepping neatly, he struck Davis a light andglancing blow over the right ear. There was little force behind it andDavis did not even wince. He whirled and rushed again.
Again Frank side-stepped and planted a light blow to Davis' head,following it up quickly with a heavier blow to the forehead. Davis shookhis head, and, raising his guard, stood still. Evidently he had decidedto try no more rushing tactics.
Frank, nothing loath to take the offensive, advanced confidently. Hefeinted with his left and drove hard with his right. He knew that hegauged the distance carefully and he was unable to account for the factthat the blow failed to land. A moment later he staggered back a triflefrom a blow upon the side of the cheek. Davis had outgeneraled himthere.
There was not much force to the blow and Frank smiled. Now Davisadvanced, and, feinting rapidly with both hands, placed his rightagainst Frank's mouth. But the lad had perceived the blow coming andstepped quickly backward, breaking the force of it, and was not hurt.Before Davis could cover, the lad placed a hard right and left to Davis'nose, bringing blood. Davi
s gave ground.
Frank followed up this advantage quickly and followed his man around theroom, striking out whenever opportunity offered. Plainly Davis wasbecoming rattled. He continued to retreat. Now Frank backed him into acorner and drove a hard uppercut to the chin. Davis' head jerkedbackward and struck the hard wood of the wall. Frank stepped back andallowed Davis to come out of the corner.
Davis, it could be plainly seen, was furiously angry; but he heldhimself in check, apparently realizing that victory depended uponcoolness and caution.
Frank advanced swiftly, swung and missed by a fraction of an inch, asDavis jerked his head sharply to one side. Before the lad could recover,Davis struck out viciously and landed flush on Frank's jaw. The ladstaggered back, but before Davis could follow up his advantage, Frankcovered and held his opponent off. The blow had been the hardest of thefight so far.
Davis, with more confidence since this blow, stepped forwardaggressively, feinted quickly two or three times, and sent a hard rightto Frank's sore jaw. Again Frank covered up and gave ground. Believingthat he had the lad at his mercy, Davis advanced quickly and swung hardwith his left.
With dazzling rapidity, Frank stepped inside and, catching the swingwith his left arm, planted his right fist squarely upon Davis' nose.Davis uttered a cry of pain and leaped back. Frank followed, pressinghim closely.
Davis seemed content to remain on the defensive now, and for the spaceof perhaps a minute warded off all the lad's blows with a reallyremarkable defense. Even Jack was forced to give him his due.
"He can box," he muttered, "but I doubt if he can keep his head."
But the end of the battle came now with sudden and unexpected swiftness.Frank, seeking to put an end to the fight, stepped forward, feinted withhis left, and drove his right straight for Davis' chin, swinging fromthe floor.
Davis jerked his head back sharply, and the lad missed. Before he couldrecover Davis had swung hard with both hands and both blows went home,one catching Frank in the abdomen, doubling him up, and the otherstraightening him again as it landed squarely on his chin.
Frank dropped to the floor and lay still.