FRIENDS AND FOES
There was reason for Frank's haste.
Swimming close together and bearing down upon the boat from the
opposite direction--almost as close from their side as Frank was from
his--four German sailors were racing.
They espied Frank and his friends at almost the same moment Frank saw
them. One uttered a cry and the others redoubled their efforts to beat
Frank to the boat.
Jack and Harris took in the situation quickly. It was then that Jack
exerted himself to the utmost. His great, powerful strokes sent him
skimming through the water as lightly as a denizen of the deep. A dozen
strokes and he had passed Frank. A few more only, it seemed, and he
laid hold of the boat and drew himself aboard. Standing erect he looked
around quickly. Then, stepping forward, he picked up an oar. He moved
to the side of the boat where the Germans were approaching and raised
the 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 can
do for you," replied Jack.
With this the Germans were forced to be content; for they realized that
Jack held the upper hand. It would be impossible for them to climb
aboard 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 how
long we shall be here. Is there sufficient water and food to go
around?"
"I'll have a look," said Harris. "Enough for seven of us for about one
drink 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 without
raising 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 of
these."
"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 fellows
climb aboard here, one at a time; and when you get in, remember you are
our 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 and
there is no food. We shall have to make for shore immediately. I'm in
command of this boat and you will have to obey me. Get out the oars and
row 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 toward
them, 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 we
let 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 stepped
forward.
"Did you hear me?" he said quietly, though it was plain to Frank that
he was very angry. "Cease rowing!"
"But----" began the nearest German.
Jack wasted no further time in words. His left arm shot out and he
grasped the nearest German by the coat. Raising him quickly to his
feet, he struck him heavily with his right fist and then released his
hold. 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, although
each bestowed an evil glance upon the lad. Frank, catching the look in
their eyes, muttered to himself:
"They'll bear watching."
"Harris," said Jack. "That man in the water is the one who would have
saved us a short time ago. He seems to be weak. Slip over the side and
lend him a hand, will you?"
Harris did so without question and a moment or two later the German
tumbled into the boat, where he lay panting, blood streaming from an
open 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 that
water," said Jack.
For his part, Jack stooped over the German soldier he had so recently
knocked unconscious and raised him to a sitting posture. Reaching over
the side of the boat the lad wet his handkerchief and applied it to the
German'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 it
ourselves."
"But this man must have a little," said Jack. "Pass it along."
Harris did not protest further and Jack allowed the German soldier to
moisten his tongue.
"Now get back to your oars," the lad commanded.
The German did as commanded and soon the little boat was leaping
lightly 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 for
a few minutes. I want to have a talk with our latest arrival. I'll be
with 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 hold
these fellows in check."
"Sure; unless they hit us over the head with an oar when we're not
looking."
"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 into
the boat. His wound had been bound up as well as possible under the
circumstances 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 lost
from the main fleet in the fog. Our wireless wouldn't work. Fire broke
out and we were unable to check the flames. When they reached the
magazine she exploded."
"I see," said Jack. "It's fortunate you weren't drawn under with the
ship."
"I was," said the German, briefly.
"What?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes. I was drawn under. I thought I was done for. But, under the
surface of the sea there was a second explosion. I felt myself flying
up through the water and then I shot into the air. When I came down I
was not far from your boat. I called for help."
"By Jove! you have had an experience few can boast of," said Jack. "I
wouldn'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 from
the nearest coast line. I am afraid you will not be able to make it in
this 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 out
here."
"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 born
to be drowned. We'll find a way out."
"I hope so. However, should you go ashore directly south of here you
would 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 than
a 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 passing
ship."
"That's what we thought before," said Jack. "When we saw your vessel we
thought we were safe. But you see how it turned out."
"Well, you'll just have to select a course and stick to it," said the
German. "By the way, these men of mine. You are likely to have trouble
with them. In our present situation I do not consider that we are
enemies, 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 a
drink!"