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Updated: June 19, 2025
Suddenly there came a shrill whistle from the little bridge of the submarine, standing high above the vessel, and covered with heavy canvass. The officer in command, Captain Von Cromp himself, dressed hi heavy oilskins, raised a hand, the signal to go ahead. A short, sharp signal to the engine room, a loud whirr of the motor, and the X-9 was speeding ahead.
"Sleep!" ejaculated Jack. "I couldn't sleep now." "No, I suppose you couldn't," replied the lieutenant thoughtfully. He was silent for some moments. "I'll tell you what I'll do," he said finally, "we have come to the surface again I'll ask Captain Von Cromp to allow you to go upon the bridge, if you wish. He realizes your feelings as well as I do, in spite of his apparent gruffness.
"Nevertheless," said the lieutenant, "you are likely to see action aboard the X-9, for I do not believe Captain Von Cromp will return to port until he has at least tried the effect of his torpedoes, on a ship or so of your countrymen." "May he go to defeat if he tries it!" said Jack fervently. "In which case," said the lieutenant with good natured tolerance, "you would undoubtedly go with us."
"Don't know," replied Frank, "unless they have sighted one of our ships." "By Jove! Let us hope not," breathed Jack. But this was indeed the cause of the excitement aboard the submarine. A British battleship had been sighted in the distance, and Captain Von Cromp was preparing to attack the unsuspecting vessel, which had failed to sight her enemy, although the latter was fully exposed to view.
"It's all right," he said. "Captain Von Cromp has given his consent. If you wish, I will conduct you up." "Thanks," said Jack, and the two lads followed the officer. Captain Von Cromp was on the bridge when the two boys emerged from below, and he walked over to them. "I regret," he said, "that you should have had to witness what you have; but it is the fortune of war, you know."
After some further talk, Captain Von Cromp followed him, and the boys were left alone on the submarine, save for the single man on look out. Frank walked up to the latter and engaged him lit conversation. A few moments later he turned Away, saying to the sailor that he and his friend "would take a turn or two about before going below."
Captain Von Cromp, with his experienced eye, tried in vain to penetrate through this wall of solid blackness. The wind kicked up the sea and the bridge was entirely flooded with water. There was hot a sound to be heard, save the heavy droning of the motor and the swish of the water passing along the sides.
"However, we are here and we shall have to make the best of a bad situation. Then, too, perhaps we can learn something that may prove of use to us later on." The lads dined that night at the officers' mess and became quite well acquainted with all of them. They found Captain von Cromp not half so gruff as he had been when they first came aboard.
"Good Heavens!" exclaimed Jack "You'll blow tip the submarine with all on board!" "My idea exactly," replied Frank carefully. "But " protested Jack. "The fortune of war, you know," said Frank, with some sarcasm. "You heard Captain Von Cromp say he wouldn't blame us for anything we might do. Besides, they didn't give the poor fellows on that British battleship any warning, did they?"
"The sole survivors of a British cruiser, sir," said Lieutenant Stein to the captain, indicating the two lads. "I have not learned their names nor rank." The two lads hastened to introduce themselves. "I am Captain von Cromp, commander of this vessel," said the captain gruffly. "You are my prisoners until I put into port and can turn you over to the proper authorities."
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