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Updated: June 1, 2025
Frank divined that he was about to give the signal to fire a torpedo at the defenseless vessel. Frank's heart leaped into his mouth; and he pressed the little button beneath his finger. And once again the signal board on the U-16 glowed red: "Fire!" There came a sharp, metallic click; and after it the silence of death aboard the U-16 for a brief second while Lord Hastings took Frank's place.
"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 to take in more water. When at the proper depth, Lord Hastings ordered full speed ahead. "Where now, sir?" asked Jack. "To where we can do the most good," was his commander's reply.
Even the three British sailors aboard the U-16 were cheerful, for although they did not realize the exact import of their mission, they knew Lord Hastings well enough to realize that he was acting in this manner only because there was some big duty to perform. They were content to follow him blindly.
"You have just as much idea as I have," declared Lord Hastings. "However, we shall probably know in good time." And he was right. Half an hour later a small boat approached the side of the U-16. In response to a signal from Lord Hastings, who had perceived his approach, a subordinate officer clambered aboard. "Captain Tarlenhein?" he inquired.
The U-16 had now come within perhaps a hundred and fifty yards of the other submarine, which in turn was possibly another hundred yards from the big liner. The voice of the commander of the German under-water craft carried plainly to the U-16. "Five minutes more," he called to the commander of the liner. "I can wait no longer. If all have not left the ship by that time, I shall sink you anyhow."
The submarines came to the surface now, in accordance with previous instructions, and Admiral Schuler, by a signal with his light, instructed the U-16 to proceed ahead. The other vessels dropped back a little. "Well," said Lord Hastings to Frank and Jack, who stood beside him on the bridge, "here goes. May good fortune attend us." He gave Jack the command: "Full speed ahead!"
"There is no use talking," said the latter. "It seems rather peculiar to be sailing under the German flag." "And that's no joke," Jack agreed. "I hope we will not have to do it long." It was late in the evening when the submarine approached Ostend, where it was known that the Germans had established a submarine base. The U-16 went along slowly, for Lord Hastings was not certain of his bearings.
"Sh-h-h," whispered Lord Hastings. "Here he comes." The small boat scraped the side of the U-16 at this juncture. A man in the full uniform of a German lieutenant commander stepped aboard. Lord Hastings advanced to meet him with extended hand. Jack and Frank followed their commander closely. "I am Captain Bernstorff," said Lord Hastings quietly, "and you?"
The conning tower was hermetically closed instantly and Lord Hastings took his place at the periscope. When the U-16 had submerged until the periscope barely protruded above the water's edge, Lord Hastings ordered: "Hold her there!" Orders came thick and fast now. Gradually the U-16 swerved a bit, to better bring her torpedo tubes to bear.
"Of course, we already had our agents there in fact, I was one of them, and my two friends here. We were instructed to report to Captain Tarlenhein aboard the U-16 at a certain time. We did so, the vessel at that time lying off the Thames. Captain Tarlenhein had other instructions for us. We went ashore again and there encountered trouble. We were captured.
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