CHAPTER XIX
FROM THE DEAD
At Jack's cry of amazement Frank slowly opened his eyes. Hisconstitution was not nearly as strong, as that of his hugefriend. He was almost unconscious as the result of his terriblefall. But he recognized his chum in an instant, smiled feebly,and then his muscles relaxed. He lay a dead weight in Jack'sarms.
Quickly the lad looked round for some sign of a vessel, or apiece of wreckage to which to cling until he could be picked up.There was none, so still carrying his friend he struck out in thedirection of the nearest ship, which could even now be seenapproaching.
The sounds of battle still continued, but they gradually grewless as the Austrian fleet, or what was left of it, retired tothe protection of its land batteries.
Four warships sent to the bottom of the sea, three submarinesmissing, and undoubtedly gone forever, and a half score oftorpedo boats sunk, was the Austrian loss. The French had losttwo battleships, a submarine and three torpedo boats. Theheaviest losses sustained by both sides had been to the airfleets.
Now the approaching vessel drew closer to Jack, and he at lengthrealized that he had been seen. A small boat put off to him.Strong arms gripped him and pulled him and Frank into the boat,and a hearty voice exclaimed in English:
"By Jove! They're English! Now, how do you suppose they gothere?"
Jack was conscious of a pleasant sensation at hearing his nativetongue spoken thus, but he was too exhausted to take muchinterest in it then. He fell back unconscious.
But, if the lad was surprised at thus being addressed in English,there was still a greater surprise and joy in store for him--andfor Frank.
When Jack reopened his eyes, he lay in a small but well-furnishedcabin. Frank lay near him. He already had returned toconsciousness, and even now was glancing curiously about.
He glanced at Jack as the latter opened his eyes.
"By George!" he ejaculated. "I was afraid you were done for, youlay there so quietly. How did I come here?"
"Why," said Jack, "you toppled into the sea right beside me, andI grabbed you and held on until we were picked up."
"Then," cried Frank excitedly, "you were aboard the first planethat dived into the dirigible?"
"I was there," replied Jack briefly.
"By Jove! I thought so. It looked like some your doings. And,if you hadn't thought of that method of attack, the whole Frenchfleet probably would have been sunk!"
"Well, somebody had to do it," said Jack modestly. "I notice youweren't far behind yourself."
"Well," said Frank quietly, "I am glad we accomplished the tasksuccessfully. Where are we now?"
"I don't know exactly," replied Jack. "But, as we were pickedup, I heard someone talking in English. I believe that we are onan English ship that happened on the scene just in time to getinto the battle."
"Well--" began Frank, and stopped suddenly, staring open-mouthedat a figure now framed in the doorway of the little cabin.
Jack turned his eyes in that direction, and also was strickenspeechless.
"Am I dreaming?" muttered Frank at last. "It--it can't be."
"'But it is," exclaimed a well-known voice, and a dignified andmilitary figure marched into the room--the figure of LordHastings, whom the boys had so long mourned as lost.
In spite of their exhausted condition, both boys were upon theirfeet instantly, and each had him by the hand.
"But you went down with the Sylph," protested Jack.
"You were drowned," declared Frank. "I saw you go down."
"So you did," replied Lord Hastings, laughing a little. "But Icame up again. I came up near a piece of floating wreckage, towhich I clung for more than twenty-four hours before I wasfinally picked up by a British torpedo boat."
There were tears in the eyes of both boys as they clung to theirold commander.
"But what happened to you?" Lord Hastings continued. "I inquiredeverywhere, and could find no trace of you. I was certain thatyou had gone down, and I was never so surprised and overjoyed inmy life as when you were lifted aboard the Sylph a few hoursago."
"The Sylph!" ejaculated Jack.
"Yes," replied His Lordship, smiling a little, "I have christenedthis vessel the Sylph II, but I always speak of her as the Sylph.But come, tell me about yourselves."
Briefly Frank related the experiences they had gone through sincethe Sylph had been sunk.
"Nothing you do can surprise me any more," declared LordHastings, when Frank had finished his narrative. "But now, as tothe future, do you wish to remain aboard the Marie Theresa, orwould you like to come with me?"
"Would we!" ejaculated Jack fervently.
"I should say we would!" declared Frank decisively.
"Well," said Lord Hastings, "I have no doubt that it can bearranged. I shall speak to Captain Dreyfuss at once."
"Is Lieutenant Hetherington alive?" asked Jack suddenly.
"No," replied Lord Hastings sadly, "we three are the solesurvivors of the Sylph."
"But what are you doing in these waters?" demanded Frank.
"Well," replied Lord Hastings, "it's somewhat of a secret, but Idon't mind telling you. I am on the trail of the German cruiserEmden."
"The Emden!" ejaculated both lads.
"Exactly. She has become a terrible menace to British shipping.While she is probably more than a match for the Sylph, if I comeup with her I shall stay on her trail until I can raise a cruiserbig enough to tackle her. My job is to find her, and, when I do,I guarantee I shall never lose sight of her."
"Good!" cried Jack. "Now, if you can fix it up with CaptainDreyfuss, we are ready to go with you."
"Would you like to accompany me?" asked the commander of theSylph.
The lads signified their assent. An hour later they were allseated in Captain Dreyfuss' cabin aboard the Marie Theresa.
"And where is Pierre?" demanded Captain Dreyfuss of Jack.
"Gone!" replied the lad quietly. "He died the death of a hero."
"And do you mean to tell me," demanded the captain, "that you twolads were in the machines that dived head first into the enemy?"
"It was Jack who conceived the idea and made the first attack,"replied Frank.
Captain Dreyfuss turned to Lord Hastings.
"And these are the two lads you are asking me to give up to you,eh?" he said severely.
"Well," replied Lord Hastings, "I certainly should like to havethem back again. But, of course, if you do not give your consent--"
Captain Dreyfuss interrupted him with a wave of the hand, andturned to the boys.
"And what do you say, sirs?" he demanded. "Have you not beentreated well aboard my ship?"
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "but--"
Frank's heart fell. From the captain's tone, it was apparentthat he did not intend to let them go.
"And you, sir?" demanded the captain of Frank.
"We have no cause to complain," replied Frank. "But LordHastings--"
"Enough!" interrupted Captain Dreyfuss. "It shall be as yousay." He turned to Lord Hastings.
"Take them," he said, "and I am sure you will never find twobraver lads."
"Thank you, sir," said both boys.
The commander of the Marie Theresa arose to his feet, signifyingthat the interview was over, and extended a hand to each lad.
"Good luck," he said simply. "You may go now. I have somematters to discuss with your new commander."
The boys saluted and went on deck, where they awaited LordHastings.
It was several hours later before they returned aboard the Sylph.No sooner were they aboard, however, than Lord Hastings orderedthat the vessel be put under way immediately.
"I have wasted time enough here," he told the lads. "I must geton the trail of the Emden at once."
The lads were given quarters corresponding to the ones they hadhad on the old Sylph. The vessel was built along the same linesas the Sylph I, and had been fitted out just as luxuriously andcomfortably. It wa
s, in times of peace, well adapted for apleasure yacht.
The Sylph II carried a goodly array of fighting material,however, and a crew of 150 men.
It was while dining that night that Lord Hastings gave the boysthe surprise of their lives.
"I presume you know," he said quietly, "that as the two survivingofficers of the Sylph, you now move into the vacancies left bythe death of my first and second officer?"
"What!" exclaimed both lads in the greatest surprise.
"Oh, you heard me," replied Lord Hastings. "But which of you isto be which?"
"But how about your present officers?" demanded Jack.
"They will understand when I explain to them," replied LordHastings. "Now, which is to be my first officer?"
"Jack, sir," said Frank.
"Frank, sir," said Jack.
"Come," said His Lordship, "I have a way to decide."
He took two toothpicks, and broke one off a little shorter thanthe other. He put them behind his back for a moment, and thenheld his hand out in front of him.
"Whoever draws the shortest stick," he said, "shall be my firstofficer. Draw!"
Jack took one of the toothpicks and Frank the other. Then theycompared them.
Frank dropped his and slapped Jack heartily on the back.
"Good!" he said joyfully, "you've won."
Boy Allies under Two Flags Page 19