"Wish that's all it was," muttered Bill.

"Tell us, what's up?" pressed Ted.

"Isn't very cheery news for a fellow knocked out like Jack after making
such a plucky fight for his life and saving his lieutenant," answered
Bill with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

Jack smiled.

"If I survived that, I guess I can hear what's troubling you," was his
reply.

"Well, it's bad news, boys---mighty bad," went on Bill. "Chief
Engineer Blaine reports a leak in the main oil reservoir to starboard.
That mine explosion loosened up the seams and the fuel stuff is slowly
but steadily streaming into the deep blue sea!"




CHAPTER IX

VIVE LA FRANCE!


Ted ran aft to the engine room to get a fuller report on the new
danger that confronted the _Dewey_. There he found that what Bill
Witt had said was only too true. Either portions of the flying steel
from the exploded mine had punctured the skin of the submarine, or