"What I would like to know," said Frank Chadwick, "is just how long
England intends to put up with the activities of the German submarines
in the waters surrounding the British Isles."

"How long?" echoed Jack Templeton. "Surely you know that England is
already conducting a vigorous campaign against them."

"I don't seem to have heard anything of such a campaign," returned Frank
dryly; "but another big liner was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of
Ireland yesterday. What are we going to do about it? That's what I want
to know."

"I'll tell you a little something you don't seem to know," said Jack.
"In the last thirty days, in the neighborhood of a hundred German
submarines have disappeared--sunk or captured--no one seems to know
which. Nevertheless, it is a fact. Through diplomatic channels word has
been received in London that a large number have failed to return to
their bases. The German government is much disturbed."

"Where have they gone?" asked Frank, with some surprise.

"I don't know. Nobody knows--unless, perhaps, a few high government
officials. They have just naturally disappeared--vanished."

"How do you know all this?"

"I happened to hear Lord Hastings discussing it with Mr. Churchill while
you were out the other day."