started to tow us out of that particular part of the water.

"Our guns continued to bark at the destroyer, which was gaining on us.
Some of our shots went home. The little old tugboat was hit once, but
her master stuck to his task; and he undoubtedly saved our lives.

"Gradually we were pulled back, till at length we were under the
protection of the guns of our fleet. From the flagship, signals were
being flashed for our benefit. Ames read the flags through his
glasses."

"'Congratulating us?' I asked.

"'Blast him, no!' shouted Ames. 'He wants to know why in blazes we
didn't come out when we had a chance. Well, he wouldn't have come out
himself had he been here, and I've been on the flagship, so we needn't
feel sensitive about it!'

"And that's about all," Jack continued, "except for the fact that the
raid by the battle fleet was given up. We cruised about for several
days, in spite of our crippled condition. The ship's carpenter put us
in condition to stay afloat, but at last we returned. I came here the
moment I had landed."

"Well, you had a pretty strenuous time, if you ask me," declared
Frank. "Too bad, though, that the raid couldn't have been made. We
might have captured Heligoland."

"The Germans might capture Gibraltar," said Jack, with a vein of
sarcasm in his voice, "but I don't think they will -- not right away."