"Have a boat lowered away!" ordered the Commander turning to the young lieutenant, "and board that sub with an armed crew. Don't take chances. If you find any one, take them dead or alive--and be sure you get the drop on them first!"
A moment later the boat was in the water, the armed bluejackets tumbled into her and in the lee of the destroyer rapidly bore down on the sub-sea craft while those on the destroyer watched them with every nerve tense with excitement. They saw the boat draw alongside the submarine, saw the officer and two men scramble on to the water-washed deck and saw them cautiously approach the hatch with drawn pistols. Then they disappeared and all waited breathlessly, expecting to see them emerge with their captives. But when, a moment later, they again came into view they were alone and gaining their boat headed back for the destroyer.
"I'll say she's deserted!" cried Rawlins. "By glory, those rascals are leaving a regular trail of deserted boats behind them. First the sub off New York, then the schooner in the Bahamas, then that sub in Santo Domingo and now this one! Suffering cats! They must have subs to burn!"
"Well, if they've abandoned this one, I'd like to know what they're on now," declared Mr. Pauling. "Perhaps they _did_ seize some other ship after all."
"We'll know in a moment what's up," said Mr. Henderson as the boat swept alongside.
"Forward starboard plates are stove in, Sir," announced the lieutenant as he approached and saluted the Commander. "Appears to have been in collision. She's half full of water and several bodies floating about inside."
"By Jove!" cried Mr. Pauling. "They've met their deserts at last! Well, it's saved us the trouble of following farther. I suppose you did not notice the bodies sufficiently to describe them, Lieutenant."
"Unrecognizable, Sir," replied the young officer. "Evidently suffocated by gas from the batteries when the water reached them. Not pleasant to look at, Sir, but appeared to be members of the engine room crew from their clothing."
"Hmm, then I'm afraid we'll never know if the leaders survived or not," mused Mr. Pauling. "Too bad, but it can't be helped. I guess there's nothing else, Disbrow, except to land this gang we have in Trinidad--I suppose that's the nearest port."