When at last dawn broke over the troubled waters the gale began to
subside. Even then it was impossible to lift the hatches and go on
deck because of the rough sea. Waves mountain high were rolling over
the submarine, and to open the conning tower was to invite certain
disaster. There was nothing to do but wait.
Toward six o'clock Ted made out a long rakish-looking craft that had
come up out of the southwest. When it was reported to Officer Cleary
and he had looked critically at the vessel for some time he declared
finally that it was a destroyer, but yet too far off to hazard any
guess as to its nationality.
He decided to submerge slightly and watch the craft for a while and,
if it proved to be a German warship, to submerge entirely and take
chances on the leaky fuel reservoirs. The _Dewey_ sank at his
direction until the conning tower was under water.
"It looks like a French vessel," declared the acting commander to Jack
a few minutes later as the warship came nearer.
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