WITH THE COAST PATROL
If he was knocked into the sea and was picked up you would have heard from him long before this."
"Unless he was picked up by the U-boat that attacked us," answered the boy quietly.
"By the U-boat? Why, yes, that's possible, of course. Do you know whether she searched the schooner before she sank her?"
"We couldn't be sure, sir. She didn't show any lights, of course, but it was sort of half moonlight, and after we'd rowed off about two miles we thought we saw something approach the schooner. We didn't stay around long, because we were afraid they would see us and start shelling."
"I see. But you stood by the ship long enough to have rescued your father if he had been afloat, eh?"
"Yes, sir, we rowed around for about fifteen minutes. Then the shells were getting pretty thick and the sailors wouldn't stay any longer so we rowed out of range. That's what I don't understand. If dad wasn't on board, and Mr. Cupples says they searched all over for him, he must have been in the water. But we couldn't find him there, and" The boy's voice trailed into silence.
21
