three minutes to twelve
`` Very well . Now you may give the order to submerge and we 'll make for the rendezvous . '' Jack obeyed . It was just exactly three minutes to twelve when Lord Hastings , having taken his bearings and found he was in the designated spot , gave the command to come to the surface . Slowly the U-16 arose from the deep , and immediately she rested upon the surface , Jack and Frank followed Lord Hastings to the bridge . The night was perfectly dark and at first they were unable to make out an object upon the silent water . But suddenly , to the left , there was a single brief flash of light ; a second to the right ; one forward and one astern ; then other arrivals from the deep flashed a signal of their safe arrival .