“Then you think it may be people who have not our interest at heart?” was her quick demand.
“I am afraid I can give you no encouragement. I cannot imagine Captain Hastings abandoning the ship without believing she would sink. In the darkness he must have got so far away that he would think she had gone down. He would be anxious, you understand, to get his crew and passengers to land.”
“Of course. I give him credit for being fairly sane,” she said.
“On the other hand, who would have any suspicion that the ship would not sink save those who had brought about the panic?”
“The Germans!” exclaimed the girl.
“Exactly. I believe,” said Dowd quietly, “that here come the men who caused the explosion in the fire room and opened the seacocks. They purpose to take charge of the Admiral Pekhard, of course. If they get aboard we shall be at their mercy.”
“Oh, can we stop them? Can we hold them off?” murmured Ruth.
“I do not know. I am not sure that it would be wise to offer fight. You see, we shall finally be at their mercy.”
“If we can’t beat them off!” Ruth exclaimed. “Haven’t you arms aboard?”
“My dear young lady——”