The lieutenant turned about sharply, and came to attention.
“You will wait with the boat. I shall go with you.”
The lieutenant saluted again and stood stiffly erect in his tracks.
Captain Von Blusen turned to Captain Anderson.
“I shall relieve you of the responsibility of my presence immediately, captain,” he said quietly. “I shall go aboard the cruiser.”
Captain Anderson was too much taken by surprise to mutter more than:
“Very well, sir.”
Why he added the “sir” the captain could not have told, but there was something in the bearing of the man that faced him that called it forth involuntarily.
Captain Von Blusen held out his hand, and the commander of the Yucatan grasped it.
“Good luck to you, sir,” said the latter.