Frank obeyed, much as he would have liked to join in the fight.
Jack reached Harris' side and together the two faced the three Germans.
"We've got them, now," said Harris, quietly.
"Men," said Jack, quietly, "unless you return to your oars immediately, we shall be forced to throw you overboard."
There was a snarl from the three men. Suddenly one dropped to his knees and seized Harris by the legs. Caught off his guard, the latter fell to the bottom of the boat and the others leaped on him.
A knife flashed in the hand of one. With a cry, Jack stooped down quickly and seized the man's wrist even as the point of the weapon would have been buried in Harris' back. The lad twisted sharply and the knife went flying into the sea.
"You would, would you!" cried Jack.
He jerked the man to his feet, planted two hard blows on his chin, and as the man reeled forward clipped him once more. One, two, three backward steps the man took and then pitched over the side of the boat.
"Two gone!" exclaimed Jack.
But he was wrong. For the first man who had been knocked into the sea had been revived by the shock of the cold water. Swimming around the boat unobserved, he had come up behind Frank and now reached up and grabbed Frank by the coat. With a cry of alarm, the lad toppled into the water.