The German brought his right fist into the palm of his left hand with a resounding smack.
"You English will pay dearly for every German ship stink," he exclaimed.
"Maybe so," replied Jack, dryly, "but it won't be a German fleet that makes us pay."
"Enough of this!" broke in the second German officer. "Lieutenant Stein, you forget yourself, sir. And as for you, sir," turning to Jack, "you show no better taste."
"I beg your Pardon," said Jack. "I wouldn't have said anything if he hadn't egged me on."
Lieutenant Stein was equally repentant.
"I apologize," he said quietly to Jack. "I should not have spoken as I did."
"Say no more about it," said Jack. "I was just as much to blame."
Frank now broke into the conversation.
"What vessel is this?" he asked, pointing to the low-lying bulk of the submarine, against which the small boat now scraped.