The arms about his neck relaxed their pressure and the man sank to the floor while Frank felt the form grow limp beneath him.
The lad stood up and walked across the little room to snap on the searchlight.
As he did so the man on the floor came quickly to his feet, and before Frank could stop him, had darted from the room and disappeared. Through the door he left open streamed a faint light.
Frank sprang after the retreating figure with a cry of anger. Dashing out of the door he bumped squarely into the figure of another man advancing toward him. Without pausing to see who the newcomer might be, Frank grappled with him.
“Here, here, what’s the meaning of this?” asked a well-known voice, and Frank released his hold and stepped back.
The newcomer was Lord Hastings.
“What’s the matter with you?” asked the commander of the vessel. “Have you gone crazy? I stopped the ship in response to your command and when I asked you, through the tube, what was wrong I didn’t get an answer. And now you jump on me. What’s the matter?”
“Spy aboard, sir,” replied Frank briefly.
“What!” exclaimed Lord Hastings, starting back.
“Spy aboard, sir,” repeated Frank.