“British officers,” said Lord Hastings. “And you?”
“Captain Bretog, commander of this vessel,” came the reply.
“Very good, captain,” said Lord Hastings. “You are our prisoner, and I must ask you to step upon the bridge.”
“How did you get here?” asked the German in surprise.
“In a little submarine of our own,” said Lord Hastings with a smile. “Come, now, captain.”
The captain moved toward the companionway, but just as he was about to go through the door, he turned and struck out at Lord Hastings. The latter dodged the blow and leaped quickly back, at the same time drawing his revolver.
“No more of that,” he said sternly. “Now move.”
But at that instant a German sailor appeared in sight. Perceiving the British uniforms, he cried out in surprise. An instant more and there came the sound of tramping feet, and half a dozen men tumbled into sight after him.
Lord Hastings put the German commander in front of him, and Jack stepped quickly to his commander’s side, their four automatics covering the superior numbers of the enemy.
“One move from any of you and you are all dead men,” said Lord Hastings calmly. “We’ll shoot you where you stand, and my vessel will blow you to atoms within half a minute.” He turned to the German commander.