“Well, hardly,” replied his commander with a laugh. “However, as you see, a threat in the proper place often works out advantageously.”
“Still,” said Jack, “I am not exactly satisfied that he means to play straight with us. He gave in too easily to suit me.”
“The same thought struck me,” declared Frank.
“Oh, I guess he’ll put us through,” said Lord Hastings.
“I’m not so sure,” from Frank skeptically.
“Well,” said Lord Hastings, “we’ll watch him carefully, and his first false step will be his last. We can’t afford to take chances now. One of us must be near him all the time.”
Thus it was arranged and Jack volunteered to take the first watch. Frank elected to take the second and Lord Hastings announced that he would take the third. This watch, it was agreed, would be maintained until they had passed through the canal.
Jack made his way at once to the helm, where he took up his station, while Frank and Lord Hastings turned in. Here the lad sat for four straight hours, not once relaxing his vigilance. Then Frank relieved him.
All went well in this second watch until there was but an hour of it left. Then the German commander turned to Frank.
“I’ll have to ask you to rise three fathoms,” he said.