Immediately the launch had returned to the German cruiser, the lad was hurried over the side and taken to the commander’s cabin. The latter received him courteously and motioned him to a seat.
“And how, if I may ask,” he inquired, “do you happen to be in the middle of the Kiel canal?”
Frank smiled slightly.
“I came in a submarine,” he replied.
“So I have perceived,” said the commander.
“But I was unaware England had established a submarine base anywhere near German territory.”
“Neither has she, to my knowledge,” said Frank.
“Then how did you get here? Surely you must have a base.”
“Our base,” said Frank, “was London.”
“What?” exclaimed the German, jumping to his feet. “You sit here and tell me a thing like that? Surely you can’t think I don’t know that a submarine cannot operate that distance from her base.”