"All right," said Frank. "Have it your own way. You're boss here, you know."
Meantime the Essex and the Ventura had been drawing closer together. Directly a boat put off from the destroyer and ran alongside of the steamer. Jack clambered over the side and the launch returned to the destroyer.
Captain Griswold was waiting for Jack.
"Now what's up?" he wanted to know.
"Come to your cabin and I'll explain," said Jack.
In the seclusion of the cabin he outlined the situation. When he had concluded a sketch of his plans, Captain Griswold demurred.
"But I don't like to risk my passengers," he said.
"You won't be risking them any more with me aboard than you will without me," Jack explained. "Besides, you will have the additional protection of the destroyer. In fact, it may be that the presence of the Essex will scare the submarine off, but I doubt it. The German commander, as all of his ilk, is angry at having been balked of his prey. He'll probably have one more try, destroyer or no destroyer."
"Well," said Captain Griswold, "you're a British naval officer and should know something, whether you do or not. But I'll tell you right now I hope the submarine doesn't show up again."
Nevertheless, Captain Griswold was doomed to disappointment, for the U-87 did reappear.