"Jack," said Lord Hastings, "take twenty men and search the ship below. Shoot any man who offers resistance. Tom, take the wheel. Frank, take twenty men and go to the engine room and make prisoners of the stokers."
The two lads hurried away on their several errands.
Frank found the men in the engine room working as though nothing had happened. In some unaccountable manner they had not heard of the fighting above. Frank's men covered them. There was no resistance.
Jack, descending the hatch with his men, encountered opposition in the captain's cabin. Half a dozen men had taken refuge there and refused to emerge.
"Come out or we shall fire through the door!" Jack shouted.
Revolvers spoke from the inside and bullets crashed through the door.
This was the German reply.
"Break down the door, men," said Jack quietly.
This was the work of an instant, although one man dropped while it was being done. The door flew inward.
A single volley greeted Jack and his men as they appeared in the doorway but the men had stooped low and none was hit.
Before the Germans could fire again, Jack and his men dashed forward.
The Germans were soon overpowered. Jack marched them back on deck.