“Well, if you are,” asked Ned in amazement, “why did you act so? Why did you call him a ‘charlatan’? And why were you put under guard? And did you try to blow up the transport with a bomb? If you did——”
Ned’s words died away, for at that moment the Sherman was shaken from stem to stern by a violent concussion, and after a period of portentous silence confused shouting broke out all over the ship.
Ned looked strangely at Dr. Hallet and drew his automatic pistol.
[CHAPTER XXV]
THE BOW GUN
“This isn’t so bad,” remarked Jerry Hopkins.
“Not half,” added Bob Baker. “That is,” he qualified, “when you think how the professor and Judd here and I were situated a few hours ago.”
“Right snug and comfortable, I calls it!” stated the sailor.
As for Professor Snodgrass, attired in a warm but ill-fitting suit which had belonged to some member of the Altaire’s force, he bent over his notes at the table in the cabin of the derelict, where the four refugees were gathered. Night had fallen, signal lamps had been hoisted to the wireless mastheads, and now, having finished their supper, Jerry and his companions were below, “right snug and comfortable,” as the old salt put it.