“Hush! Don’t say anything now! Don’t show that I have told you anything. Here he comes back. Act naturally. Yes, as I was saying, Bob, I’m very glad to see you,” and Mr. Sheldon spoke the last in loud tones.
Poor Bob, not much used to plotting and planning, did not know what to do. Fortunately, however, he realized the necessity for acting as though he had not just heard startling news. Jerry and Ned had seen that something was wrong, but they gave no sign. As for Professor Snodgrass, he was busy looking around the main cabin, where they had all assembled, in search of any stray bugs. He took no part in the talk then.
“Dr. Klauss was very kind to take us off our lonely little boat,” went on Mr. Sheldon.
“How did it happen?” asked Jerry.
“It was a mere accident,” said the German. “I had come up to renew my supply of air, and one of my men saw the small boat. Out of curiosity I went up to it, and found your friends.”
“And we were almost in despair,” said Grace.
“Oh, those few days were awful! Awful!” and she covered her eyes with her hands as though to shut out the sight and memory of what she and her father had passed through.
“You would have done better had you stayed on the Hassen, Uncle Nelson,” said Bob. “We found her afloat, and in good condition. That sailor said he was going to stick to her.”
“Good old Jacob Denton!” cried Grace. “He was very kind to us. We wanted him to come in our boat, but he would not.”
“What happened after you took to the lifeboat?” asked Ned.