“I don’t want to suppose anything like that,” spoke Jerry solemnly. “It’s too—too unpleasant. Oh, but this is wonderful—wonderful!”
“It’s the greatest thing ever!” declared Ned with conviction. “I never dreamed we should ever see anything like this. [Oh, there’s another shark—a hammer-head],” and the hideous creature, with its bulging eyes on projections that give it the name, resembling a double-ended hammer, swam up, also to peer in at the windows.
“Wonderful—wonderful,” murmured Professor Snodgrass. “This will just suit my purpose. I must have a talk with Dr. Klauss, and arrange to have him take us on a long trip. I will not only be able to get my hermit crabs, but I can make many other valuable discoveries. Science will be greatly the gainer by our accidental finding of this submarine. Yes, I hope this trip will be a long one.”
“You are not likely to be disappointed in that, sir,” observed Mr. Sheldon, and there was in his tone such a peculiar meaning that Bob asked:
“Why do you say that, Uncle Nelson?”
“Because it’s true. This man—hush, here he comes now. I can’t tell you any more at present. We must have a talk together, presently.”
The sound of someone coming along a steel-floored passage warned them to talk in low tones.
“But what does it all mean?” asked Jerry, in bewilderment.
“Oh, we don’t know—we can hardly guess,” spoke Grace in his ear. “Papa will tell you. I can only say that this Dr. Klauss, in spite of his seeming politeness, is a terrible man. I’m so glad you boys are with us. Perhaps now we can escape!”