“Oh, it was just by chance. I and my mates had been on one of Uncle Sam’s submarines, and a short time ago we saw an advertisement to take a private berth at a good figure, so we answered it. In that way we met Dr. Klauss and his two foreign friends.
“It seems he built this vessel in Germany, and brought it over here with a foreign crew. But there was a quarrel and he fired them. He had to have help, so he got us.”
“Who steers her?” asked Ned.
“Dr. Klauss, mostly, though I’ve taken a hand at it. I understand navigation, though you have to go pretty much by dead reckoning when you’re under water. Then, too, there’s an automatic steering apparatus that will work for a limited time.”
“Has Dr. Klauss any special object in cruising about?” Jerry wanted to know.
“If he has he hasn’t told me and my mates,” was the man’s answer. “He’s just been scooting about here, there—anywhere. I recall the time we first sighted you—he got away from that vicinity in a hurry. Seemed afraid, like.”
“I wonder why?” mused Ned.
“Well, I’ll be getting back to quarters,” said Ted Rowland. “I have to look after the oiling. See you again,” and he took away with him the borrowed garments.
“Well, what’s the program?” asked Ned, when he and his chums had had breakfast. They ate alone save for Professor Snodgrass, Mr. Sheldon and his daughter having eaten earlier.