The remainder of that day Dr. Klauss was not seen. The meals were served without him, nor did his two foreign friends come to the table. Jerry, his chums, Mr. Sheldon and Grace had the dining cabin to themselves. Grace, in a measure, had recovered her composure, and begged the boys not to think her a nuisance for having given way to her feelings.
“That’s all right!” exclaimed Bob, stoutly. “We’ll soon have the upper hand of this crazy—submarinist.”
“That’s a new word,” laughed Grace, and they all felt better to hear her cheerful voice.
Watching his chance, Jerry slipped into the engine room when he noted that Dr. Klauss was not there. The German kept mostly to the pilot house, guiding his marvelous craft under water. But what was his object, and for what port he was headed, no one seemed to know. As he went in to see if there was a chance to speak privately to Ted Rowland and his mates, Jerry saw the two old Germans in their cabin, poring over books and papers, seemingly making intricate calculations.
Jerry saw the three machinists in consultation in one corner of the engine room. They started at the sight of him.
“Well, how are things going?” asked the lad, with a smile.
“Oh, well enough, I s’pose,” answered Ted, in no very cheerful tones. Jerry thought he looked at him in a peculiar way.
“Say, why don’t you tell him?” suddenly burst out Bill Burke. “I’m getting sick and tired of this business! Tell him, and maybe he’ll help us out!”
“That’s what I say!” added Tom Flynn. “What’s the use of holding back any longer.”
“What’s up?” asked Jerry, quickly, though in a flash an inkling of the truth came to him.