“All—all right, sir,” answered Ted, hesitating slightly. It was evident that Dr. Klauss had not overheard, or, if he had, he was going to ignore the matter—for the time being at least—and for his own purposes.
“I’m glad of that,” he went on. “I want to try and run at top speed soon, and I am going to give my ship a most severe test. I spoke to you before about this,” he said, looking at the other two machinists, who nodded. Jerry understood. It meant the taking of the Sonderbaar to a dangerous depth.
“I see you still hold your interest in my machines,” said the German commander to Jerry.
“Yes, I—I came in to see how the engines were running. I only wish,” went on Jerry, with a whimsical smile, “that they were running us toward our homes—instead of away from them.”
“That will do!” cried the commander, harshly. “You have heard my decision in this matter. Never speak of it again! I did not ask you to come aboard my vessel, but since you are here you must take the consequences. This ends the subject forever!”
“Oh, no it doesn’t,” said Jerry to himself, and with a meaning look at Ted and his companions. “This is only the beginning, Dr. Klauss. We are going to see our homes again in spite of you.”
“Work the engines up to top speed gradually,” ordered the commander to the members of the crew. “See that the bearings do not get hot. And you, Bill Burke, will look after the ballast tanks. Make sure there are no leaks, and that the valves are tight. They may be a bit strained when we go farther down than we have ever been before.”
“I should say they would!” burst out Ted Rowland. “Look here, Dr. Klauss, I wish you would give up this plan. Of course you know your own ship better than we do—and know what she will stand. But we’re machinists, too, and we know that the terrible pressure you’ll be sure to meet with at even a mile in depth, to say nothing of two, or three, will do serious damage. We may all lose our lives. We don’t like it, and we wish you’d give it up!”
“Enough of that!” cried the German, sternly. “You are under my orders. When you shipped with me you agreed to obey. I order you to take this craft to a great depth, that I may test it, and you will do so. You have no choice. I am in command.”