“Oh, we all may have to take a hand,” was the answer. “But I think Miss Grace had better keep to her own cabin.”
“So do I,” spoke her father gravely.
“And I’m going to stuff cotton in my ears so I can’t hear it,” said the girl, smiling slightly. “It’s a terrible thing to do, but it is more to feel that we may always be prisoners on this fearful ship.”
There was another consultation with the crew. Meanwhile Dr. Klauss kept to the pilot house and his two foreign friends had not left the cabin where they seemed to be always working over some intricate problem.
It was decided that Ned and Bob, with Mr. Sheldon, should remain near the pilot house. Jerry would go to the engine room, and, when the signal came to send the boat deeper, he and the three men would rush forward, and attack Dr. Klauss. They agreed to use no more force than was necessary to safely bind him.
“Then all we have to do is to wait,” said Jerry, as he sat down near one of the humming dynamos.
The submarine was running along at about her usual depth. It was only a question of time when her fanatical commander would signal to have her sent to the bottom.
Suddenly there came a buzzing sound from one of the electric signals. Then, in the glass-fronted box below it, appeared a certain number.
“That means to go down to the limit!” cried Ted. “Come on, friends! It’s now or never!”
There was a moment of hesitation and then Jerry and the three men started. Mr. Sheldon, Bob and Ned heard them coming, and held themselves in readiness.