At the end of the lighted corridor they could all see the big German in the pilot house. He was manipulating various levers and turning wheels.
“Come on!” said Jerry in a low voice.
As noiselessly as possible they advanced on the crazed commander. Just as they reached the door he heard them and turned.
He started, and something in the attitude and looks of the men and boys must have told Dr. Klauss what was their intention. He sprang up, and his hand sought a certain lever.
“Don’t let him reach that!” yelled Ted. Jerry fairly threw himself on the infuriated man, and Ned followed. Then Ted and his companions closed in.
There was a short, sharp fight, and several of the attackers were knocked down, but they got up again, and renewed the struggle. Dr. Klauss was very strong, and his madness added to it, but four men and three boys were more than a match for him, especially in such contracted quarters.
In a few seconds the maniac, panting and disheveled, as indeed they all were, was held by many hands.
“The ropes!” called Jerry, and Mr. Sheldon passed them in.
“They’ll do temporarily,” said Ted Rowland, “but we’ll have to use chains. That’s the only thing that will hold him. He’ll break these ropes. There are some chains in the engine room.”
“What—what does this mean?” gasped the enraged commander. “Unbind me at once! You shall pay dearly for this outrage! Help!” he called, and then, adding something in a foreign tongue he struggled with all his might to break his bonds.