“That is, if it’s the same one,” suggested Bob.
“Oh, yes,” assented Ned. “Of course it’s only a notion of mine that this craft may be the product of the brain of that eccentric German. But he looked like a foreigner, and the way he seemed to get excited when he saw us—acting as though he feared we were spying on him—made me a bit suspicious.”
“But what does he want over here, in American waters?” asked Bob.
“That’s the point,” responded Ned. “What’s his game—if it is he? But we don’t have to worry about it, I guess.”
“I don’t know about that,” spoke Bob, and his tones were serious. “If he’s going to scoot about under water, practicing evolutions for destroying our ships, it may mean trouble for us.”
“For us?” repeated Jerry, looking at his fat chum curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Well, not exactly trouble for you fellows,” explained Bob, “but for my family. Of course it’s quite remote, but it might happen. My Uncle Nelson Sheldon, and his daughter Grace, are on their way to this country from Germany. They are coming in a small steamer, and my uncle is bringing something very valuable with him. That is, valuable to our family.”
“If it was something valuable for you I suppose it would be a full course dinner; eh, Chunky?” asked Ned with a chuckle.
“Oh, let up; can’t you?” begged the stout lad. “It isn’t anything to eat, I’m sure of that, though I’m hungry enough now. I don’t know just what it is, but I overheard father and mother talking about it. It’s something that Uncle Nelson has been on the lookout for a good many years, and at last he found it in Germany.”
“In Germany!” exclaimed Jerry.