"Where did you get it, Ned?" asked Jimmie. "You'll have to bake it when we get back to New York."
"Better look out, lad," Ned replied, "this boy has the kick of a mule in his left. Let him alone."
During this short by-play Captain Moore stood scowling on the conning tower, crowded close against the boys, for the platform was a small one. He now faced Ned angrily.
"What is the proposition?" he demanded.
"I have brought you here to see your son," Ned replied. "If you'll step down the stairs I'll show you where he is."
"He ought to be at the bottom of the sea," Frank said, "for he tried to fire the boat."
"I have no doubt that he resents his treatment," said Moore. "I, myself, would sink your craft this moment if it lay in my power."
"No doubt of it," Ned said. "You've come to the end of your rope, though. All the mischief you can do now is to yourself."
Moore snarled out some reply intended to be exasperating, but which made no impression on the boys, and set his feet to the stairs. The boys followed him, but the ex-naval officer reached the floor first, and, with a bound, reached the mechanism which gave forward motion to the submarine, the prow of which was turned toward the beach.
Ned sprang forward, but the boat was already under motion. It was unquestionably the intention of the prisoner to wreck her on the beach, hoping to rescue his son and make his own escape in the confusion.