"I'm afraid she's too far away by this time," Ned replied.
"Then we'd better be moving!" Frank said. "I'll take the boat and go after Jack, then we'll be off."
"Don't lose any time," advised Ned.
Frank, accompanied by Jimmie, was off in the rowboat in short order, and before long Jack was on board.
"Hamblin, the trader, wants to talk with you, Ned," he said as he came down into the cabin.
"He'll have to wait until we catch the Shark," Ned said. "I'm afraid we have lost too much time now."
Jack's report had shown him that the sealed packet was still on the Shark, and it was his purpose to keep after the submarine until he caught up with her. Just what would take place then he did not know, but he was willing to take great risks in order to get hold of the packet.
He did not know what it contained, but he did know that it was claimed by the enemies of his government, that it held papers which, if brought out, might smash several international treaties. His own belief was that the packet would establish the fair dealing of the Washington officials, but this was only a matter of opinion.
While the Sea Lion was dropping down and getting under way he talked the matter over with Frank. That young man was inclined to be rather pessimistic over the matter.
"If the papers in the packet are of the sort you think they are," he declared, "they will destroy them before they will permit you to get hold of them."