“So, my friends,” the commander began, “you were adrift on the North Sea in an open boat? Have you suffered greatly?”
“No, thank you,” replied Ned, acting as spokesman. “We have not been adrift very long. The vessel on which we were riding struck something which we took to be a floating mine. The crew got away quickly in one of the boats, while we left a little later in another.”
The shrewd eyes of the commander narrowed perceptibly.
“And what was the name and rig of the vessel?”
“The Lena Knobloch, a schooner, of Amsterdam,” replied Ned.
“And the name of her captain?” continued the commander.
“Von Kluck,” the boy answered.
“Ah, a Hollander! I believe he is a peaceful trader in small cargoes. He is what the English call a ‘tramp’ of the sea.”
“May I ask what boat this is and where you are bound?” asked Ned. “We would like to get to the United States, you know,” he added.
“Yes,” smiled the commander. “But you are far from that country now and we think your company delightful. This vessel is the Sturmvogel, a destroyer of the German navy. We have been doing some small tasks upon the high seas and are returning to a base of supplies.”