As they turned toward the iron ladder leading to the hatch Jimmie, who had followed close upon the orderly’s heels, cried out:

“Hello, Mackinder, where you from?”


CHAPTER XIII
A THREATENING SITUATION

“Who’s there, Jimmie?” asked Ned, pressing forward.

“Nobody now,” answered the other. “I thought I saw our friend Mackinder looking down the hatchway, but possibly I was mistaken. At any rate he’s gone now and we’d better hurry on for dinner.”

“Mackinder’s a prisoner here,” stated Ned, positively.

“Maybe he broke loose,” suggested Harry.

“All right, I’m going up to the deck and look about,” said Ned.