“Yes!” laughed Ned. “That is easy. The boat you have captured is owned by a private individual named Mackinder, who has been amusing himself in a perfectly innocent pastime. He, like ourselves, is neutral, but unfortunately has gotten into rather compromising situations.”
“Mackinder?” repeated the officer, wonderingly.
“Yes, sir,” continued Ned. “He rescued us from our disabled submarine. He is now aboard his vessel with a broken leg.”
“We had him brought aboard this vessel, and find that his leg is really broken,” explained the officer. “But,” he continued, “you have not quite explained your presence on a submarine.”
“That is easy—” began Ned. He was interrupted by a sign from the officer.
“Just a moment,” the other said. “We will have Mackinder in here, and perhaps he can explain a little of the mystery himself.”
At a command from the man two orderlies approached. In a few moments the boys observed four sailors bearing a mattress upon which lay their late host.
At the same moment a group approached from the after part of the cabin. Glancing from one group to the other, the boys rose to their feet with exclamations of surprise.
“Well, Great Frozen Hot Boxes!” cried Jimmie. “How did you get here, Mackinder?”