“No!” decided the captain bluntly. “Vhe don’d go!”
“But you may listen to reason!” said Jimmie, drawing his automatic. “I don’t like to hold you up, but you’re going to get out of town right now and we’re going with you!”
“Put dot gun oop!” cried the captain, starting from his seat.
“I will on one condition!” declared the boy. “If you get under way at once without any more monkey business I’ll keep it in my pocket. If you don’t I’ll use it! We are neutral and we’re going to remain neutral if we have to fight to do so!”
“Vhell, I guess dere’s no real goot reason vhy vhe shouldn’t go, anyhow!” decided the captain. “Mackinter don’d got no license to shtop us. Aber he don’d like id, he couldt lump id!”
“Now you’re talking sense!” declared Jimmie. “But, remember! No tricks, or we’ll feel like starting something ourselves!”
“All right!” consented von Kluck, secretly anxious to help the boys. “Chust come along und make me leaf port. Dot let’s me ouid!”
Upon von Kluck’s appearing at the companionway the crew immediately assumed an air of attention. Some were grouped about the capstan, where they were watching the sky and speculating on the character of the approaching storm. Others were occupied at various duties about the vessel. Every man seemed to stand in fear of the captain.
Bawling out a hoarse order, von Kluck at once assumed command of the deck. Lines were thrown down from the belaying pins. A group of men tailed onto the halyards, hoisting the foresail, staysail and jib.
The Lena Knobloch was a schooner-rigged vessel with two masts. The boys noted with a considerable degree of satisfaction that she was built along clipper lines, vastly different from the round-bowed type of vessel commonly seen in those waters.