“I was mistaken!” replied the other, briefly.
“As you please,” responded the commander with a wave of his hand. “Perhaps I misunderstood your statements concerning them!”
An order was given to the officer who had conducted the boys to the cabin. The German language was used. Saluting the officer approached Mackinder. Without a word that gentleman rose and stepped from the room.
As Mackinder was conducted from the apartment the commander motioned the boys to seats about the table. He smiled at them kindly.
“Do you know what von Kluck’s cargo consisted of?” he asked.
“Mostly cheeses,” replied Ned. “Also an airship!” he added.
“An airship?” was the questioning response. “An airship?”
Ned smiled a trifle regretfully as he related briefly the adventures of the four lads with those who have read the previous volume of this series are already familiar. He concluded by saying:
“We were trying to get ourselves and the airship back to the United States, when this man Mackinder seemed bound to delay us on some flimsy pretext. Unfortunately our Grey Eagle went down with the schooner.”
“Yes. And now you are headed directly away from your desired destination. For you, at least, the situation is unfortunate!”