“Are you crazy, Jack?” asked Bob.
The older man, however, regarded Jack keenly.
“You’ve heard something, Jack,” he said. “What is it?”
Briefly and graphically Jack related his morning’s adventurous prowling and the result of his eavesdropping. Then he told what Frank had overheard by the use of the ring-radio.
“That decided me,” he said. “When I heard there
was a sub chaser near, I felt we just had to make an effort to capture the trawler’s radio room at least, and call for help. We can hold out until the sub chaser comes up.”
Mr. Temple grew grave.
“But without weapons,” he said, “what chance have we against the Chinese?”
“Look here,” said Bob, slowly, “I’ll bet this fellow ‘Black George’ has a revolver or two in his room. He’s bound to keep a weapon handy. Well, he was helpless last night, and probably still is. What’s to prevent our going in there and taking it from him?”
“Good idea, Bob,” said Frank. “And there’s my friend, Matt Murphy, too. According to Jack, he isn’t up yet. Probably put in a bad night and is sleeping while the ship’s engines are being repaired. He undoubtedly has a revolver, too. Suppose we compel him to give it to us. His arm is broken, and surely if we burst into the room we can overawe him.”