Just a moment later a petty officer appeared on deck. Taking two or three steps toward the junior officer he halted, saluted, and then remained standing at attention, as though waiting.
Von Schellen stepped over to the man, and a conversation followed in low tones, but did not last long.
"If you care to remain on deck and watch," said the junior lieutenant, "you will see something that may interest you."
CHAPTER XII
GERMAN BRUTALITY AT ITS WORST
Just behind the conning tower a jointed steel mast was raised and stepped by three seamen who came at the petty officer's order.
Farther astern a narrow, ledge-like trapdoor of steel was raised, and from this was taken and stepped another steel jointed mast. The seamen now worked quickly in rigging aerial wires in place. In a very short time the work was completed, and the petty officer saluted von Schellen.
"You cannot fail to understand what we are doing," hinted the young German officer.
"You are about to send or receive radio messages, I take it," Dave replied.