Clicking his heels and wheeling, the junior officer went back to the wardroom. The three prisoners waited more than an hour before the same mess attendant came and beckoned them to enter.
They were alone, now, save for the presence of the ober-lieutenant, who was seated at one end of the table writing. He did not look up as they entered and seated themselves.
The meal set out was a coarse one, in quality of food, but there was plenty of it. The three prisoners ate slowly, almost in silence, nor did they address their host.
Before the meal was over the German commander left the room without word or sign to his guests.
"Why, the boat has stopped!" exclaimed Mrs. Launce, in a low voice, some three minutes later. "Are we resting on the bottom?"
"I think I shall soon be able to answer you," Darrin replied.
Soon machinery began to rumble.
"We are on the surface," said Dave, laying down knife and fork. "We are recharging batteries."
Mrs. Launce leaned forward to whisper:
"Then surely there is some chance that one of our own craft will hear the racket. We may be fired upon and sunk, do you not think?"