"You do not see much hope," mocked von Schellen. "We have chosen a quiet part of the sea, as you will notice."
"You usually try to do that, don't you?" Dave asked, in a tone of ordinary curiosity.
"You must know," laughed the junior officer. "You have spent months pursuing our submarines."
"And have had some success in catching them," Dave answered.
Von Schellen's laugh was bitter as he rejoined:
"Ah! You are a good boaster! But do not go too far, Herr Darrin! Do not make me wish to strike you!"
"I wouldn't care how soon you struck me," Darrin smiled, "provided I could be assured of a fair field and no favor in defending myself. But I think we are going too far in our talk, are we not, when one considers the consideration that a captor must show to a prisoner of war. As a gentleman you cannot strike me; nor, as a gentleman, can I seek to provoke you to do so. The situation is one calling for tact, Herr Lieutenant."
"And I cannot forget that you are taking occasion to remind me of the fact," retorted von Schellen, a dark look coming into his face.
"Then may I, as the prisoner of war, ask that the subject be changed?" Dave Darrin suggested.
"By all means," von Schellen returned, quickly, though he was able to perceive that the American had again succeeded in putting him in the wrong.