"Just going to fire the magazine, sir," said one.
"Tie him up."
Half an hour later the submarine was heading out to sea, running on the surface. On the deck, uncomfortably crowded, lay a number of well-trussed figures--the commander and crew, and Wonckhaus: his subordinates at the station were left behind. Beyond Mitylene, as morning dawned, the lieutenant-commander exchanged signals with a destroyer out at sea. The vessel stood in, and in due time the submarine came alongside her. Cheers broke from the men on her deck. Willing hands hoisted the prisoners on board and loosed them from their bonds at the bidding of the commander.
"I much regret it was necessary to bind you, gentlemen," he said to the officers. "The necessity was clear."
They heard him in glum silence--all but Wonckhaus.
"Necessity!" he blustered. "Is necessity to override the laws of civilised warfare? What sort of treatment is it to choke a German officer with lemons, tie him up, and sling him from a crane? It is unfair; it is barbarous."
The commander glanced at Frank, standing in the background.
"Is it wise to talk of civilised warfare, Herr Wonckhaus?" he said quietly, stepping forward. "Shall I refresh your memory of what happened at Erzerum?"
"You were in my power," snarled the German, not a whit abashed, and sublimely unconscious of inconsistency. The humour of the situation tickled the British officers: they laughed aloud.
"That is unanswerable, sir," said the commander, with ironical courtesy. "You will no doubt do me the favour to go below. Mr. Watson, please show Major Wonckhaus the way."