"I'll say he's got the nerve, all right," remarked Dick Monaghan. The Nemo had returned to Bridgeford and the members of the crew were enjoying a few days' rest after their arduous and successful trip in exploration of the sunken Dominion.
"Nerve!" retorted Larry Seymour. "Why, if that guy had been sent into Germany by General Pershing he could have dragged the Kaiser out of Berlin and made those dazed Fritzies think he was only kidding them."
Jay Thacker smiled at that. He was feeling much better after his experiences; in fact, a couple of good nights' sleep and recreation had put him back in good trim again. Two years at sea in the U. S. Navy will toughen the bone and muscle of any lad.
Dick and Larry had been wanting Jay to go to Captain Austin to relate the whole story of what had happened on the bottom of the sea in the cabin of the Dominion. Magnanimously, Jay had spurned the proposition.
"They might think I was jealous because Weddigen fished up the diamonds while all I got was a handful of deck railing that well-nigh finished me," was his answer.
"Yes, but you owe it to yourself and to the company," argued Dick. "Think how that bird may clean out the bunch again."
Larry was shaking his head.
"Never on your life. Remember, I'm always on deck when he's working below, and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll put him under my nice little X-ray every time he comes up again. No, sir-ee, fellows, I'm wise to that gink for all time. He may think he's slippery, but he'll find I'm the original slippery elm."
Deep down Jay resented this big diver's bold audacity and cunning. Never had he seen anything so brazen as the way Weddigen had smoothed over the matter of the diamonds that he had carried in his diving trousers' pocket. Nervily he had sought out Captain Austin and explained the whole thing several times over. The captain had seemingly been pretty well convinced that Weddigen was on the square in the matter, and this had only strengthened Jay's determination to keep silence.
"But I'll get him in the long run, for he's a crook of the deepest dye and murder is sure to out," he had told himself.