"Little Mack" was so thoroughly convinced of the practicability of
Jack's scheme that he set about immediately to put it into action.
"The sooner we try this the better chance we have of getting away," volunteered Jack.
"Bonte says there is only one ship above us and it will be better to try to get away from one than from many. And besides, by going up immediately we stand a better chance of getting away with our plan of palming ourselves off as a German crew in one of their own U-boats."
And now Jack's plan was set in motion.
"Mr. Wainwright, will you bring Captain Hans Schmidt into the control room," "Little Mack" directed.
In a few minutes Ted returned bringing with him the captive naval officer. Then the American captain addressed himself to the German leader.
"Captain Schmidt, you are probably aware of the fact that we have driven into one of your submarine nets and are firmly entangled," began McClure slowly. His prisoner nodded assent.
"We do not intend to surrender, although the odds are against us," continued the Yankee skipper jauntily. "If we decide to remain down here and take our medicine you and your men whom we rescued so kindly from the mother sub are going to get the same medicine that we do."
He paused for a moment to let the import of his words sink home.
"But, Herr Schmidt, we do not propose to stay down here and wait for death to claim us," he continued calmly. "Life is sweet to us just as it is sweet to you. We are all here together, prisoners and captors, and if we live you live; if we die you die.