They found a warm and comfortable interior, well cushioned and even luxurious in its appointments. Once they were well inside the little man, with a bow, remarked:
"I now beg to be excused. You will find books and the professor something to smoke if he wishes it. Don't make any attempt to escape as I should regret to be compelled to have any of you shot."
He was gone. Closing the door behind him with a "click," that told the boys that they were locked in.
"Prisoners," exclaimed Billy.
"That's it, and just as we have accomplished our wish," said Frank bitterly; "it's too bad."
"Well, it can't be helped," said the professor, "let's look about and see if there is not some way we can get out if an opportunity presents itself."
They approached a window and through it could see the new arrivals examining the edge of the gulf and peeping down at the Viking ship. But as soon as they opened the casement and peered out a man with a rifle appeared, as if from out of the earth, and sharply told them to get inside.
"Well, we've got to spend the time somehow, we might as well examine the ship," said the professor closing the window.
Somewhat cheered by his philosophical manner, the boys followed him as he led the way from the main cabin through a steel door which they found led into the engine-room. The engines were cut off, but a small motor was operating a dynamo with a familiar buzzing sound. This was the sound the boys had heard when the ship passed above them at night.
"What have they got the dynamo going for?" demanded Harry.