“Shall we wake him?” asked Herc.
“No. What good would it do? Come on, we’ve no time to waste. Say, though, this fine specimen of a watchman has left his keys lying by his side. We’ll just use them and save ourselves the trouble of climbing over the fence.”
“Good idea,” declared Ned, as they put it into execution, and hastened out of the yard.
Andy Bowler was tremendously excited when he had been aroused and made to understand what had taken place. He hastily dressed, and, as the boys had brought the rig with them from the place at which they had left it tied, they were hardly any time in reaching the hotel. Here Lieutenant Parry was awakened and the news communicated to him. Mr. Lockyer was summoned by telephone and soon joined them.
“How can I ever thank you,” he exclaimed warmly, as he met the party. “Boys, if that boat had been damaged to-night, it would have been a death blow to all my hopes. I don’t mind being frank enough to tell you that I would not have had enough capital left to indulge in any very extensive repairs.”
All haste was made in returning to the yard, and the first thing that was done was to awaken the watchman. What he heard about himself immediately thereafter must have made his ears burn for the remainder of his lifetime. The wretched man, half fuddled with liquor, lost no time in staggering off, and the next day left the village.
This done, the party proceeded to the submarine shed, having first provided themselves with lanterns at the storeroom. A deadly silence hung over the place as they entered instead of the half-smothered yells and shouts the lads had expected to hear.
“I guess they realize they’re in a thick box,” said Lieutenant Parry, “and so are saving their breath for another occasion. Now then, let’s get below.”
So saying, he swung himself down inside the conning tower, followed by the others. At the steel door in the bulkhead they paused. But there was not a sound from within.
“Gradbarr and Anderson,” shouted Mr. Lockyer, pounding on the door, “I wish to tell you in case you feel like making any resistance that we are all armed and shall not hesitate to use our weapons.”