Once on the upper deck and away from observation, Hammerditch began to talk earnestly to his companion.
"We made a mistake by quarreling with him," he said.
"I cannot see eet," muttered Le Fevre.
"If we had made friends with him he might have shown us the map."
"Ha! zat is so."
"I would give a good lot to get hold of the map," continued the Englishman. "Our false map may help us some, but that real map ought to be out of the way."
At this Le Fevre clutched his companion by the arm.
"I haf an idee," he whispered. "Let us see if ze boy has got a stateroom."
"We can find that out at the office."