"It means that he tried to destroy the motors, and we caught him at it in time," said Ralph.
"That is not so," replied the officer.
"What is this for?" asked Alfred, as he held up the tool which the officer had dropped.
"But you have removed all the fuses, of course?" said the captain, apparently not heeding the tool referred to.
"I have," said the officer, straightening up.
"All but the one at the forward part of the vessel," replied Alfred.
The officer turned, with a look of surprise and chagrin on his face. "He does not know what he is talking about," said the officer.
"Then you are lying to me as you are to the captain," said Alfred. "You told the doctor in the galley that you had removed all but the forward one. Did you lie to him?" asked Alfred.
A blush seemed to suffuse the officer's face, as the captain said:
"We will go down together. There may be some more work to do; come on," said the captain, as he indicated the way. "You may go first, Ralph, the sub-lieutenant will follow."