There was no help for it. Once below the captain said: "You will save yourself considerable trouble by removing the fuse from the forward bomb, and that without further waste of words."
The officer knew that the manner in which the words were uttered meant business. Without waiting for the second warning, he led the way, opened another secret door, and removed the tell-tale fuse.
"Ah, ha! cut for two hours! Now, while we are about it you might as well start the motor; we have some use for it," said the captain.
"I cannot do that," replied the officer.
"So you succeeded in injuring it," said the captain.
"No," was the reply.
The captain picked up the tool, which Alfred was so particular to carry along. "And what was this used for?" he asked.
"Yes; I have disarranged the motor fields so that they are useless; and I don't deny it," said the officer, straightening up and looking at the captain defiantly.
"There; that is something like it; but you haven't deceived me in the least. I have brought a very useful article with me," continued the captain, drawing from his pocket a paper and presenting it to the officer. "It contains instructions, which I expect you to follow, for your own safety. I shall see to it that the fuses you removed are again put into place and the mechanism set for one hour. Of course, I shall hold the keys. Under those conditions you may remain locked below, and I shall expect you to obey my signals, as we intend to navigate the vessel to port, which will, as you know, occupy about fifty minutes of time. Do you know where the fuse boxes are?" said the captain, turning to the boys.
Ralph marched to the side wall and pointed to the place where the sub-lieutenant opened the first box.