"I know," said Alfred. "They have caught one of them."
"Yes; and they are making the same efforts to get away that we were engaged in only a few hours ago," said the captain.
The chaser steamed back and forth in a quiet, determined way, the men never for a moment relaxing their watch.
"What are they trying to do with that funny-looking, big, fat gun on the side near the front end of the deck?" asked Ralph.
"That is a howitzer," answered the captain.
"What in the world do they want a howitzer for?" asked Alfred.
"To use it on the boat if it should get free from the net," replied the captain.
"Why don't they use it now?" asked Ralph.
"Because they do not want to destroy the boat unless it is absolutely necessary," answered the captain.
"But how will they know whether the boat gets away?" asked Alfred.