"She'll find us yet if we don't submerge. Forward, there—house that gun!
And get below—quickly!"
During a moment of apparent confusion, one of the men sustaining Lanyard caught the attention of an officer.
"What shall we do with this fellow, sir?" he enquired.
"Leave him here to sink or swim as we go down," snapped the officer—"and be damned to him!"
With a supreme effort the adventurer sank his fingers deep into the arms of the two men.
"Wait!" he gasped faintly in German. "On the Emperor's service—"
"What's that?" The officer turned back sharply.
"Imperial Secret Service," Lanyard faltered—"Personal
Division—Wilhelmstrasse Number 27—"
A brilliant glare settled suddenly upon the deck of the submarine, and was welcomed by a panicky gust of oaths. One officer had already popped through the conning-tower hatch, followed by several of the crew. There remained only those supporting Lanyard, and the second officer.
"Take him below!" the latter ordered. "He may be telling the truth. If not…."