There was a moment’s silence.
Then a surprised voice said:
“A submarine boat? Do you mean that literally?”
“I do,” replied Frank.
“Well, that beats me! Where are you bound?”
“Before I answer any more questions,” shouted Frank, “let me ask you a few.”
“All right.”
“What craft are you?”
“This is the schooner-yacht Meta, of the American Yacht Club, Captain Hardy Poole. We are bound for the Yucatan Channel, but this storm has taken away our foreyard, and we want to strike some vessel which carries a spare one.”
“Are you in distress in any other way?” asked Frank.