On the lower deck the Billabong quartet faced each other, at first dumbly.
“Cheer up,” Jim said, at last, with an effort. “It’s hard luck, of course, but they aren’t likely to do anything beyond imprisoning us. Bother old Smith!”
“I wish to goodness we’d left him alone!” said Norah, miserably.
“No, you don’t—and we don’t,” was Jim’s sturdy answer. “I’ll always be glad we stopped his little game—at any rate we’ll have had that little scrap of the war! And we may escape—you never can tell—and come careering over to London to find you. It will be all experience, as you used to say!”
Norah shivered. She had never thought that the “experience” of which they used to talk so light-heartedly would mean this.
“I wouldn’t mind so much, to know you were really in Germany,” Mr. Linton said. “But to be on that abominable ship——!” He shot an angry, anxious glance at the grey cruiser. Too well he knew her destiny—to prowl the sea, a pirate in all but name, harassing British shipping until she herself was sunk. There would be no getting back to Germany for her—and no consideration for British prisoners on board of her when the inevitable end came. He looked at the two boyish faces, his heart full of blank despair.
Wally glanced over the rail. The German boat was returning to the warship. Mr. Smith sat in the stern with the two officers—a podgy embodiment of triumph.
“Well, the laugh may be on our side,” he said, cheerfully. “Anyhow, we needn’t pull long faces over it; I’m hoping for another chance to get even with old Smithy. Don’t you worry, sir—I’ll look after little Jimmy for you!”
Jim grinned down on him affectionately. But to David Linton came memories of Edward Meadows’ anxious face—of his last request, to look after the little brother who was “such a kid.”
“I’ll work every means in my power to get you both back,” he said, huskily. “Meanwhile, I can give you plenty of money; and I know you will both try to keep on good terms with them; you’ll be better treated if you do. The German sailors do seem disposed to behave as decently as possible.”