"Well, Mr. Aubyn?"
Terence did not say a word in reply. He handed his chief the paper bearing the momentous news.
"I am not surprised," was Captain Ramshaw's comment. Already he was out of his bunk and dressing with the swift, deft manner of men who are apt to be roused from sleep to face danger at any moment of the night. "You may return to the bridge."
Terence flushed slightly. He knew that he had committed a breach of discipline in leaving his post during his watch.
"I would respectfully suggest, sir," he began, "that this news be kept back from the passengers."
"For why, Mr. Aubyn?"
"There are Germans on board."
"Bless my soul, what if there are? Surely you don't expect me to put non-combatants under arrest?"
"I have good reason to believe, sir, that some of them are responsible for the breakdown of the engines.
"When did you first have suspicions?"