Agilely Holcombe boarded the submarine, bidding the whaler lay off at two lengths' distance and not to take off any of the prisoners until he gave orders.
"I suppose," he remarked, addressing the ober-leutnant, "that every man on board is now on deck?"
"Yes, every man," declared von Loringhoven in an assumed tone of pained surprise. "For why do you ask?"
"Because," replied Holcombe, looking the ober-leutnant straight in the face, "one of our destroyers picked up two survivors of the s.s. 'Guiding Star' yesterday. Something seems to have gone wrong with your spurlos versenkt plans, Herr Kapitan. One of the men stated that the master of the tramp was taken on board U 254 as a prisoner. Where is he?"
Von Loringhoven was trembling like a leaf.
"I had forgotten him," he stammered.
It was only half a truth. In the wild rush for the open air the ober-leutnant had overlooked the fact that the staunch old British merchant skipper was still locked up in one of the store rooms. Afterwards he had decided to let the prisoner stay, since his appearance might lead to awkward questions being asked. With the amount of water already in the hull of the submarine, he argued with himself, no inquisitive Englishman would dare to go below to investigate. But he was very much mistaken.
"It is not too late to make reparation for your thoughtlessness, Herr Kapitan," said Holcombe sternly. "Lead the way below to where the prisoner is confined. I will accompany you."
Von Loringhoven began to give instructions in German to one of his men, but the sub shut him up very promptly.
"No deputies are permitted for this business," he observed. "Lead on, Herr Kapitan. For the second and last time, I order you. Until the master of the s.s. 'Guiding Star' is rescued, not a man of the crew of this vessel will be removed."