"And where is Captain Fennelburt?" he asked. "There were four of us taken prisoners."
A blank look overspread the Teuton's heavy features. He extended his palms in a manner that expressed complete disinterestedness.
Cumberleigh pressed the point. The Hun turned and consulted his comrades. Apparently they had not taken this factor into their calculations.
"I want no lies," continued Cumberleigh, who was rapidly finding his feet. "What has become of the fourth officer (he was about to prefix the word British, but somehow he checked himself) who was taken on board?"
"Kapitan von Preugfeld him sent on land last night, Herr Offizier," announced the man.
"For what reason?"
"I do not know der plans of Kapitan von Preugfeld," explained the German. "An' he not is here to ask."
This was simple, but none the less truthful logic. It was hardly conceivable that the ober-leutnant should explain his actions to a lower-deck rating.
"It's jolly rummy, any old way," remarked Blenkinson. "The whole business is fishy—decidedly fishy. And I reckon that big wave yarn won't go down."
Again the German strolled up, smiling and apparently unperturbed.