"No, thanks," replied Hythe. "We won't come on board. We cannot get much wetter if we stay here. All the same, we shall be glad of a tow."
The sub was cautious. He did not wish to be kidnapped a second time, and not knowing who Captain Jones was or whether the "Pride of Rhodesia" was a bona fide craft belonging to the British Empire Aero-League, he thought it advisable to decline the invitation to board the airship.
A coil of rope whizzed from the after platform of the overhead vessel. It was caught and made fast by the bowman, the "Pride of Rhodesia's" huge propellers began to revolve and soon the "Aphrodite's" whaler was being towed down the stream at a good ten knots.
"Pass that rope aboard the 'Aphrodite,' please," shouted Captain Jones as he brought the boat alongside the submarine. Captain Restronguet waved his hand in token of assent and soon the airship was riding head to wind with her nacelles just resting on the water.
Hythe hurriedly explained the circumstances under which he had fallen in with the airship, mentioning that he had found out by accident that it was not the Zampa River that he had explored after all.
"That's good," commented Captain Restronguet enthusiastically. "We can well afford to be disappointed. This Captain Jones told you he didn't mean to explore the Zampa, eh? Well, we'll have him on board, since he evidently desires it, but we must be careful not to drop the faintest hint concerning our information that the 'Vorwartz' was known to have entered that river."
The boat was dispatched to bring Captain Jones on board the "Aphrodite," and soon the owner and commander of the "Pride of Rhodesia" stood upon the deck of the submarine. He was a fairly young man, still under thirty, and full of almost boyish enthusiasm.
"We seem to be sort of friendly rivals," he remarked. "I don't want to boast, but I think I stand the better chance. Had that German scoundrel kept to the sea the odds would be in your favour, but since he is in comparatively limited and shallow waters he cannot submerge his 'Vorwartz.' But aloft I can command a vast extent of country, while you have to grope about, if I may say so."
"I quite see the point of your argument," replied Captain Restronguet drily. "But, might I ask, what do you propose to do when you find the 'Vorwartz'?"
"Oh, we are armed," said the Captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia." "We carry two bomb-dropping devices, besides four quick-firers. We are subsidized by the Government and authorized to carry offensive and defensive weapons. Directly we spot the 'Vorwartz' I shall have no hesitation in dropping a fifty pound charge of dynamite and blowing her to atoms."