Octavius Smith produced a "block" and a fountain pen, and was soon lost to his surroundings in dashing off about a thousand words an hour. When he did work he worked at a tremendous pace, and his companion knew the risk he incurred should he disturb him. So Stirling took up the log of the Diomeda and began to follow it from the time the yacht left Lowestoft on her momentous cruise.
As he read he compared the log with the chart, following Hamerton's notations with the deepest interest.
Suddenly he gave an exclamation of surprise. Smith, deep in his work, went on unheedingly. Stirling had come to the incident of the Diomeda's meeting with the German torpedo boats and the rescue of Hans Pfeil.
"H'm! I wonder if I could get into touch with this fellow Pfeil," he meditated. "Perhaps he might be able to throw some light on the matter. At any rate I'll try. Here's the making of a sensational yarn in the log. But, hang it all! would 'Hans Pfeil, H.I.M. Navy, Germany,' be a sufficient address?"
Something prompted him to reach for the torpedo manual that hung from a hook under the skylight. Its pages were now almost dry, but it required a certain amount of caution to separate the leaves.
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Stirling.
"Shut up, can't you!" ejaculated Smith.
"Not much!" retorted Stirling, for on the flyleaf appeared the words: "Hans Pfeil. S.167;" and the counter-signature of the lieutenant commanding the torpedo-boat destroyer. "Not much! Chuck it, for the time being, old man, and listen. I've found out how the torpedo book came on board. At least I think I have. Hamerton mentions that he rescued a seaman washed overboard from a German destroyer. He gives the man's name. It is the same as the one appearing in the book."
"Well?"
"This Hans Pfeil might be able to give us some definite information. Of course I won't say a word about this book."