"Hard luck, Matt, that events should drift into this tangle! That French submarine had to be here, it seems, at just the right time to help out the Japs. The young Samurai must have known about this other craft. After dodging Captain Sandoval, they managed to reach Valdivia and came on from there by train. That is how they were able to get ahead of us."
"Every mysterious twist is taken out of the situation now, Glennie," said Matt, almost stunned by the audacity of the Japs and the marvelous way in which circumstances had aided them. "They took possesion of the French submarine and started south to meet the Grampus. The noiseless way in which they hung upon our flanks is easy to understand. The torpedo was launched at us while the French boat was submerged; and when that rope was hurled at me, the boat was just out of the water—there were no lights about her, and the search light of the Grampus enabled those on the French craft to make that cast with the riata."
Matt's face went pale.
"Glennie," he continued, "the hardest job of our lives is ahead of us! The Japs have a submarine, and there's not one of them who would not willingly give his life if, by doing so, he could destroy the Grampus. As long as our enemies were in a steamboat, and compelled to remain on the surface, it was easy to keep away from them; but now, no matter where we go, they can follow us."
"I don't know anything about this French boat," returned Glennie thoughtfully, "but I'll bet something handsome she's not half so good a craft as the Grampus. There's a big advantage for us, right at the start. Then, again, about the only thing we're to fear from the stolen submarine is the torpedo work. Captain Pons says there were only two torpedoes in the craft. One of them is accounted for. They have only one more—and I guess we can get away from that. Besides all this, don't forget that the Japs are green hands with the submarine, and have had no practical experience in running her. Captain Pons explained to them the theoretical part of the machinery, but, you take it from me, those wily Orientals are going to get themselves into trouble."
"They manœuvred the submarine pretty well last night," said Matt. "I don't see how they could improve much on their work. A Jap, Glennie, is a regular genius in 'catching on' to things. Show him how to do a piece of work once, and he knows it for all time. They're clever—as clever as they are wily, and sometimes treacherous."
At this point, Captain Pons put in a few words.
"I see ze torpedo is wiz youar boat, monsieur. You say zat you peek heem out of ze sea, but he is my torpedo, and he is vorth many sousand francs. I am to have him, eh?"
Matt looked at Glennie.
"We might need that torpedo, Matt," suggested the ensign, "for the Grampus has only one. If it comes to a fight with the French boat that extra Whitehead would come in handy. I think we had better keep it."