"I don'd pelieve dot Chap poat efer got avay from der Salvatore!" declared Carl.
"It may be that she did, Carl," went on Matt, "and we've got to make sure of it just as soon as we possibly can. That's the reason we're traveling through this thick fog, and taking our chances on hitting a reef or sunken rock. We've got to reach Lota and find out for sure if those Japs are again free to bother us. You know what it means if the Sons of the Rising Sun got away from Sandoval. Those misguided Japs have sworn that the Grampus shall never be turned over to the United States Government at Mare Island Navy Yard. They're a desperate and fanatical lot, and we've got to know just what we're up against, so far as they are concerned. Lota is on the railroad and telegraph line, and we'll get news there, if anywhere."
"As usual," observed Dick, "that head of yours has been working, old ship, while the rest of us have been wondering what you were trying to do. I don't think you'll catch up with that piece of drift."
"Nor I," Matt answered, getting to his feet and coming aft. "Whatever that was, I suspect we'll never be able to discover, so my guess will have to stand. Put her on the starboard tack, Speake," he added to the man in the conning tower.
The submarine once more resumed her course toward Arauco Bay and Lota.
"You fellows go below and turn in," Matt went on to Dick and Carl. "I can con the ship, all right, and there's no need of the two of you staying awake and helping me on the lookout."
"You'd better let Glennie relieve you, mate," suggested Dick. "You've been on deck duty for six hours."
"I'm going to stay right here," said Matt, "until we get safely into Arauco Bay."
There was no use arguing with Motor Matt when he made up his mind that duty commanded him to do a certain thing, and Dick and Carl wished him luck and went below.
Ensign Glennie was lying on the locker in the periscope room.