“How are you coming, aboard? You've no small boat.”
“We can land this submarine right up beside you,” responded the midshipman, “if you keep straight to your present course.”
“And scrape all the paint off our side,” objected Curtis.
[pg 188] “That has no bearing on my instructions, sir. I direct you to keep straight to your present course. We will come up alongside.”
“What if we don't do it?” demanded Curtis, with sudden bluster.
“Then your danger will be divided between being shot where you stand and having your craft cut in two by the bow of our craft,” retorted Mr. Terrell. “You will realize, I think, that there can be no parleying with our orders.”
The bearded one swore, but the corporal and his two marines stood at the rail with their rifles ready, waiting only the midshipman's order to aim and fire.
Eph allowed the “Farnum” to fall back a little way. Then he exerted himself to show his best in seamanship as he ran the submarine up to board the sloop by the starboard quarter. The two boats barely touched. Mr. Terrell, his three marines and two seamen leaped to the standing room of the yacht. Eph, all aquiver, let the nose of the “Farnum” fall back slightly. Then he trailed along, under bare headway.
Then a shout came from the sloop, as the two seamen reappeared, bearing the forms of Jack and Hal.
“We've found them aboard, Mr. Somers,” shouted Terrell. “Drugged, I think, sir. Will you come alongside, sir.”