"What shall we do, sir, when we get alongside?"
"Quell the mutiny," retorted Commander Ennerling, with emphasis. "It's the one choice a Naval officer has in a case of this sort. Briscoe! McCrea!"
The two junior officers came hastily up the spiral stairway. Commander
Ennerling told them as rapidly as he could what had happened.
"There's something wholly wrong on that yacht," he wound up, "and we've got to get alongside and look into it."
"Want to get out on the platform deck?" inquired Captain Jack.
"Yes, by all means."
More of the water was expelled from the tanks until the platform deck was two feet above the surface. Then the manhole was opened, and an interested crowd hurried out on deck. Only Eph remained below, he, to his disgust, being sent to the motor.
Jack Benson now stood at the deck wheel, while the others gathered at the rail to watch the progress of the pursuit.
Even as they looked, the older man aft on the yacht fired his revolver twice, aiming forward. The flashes could be distinctly made out, though the reports of the weapon were borne away by the breeze.
"Have either of you gentlemen a revolver?" demanded Commander Ennerling of his subordinate officers.