CHAPTER XXIII
THE DECISION
“Can we see him?”
“Where will he go?”
“What is he going to do?”
Jerry, Ned and Bob thus eagerly questioned the three machinists, andTed Rowland answered:
“If you go into the forward cabin you can look out through the sidewindows and watch him. Don’t turn on the light, or you can’t see aswell. Dr. Klauss carries a submarine lamp with him, and you can makehim out by that.”
“Come on!” cried Jerry, eagerly, and he and his chums, followed byGrace, Mr. Sheldon and Professor Snodgrass, went into the main cabin.The two stolid Germans remained in the motor room, seemingly on guard.
“Why did you not want me to go out there in a diving suit?” asked thescientist of Mr. Sheldon, when they were away from the doctor’s friendsand his crew.
“There were two reasons,” was the answer. “In the first place I fearedsome harm might befall you. You are not used to going into deep water,and he is. Then, too, he might suddenly go mad out there alone withyou, and do you some injury. We could not save you.
“Another reason was that I thought if we all stayed together theremight be some chance of getting away--of making our escape. But theonly way, I suppose, would be to go off and leave Dr. Klauss to hisfate. That would be too horrible. We could not do it except, perhaps,as a last resort.”
“I see,” said Professor Snodgrass, who seemed to take more of aninterest in the affairs of his friends, now that he could not beactively engaged in getting specimens. “We might keep him a prisoner inthe diving chamber until we took the boat to shore, and escaped,” headded.
“Well, that might be a good plan,” admitted Mr. Sheldon, “but I disliketo try it. I think we ought to give him one more chance to set us free.If he does not, then we will act. What do you say, boys?”
“I agree to that,” spoke Jerry. “Besides, we don’t know where we arenow. We ought to make an observation from the surface of the sea, and Ithink the boat will soon go up. Our air must need replenishing.”
“Then we’ll wait,” decided Mr. Sheldon. “Now for a look at the doctoron the bottom of the sea.”
“Say,” spoke Bob in a low voice to Ned, “suppose we do get control ofthe submarine. Do you think we can run her?”
“I think so--if the crew will help us, and those two old Germans don’tinterfere,” was the reply. “We’ll have to sound the crew soon.”
“There he is!” suddenly exclaimed Grace, as she peered out of thedarkened windows in the side of the cabin. “See him walking along!”
They all beheld the figure of the doctor, in his strange suit, on thesandy bottom of the sea, carrying his electric lamp with him. He turnedand flashed it toward the now motionless submarine, and waved hisrubber-encased hand, as if in greeting of those watching him.
“Say, that’s great!” exclaimed Ned.
“Look at the fishes around him!” cried Bob.
“Yes, and there’s a big shark coming behind him!” suddenly gaspedJerry. “Say, if that monster ever attacks him----”
He did not finish.
Walking along on the sand, which was strewn with shells and stones,while about him waved sinuous seaweed, Dr. Klauss did not seem aware ofthe near presence of the monster fish. But an instant later somethingmust have warned him, for he turned, and those watching saw the flashof a knife in his hand--a long, keen blade.
“That’s better!” whispered Jerry, tensely.
But there was no need for Dr. Klauss to defend himself. The sharkseemed afraid, now that it had come close to the human fish, and with asweep of its big tail it turned and was lost in the gloom of the sea.Then the German moved on. Other fishes nosed him, or swam at his side,apparently curious about the lamp, but none offered to attack him.
The doctor seemed to be looking about, as though studying theconfiguration of the sea bottom.
“What do you suppose can be his object?” asked Grace.
“He is looking for rare specimens,” declared Professor Snodgrass. “Oh,that I were with him! If I could not get a hermit crab, perhaps I couldfind something else of value.”
“He’s looking for treasure,” was Bob’s opinion.
“More likely a place where he can safely sink some of Uncle Sam’sships!” exclaimed Jerry. “If ever we get out of this we’ll have toinform the war authorities, to put them on their guard.”
“That is right,” assented Mr. Sheldon. “I hardly believe though, thatDr. Klauss is looking for a marine graveyard. I think he has somescientific object in view.”
Just what the German’s object was, those watching him could notdetermine. He soon disappeared around the bow of the boat, and becamelost to sight. Jerry, who had learned how to do it, then turned on thelights to illuminate the space around the boat, and for some time theywatched the fishes, and other forms of life, at the bottom of the sea.
They talked over their precarious situation, and agreed that if anotherappeal to Dr. Klauss should not be heeded they would see if the crewwould not join them in a mutiny--a justifiable mutiny.
“We’ll have to secure this madman,” said Mr. Sheldon, “and do the bestwe can to navigate the boat ourselves. I only wish I knew where we are.”
“I think we will soon learn,” spoke Jerry. “We can’t stay under waterforever.”
Dr. Klauss came back into the submarine in about an hour, the processbeing reversed to give him entrance. He said nothing about his trip,nor whether he had accomplished his purpose, but remarked:
“The next time, Professor Snodgrass, I hope you will come with me. Andsome of you boys--I have several diving suits and, you have seen, theyare perfectly safe.”
“I think I may come--next time,” agreed the little scientist. “Did yousee any hermit crabs?”
“No, but I can take you to a place where they are plentiful.”
The remainder of the day passed uneventfully. Mr. Sheldon did not thinkit wise to renew the request to be set free.
“We will try him to-morrow,” he said.
The _Sonderbaar_ was again put in motion, speeding along at a depth ofabout three hundred feet, as the boys could tell from the gage. Theyhad practically the run of the craft, and their presence was seeminglynot noticed by the two old Germans. Nor did Dr. Klauss introduce hisforeign friends to his prisoner-guests. He simply did not mention them.
“When are we going up to get some fresh air?” asked Jerry of Dr. Klaussthe next morning, meeting the inventor near the pilot house.
“Very soon after breakfast,” was the answer. “My tanks need refilling.”
Jerry hastened to find Mr. Sheldon to tell him what was to happen,and the refugees ate rather an excited meal. The cooking on board wasdone by one of the three machinists--usually Bill Burke--and Bob boretestimony that the food was most excellent, in which, indeed, they allagreed.
Shortly after the meal Dr. Klauss came into the main cabin to announce:
“We are going up, now, and those who wish may go on deck. But becareful, for we are in the middle of the Atlantic and if you falloverboard I may not be able to rescue you.”
Jerry wondered if there was any significance in the grim words, or inthe smile that accompanied them. But Dr. Klauss turned away.
There was a new motion to the _Sonderbaar_. She seemed to tilt her bowtoward the surface, and soon she shot from the water, and lay inert onthe bosom of the sea. There was a clank of metal and the German called:
“The hatch is open--those who wish may go up.”
“Me for some fresh air!” cried Jerry, and the others followed, one at atime, all glad to be in the open, and under the blue sky once more.
They looked about in wonder. The submarine, her deck only slightlyabove the surface, was in the midst of the boundless ocean. There wasnot another craft in sight, and no land visible. They were indeed inthe middle of the Atlantic.
“Well, it’s good to get your nose outside; even if we are held by theenemy,” remarked Ned.
/> “Yes, and I think we must soon put our plan to the test,” spoke Mr.Sheldon. “I will again make a request of Dr. Klauss.”
Bob’s uncle was about to go down the hatchway to seek the German, but,at that moment, Dr. Klauss came up. He seemed to have forgotten allabout his burst of passion, but when Mr. Sheldon, a moment later, madehis request that he and his friends and daughter be set ashore, thedoctor’s face flamed red, and in an excited manner he exclaimed:
“Now, that will do! No more of that! I told you that you would neversee your country again--and you will not! I shall keep my word. I shallreturn and destroy all the Yankee ships, but you will not. I willmaroon you on a desert island if I have to! I will not have my plansbetrayed!”
“But, Dr. Klauss!” began Jerry. “If we----”
“Silence! Not another word!” was the sharp retort. “I shall never letyou go. I hate you Americans! Bah! Now go below!” and he pointed to theopen hatch.
Jerry hesitated a moment. He was debating in his mind whether it wouldnot be well to attack the madman then and there and settle matters. Butthe small open deck was no place for a struggle. Then, too, there wasGrace to consider. Mr. Sheldon made Jerry a single sign to obey, andthe tall youth started down the narrow hatch. The others followed.
“Well,” remarked Ned, when they were by themselves in the main cabin,“what’s to be done?”
“Only one thing can now be done,” returned Mr. Sheldon, solemnly. “Wemust try to get the crew on our side, and seize this madman. Then wewill take possession of the boat and sail for home!”
And in this decision they all agreed.