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He wouldn't have any right to display that, anyhow. It would have to come from Captain Merceau." "Maybe he meant that he'd surrender personally," suggested Joe, "and didn't want his fellow-murderers to hurt him." "I don't know what his object was," went on Blake, "but I saw him take from his pocket a big white cloth and hold it over the side.
There they did find an unusual lifeboat drill going on. The danger zone was now so close that Captain Merceau and his officers of the ship were taking no chances. They wanted to be prepared for the worst, and so they had the men passengers practise getting into the boats, which were lowered into the water and rowed a short distance away from the ship.
The commander was greatly astonished when told what the boys had seen. He questioned them at length, and made sure there could have been no mistake. "And they gave a signal," mused the captain. "It hardly seems possible!" "It was Labenstein who actually flashed the light," said Blake. "Do you know anything about him, Captain Merceau?"
When this had been done, and the boys had got themselves ready to go ashore and report, Captain Merceau told them how it had happened. He had given orders, following the report made by Blake and his chums, that Secor and Labenstein should be kept under careful watch. And this was to be done without allowing them to become aware of it.
Captain Merceau and his officers, after a hasty consultation, were gathered on the bridge, looking for the first sight of the submarine, or, what was more vital, for the ripples that would disclose the presence of the torpedo. But perhaps the most eager of all, and certainly among the most active, were the members of the gun crews.
And when all was once more quiet on board, Blake and his chums resumed their talk about what was best to do regarding what they had observed just before the setting off of the depth charge. "I think we ought to tell the captain," said Charlie. "So do I," added Joe. "And I agree with the majority," said Blake. "Captain Merceau shall be informed."
"Well, I don't imagine what we have taken, so far, will be of any great value to Germany, assuming that Lieutenant Secor is a spy and has told about them," Blake said. "We've got to find out something about this, though, haven't we?" asked Joe. "I think we ought to try," agreed his chum. "Perhaps we should tell Captain Merceau. He's a Frenchman, and will know how to deal with Secor."
The vessel carried four quick-firing guns for use against submarines, one each in the bow and stern, and one on either beam. The gunners were from Uncle Sam's navy and were expert marksmen, as had been evidenced in practice. "Are we in the danger zone yet?" asked one of the two young women whose acquaintance Blake and Joe had made through the courtesy of Captain Merceau.
And in due season, the vessel arrived at "an English port," as the papers stated. "Let's go and see if Captain Merceau wants us to give any evidence against those fellows," suggested Joe; and this seemed a good plan to follow. "Ah, yes, my American friends!" the commander murmured, as the boys were shown into his cabin. "What can I do for you?"
Owing to some error, those men were released before the war authorities could apprehend them. They have gone ashore!" Blake, Joe and Charles looked at one another. Then they glanced at Captain Merceau.
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