CHAPTER XXV
TOWARD FREEDOM
Jack and Harris obeyed Frank's injunction and the three flitted back tothe parlor silently.
A moment later the front door opened softly and directly the officerappeared in the parlor door.
"I came almost not getting here," he said with a smile. "Did you gettired waiting?"
"So tired," said Frank, "that we were just about to leave when Ichanced to see you coming down the street."
"So? Well, you would have had a hard time escaping, I am afraid. Now,my way it will be easier. I have had my means of escape laid out eversince I arrived here. Unless something unforeseen occurs, we should beable to get away without difficulty."
"I am sure I hope so," declared Frank.
Their captor surveyed the three closely.
"I see you are all ready," he said. "Changed your clothes, eh?"
"I hope you didn't think we were going prowling about the street in ourBritish uniforms?" said Jack.
"Hardly. By any chance did you find weapons, too?"
Frank hesitated. For a moment he debated what was best to answer.However, the odds were now three against one, so he replied:
"Yes; we have a gun apiece."
"Good; then we may as well be moving. The car should be here in tenminutes at the latest. You see, that's why I was late. Had a blowoutaways back. We had to come in on foot. I sent my driver for another carwhile I hurried here, for I was afraid that you might do somethingrash. You see, I know more about you than you think I do."
"I wish you would tell us who you are, sir," said Jack.
"All in good time," replied the officer with a smile. "All in goodtime."
Came a "honk-honk" from without.
"There's our car," said the officer quietly. "Come along."
Without a word the others followed him through the dark hall, out thedoor and down the steps, where they climbed into the car, in the rearseat, their captor taking his seat with the driver.
The automobile started immediately.
They rode along slowly for perhaps an hour; and they came to what thelads recognized immediately as the water front. Their captor called ahalt and climbed out, motioning the lads to follow him. Immediatelythey had alighted, the automobile drove away.
Straight down to the water their captor led the way. Jack whispered toFrank.
"You can't tell me we are going to get away from here as easily as allthis."
"Sh-h-h!" was Frank's reply.
Jack thereafter maintained a discreet silence.
At the edge of the pier their captor pointed to a small rowboat in thewater.
"We'll get in here," he said.
They did so and a moment later they were being rowed across the waterby a man Frank recognized as a German sailor. The thing was becomingmore complicated.
A short distance ahead there now loomed up what appeared to be nothingmore than a motorboat of considerable size. The rowboat approached thiscraft and the officer motioned his three companions to follow himaboard. They did so.
Aboard, they saw that the vessel upon the deck of which they stood wasin reality a pleasure yacht, now converted into a vessel of war. A lookat her graceful outlines and long slender body told all three that thevessel was built for speed.
Their captor had halted and waited for the three to come up with him.
"Follow me below," he whispered. "I'll do the talking. Agree withwhatever I say and listen carefully to my every word."
The three friends obeyed.
Below they were ushered into what proved to be the commander's cabin.An officer in the dress of a lieutenant commander of the German navyrose and greeted the boys' captor with a salute and an extended hand.Their captor grasped the hand.
"Commander von Ludwig, I take it," said the commander of the vessel.
Von Ludwig bowed.
"The same, sir," he replied. "I have here a paper that gives me commandof your vessel, sir. You are ordered to report to Berlin at once."
"I have been expecting you, sir," was the reply. "I shall leave atonce, if your boatman is still near."
"I ordered him to await you," was von Ludwig's reply.
The commander of the German vessel glanced at von Ludwig's threecompanions.
"Your officers?" he asked.
"Yes. Your officers will be relieved in the morning."
"Very well, sir. Then I shall leave you. A safe and successful voyageto you, sir."
"The same to you, sir."
Von Ludwig, motioning to his companions to remain in the cabin untilhis return, went on deck with the departing commander. A few momentslater the latter was being rowed ashore. For the space of severalseconds, von Ludwig gazed after him, a peculiar smile lighting up hisface as he murmured:
"If you only knew what a time I had getting the paper I just gave you,you would not be going so serenely about your business right now. Oh,well----"
He threw open his arms with a gesture and descended to his cabin.
"Now," he said to Jack, Frank and Harris, "the first thing we must dois to secure the crew and the officers of this vessel. The crew, Ihappen to know, numbers only ten men. There are two officers. We shallhave to overcome them."
"And how are we going to work the ship, sir?" asked Jack.
Von Ludwig glanced at the lad sharply.
"You would be a better sailor, sir, if you would follow orders withoutquestion," he said sharply; then added more calmly: "However, I shalltell you, for I can see none of you trust me fully. I have my own crewof five men coming aboard within the hour."
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Jack.
"That's all right," said von Ludwig. "Now follow me."
The others did as ordered. Before a door not far from the commander'scabin von Ludwig stopped.
"In there you will find the first officer," he said
He motioned to Frank and Jack. "Get him and get him quietly."
The lads nodded their understanding and von Ludwig signalled Harris tofollow him.
Jack laid his hand on the knob of the door and turned it gently. Thedoor flew open without a sound.
"Find the light switch, Frank," Jack whispered.
Frank's hand felt carefully over the wall.
"Turn it on when I give the word," said Jack. "I may need to see what Iam doing."
"All right; but be careful, Jack."
Slowly Jack tiptoed across the room, where he could dimly see a formstretched across a bunk. Bending over the figure, Jack raised a handand then called to Frank:
"Lights, Frank!"
Instantly, Frank threw the switch and then sprang forward to lend Jacka hand should it be necessary. But his assistance was not needed.Jack's fist rose and fell once and the form in the bunk gasped feeblyonce and lay still.
"I don't like that sort of thing," said Jack, "but I suppose it had tobe done. Help me bind him up and gag him. He's not badly hurt and willcome round in a few minutes."
It was the work of but a few moments to tear the sheets into strips andto bind and gag the helpless man. Then Jack and Frank left the cabin.
At almost the same instant von Ludwig and Harris came from a secondcabin.
"All right?" asked von Ludwig.
"All right, sir. And you?"
"Everything shipshape. Now for the crew. First, however," he said,addressing Jack and Frank, "don the clothing of these two officers. Youshall be my second and third in command."
The lads returned to the cabin they had just quitted and stripped theprisoner. Jack donned the uniform, for the German was a big man. Thenthey hurried into the second cabin and performed a similar operationand Frank soon was attired in the uniform of a German lieutenant.
"Now," said von Ludwig, "have the crew report here and keep your gunsready."
Frank made his way aft, and in German, called:
"All hands forward!"
The crew came tumbling from their bunks and hurried forward, most ofthe men no more than half dressed. Jack, Frank and Harris,
on eitherside of von Ludwig, confronted them.
"Men," said von Ludwig, "I am the new commander of this ship and weshall get under way immediately. Fearing that you will not always obeymy commands, I have brought along these little persuaders."
A pair of automatics flashed in his hands and covered the ten sailors.
"Hands up!" he cried.
Taken completely by surprise there was nothing for the German sailorsto do but obey. Up went their hands. Von Ludwig called to Harris.
"Help me keep them covered," he said, "while you other two tie themup."
Under the muzzles of the revolvers levelled in steady hands by vonLudwig and Harris, Jack and Frank set to work binding the members ofthe crew. A few minutes later the work was done.
"Trundle them into that cabin there," said von Ludwig, motioning to anopen door. "Tie them there so they cannot release their own bonds orthe bonds of the others. Then report to me on deck."
The lads obeyed. It was the work of only a few moments, struggle as theGermans did. Then Frank and Jack went on deck.
A short distance away a rowboat was coming rapidly toward the_Bismarck_--for such was the name of the vessel on which the lads foundthemselves.
Von Ludwig pointed to it.
"My crew!" he said quietly.