‘Who are you?  What are you doing there?’ the speaker demanded suspiciously.

‘We are British and French from Constantinople,’ answered Captain Carrington, using the same language.  ’We were aboard the Turkish transport “Bergaz” which was sunk earlier in the day by a British submarine.’

‘Blitzen!’ exclaimed the German angrily.  ’Then the message was true after all.  Those verdomde British have managed to pass the mine-fields.

‘And where is the submarine?’ he demanded savagely.

‘She was forced to abandon us.  One of your warships hove in sight.’

The German paused a moment.  His eyes scanned the surface in every direction.  But there was no sign of G 2’s periscopes.  Either she had gone under altogether, or withdrawn to such a distance that her periscopes were invisible in the mist.

‘Train the gun on them,’ growled the German officer.  Then, raising his voice, ’If this is a trap, every one of you will pay for it with your lives.’

‘I have told you the literal truth,’ said Captain Carrington coldly.  ’You can take us or leave us as you wish.’

Again the German hesitated.

‘The safest way will be to haul off and sink them,’ he said to a Turk who stood beside him.  He spoke in Turkish, but Ken, of course, understood, and knowing the brutality of the average German officer, felt anything but happy.

Apparently the Turkish officer had different views, for after a short conversation the German gave an order, and the launch moved forward again.

Ken, though he could not see what was happening, heard the beat of her screw, and every nerve in his body tingled.  As for Captain Carrington and the rest, they sat in their places, not moving an inch, and doing their best to convey the idea that they were quite worn out, and cared not at all whether they were retaken or not.

Yet, under his coat, or in his pocket, each man gripped his revolver, while his cutlass lay handy at his feet.

The launch came on slowly, and her crew fortunately were hardly noticing the boat.  Their eyes were busy, searching the misty surface for the periscope of their deadly enemy.

Only the German seemed to have any suspicion concerning those in the boat.  When the launch was within about half a dozen yards, he spoke again.

‘You there, Englishman, stand up!’ he ordered sharply.  ’You, I mean, the one who speaks German.’

Captain Carrington rose leisurely to his feet.

‘You will be the first to pay for treachery,’ said the German fiercely.  ‘Put your hands up.’

Ken quivered.  To him it sounded as though his father’s death warrant had been sounded.  At the first sign of attack the German would shoot him.  Yet he had his orders, and he dared not move.

It seemed an age before he felt a slight jar.  It was the launch touching the boat.

‘What’s under that tarpaulin?’ came the sharp question from the German.